9 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

The thing is, who do they think that they are selling all these generational talents to in the future. Do they not understand that everyone has access to the same well.

They're not going to make bundles on all of these hoarded kids because the people who have the money to afford them, have all been doing the same themselves.

I don't get it, and I don't get the financial decisions behind it either really, as we don't exactly get these players in on the cheap.

Take Nico Williams as an example of someone we like but deem too expensive. He is on £8.5m a year(~(170k per week), and has a £50m buy out clause.

Saying we paid the clause, and then paid him £300 a week/ £15m a year on an 8 year deal.

His book cost would be £21m per year.

The book cost of the likes of Uguchukwu, or Essugo is about £6m a year.

Why don't we stop bringing in so many unproven players in that £10m - £35m bracket, and get 2/3 quality additions that will keep us at least comfortably in the champions league.

Bizarre transfer strategy that looks set to continue, probably see another 10 players come in again this window, and barely any of them would start for the 3 teams that finished above us.

26 minutes ago, big blue said:

I don't get it, and I don't get the financial decisions behind it either really, as we don't exactly get these players in on the cheap.

Take Nico Williams as an example of someone we like but deem too expensive. He is on £8.5m a year(~(170k per week), and has a £50m buy out clause.

Saying we paid the clause, and then paid him £300 a week/ £15m a year on an 8 year deal.

His book cost would be £21m per year.

The book cost of the likes of Uguchukwu, or Essugo is about £6m a year.

Why don't we stop bringing in so many unproven players in that £10m - £35m bracket, and get 2/3 quality additions that will keep us at least comfortably in the champions league.

Bizarre transfer strategy that looks set to continue, probably see another 10 players come in again this window, and barely any of them would start for the 3 teams that finished above us.

I totally agree throw in Datra Fofana, Washington and the rest and you've basically paid for a few outstanding players wages. The reality is we ain't paying big wages anymore and every player is seen with potential for profit along the way. The idea is to make £10-20 or even more on the likes of Essugo. That's the game and winning comes second. If we did make profit on these players you think that would give us more for a better squad and pay more wages. Seems to me going off the likes of Casadei and D Fofana they are really bad at it.

Willians isn't exactly old and is still a prospect but the investment will most likely not have a high enough predicted profitability. Same goes for Rodrygo or Leao or anyone else who gained a reputation or experience to warrant an above average wage. Look at Neto older than all them, still cost a decent wedge, but my guess is he's on significantly lower wages than them.

The problem arises when the likes of Palmer and Caicedo start demanded more, are we going to pay them what is necessary to keep our best players or are we going to let them go?

35 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

I totally agree throw in Datra Fofana, Washington and the rest and you've basically paid for a few outstanding players wages. The reality is we ain't paying big wages anymore and every player is seen with potential for profit along the way. The idea is to make £10-20 or even more on the likes of Essugo. That's the game and winning comes second. If we did make profit on these players you think that would give us more for a better squad and pay more wages. Seems to me going off the likes of Casadei and D Fofana they are really bad at it.

Willians isn't exactly old and is still a prospect but the investment will most likely not have a high enough predicted profitability. Same goes for Rodrygo or Leao or anyone else who gained a reputation or experience to warrant an above average wage. Look at Neto older than all them, still cost a decent wedge, but my guess is he's on significantly lower wages than them.

The problem arises when the likes of Palmer and Caicedo start demanded more, are we going to pay them what is necessary to keep our best players or are we going to let them go?

The problem with the model though is the club are still spending vasts amounts of money, so maybe we flip a few of these players for profit, overall though there is no way the buisness as a whole is profitable.

The only clubs that are profitable are buy low, sell high clubs like Brighton. They also win nothing.

We seem to be going for 2 approaches at the same time. Are we trying to make money, or are trying to build a world class team? Can we do both of things at the same time? I doubt it with the revenue we generate.

I would've understood the approach more if we didn't spend massive amounts on Caicedo, Enzo, Mudryk, Fofana etc.

Palmer and Caicedo will move for sporting reasons, as much as they will for wages, eventually their ambitions will be greater than ours.

If you want the best players in the world, and you want to keep your best players, then you need to pay top wages. Even a club like Liverpool pay the big players, big wages now. When they weren't willing to compete with the wages the likes of ourself and United could offer 20 years ago, they didn't compete for the title either.

On 08/06/2025 at 12:33, 19seventyone said:

A lot of posters made up their minds already regarding Gittens.

Baffling. Give the fella a chance.

I’m not saying he’s going to succeed or fail but I’ll keep my powder dry u til he signs and then after he’s played 10 games or so.

I think it's not about Gittens per se. It's more about the idea that we have signed about 5 "Gittens" in the last 3 years.

Why do we need to spend a small fortune on yet another one? Why was Carney discarded so quickly? What's to say that Gittens won't be discarded in 6 months like many before him?

11 hours ago, yaz said:

I think it's not about Gittens per se. It's more about the idea that we have signed about 5 "Gittens" in the last 3 years.

Why do we need to spend a small fortune on yet another one? Why was Carney discarded so quickly? What's to say that Gittens won't be discarded in 6 months like many before him?

Why are you piling every player as one? I think Mudryk, Noni and Sancho are all different players albeit playing the same position. I am sure someone said why are we buying Palmer as we have Chukwuemeka, Nkunku and the sort (not sure about the timeline on these lads but you get the point).

And he might end up being a dud. It is a possibility. It is also possible he is great.

13 hours ago, big blue said:

Why don't we stop bringing in so many unproven players in that £10m - £35m bracket

Because every dollar spent on a transfer is another dollar that adds to the paper value of Clearlake's investment fund. That is the reality of being owned by a venture capital fund.

11 hours ago, big blue said:

The problem with the model though is the club are still spending vasts amounts of money, so maybe we flip a few of these players for profit, overall though there is no way the buisness as a whole is profitable.

The only clubs that are profitable are buy low, sell high clubs like Brighton. They also win nothing.

We seem to be going for 2 approaches at the same time. Are we trying to make money, or are trying to build a world class team? Can we do both of things at the same time? I doubt it with the revenue we generate.

I would've understood the approach more if we didn't spend massive amounts on Caicedo, Enzo, Mudryk, Fofana etc.

Palmer and Caicedo will move for sporting reasons, as much as they will for wages, eventually their ambitions will be greater than ours.

If you want the best players in the world, and you want to keep your best players, then you need to pay top wages. Even a club like Liverpool pay the big players, big wages now. When they weren't willing to compete with the wages the likes of ourself and United could offer 20 years ago, they didn't compete for the title either.

Why can't the two things be true at the same time? This narrow-minded thinking bothers me. People always want evidence of other clubs doing that. To me it is enough to see Brighton operating well with lot less resources than we have give an indication this type of scenario is possible. I hope these Americans are a bit more progressive with their ideas than the old clubs in Europe. We need to think and do differently if we want to break into that group of clubs such as Real, Barcelona and Liverpool. Is it hard? Absolutely. Will it be risky? Hell yes. Could it work? Yes. If we did things like under Roman we'd know exactly what we'd get.

I think your example of Liverpool fits nicely. First they assembled the side with amazing scouting and smart buys. They had that brilliant SD we tried to poach as well. Then they added key pieces in VDV, Allison and Salah for example and had the best possible coach to combine. Now that they have moved to another level (where we are not yet) they are giving healthy wages for top players. I think they are still buying smart and not breaking the bank. They buy 50-60m key signings each summer window. Players that match their style of football. I think they've done well there. We are miles from that status. Let's be patient. If 3-4 of the players we bought young and for lot less than their peak value I think we've done well.

We should enjoy this time seeing the young guns grow into their potential boots.

5 hours ago, evissy said:

We should enjoy this time seeing the young guns grow into their potential boots.

Slonina - 9M

Joao Felix - 11M(loan) / 52M

DD Fofana - 12M

Chukwuemeka - 18M

Badiashile - 38M

Mudryk - 70M

W Fofana - 80M

Washington - 16M

Ugochukwu - 27M

Disasi - 45M

Nkunku - 60M

Wiley - 10M

Amougou - 15M

Anselmino 16.5M

Kellyman - 22.5M

Jorgensen - 24.5M

Neto - 60M

How would you say these youngsters have developed since we signed them? There's almost 600M worth of signings there. I doubt there is a single one we could sell for more than we bought them for and not a single one should start for a team in the CL except W.Fofana.

Almost vomitted looking at that list.

It seems the club buy one very good player for every 3 to 4 average ones.

New bid of £42m just gone in apparently.

Edited June 10, 20251 yr by 2211

Remember it was Fabrice Hawkins that broke this news, not that tap merchant Fabrizio Romano. Dude hangs on the coattails of others.

Also worth remembering where the news comes from next time.

Honestly for 42m it’s not a bad deal.

The bid is REJECTED.

God help us

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Slonina - 9M

Joao Felix - 11M(loan) / 52M

DD Fofana - 12M

Chukwuemeka - 18M

Badiashile - 38M

Mudryk - 70M

W Fofana - 80M

Washington - 16M

Ugochukwu - 27M

Disasi - 45M

Nkunku - 60M

Wiley - 10M

Amougou - 15M

Anselmino 16.5M

Kellyman - 22.5M

Jorgensen - 24.5M

Neto - 60M

How would you say these youngsters have developed since we signed them? There's almost 600M worth of signings there. I doubt there is a single one we could sell for more than we bought them for and not a single one should start for a team in the CL except W.Fofana.

You like making lists I see. Hopefully it doesn't take too much of your precious time. 👌

I hope we have a limit on this fee as with Mike Maignan.

I think this deal probably won't happen.

Bet we massively overpay for him and then he's just as disappointing at the rest of our wingers.

The blithering idiots in charge of transfers need to walk away from this one now.

35 minutes ago, evissy said:

I think this deal probably won't happen.

£50 million!? How much more for Williams, Kudus, or even Leao?

3 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

£50 million!? How much more for Williams, Kudus, or even Leao?

Time to walk away

18 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

£50 million!? How much more for Williams, Kudus, or even Leao?

Kudus is the only player out of that list that has proven he is able to play at the level required for the PL. These morons will end up paying yet again over the odds for another mediocre player. We remain literally a laughing stock.

4 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Kudus is the only player out of that list that has proven he is able to play at the level required for the PL. These morons will end up paying yet again over the odds for another mediocre player. We remain literally a laughing stock.

Unlike Gittens they all have more experience and hype to warrant a decent fee. Not saying they're the perfect winger, just if we are gonna spend this much I'd rather get someone who at least has been called up to their national team.

10 minutes ago, DarkMata said:

Unlike Gittens they all have more experience and hype to warrant a decent fee. Not saying they're the perfect winger, just if we are gonna spend this much I'd rather get someone who at least has been called up to their national team.

The reality is that there is an hour and half left and we're so inept at completing these deals I'll be amazed if this actually happens today anyway