Liverpool should test the waters with Eriksen imo as he'd fit well.

Think we may see a bit of a transfer merry go round once things get started but I find different courier windows closing at different times odd really and it certainly puts English clubs at a disadvantage.

Good post.. spot on re Spurs

Imagine the premium Levy would charge Liverpool

I have a feeling interest in him might intensify after the English window closes from Real especially if they don't get Pogba and i doubt they will, Levy might drop the price then if it's risking losing him for nothing allowing Real to get him at a price that works for them.

From what I've seen my club Arsenal aren't unlikely to improve much due to money issues (with huge holes in the first 11 and squad remaining open) and United appear to be are after players that barely improve them from a 6th place side so top four will likely be staying the same next season.

That is unless Chelsea drop form in a big way, certainly possible given Hazard leaving but I think it'll be a case of them getting worse rather than either United or Arsenal getting much better.

Right now I'm confident City, Liverpool and Spurs will make up the top 3 and more than likely in that order too.

The rest is totally unpredictable. Chelsea, Arsenal n United all have issues.

Everton, Leicester n Wolves will fancy gate crashing the top 6 too. Although I think Wolves will find it tougher with EL football.

I think in the end the top 6 will be the same though.

comment by Scruttocks (U19684)
posted 3 minutes ago
From what I've seen my club Arsenal aren't unlikely to improve much due to money issues (with huge holes in the first 11 and squad remaining open) and United appear to be are after players that barely improve them from a 6th place side so top four will likely be staying the same next season.

That is unless Chelsea drop form in a big way, certainly possible given Hazard leaving but I think it'll be a case of them getting worse rather than either United or Arsenal getting much better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you not find it strange, they are paying 27m for a young CB and saying well it doesn't affect the budget this season

Well how about use that on a player that you can use this season surely...

The Zaha chase is confusing, are they just trying to annoy Palace or are they intending to actually get him.

I think Arsenal have a decent chance of top 4 and a fantastic one if they get Tierney and Zaha. They have natural finishers and Chelsea + United don't so for that reason i give them a chance.

comment by Glazers_Out (SE85) (U21241)
posted 5 minutes ago
Right now I'm confident City, Liverpool and Spurs will make up the top 3 and more than likely in that order too.

The rest is totally unpredictable. Chelsea, Arsenal n United all have issues.

Everton, Leicester n Wolves will fancy gate crashing the top 6 too. Although I think Wolves will find it tougher with EL football.

I think in the end the top 6 will be the same though.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
United could still look quite a lot different before the season starts i think, plenty of movement both ways possible so they are hardest to call.

I really thought they would have went and got Alderweireld but instead seem intent on spaffing stupid money on slabhead. Neves is another i thought United would be looking at, he's on another level from Longstaff and Lemina.

Right now i wouldn't fancy them for top 4 but equally would not be surprised if they pull off another 3/4 even 5 signings that make people sit up and take notice but also i think as the season develops the manager might get shown up.

Just to comment on the Pogba bit.

I don't think we have set a price on him at all. The important thing to note is that no one has shown any interest in finding out what it might be.

We have heard hot air from Madrid and Juve in the tabloids only.

I think Wolves will go out of Europa quite early so maybe it wont affect their league season too much.

comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 28 seconds ago
comment by Scruttocks (U19684)
posted 3 minutes ago
From what I've seen my club Arsenal aren't unlikely to improve much due to money issues (with huge holes in the first 11 and squad remaining open) and United appear to be are after players that barely improve them from a 6th place side so top four will likely be staying the same next season.

That is unless Chelsea drop form in a big way, certainly possible given Hazard leaving but I think it'll be a case of them getting worse rather than either United or Arsenal getting much better.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you not find it strange, they are paying 27m for a young CB and saying well it doesn't affect the budget this season

Well how about use that on a player that you can use this season surely...

The Zaha chase is confusing, are they just trying to annoy Palace or are they intending to actually get him.

I think Arsenal have a decent chance of top 4 and a fantastic one if they get Tierney and Zaha. They have natural finishers and Chelsea + United don't so for that reason i give them a chance.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
I can't say to be honest. Deals are structured in different ways, perhaps by agreeing a loan back we really do get to delay payment enough for it not to have an immediate effect. Essentially securing a transfer a year in advance if you will.

This might sound contradictory coming from someone who is very negative about the overall strength of our squad and the way the club is run but I believe our transfers have been excellent of late. The trouble is we simply (according to all reports) do not have anywhere near enough money to sort the holes left from the awful signings made towards the end of the Wenger and Gazidis era which has done incredible damage both to the quality of the squad and the finances.

I think many clubs are waiting to see what Wolves and Jorge Mendes want to do first and then reacting to that.

Benjamin always on the Mendy.

I find 27m regardless of structure for an 18yo CB to be quite incredible really, he must be some talent.

It just makes me wonder why the club can't front load their budget this window and fill those gaps, that surely gives them a better chance of being in the top 4 going forward even if they have less to spend next season surely playing CL would mitigate that.

I suppose it's a gamble but with Chelsea and United treading water it's as good a time as any for Arsenal to roll the dice.

I expect us to finish 5th or 6th next season unless we somehow bring in a winger, centre-half, central midfielder and left-back in the next few weeks.

We have got some very promising youth players promoted to the first team squad (Willock, Smith-Rowe, Saka etc), but I don't think it's fair to put so much pressure on them to help us get back into CL football. Also, none of them will help solidify our defence. If we don't bring in at least 3 new players that go directly into the first team, we need to temper our expectations for the coming season.

4th will be a tough ask.

Chelsea

Kovacic signed but that's hardly one to excite the fans considering he was rarely above average last season
===============

He was unplayable at times but really Sarri couldn't fit him alongside Jorginho and Kante
A top class midfielder and now that he has settled in the premier league, I fully expect him to become even more influential this season

Eriksen is not a big deal. If RM don't or can't buy him, the club is happy for him to stay and sign a new contract.

Ndombele is a big statement on the face of it but in reality only replaces Dembele.
===================

I have watched Ndombele and he is way better than Dembele because he has pace, stamina and can score shoot too

An excellent signing and he will add quality to Spurs midfield, alongside Winks/Sissoko.


not sure i expect them to do any more than that but maybe after Klopp has assessed the squad in pre-season and decided what he's after they may get linked to a few bigger names.
===================

According to some thread on the Liverpool board, they have or are in the process of signing MBappe and Dembele

We've been warned

comment by Samir - Bottlers FC (U2630)
posted 4 minutes ago
I expect us to finish 5th or 6th next season unless we somehow bring in a winger, centre-half, central midfielder and left-back in the next few weeks.

We have got some very promising youth players promoted to the first team squad (Willock, Smith-Rowe, Saka etc), but I don't think it's fair to put so much pressure on them to help us get back into CL football. Also, none of them will help solidify our defence. If we don't bring in at least 3 new players that go directly into the first team, we need to temper our expectations for the coming season.

4th will be a tough ask.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who do you think will finish above you?

Us and Chelsea have our own problems too.

comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 7 minutes ago
I find 27m regardless of structure for an 18yo CB to be quite incredible really, he must be some talent.

It just makes me wonder why the club can't front load their budget this window and fill those gaps, that surely gives them a better chance of being in the top 4 going forward even if they have less to spend next season surely playing CL would mitigate that.

I suppose it's a gamble but with Chelsea and United treading water it's as good a time as any for Arsenal to roll the dice.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
The difference is we're not getting the player until next season (if reports are to be believed), that makes the rest of your comment irrelevant to transfers moving this window

comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 10 minutes ago
I find 27m regardless of structure for an 18yo CB to be quite incredible really, he must be some talent.

It just makes me wonder why the club can't front load their budget this window and fill those gaps, that surely gives them a better chance of being in the top 4 going forward even if they have less to spend next season surely playing CL would mitigate that.

I suppose it's a gamble but with Chelsea and United treading water it's as good a time as any for Arsenal to roll the dice.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The issue is we did that in Wenger's last season and that's what has contributed to our current financial mess. We went big on Lacazette (£46.5m, £183k p/w) and Aubameyang (£56m, £280k p/w including bonuses), gave Ozil a ridiculous contract extension (£350k p/w, 4 years). Then, because Alexis was so desperate to leave, and we had little time to search for a new winger, we had to do a swap deal for Mkhitaryan who is on £180k p/w.

In fairness, some of those signings made were offset by the sales of Giroud, Walcott, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain and a few others who went for £10m or less, but the facts are we invested big on attacking players, both in terms of wages and transfer fees, to get us back into the CL. It didn't work.

Now we've got a Champions League-standard wage bill when we are a Europa League club. This isn't sustainable.

The issue we have isn't necessarily transfer fees, it was to do with FFP rules on wage increases per season, which we are teetering on the edge of right now. It was only at the start of this month where the Premier League announced they were not renewing that rule.

But whilst we have got rid of some high earners like Ramsey, Welbeck, Cech, Lichtsteiner etc, the wages of Mkhi, Mustafi and Ozil are still problematic, particularly if we're trying to bring new players in.

comment by morespurs (U15748)
posted 10 minutes ago
Chelsea

Kovacic signed but that's hardly one to excite the fans considering he was rarely above average last season
===============

He was unplayable at times but really Sarri couldn't fit him alongside Jorginho and Kante
A top class midfielder and now that he has settled in the premier league, I fully expect him to become even more influential this season

Eriksen is not a big deal. If RM don't or can't buy him, the club is happy for him to stay and sign a new contract.

Ndombele is a big statement on the face of it but in reality only replaces Dembele.
===================

I have watched Ndombele and he is way better than Dembele because he has pace, stamina and can score shoot too

An excellent signing and he will add quality to Spurs midfield, alongside Winks/Sissoko.


not sure i expect them to do any more than that but maybe after Klopp has assessed the squad in pre-season and decided what he's after they may get linked to a few bigger names.
===================

According to some thread on the Liverpool board, they have or are in the process of signing MBappe and Dembele

We've been warned

----------------------------------------------------------------------
You're still taking it seriously

comment by Mike (U1170)
posted 4 minutes ago
comment by Samir - Bottlers FC (U2630)
posted 4 minutes ago
I expect us to finish 5th or 6th next season unless we somehow bring in a winger, centre-half, central midfielder and left-back in the next few weeks.

We have got some very promising youth players promoted to the first team squad (Willock, Smith-Rowe, Saka etc), but I don't think it's fair to put so much pressure on them to help us get back into CL football. Also, none of them will help solidify our defence. If we don't bring in at least 3 new players that go directly into the first team, we need to temper our expectations for the coming season.

4th will be a tough ask.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Who do you think will finish above you?

Us and Chelsea have our own problems too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

1. City
2. Liverpool
3. Spurs
4. United
5. Arsenal/Chelsea
6. Arsenal/Chelsea

I think United will get 4th. You are still huge beneficiaries of SAF's trophy-laden reign and you are a commercial powerhouse. Although some of the money you have spent has been wasted, it is also what attracts top players and prospects (Wan-Bissaka, James...) to your club too.

We may all be having problems in our own way, but with Chelsea under a transfer ban and us not having much to spend, United have the best budget out of all 3 clubs to rectify their issues.

comment by Samir - Bottlers FC (U2630)
posted 56 minutes ago
comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 10 minutes ago
I find 27m regardless of structure for an 18yo CB to be quite incredible really, he must be some talent.

It just makes me wonder why the club can't front load their budget this window and fill those gaps, that surely gives them a better chance of being in the top 4 going forward even if they have less to spend next season surely playing CL would mitigate that.

I suppose it's a gamble but with Chelsea and United treading water it's as good a time as any for Arsenal to roll the dice.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

The issue is we did that in Wenger's last season and that's what has contributed to our current financial mess. We went big on Lacazette (£46.5m, £183k p/w) and Aubameyang (£56m, £280k p/w including bonuses), gave Ozil a ridiculous contract extension (£350k p/w, 4 years). Then, because Alexis was so desperate to leave, and we had little time to search for a new winger, we had to do a swap deal for Mkhitaryan who is on £180k p/w.

In fairness, some of those signings made were offset by the sales of Giroud, Walcott, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain and a few others who went for £10m or less, but the facts are we invested big on attacking players, both in terms of wages and transfer fees, to get us back into the CL. It didn't work.

Now we've got a Champions League-standard wage bill when we are a Europa League club. This isn't sustainable.

The issue we have isn't necessarily transfer fees, it was to do with FFP rules on wage increases per season, which we are teetering on the edge of right now. It was only at the start of this month where the Premier League announced they were not renewing that rule.

But whilst we have got rid of some high earners like Ramsey, Welbeck, Cech, Lichtsteiner etc, the wages of Mkhi, Mustafi and Ozil are still problematic, particularly if we're trying to bring new players in.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
That makes a lot of sense.

Ozil to Fenerbahce seems to be gathering some ground but only as a loan deal and if they cover even half of his wages i'd be surprised. That might free up some cash.

Daniel Sturridge got his dog back all it took was an article from me.

comment by Robbing_Hoody - condoning assaults on inanimate objects since 2017 (U6374)
posted 1 hour, 50 minutes ago
Liverpool should test the waters with Eriksen imo as he'd fit well.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
lol

The Arsenal gaffer is 12 months the wiser now.

I wouldn't be surprised with a Top 4 finish this season after narrowly missing out in his maiden campaign.

comment by HB Fash (U21935)
posted 36 minutes ago
Daniel Sturridge got his dog back all it took was an article from me.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So you did it, you low life