Sergej Milinkovic-Savic

[WiganSpur]

I could see us baulking at £40m never mind £80m.

 

[Westmorlandspur]

Assuming this is in reference to De ligt? In which case yeah for sure, but also think the CB situation is slightly different this window. We already have 2 highly competent, experienced replacements in Jan and Sanchez, as well as Dier and Foyth so a development prospect, especially one with the potential of De Ligt isn't the end of the world.

In CM, however, we just have nobody to match Dembele's quality (on his day), and a pure prospect would weaken us far more significantly, in an area where we've needed to strengthen since Modric, in my opinion.

We might even sign a midfield player who plays a killer pass, scores goals and even has a shot now and again.

 

[JayB]

I could see us baulking at £40m never mind £80m.

We spent 42m last summer on Sanchez, for a position that wasn't a huge need in the squad. I'd be very surprised if we weren't willing to meet or exceed that level of investment for a central midfielder this summer, which will arguably be the most important acquisition the club has made in years.

That being said I also doubt we'll be willing to match the insane 80-100m valuation that Lazio has for SMS, we will hopefully be looking for a player in the next tier down.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Crazy if it happens. Would be a savvy move, though. One-in-a-Million.

Great pun...


This guy looks like a midfield version of Berbatov from the very little I’ve seen, definitely something that would improve us.

Not sure about this statement signing bollocks. In recent years the players who have instantly improved us have been:

Alderweireld- Atletico reject who had excelled at Southampton.
Vertonghen and Eriksen - successful with Ajax, unproven at the top level.
Dier - young Lisbon bit part utility man.
Wanyama - Southampton’s best midfielder,
Dembele - Fulham’s best midfielder
Dele - MK Dons Star player

The closest we’ve had to a ‘statement’ signing who actually improved immediately us has been Lloris, French first choice goalkeeper and captain. Otherwise, our ‘statement’ signings have been:

Paulinho - Brazilian first choice midfielder
Soldado - top scorer in Spain over 5 seasons after Messi and Ronaldo
Son - Asia’s best player

I’m happy continuing with what has evolved us to the point where somehow this season, already our 3rd best ever points tally in the PL with 3 games remaining, is a tad disappointing.

 

[dtxspurs]

The closest we’ve had to a ‘statement’ signing who actually improved immediately us has been Lloris, French first choice goalkeeper and captain. Otherwise, our ‘statement’ signings have been:

Paulinho - Brazilian first choice midfielder
Soldado - top scorer in Spain over 5 seasons after Messi and Ronaldo
Son - Asia’s best player

I’m happy continuing with what has evolved us to the point where somehow this season, already our 3rd best ever points tally in the PL with 3 games remaining, is a tad disappointing.

I'd say Lamela was a statement signing. He and Eriksen were huge prospects at the time. Funny enough Lamela, Eriksen and Lucas were all considered some of the brightest young attacking talents in world football and all moved that same summer.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

I'd say Lamela was a statement signing. He and Eriksen were huge prospects at the time. Funny enough Lamela, Eriksen and Lucas were all considered some of the brightest young attacking talents in world football and all moved that same summer.

#FMmemories

 

[Everlasting Seconds]

Great pun...


This guy looks like a midfield version of Berbatov from the very little I’ve seen, definitely something that would improve us.
.

It's the start of silly season, I'm a bit out of practice. HOWEVER, should you be throwing stones, mr. "he looks like a midfield Berbatov?"

 

[BringBack_leGin]

I'd say Lamela was a statement signing. He and Eriksen were huge prospects at the time. Funny enough Lamela, Eriksen and Lucas were all considered some of the brightest young attacking talents in world football and all moved that same summer.

Further solidifying my point that ‘statements’ don’t guarantee success.

It's the start of silly season, I'm a bit out of practice. HOWEVER, should you be throwing stones, mr. "he looks like a midfield Berbatov?"

I actually meant that sincerely, I liked the pun!

 

[phaser]

I'd say Lamela was a statement signing.

A statement signing not good enough to live up to the billing and not close to it either. Awful in his first season and now at best average in his fifth. Time to sell and get back what we can.

 

[scat1620]

I don't know who this dude is.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

I’m happy continuing with what has evolved us to the point where somehow this season, already our 3rd best ever points tally in the PL with 3 games remaining, is a tad disappointing.

Im sorry to sound like a broken record on this but when you charge the highest prices in the league in the second largest stadium you can’t just continue with the previous transfer policy. We as customers, that is after all how the club treats us, have been asked to pay top dollar and like any business if you charge top dollar you need to deliver a commensurate product. This isn’t an anti Levy rant just a comment on the simple facts that he created.

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

Im sorry to sound like a broken record on this but when you charge the highest prices in the league in the second largest stadium you can’t just continue with the previous transfer policy. We as customers, that is after all how the club treats us, have been asked to pay top dollar and like any business if you charge top dollar you need to deliver a commensurate product. This isn’t an anti Levy rant just a comment on the simple facts that he created.

Great post. But equally, Levy will recognize this. I think there must be so much going on behind the scenes because we are at the point now where the chrysalis of the club- the new stadium, another season of CL, the growing reputation of the club- is close to completion that any dithering could fuck it all up. The financial potentials are too great; I think this will be a good window

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Great post. But equ

equ ?

 

[doctor stefan Freud]

equ ?

Yes, equ- it's Latin for 'get fucked, technology' when your keyboard channels the ghost of Shergar

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Im sorry to sound like a broken record on this but when you charge the highest prices in the league in the second largest stadium you can’t just continue with the previous transfer policy. We as customers, that is after all how the club treats us, have been asked to pay top dollar and like any business if you charge top dollar you need to deliver a commensurate product. This isn’t an anti Levy rant just a comment on the simple facts that he created.

Every fan who has bought a season ticket for next season has done so fully aware what the policy on transfer and wages has been, is and will continue to be. It’s not as if Levy has come out publicly and made a bunch of promises about changing policy if STs sell out. Every supporter who bought one did so of their own volition and could have easily saved themselves a bunch of money by not renewing. Ultimately Levy’s only responsibility is to keep improving the club, he’s succeeded at this with a certain formula for several seasons, why on earth would he suddenly tear up his playbook to start again?

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Every fan who has bought a season ticket for next season has done so fully aware what the policy on transfer and wages has been, is and will continue to be. It’s not as if Levy has come out publicly and made a bunch of promises about changing policy if STs sell out. Every supporter who bought one did so of their own volition and could have easily saved themselves a bunch of money by not renewing. Ultimately Levy’s only responsibility is to keep improving the club, he’s succeeded at this with a certain formula for several seasons, why on earth would he suddenly tear up his playbook to start again?

Without insulting you I think you are Levy’s dream. I bought my season ticket in the firm expectation that we would be stepping up our investment in the squad and I’m going to feel ripped off if we don’t.

 

[am_yisrael_chai]

Great post. But equally, Levy will recognize this. I think there must be so much going on behind the scenes because we are at the point now where the chrysalis of the club- the new stadium, another season of CL, the growing reputation of the club- is close to completion that any dithering could fuck it all up. The financial potentials are too great; I think this will be a good window

I hope so. My only nagging concern is that Levy hasn’t concluded a naming rights deal yet and that is a massive part of the financial puzzle. Apparently he has fired several people in the role which doesn’t bode well for how the negotiations are going / how realistic he is being. Of course you could make the optimistic case that he really needs to deliver at least one marquee signing to increase the appeal to sponsors. I think @Hercules may have said as much last window. Really hoping this is the case.

 

[BringBack_leGin]

Without insulting you I think you are Levy’s dream. I bought my season ticket in the firm expectation that we would be stepping up our investment in the squad and I’m going to feel ripped off if we don’t.

If Levy’s dreaming about me we have bigger issues than how much we have to spend on transfers.

As for your expectations, I’m not going to suggest they’re unreasonable, but ultimately I’m not sure what you’d have based them on. I renew every year with the expectation that I’ll see something entertaining and, hopefully successful, on the pitch, but also with the understanding that there are no guarantees of this. This has very little to do with how much we spend.

As for ticket prices, every fan who had an ST this season could have renewed at the same price or cheaper for next season. The only reason that some fans were unable to and ended up pushed towards more expensive options is because fans in early phases took the opportunity to downgrade their season ticket and save some money, like me, who in phase 1 downgraded from a £1500 ticket to a £995 ticket due to personal circumstances. Don’t blame Levy, blame me.

 

[Cavehillspur]

Never heard of him lol

 

[rabbikeane]

Never heard of him lol

I don't know who this dude is.

He's decent