Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[oldtimernow]

sod the press

[Concrete John]

Look, the buying club always bids below what the selling club want, it happens all the time and it will happen again. Who knows, Wigan might have accepted the £9m but they have'nt and it's up to us to increase the bid if we want him. Bearing in mind Mcleish has tried to sign him before and we're not that far away from the asking price, i'm sure it will get done. A bit of paitence is all that's needed i think.

That's the key word and although I agree personally, I can also understand others frustrations given how this summer has unfolded thus far.

And as to the bit about it only being £1m; presuming we buy 4 or 5 players this summer and drive hard bargains on them all, saving £1m each, that's £4-5m extra we could use to get an extra one in or stick in the savings account until January.

[Le Lapin]

I think we should just pay whatever that chancer Whelan is looking. N'Zog is a good player, and when Liverpool tap him up next season we'll get our money back and more.

[King of the Nørth]

Growing speculation that Parker is very likely to rejoin Chelsea- sad but no surprise really.

Unless this is a loan deal, I think it would be a mistake for him.  He'll play for half a season until Essien is fit again and then only be seen in the League Cup.  None of which helps us though, as we'd need to pay a lot more than his price for a similar, if younger, player for our midfield.

I agree with that, John. Parker has already been burned once by Chelsea - the big move of his career and it backfired, setting him back years. Not even sure he'll play that much even when Essien is injured - if they get Modric they'll surely be looking to accommodate him, Lampard, Mikel and Ramires into their midfield, not to mention McEachran, the young lad who's making decent progress and has just signed a five-year deal. He's a deep-lying central midfield player.

 
 Ive gone off Parker now and would prefer to see a younger tall strong defensive midfielder to come instead. Pretty suprised we havent been linked with many tbh. Cant see why if Wigan can get Palacios and West brom Mulumbu why we cant find our own foreign gem on the cheap?
 I know under MON he wanted to buy premium prices for proven EPL players but now we are not realistically challenging for the CL spots and looking to cut costs we should take a gamble abroad. Sounds stupid I know but ideally would like a french speaking midfield partner for Makoun and there must be plenty of decent ones in Ligue 1.

[Summers]

I'd love to sign Corluka. Brilliant defender.

[Mister E]

Growing speculation that Parker is very likely to rejoin Chelsea- sad but no surprise really.

Unless this is a loan deal, I think it would be a mistake for him.  He'll play for half a season until Essien is fit again and then only be seen in the League Cup.  None of which helps us though, as we'd need to pay a lot more than his price for a similar, if younger, player for our midfield.

I agree with that, John. Parker has already been burned once by Chelsea - the big move of his career and it backfired, setting him back years. Not even sure he'll play that much even when Essien is injured - if they get Modric they'll surely be looking to accommodate him, Lampard, Mikel and Ramires into their midfield, not to mention McEachran, the young lad who's making decent progress and has just signed a five-year deal. He's a deep-lying central midfield player.

 
 Ive gone off Parker now and would prefer to see a younger tall strong defensive midfielder to come instead. Pretty suprised we havent been linked with many tbh. Cant see why if Wigan can get Palacios and West brom Mulumbu why we cant find our own foreign gem on the cheap?
 I know under MON he wanted to buy premium prices for proven EPL players but now we are not realistically challenging for the CL spots and looking to cut costs we should take a gamble abroad. Sounds stupid I know but ideally would like a french speaking midfield partner for Makoun and there must be plenty of decent ones in Ligue 1.

Could we tempt Muamba from Bolton, perhaps? Decent young MF battler. I like the idea of looking at Witzel for the CMF role, too.

[Concrete John]

I also like Witsel, but hasn't he gone to Porto?

[Summers]

Muamba, Mulumbu and Diame are all talented young battling defensive minded central midfielders.

[Karl Bridges]

Oh and Corluka is NOT bobbins!

My mistake, I would have to bow to your superior knowledge. I seem to remember him being pretty woeful at Man City, not seen enough of him at Spurs to be fair.

[SteveN]

Muamba, Mulumbu and Diame are all talented young battling defensive minded central midfielders.

I like N'Zoni (sp?) and given Blackburn's current situation you would have though he would be available at a decent price.

[Merv]

It's a huge sweeping statement and a massive generalisation I know, but it seems to me that athletic, high-energy midfield players with sound technique are available en masse around Europe.

I do like Mulumbu, by the way.

[Percy McCarthy]

It's a huge sweeping statement and a massive generalisation I know, but it seems to me that athletic, high-energy midfield players with sound technique are available en masse around Europe.

I do like Mulumbu, by the way.

Me too. Stripey's best player, according to my Stripey mate.

[King of the Nørth]

Oh and Corluka is NOT bobbins!

My mistake, I would have to bow to your superior knowledge. I seem to remember him being pretty woeful at Man City, not seen enough of him at Spurs to be fair.

 Not Superior just all IMO. Besides Im not the only one who thinks he's quality and as someone posted before when he came on for Spurs he kept Young in his pocket for the rest of the game. Would be the perfect buy if we sell Cuellar as can cover CB aswell as RB.

[Concrete John]

I haven't seen enough of him to form an opinion I'd trust, but when I have seen Mulumbu he's done well.

Just did a bit of reserach (OK - I checked Wikipedia!) and he's got 10 goals in 80 appearances for WBA.  That equates to 5 a season, which ain't bad for a DCM.

[deero83]

Muamba, Mulumbu and Diame are all talented young battling defensive minded central midfielders.

I like N'Zoni (sp?) and given Blackburn's current situation you would have though he would be available at a decent price.

N'Zonzi and N'Zogbia in the same side?! A commentator's nightmare.