2024 January transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[paul_e]

They might like us but not 20 million less, like us

It doesn't really work like that in Spain and Portugal where release clauses are mandatory. Everywhere else it's a fee that both parties see as acceptable, in Spain it's generally as high as the club can get the player to agree to so a lot of them are miles above what the club would take.

[OCD]

Torres went for much lower than his release fee.

[Dave]

Torres went for much lower than his release fee.

And we got Moreno for a third of what the internet says his was.

[garyellis]

January is not as bad as it is made out
Not ideal but there can be opportunities.

[Holy Trinity]

Jan can be a time to snipe players from massive clubs who are on the fringes. I'm struggling for example off the top of my head but say Phillips at City, Smith Rowe at Arsenal or Sancho at Utd are desperate to get minutes they will leave their respective clubs. Not that I would sign any of those but Barca, Real, Bayern etc must have players in a similar predicament that we could exploit.
That said for the first time in years I'm  ot desperate for us to sign anyone.

A right back would be nice and a veteran striker, neither have to cost the earth.

[KevinGage]

Being linked with winger Alex Baena from Villarreal. His release clause is €60mil but according to AS(?) Monchi has already been in touch with an offer of €40mil and they reckon Villareal like us and the player is a good friend of Torres' which might swing it for us.

Unai knows him and he plays on the left so it's one that would seem to make sense.

Why would they like us, when we've taken their most successful manager and hometown hero captain?

They must dread getting calls and emails from us.

[john e]

Just been having a hypothetical debate in our house
if you could take one which one would you take

Eze
Bowen
Smith Rowe

[pauliewalnuts]

Just been having a hypothetical debate in our house
if you could take one which one would you take

Eze
Bowen
Smith Rowe

Eze is the most talented player in that list

[LeeB]

Just been having a hypothetical debate in our house
if you could take one which one would you take

Eze
Bowen
Smith Rowe

I think it's a toss up between Bowen and Eze, but Bowen would be more immediate use to us.

[paul_e]

Just been having a hypothetical debate in our house
if you could take one which one would you take

Eze
Bowen
Smith Rowe

Smith-Rowe is too much of a risk. Nothing much between the other 2 but I suspect Eze has the higher ceiling so I'd lean towards him but Bowen scores more so it's a really tough call.

[AV84]

Being linked with winger Alex Baena from Villarreal. His release clause is €60mil but according to AS(?) Monchi has already been in touch with an offer of €40mil and they reckon Villareal like us and the player is a good friend of Torres' which might swing it for us.

Unai knows him and he plays on the left so it's one that would seem to make sense.

Why would they like us, when we've taken their most successful manager and hometown hero captain?

They must dread getting calls and emails from us.

The article kind of implied that we were nice to do business with. I guess maybe some clubs take the piss a bit, or try to rip teams off, or are just not great to do business with.

[Monty]

Just been having a hypothetical debate in our house
if you could take one which one would you take

Eze
Bowen
Smith Rowe

I think it's a toss up between Bowen and Eze, but Bowen would be more immediate use to us.

I agree, but Eze's really fun.

[IFWaters]

Frimpong at RB and Tammy as an option upfront would be Dreamland but don't think either could happen before summer.

[Toronto Villa]

Just been having a hypothetical debate in our house
if you could take one which one would you take

Eze
Bowen
Smith Rowe

I think it's a toss up between Bowen and Eze, but Bowen would be more immediate use to us.

we have enough right sided players as brilliant as Bowen is. But the Eze can play wide or in the middle so I'd go for him.

[paul_e]

Being linked with winger Alex Baena from Villarreal. His release clause is €60mil but according to AS(?) Monchi has already been in touch with an offer of €40mil and they reckon Villareal like us and the player is a good friend of Torres' which might swing it for us.

Unai knows him and he plays on the left so it's one that would seem to make sense.

Why would they like us, when we've taken their most successful manager and hometown hero captain?

They must dread getting calls and emails from us.

The article kind of implied that we were nice to do business with. I guess maybe some clubs take the piss a bit, or try to rip teams off, or are just not great to do business with.

Makes sense, if you look at the comments from most teams we've signed players from you get the impression that we do things the right way. I suspect that's also why so many of our deals seem to go from a rumour to full contract negotiations really quickly, be cause by the time the press know we're interested we've already spoken to the club and know what they're asking. Unlike c**ts like the twat twins in Manchester who seem to have the press do their negotiating for them for weeks to unsettle everyone.