Summer 26 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[kippaxvilla2]

He did spend around £700m though apparently.

[algy]

Agree with eamonn there, if Howe had done the same at us as he did with Newcastle he’d be rightly proclaimed as pure best manager some at least Little.

Unai Emery, though, is on a different level

[rob_bridge]

Seems joelinton is on his way to Saudi now.  Not villa related obviously but jeez we think we’ve got it bad.

Sorry correction he’s expressed his desire to leave Newcastle and go to Saudi.  Nothing specific just that.

Horrible for them - lost all their mainstays of 2024/25 and not as if it seems there is a plan/structure to it unlike Villa

[Steve67]

Seems like their owners and Howe got bored.  Got to feel for their fans though, all that money but can’t spend it. Has a familiar feel to it.

[Dogtanian]

I’m not rejoicing in Newcastle’s apparent downfall. Even backed by state wealth (which like most I don’t love, but is it really that different from being backed by billionaires with no real connection to the club?), and with a large / loyal following, they found the rules too difficult to overcome. Yes there were also other factors like the Saudi eye being turned towards their domestic league, but still, this should not be a source of joy to us.

Yes, of course it is. Why would you want a 'sport' where you have to have the resources of an oil-rich country to be compete? It's already bad enough you need to now be a multi-billionaire to have a chance, state ownership takes it to a whole other level.

And that's without the disgusting nature of the state in question.

[AV82EC]

It’s not always going to be this hard for us.

Unless we miss a season in the Champions League

What like the one we’ve just had where we finished 4th and won a trophy?

[brontebilly]

It's a cautionary tale though. Clubs like ourselves and Newcastle aren't really able to compete consistently with the former breakaway super clubs. The rules were constructed in such a way to favour those clubs with higher revenue streams, including likes of nation state funded Man City.

The parallels with us are striking. Two CL league finishes and a trophy aside, Howe was allowed to hollow out the director and scouting structure. That has proven disastrous.

Pulling out in pre season for me is a cop out and he's getting a very easy ride in the media for it. Should have just left at the end of last season if his time was up. They only spent big money on a player a week ago. Seems a reputation saving exercise by Howe.

[olaftab]

Scum united now after Lewis Hall.

[Dante Lavelli]

Apparently he notified them two or three weeks ago and was asked to stay on whilst a replacement was lined up.  So he's not done a MON imo. 

[Dogtanian]

It’s not always going to be this hard for us.

Unless we miss a season in the Champions League

What like the one we’ve just had where we finished 4th and won a trophy?

The proof will be in our accounts when they are published and show how big a revenue drop we took last season.

But European competition is really important, season after season, for revenue and status. Champions League is obviously ideal, but the other two are just as important.

[LeeB]

Scum united now after Lewis Hall.

It's a small sample admittedly but I thought he looked a bang average, meat and veg left back when we won up there last season.

[Vegas]

I’m not rejoicing in Newcastle’s apparent downfall. Even backed by state wealth (which like most I don’t love, but is it really that different from being backed by billionaires with no real connection to the club?), and with a large / loyal following, they found the rules too difficult to overcome. Yes there were also other factors like the Saudi eye being turned towards their domestic league, but still, this should not be a source of joy to us.

Yes, of course it is. Why would you want a 'sport' where you have to have the resources of an oil-rich country to be compete? It's already bad enough you need to now be a multi-billionaire to have a chance, state ownership takes it to a whole other level.

And that's without the disgusting nature of the state in question.

If it’s a practical difference, I’m not seeing much difference in spending and dominance between Newcastle over the last few years and Chelsea under Abramovich, Forest now, us now.  The rules just don’t allow it.

 If it’s a principles difference, again it’s not obvious to me that state ownership is in any way inherently worse than Chelsea’s (current or formerly) or Forest’s, or specifically what that principle is, other than state = bad.

[Percy McCarthy]

It’s not always going to be this hard for us.

Unless we miss a season in the Champions League

What like the one we’ve just had where we finished 4th and won a trophy?

The proof will be in our accounts when they are published and show how big a revenue drop we took last season.

Not convinced it will be a big drop.

Broadcasting was about £10m down I think, the difference between what we got from winning the Europa and CL the year before largely made up by PL merit money & being on live so often. Could have missed out on a few quid in sponsors bonuses for being in the CL I’d imagine. But as we’ve invested £50m on improved corporate & fan facilities hopefully there will be some benefit there.

[TonyD]

Is it just me but I’ve been finding this site very slow the last few days.   
Pages take ages to load and sometimes won’t load at all. 

[Jon Crofts]

Is it just me but I’ve been finding this site very slow the last few days.   
Pages take ages to load and sometimes won’t load at all. 

We employ AI bots to slow down the connection for anyone who isn't a Gold or Platinum Muppet member Tony.

In all seriousness, I have noticed the same.