LAM09

He isn't going to be afford time over there, so he'll have to hit the ground running once the season starts.

They're still lacking elsewhere. I certainly don't see them finishing in the top 4 with their current squad and rumoured signings. Sokratis, Mustafi and Chambers won't cut it.

It's more to do with our expectations compared to Arsenal. This season will obviously be one of transition, but the team/Roman will have ambitions of challenging 12 months now, whether that's realistic is another story. Also, I think Arsenal are a way off in every position aside from upfront. They leak more than they score & they haven't got Liverpool's sort of front line either. In regards to Manchester United, they have all their hopes pinned on their youth this season, so their season could go any way with a manager that's hardly done much to date.

I just have my reservations about him being able to make the step up tbh. Arsenal and Everton EL level teams at best right now whilst we're a level above in all fairness. Better deals to be had with 12 months in mind.

There were talks of Bayern willing to bid £45m in his current predicament. If he was solely after a bigger paycheck, I would have shipped him off. That's the down side of winning. People fail to see the bigger picture.

So the club (Marina & Roman) view him as Ronaldinho? There is no way on earth that he's solely living off Mourinho's admiration.

This sort of deal doesn't seem like good business. £60-80m for someone that will be almost 28 by the time he joins, have little to no resell value and anything could happen within 12 months. If we are seriously looking at signing players with 12 months in mind, we ought to be going down the Pulisic route again.

I know. It's just something we need to nip in the bud before an inevitable loan limit comes into play, and we're stuck with development squad players.

Money talks, ...... walks. Wrong attitude to have in such a sort career (end of your career is different).

Does he hardly value his career or just naive? Anyone at his age would/should want continuity in their career rather than being shipped off with no clear progression in mind.

Still keeping players that have no hope here for a quick dime. This shit needs to stop. Dembele can also write with both hands. [emoji1]

Salah did his bit in Serie A whilst he still owned by us, so the jump might have surprised some, but he was still a better option than most of our wingers back then and to date. Cuadrado bought for £30m~ too. [emoji58]

Players ought to be paid what they are worth solely based on performances or actual influence on the team, instead he's earning his wage on hype rather than 5* performances on the field. RLC is FAR more deserving of such a wage but two wrongs don't make a right. People need to stop using the same stupid excuse about "modern times". The club had no obligation to cough up. It seems like only yesterday JT was our highest paid player earning £180pw having led the team to multiple titles as captain.

KDB and Salah showed signs of their ability at the top level, he hasn't. I just hope this doesn't set a bad precedent going forward.

They could have easily said take it or go, if he was holding out for such a wage. The club aren't normally known for buckling.

Good to know. We can't all play devil's advocate. [emoji1360] Everything around him is hype and promise rather than substances. We are essentially going above and beyond because Bayern turned his head.

How's the school holidays? [emoji4]

You don't go from £100k being offered for quite some time to a sudden breakthrough. It really isn't difficult to worth out what has changed.

Talk of £180kpw. [emoji52] We have followed the herd if that's really true.

Makes the move more baffling, then. I hope some reassurances were made, as this could easily turn into another wasteful loan.

Signed a new contract

That would probably be the case, but I can't see him succeeding in that position at the top level. I wonder if he will get any game time at RB.

Tidy finish from Barkley. We've beaten Barcelona, so we are now CL favourites.

I'm surprised Giroud is coming on before Michy.

Same could be said about a number of leagues right now (Juve & PSG aside).