Pizy

Seems like no one has a clue who that guy is. No reliable outlets reporting anything from what I can tell.

He's fat? Really? Built like a bloody tank!

Maybe they just want a striker who's basically a guarentee to get us 20+ goals per season, mate? Maybe it's not any more complicated than that. He's young, super durable, scores loads of goals, and will be very popular. He'll basically be to us what Harry Kane is to Spuds. A striker who loves the club and will do whatever it takes to succeed here.

4-2-4 formation with Lukaku and Morata up top & Hazard and Pedro/Willian flanking them. Could work well.

I really want both, tbh...

Like I mentioned in a previous post, would be great having a striker that's a huge aerial threat. Gives us a new dimension.

Is it a downgrade, though? More like a sideways move for me. Neither are great with the ball and both sometimes have trouble in tight areas when closed down. I think Diego's biggest positive for us is that he's clutch. Seems to frequently pop up at the right time with a very incisive goal. Lukaku is stronger, bigger, and much better in the air. Plus, and perhaps most importantly, he's never a liability with his temperament. Never gets injured and isn't a controversial person publicly. Like you say, there aren't really other options that would be any cheaper and even if we spent £80m or more on someone like Belotti you'd have to pray that he's the real deal and can cut it in a new country, much tougher league, and deal with all the pressure of being a mega expensive player. With Rom we know precisely what we're getting. He knows exactly how to play in the PL.

Just hope we don't go all powerful and strong players this summer. We also need players who are highly technical and elegant. So far our strongest linked have been Lukaku and Bakayoko who are all about physicality.

Don't get me wrong, I'd have him back here for sure. I'm just not sure how it would be possible for he and Diego to play together. If he went to the Manc's he'd be the main #9 assuming Zlatan is gone. Plus, he'd be paid ludicrous wages and get to team up with his best mate Pogba.

Absolutely zero chance they'd sell him, surely? Or that he would want to leave the best side in Italy where he's a huge part of them. Just sounds like a lazy media link after we missed out on Van Dijk.

I actually think that if he and his scummy agent are already talking to a club it'll be Man United. They'll be feeling burned by the Griezmann situation and desperate to make a big statement signing. I'm not 100% convinced we're after him with Costa still here.

He's sort of "trapped" here now, isn't he? He can't go back to Atleti and Chinese clubs would have to pay like £150m after the new foreign player tax was put into place. Have absolutely no clue what would happen if we signed Lukaku, though, since I can't see how the two of them play together.

Great post. As long as Conte gets his first choice targets I'll be happy. I do kind of hope we make at least 1 big signing early in the summer just to build a bit of buzz and set the tone. The fans will be elated if we send our rivals a statement of intent with a huge, star signing.

Of course it would be silly this early in the summer to be worried about the lack of concrete links or movement, but it seems like one by one everyone we've so far been linked with is going elsewhere. Bernardo Silva - gone to City Van Dijk - looks certain to go to Liverpool now James & Morata - strongly linked with United and PSG by reliable sources Tolisso - now strongly linked with Bayern Alexis - no chance at all Arse will sell to us I'd love to give our board the benefit of the doubt that they're lining things up in total secrecy, but based upon recent transfer windows it's hard to do. This can't be another summer where we bring in shite or wait until it's so late that we panic and buy Conte's 3rd or 4th choice targets.

Completely forgot about Renato Sanches. What happened to him? Just overhyped and not great, or what? He was as coveted as Mbappe last summer.

Xabi Alonso's replacement? Unless we offer significantly more money I can't see him turning down Bayern.

Looks like all the journalists have been briefed. Liverpool of all clubs paying £60m for a player, nevermind a CB, is something I never thought I'd see. I can only hope that we were never truly interested because losing what was rumored to be our primary CB target to fucking Liverpool is embarrassing otherwise.

Man... Get well soon. Looking like he'll miss some early season matches.

I'm seeing some places saying 6-8 weeks and others saying 3 months or more! Which is it? That's a pretty big discrepancy.

Maybe this expedites some deals for attacking players? Wait too long and we end up signing Papy Djilobodji's and Matt Miazga's near the deadline. Get a few in early so there's no panic as the seasons starting.

Jesus fucking Christ... Thats an injury that can nag and flare up even after it heals.

I mean, I get that it's romantic to play for Real Madrid under his idol Zidane, but he can achieve just about anything here that he can there so long as we add quality to our team. I could understand if he was a flashy, outgoing, fame whore but he's a shy, reserved guy with a young family. I don't see the appeal of going and just being one among a dozen other star names when he's the face of a big club already and the star man of the best league.

Exactly. Just say "I'm happy here and I'm only thinking about Chelsea where I have a long contract." Just like Azpi did with the Barca rumors. Don't say "I have dreams" and shit like that. Even if it's true.

I think he'd be happy to stay if they don't come in for him. If they start another of their media campaigns to sign a star player then I think he'll want to leave. I just hope the club dig their heels in and don't take a cent less than a new world record fee. They scoffed at the Pogba price so I'm not sure they'll be willing to go near it.

Only other suitable replacement would be Alexis and there's no chance of that happening by the looks of it. So where would that leave us if Hazard left?