Ed-Zeppelin

Bascombe saying we've agreed a £32m fee with Palace for Benteke in the Telegraph. Only posted half an hour ago! Finally, hopefully...

Going back a few pages to Chewie saying perhaps they're, FSG, only looking to stabilise then sell. Wouldn't the current approach to loans also support this. Yes it gets the wages down the way they're doing things, something I'm not entirely against, but it also means any prospective buyer isn't buying into a lot of long term deals and gives them more flexibility. This and the low value signings looking for potential make good sense for us as a club potentially if we can't/won't spend big, but surely it also helps if they're looking to sell in the short / medium term. The same goes for what they're doing with the stadium which so far seems like a lot of ground work without really committing. All good for any prospective buyers, or for FSG if they're looking to sell.

Yep, Old days: Us: £5m Them: £10m Us: £11m Them: Deal Now: Us: £5m Them: £10m Us:£7m Them: £10m Us: £9m Them: £10 Us: £10m Them: Deal! Much better!

And potential sell on. For someone like Coutinho if you extended his contract at some point you could reasonably expect a decent transfer sum back. If he stayed long term it would also make the transfer fee seem better value as it's a longer term investment. I don't agree with how stringent they appear to be with this policy of youth. Balance is needed and there are intangible elements in any deal that won't show up on the bottom line of a deal but any football man would consider just as closely. Yet another reason we need a proper strong football CEO between Rodgers and Ayre and FSG.

Things change quickly if a player comes off the back of a good season. If nothing else it strengthens our hand in demanding something like £20m as opposed to £14m. Even if we only got the later this deal works as it will hopefully free up wages to get someone in.

Fingers crossed! Don't want to curse it but I can't believe we'd sanction the deal without something lined up, hopefully more than Dempsey too. I don't mind Dempsey as a player but I'd like us to get a proper striker!

Or we send him to West Ham for a season where he does well, costs us nothing all season and his stock is higher next year so we get more than £14m.

If Carroll isn't wanted then I'd obviously prefer he was sold but this potential deal with West Ham would be good overall. Stops him going to Newcastle who like it not could be a direct rival for places this season. It frees up wages for another player too which seems to be the big issue with the owner rather than transfer funds. If AC does go I'd not be surprised by Dempsey plus one. Surprised a little that Yesil is so strongly aiming at the youth setup. At 18 if he's good enough he's old enough, as Sterling has proven recently. It'll take time but if he's got the talent a lot of German fans think then I think / hope he'll be around the first team in less than 2 years.

Stevie has just shot him down live on Sky as well. Said he's been in the loop during the manager recruitment process and Rodgers was always first choice.

Ahh. Those quotes just remind me what a bloody moron the man is. His quotes today about not having done anything bad when with us! What planet is he on, this is the man who signed Konchesky! Hope we smash them to pieces, he rubs his face off and then gets appointed England boss for the Euros! He and the FA deserve each other.

“@BeccaJames6: Several media in Holland claimed Drenthe's absence in FA cup semi final was because of having negotiations with #LFC for a possible transfer” No idea who this is but they have been fairly well versed on some of the recent Ajax goings on. It would be fun though. We could do with a crazy wide player. He's got something about him if Kenny could keep him in line and he wouldn't cost the Earth.

Although you'd think a major part of Comolli's job should be finding value and the hidden gems in the market it appears as though we've been trying to play it safe, with the one exception of going for the big name, world class, signings. With the stated requirement of a top four finish it may have been that DC and Kenny felt they couldn't go for the 'value' side and went for safety in the buys we saw last summer. Fine, but hopefully they've learnt that this isn't anymore a guarantee of success than buying players from elsewhere. Im still at a loss as to what the big picture strategy is. Under Rafa, even when hamstrung by H&G, he was buying players which fit a system and style and could generally get them to produce as a result, even if the players themselves weren't top drawer individually. Our current approach of chasing the top 4 seems to have meant we've forgotten how to do that. Perhaps if the approach had been a less frantic chase for the top 4 again, giving scope for some value signings to grow into the side, rather than the perception that they all had to hit the ground running, we may have found more value last season and possibly even uncovered a good player or two from abroad. A massive, and revealing, summer awaitings. The transfer thread on here will be a laugh........

It's a fair point looking at it. There are a few that would be good for the bench but actually I'm surprised at how few really would get near. Van Persie is good, but a injury liability. Ramsey and Walcott, I knew it would rile when I said it last time, I'd have. Wilshere definitely.

Cheeky bid for Walcott if we are after pace and width with the ability to go through the middle. If Bellamy is a no Theo would tick slot of boxes based on our signings so far this summer. I know a lot on here don't rate him highly, but he'd be another threat and a great option to have! Can't see it though, simply as Arsenal simply couldn't sell another big player, could they.... Would be funny though.

Agree with Grabiner. That's a great deal for Bolton considering Cahill has only 1 year left on his contract. Hopefully it's gets sorted soonish if true. I'd also welcome Shelvey going there on loan. He'd get much more game time most probably and Coyle actually employs a system which would benefit him. Also glad it looks like being Cahill over Dann.