Polarboy

6 goals and 4 assists last season for a centre back is pretty crazy. At 25 and pretty established, he seems like he'd be direct competition for Schar's place, as opposed to someone who would be his understudy for a season or two.

The Mail are reporting that we'll pay 25m, or we'll at least bid 25m, for Barnes. If we get him for 25m that's incredible business. A French publication is saying that we're "preparing" to bid for the 19 year old attacking mid Rayan Cherki off Lyon. Chelsea have also been heavily linked with him, so we'll have to hope they don't beat us to yet another young player, should we actually make a bid.

Ben Jacobs has said we're still looking for a player of the profile of Maddison and Szoboszlai, as in a versatile attacking mid. I can only really think of Veiga and Kudus off the top of my head, in terms of players of that profile we've been linked to who are yet to move this summer. I say linked to but the real truth is that there's a relatively small pool of elite players for each position. So every big team is "linked" to said players. If Veiga is really a target of Citeh's we can pretty much forget about him obviously. I mean unless we could assure him of more playing time compared to what Pep would be willing to offer. But I can't see Howe giving someone that kind of guarantee. I'd assume he's pretty strict with the, everyone has to work hard in training and work their way into the team ethos.

There was a fan poll on twitter and iirc over 80% were in favour of the transfer. As per the noisy few are creating a false narrative.

Another voice to add to the chorus. I can't wait until the 'ammers fans start accusing us of stealing their transfer targets again 😂 They probably shouldn't employ The Proclaimers useless younger brother if they want competence in the transfer market.

I think you'll find that his full name if Harvey Norman Moonpig.com.

Our front three are going to be ridiculously quick regardless of who takes the right wing slot. Gordon if he's played on the right is ridiculously quick, Almiron, even Murphy has decent pace, and then the exciting options of either Chiesa or Diaby.

Seems like the Guardian are just regurgitating what the Telegraph said, but you'd assume that they would check their sources as well before putting something out. Once all the major papers start saying the same things it's a pretty decent sign.

Well I wasn't being entirely serious, they're different players in different positions obviously, but I do think he can potentially score and create more goals than Maddison, after Howe gets his hands on him for a while as you say. Again though, given it's the Telegraph we should probably postpone the hand lotion somewhat. Edit. Romano has picked it up? Interesting. If I recall correctly he wasn't fooled by the Barella stuff.

Would people say Barnes is a bit underrated? And I'm not just saying that because he might be signing 😂 I've seen people on twitter act underwhelmed and or say that ASM is a better player, which is ridiculous even if you just look at their goal involvement stats in their careers. With Maddison at Leicester I think he was a bit in his shadow, but clearly Barnes is the better player now that "Madders" is off to Spuds 😉 👍

Chicken nonce and the Telegraph were well off the mark with the Barella stuff, which if you believe The Athletic was intentional on the clubs part, so we'll see what happens. I'm liking the thought of Barnes on the left and someone like a Chiesa or Diaby on the right though. A lot of goals down both flanks. Having said that it could be that Howe intends to play Gordon down the right and Barnes will be the one big first 11 signing on the wings.

Chiesa's agents have supposedly travelled to England for talks according to an Italian paper. How many clubs they're talking to, whether we're definitely one, and indeed whether his agents actually are in England has to be questioned 😂

The only thing that's really out of place in that is the pesto. The other stuff is basically just tomato sauce and cheese. Five beers and I'd devour that thing. Then again that's not a very high culinary bar.

Just to be clear, I'm not a homosexual. Not that's there's anything wrong with that 😉👍

Deciding whether I should post rumours

Aye, he's right footed.

They'll be lucky to get 50m. It might drag on till the end of the window if Leicester dig their heels in, but I can't see them getting more than the 40m they got for Maddison regardless of his contract. At the end of the day they're a championship club and there are other pressures on them to sell Barnes. Incidentally, he has two years left on his contract.

I'm reminded of that episode of Seinfeld where Bryan Cranston plays Jerry's dentist, and Jerry is convinced that the dentist only married a Jewish women so he could get a pass for telling Jew jokes 😂

See, it wasn't that hard to agree with me 😂👍

Yes, let's get back to talking about Chalobah...oh wait. 😂