Polarboy

Chicken nonce reckons we're most interested in Pulisic out of the Chelsea players. Firstly because he's a good player, but also because he would bring us into the US market in the hopes of sponsorship revenue etc, given he's the USA teams leading light. I suppose it makes sense, but it could just be Edwards speculating. He said: “Pulisic is interesting for them, because obviously, it opens up the USA market. They’re a new club looking for new commercial revenue streams. The interest from the States would obviously increase in a club like Newcastle, and I think he’s a really good player. And again, he’s the sort of player that they need – a wide forward who can score goals. “I would put Newcastle in pole position to get one of them. We just have to wait and see which one it is. But I think Pulisic – I think that’s the one to really keep an eye on.”

Hassenhoople is supposedly persona non grata with many of his players as well, so if I'm a player with any sense I'd be staying far away from Southampton at the minute. Southampton are supposedly in for Hudson-Odoi on loan as well.

I don't know if transfer fees are going to calm down to a more reasonable level in the near future, but if that is the case I'd far rather we were patient than max our FFP on players who's fees are being inflated by 10, 15, even 20m in Gibbs-White's case. Buying players for the sake of it or, again, paying way other the odds surely isn't the way to conduct our business. Now if these fees are a reality that's here to say, that's another conversion. Then again if enough clubs put their foot down on having to pay ridiculous fees for mere potential in the form of young players who've barely played, then perhaps that will have a positive effect on lowering prices for such players.

The only way Southampton could beat us to Ramos is that they are guaranteeing a first 11 spot. We're in a difficult spot in that we don't need to replace Wilson, but we also need a credible replacement when he gets injured. If I was Ramos and starting in the most famous team in my country, and playing Champions League football, I'd want to be sure I wasn't sitting on the bench for a team that's only as yet aspiring to be in Europe. He's still a very young man as well, so there isn't that much pressure on him to move to a more high profile and lucrative league yet.

With certain fans becoming increasingly impatient at our lack of attacking arrivals, does Bayern’s move for Mathys Tel and Nottingham Forest’s outrageous bid for Morgan Gibbs-White show us how difficult it is to get the right one over the line at the right price? Munich have signed the 17-year-old Stade Rennes striker for an initial fee of £17m that should rise to £25m once add-ons come into play. An astronomical price for a player that has played less than 100 minutes of senior football, did not even start a Ligue 1 match last season and is yet to score or even assist professionally. In addition, some breaking news has just emerged on Morgan Gibbs-White, with a host of outlets confirming that Nottingham Forest have just agreed a deal worth a staggering £44m for the attacking midfielder. He’s a talent, but this sort of money for a man who has one goal and one assist in 48 Premier League appearances is crazy. Oh and don’t even get me started on Anthony Gordon. The fact he could seal a £50m move to Chelsea after Everton knocked back a £45m bid is beyond me. The market has gone mad. The bids we’ve seen for Gibbs-White and Gordon certainly make you realise why Leicester City rejected our £40m offer for James Maddison – a proven operator who is slightly older, yet far more prolific at this level. The crazy bids and inflated fees must be making things even tougher for a Newcastle United who are already finding it hard to do business at the right price. Back to Tel, who am I to question Bayern’s transfer business – but boy does it make you think! Newcastle are almost certainly in the market for a high-quality young striker who can compete with Callum Wilson and, just as importantly, step-in if our number nine succumbs to his annual injury. We also saw what happened with Ekitike. His time-wasting agent held out so his client could go to PSG and presumably sit on the bench behind Mbappe, Messi and Neymar. It was reported that we’d only pay £12m up front for the former Reims man, but it seems deals like that have been hard to come by since he ditched us for the Ligue 1 giants last month. Bayern have gambled massively and perhaps can take the hit. Tel may well go out on loan and it may well turn out to be a brilliant investment that reaps long-term gain. We shall see. But what it does say to me is how difficult it must be for Newcastle – who are still dubbed the ‘richest club in the world’ – to work in this market when unproven talents will now cost you £25-£35m. If a 17-year-old untried youngster can command such a fee then, what sort of fees are being quoted to Mr Ashworth? Particularly when you add on the so-called Newcastle Tax. It seems only reasonable that The Toon want to explore and continue to explore every avenue. I still feel we’ll make a marque signing this summer. Whether it’s a striker or a winger. Which ever one of those it may be, the other may have to be a loan. One thing is for certain, we’re in a market where the seller dictates and the buyer may have to stretch beyond budget. Mathys Tel and Morgan Gibbs-White are probably good barometers as to how difficult this market. Us fans must therefore trust in the backstage boys to get it right in a way that moves our ‘new’ Club forward and not backwards. We must sign new attacking talent if we’re to mount a charge towards Europe anytime soon, but we must not be held to ransom!

Well there's far less of a difference in 28 plus add ons, and 30-35m than there is between 45m and 60m for Maddison. So hopefully a compromise can be reached. Edit. 28 including add ons.

Also seen a journo saying that Paqueta's price hasn't been reduced to 33m, and it's still at least 50m to even get them to open negotiations. It makes sense, because as he says why wouldn't someone have placed an official bid if he was 33m, which would present a bit of bargain in the current market.

At his Watford press conference (ahead of facing Preston at the weekend) Rob Edwards talking about Newcastle’s interest in signing Joao Pedro and their opening bid – Thursday 18 August 2022: “There has a been a bid in for Joao Pedro that has been talked about. “It was not anywhere near the level that we would expect it to be for him… “…but I’m involved in that conversation and if anything else (a higher bid from Newcastle United or any other club) was to come in again, we will sit down and talk about it as a club and as a board.” Seems Like they're willing to sell at the right price. Certainly it's not a definite no we can't sell him, because we've sold Dennis and will probably sell Sarr.

Yes, his line should end with him.

Here's Chicken nonce to shit in the cornflake box.

It would make sense if we were after three players as opposed to just a winger and striker. Everybody was confused when we started bidding for Maddison, but I suspect when our bid for Diaby failed we decided to spend big on an attacking mid, spend a bit less on an understudy to Wilson, and make a loan bid for a winger. It would also explain Howe's comments about being flexible in the market.

Perhaps our interest has ended in Ramos given we're bidding for Pedro, but if not it could be that they sell him before the second leg if they are far enough ahead. The rumour was that they were unwilling to sell before second leg next Tuesday.

Dele Alli is looking like he's away to Besiktas. There must be something seriously amiss in his private life for his form to have fallen off a cliff in such spectacular fashion.

I would have thought it would be the opposite for your dress size.

Gallagher? No he's not a wide player, but he can play as a six, an eight or ten at centre mid.

The Times are reporting that Gallagher is our top target, and that we're progressing in our bid to get him. Whether that's with a loan or permanent isn't stated. Gallagher and Pedro on a permanent, and then one out of Broja, Hudson-Odoi and Pulisic on loan would be dreamland in terms of an end to our window.

Will Pedro be the new Pedro. There'll probably be less racism.

Supposedly the new proposal will be worth 28m including add ons. Reportedly their asking price was 30m, so hopefully we'll see some movement. The player himself is rumoured to be keen. He could be the perfect option given his ability to player wide left, right, and centrally. If we manage to get a Chelsea player on loan I think Gallagher would compliment the Pedro signing. Both could slot in right away, with Gallagher taking Willock's spot, and Pedro taking Almiron's.

Could be something or nothing with the Ramos thing. Best I could tell from Google translate is that he was absent for the last training session before their Kiev game tomorrow. I'd be more worried about Wolves stepping ahead of us to sign him. Then again are we even interested if we're bidding for Pedro. Supposedly Wolves only want a loan with an obligation to buy deal, so that could work in our favour. Of course Wolves' ability to sign Portuguese players given all their connections almost makes it impossible to compete if they hold a strong interest. If Ramos doesn't start tomorrow night, and he's not injured, you'll know that something is happening for sure.

Just seen a Brighton fan on twitter say he's happy Ashworth is gone and he's a fraud, because Ashworth scouted and tried to buy Nunez a few years back Let's forget him helping turn your team into an established PL team who are admired for how well run they are.

I still think we'll make one permanent signing. We seem to have a few different irons in the fire, and we still have a couple of weeks left. I think Ideally PIF will want at least one more big name signing this window. If we were willing to spend 45m on Maddison presumably that money is still burning a hole in our back pockets for the right player.

Quality attacking players are much more expensive and difficult to get though. Bruno is perhaps the exception, but most people expected him to play in a more defensive role when he came in, given that's where he played for Lyon. It just so happened that he has incredible versatility.