Eberechi Eze

[thfcsteff]

Levy knocked City back for Kane in 2021. City didn't sign a striker in that window and signed Alvarez in January 2022, an unproven player from River Plate who they immediately loaned back, for ~20m. The Ronaldo interest was in the same window.

They had Aguero, Jesus, and Sterling at the time.

In 17/18, they expressed interest in VVD but he went to The Dippers. The only centre back they signed that season was Danilo for about a third of the money. He stayed two seasons and didn't even play in half their games. Hardly like for like.

They had Otemendi, Stones, Mandala, Laporte, Company and Adarabioyo at the time.

So City hardly just went out and paid the money for who they needed and backed the manager with what he wanted in any of those instances.

Without researching the others, Liverpool famously bought no one last summer after being rejected by Zubimendi.

How do you know we were penny pinching? I've seen this trotted out a lot but don't know that it's been verified.

I think Liverpool evaluated their squad and felt they had enough anyway.
We are in need. We don't have the level of quality proven cover in a couple of key areas. Personally, I think we should be paying the money for Savinho not necessarily for numpties like me, but because it is pretty clear that Frank wants and loves that kind of player. Instead, there's the growing feeling that we are going to make Thomas 'settle' for something...

 

[thfcsteff]

You don't get the point do you? Nobody is busting a fuse because we didn't get a player... it's part and parcel of football as you have illustrated. Only difference is that those two teams made an offer, it was not accepted and a few days later moved onto other targets - and got them. All you need to do is look at their recruitment this summer... imaginative, early and at decent prices. No drama; no daily will he/won't he.

The issue that many have is that we f***** around for weeks trying to penny pinch and then either end up paying as much as the initial fee or getting gazumped in the process and by the time this happens we would be desperate and running our time. We were apparently happy to pay 60M + 7M, which is practically the same as the release clause that Eze had.... when we knew from multiple reports that he would go to the Arse if he had the opportunity and we gave them the chance.

Indeed.
A penny for Venketasham's thoughts...

 

[Aldo]

Still hasn’t actually signed for Woolwich. Their Chairman must be a dithering penny pincher.

 

[braineclipse]

I think most people knew Madders needed credible rotation and care, further that he might've been able to play 30 games max this season. we knew Deki was long-term, anyone hearing the word 'patella' and thinking he'd be back in Oct was dreaming. Frank made it clear the sort of players he wanted. I think cash-flow might well have been a factor early summer, and I concede we can only use the cash which we have and that our owners do not shoot wedges of wonga into the club like others. But we have had plenty of time to have ducks in a row...

...I am hoping that we have had, and are indeed working in the deep shadows under cover. That's the best case scenario. If we're honest, it's looking like a last minute hail Mary loan of some sort from a 'big friend' overseas. I silently hope we are lining up Olmo or someone like that, but I know better (sort of LOL)...

Think we always wanted another #10 option this summer. Maybe Maddison's injury changed what kind of #10 we were looking to sign?

Impossible to know what the plan has been and is from the outside. I hope we're not in hail Mary territory, that would not say good things about our plans.