Summer Transfer Window - Credible Rumours Only Please

matty1878 · July 1, 2015

So have we agreed terms with mertens and don't even know how much Napoli want?

marty mcfly · July 1, 2015

MoutsGoat said:
We cant afford both.

I know it would be great having 4 top class wingers, but as we have seen with Kev this season, top class players dont enjoy sitting on the bench.

If that's the case I would sell Kev. Shaqiri can play on the right if Deulofeu is injured.

Goat · July 1, 2015

I think we will probably do a deal on Lennon with Mirallas myself anyway.

bluemangroup · July 1, 2015

Mertens is good but he hasn't got Shaqiri calves.

Goat · July 1, 2015

matty1878 said:
So have we agreed terms with mertens and don't even know how much Napoli want?

No, we have most defo not done this.

We are sniffing, from what the belg journo said.

marty mcfly · July 1, 2015

MoutsGoat said:
I think we will probably do a deal on Lennon with Mirallas myself anyway.

Which is my issue. Assume we buy Mertens then it's likely we're going to buy Lennon for 7m when we could buy Shaqiri for 12m.

Buying Shaqiri allows us to play a different way when teams park the bus. I don't feel confident of Barkley and Cleverly breaking through any parked buses.

Jxg · July 1, 2015

MoutsGoat said:
I think we will probably do a deal on Lennon with Mirallas myself anyway.

https://www.grandoldteam.com/forum/...r-speculative-hopes-and-dreams.76611/page-167

Here please mate

toffeejack · July 1, 2015

MoutsGoat said:
We cant afford both.

I know it would be great having 4 top class wingers, but as we have seen with Kev this season, top class players dont enjoy sitting on the bench.

you said the other day you thought our pot was about £30m!

Skeleton Crew · July 1, 2015

LinekersLegs said:
Lots have but Jags just won POTY at 32 and you would probably have him fitted up for pipe and slippers instead!
Mertens has only just turned 28 though, hardly twilight and even with your ridiculous definition he still has a year to go before he is on the "back of his career"

Thanks for the respectful reply. I didnt slate Mertens; he is a good player. If Everton were to sign him terrific. I we had to pick... all skill being equal I said i would take Shakiri due to his age.

POTY... Heitinga won POTY too. Jags won it during one of our worst defensive seasons in a decade. Dont put that much stock into it

MoutsGoat said:
Great isnt it, to prove his point he talks about a 37, 34 and 35 year old.

Mind boggling.

I am quoting other posters who mentioned Distin and Barry. I mention Pirlo as an example of longevity. The point is for every player in their 30's who is actually have "good year" there are many more who do not.

Bringing it back onto the thread discussion. Shakiri probably has more of an upside than a Mertens. Part of it is age.

matty1878 · July 1, 2015

MoutsGoat said:
No, we have most defo not done this.

We are sniffing, from what the belg journo said.

Ruined my day! Lol

Goat · July 1, 2015

Adversus said:
Which is my issue. Assume we buy Mertens then it's likely we're going to buy Lennon for 7m when we could buy Shaqiri for 12m.

Buying Shaqiri allows us to play a different way when teams park the bus.

And which 1 out of Mertens, Shakira, Gezza and Lennon sits on the bench for most of the season and gets unhappy.

DanB90 · July 1, 2015

bluemangroup said:
Mertens is good but he hasn't got Shaqiri calves.

Or her hips

toffeejack · July 1, 2015

MoutsGoat said:
People seem to focus on the future far to much in my eyes.

I know its great having all these young players with BAGS of potential, but potential wont help us in the 2015/16 season.

Not saying we should ignore the 2016/17 season, but our main focus should always be the next season, the most important match in football is the next game you play, our next game is Watford, potential doesnt win games, highly skilled footballers do.

with our board the only way we're going to get success is buying a load of john stones' at £3m when they're young and watch them blossom - but as USA blue says - we need a balance. everyone moaning at the start of the window about how we have too many old people, but that's not the problem - the problem is we don't actually have anyone bar mirallas in their peak age. mertens is the perfect age for the playmaker - we don't need another 23/24 year old. shakiri is so good that he can compensate the age i must add.

Goat · July 1, 2015

Skeleton Crew said:
Thanks for the respectful reply. I didnt slate Mertens; he is a good player. If Everton were to sign him terrific. I we had to pick... all skill being equal I said i would take Shakiri due to his age.

POTY... Heitinga won POTY too. Jags won it during one of our worst defensive seasons in a decade. Dont put that much stock into it

I am quoting other posters who mentioned Distin and Barry. I mention Pirlo as an example of longevity. The point is for every player in their 30's who is actually have "good year" there are many more who do not.

Bringing it back onto the thread discussion. Shakiri probably has more of an upside than a Mertens. Part of it is age.

Heitinga was amazing in his POTY season.

As you say, Jags was the best of a very bad bunch last season.

But you admitted that Barry at 32 was good, so 32 is probably "your" cut off point? Mertens is 28 mate.

Goat · July 1, 2015

toffeejack said:
you said the other day you thought our pot was about £30m!

I stand by that.

But Mertens, Shakira is 22m, that would leave us 8m for a CB and other bits and bobs, its doable, but I suspect Bobby wants a back up RB and im pretty sure we will need another Striker, although we could prolly loan 1.