Leaving Gakpo aside, the stories about us having zero money to spend in January could be posturing to stop us getting bent over by any club we talk to. The world and his wife watched the very public fallout between United and Ronaldo, and everyone knows we desperately need a striker so we are not starting from a position of power in any negotiations. A player like Felix that is being pushed out by his club, or someone like Thuram who's contract is up, are the only kinds of deal where we as the buyer hold any of the cards but given our position, the seller is still likely going to push for everything they can.
I think this might be us maneuvering ourselves into a position where we are able to go into negotiations for certain players and still have a hard line we can threaten to fall back on and walk away. I can't see us not trying for a replacement at all and talk of being 'unable to afford a loan fee' sounds like bs. At very least, we were expecting to pay Ronaldo's wages for the next few months so that money is going spare now.
I am sceptical about Felix but I reckon we'll see someone come in, even if it is a stop-gap loan to get us to the summer.
If we do have zero money, that isnt even for me something to level at the owners but our reruitment overall. It was a decent window but we way over spent on pretty much every deal we did. Appreciate seeling clubs can ask what they want and may not even want players to go, but Antony in particular was a ridiculous fee (this isnt even based on performances since arriving) as Martinez I feel was also way over wht he should have cost.
But the main reason we may have zero money with our net spend is sales, or complete lack of them. We barely bought in over £10m in sales from two players, fortunately let a few go on contrats (half of which should have been sold a year or two ago).....but yet our squad is still bloated in areas with....
Henderson, Bailly, Jones, Williams, Telles, Tuanzabe, VDB.....all players 100% either dont really want to be here or really shouldnt now. I know there are wages, but our inability to not sell any of them is staggering. Dont want to talk figures as there is always srutiny, but there is decent money from those.
Then there are others with question marks Lindelof, Maguire, AWB, Amad, Fred, McTominay, Martial, ELanga........There should have been a couple of fairly big sales amongst these players. We had a net spend of way over £200m (forgetting contrat salaries) over the summer buying four players, selling two and releasing 5/6.
When you look at it like that, it was a poor summer. Our purchases should have been nearer £180m and our sales should have been nearer £100m and wed only be a regular starter or two shorter than we have been.....and we have witnessed the likes of Shaw can play centre back and others other positions.
Our net spend in the summer for me was about £120-130m higher than it should have been and that would have bought an Enzo Fernandez or an Osimhen, Vlahovic or 2/3 quality signings like a Lukeba, Sesko etc etc.
As for Felix, I dont see him as a striker really, think his best position is Fernandes as is Eriksens as is Hannibal, so long term the signing doesnt really make sense even though he is good enough to start ahead of any of them with his ability at least.....but as a stop gap if there is no money, £9m for Felix and 6months to see him playing there as a false number 9 I think is better than other stop gap options, not that I like stop gap options
