Whatever the reason (ffp, stingy owners, the sale), the fact remains we don’t have the budget to spend 130m on one striker with a bunch of sales
I have this tiny bit of hope that it can change if the club has a new owner. Although my point remains, if I need a PS5 but can't afford to buy one, doesn't mean I'll go around looking to buy a PS2. That just seems like a waste of money.
That's not what they're doing though. A ps2 would be keeping Weghorst. A better analogy would be investing in the next bit of technology instead.
Even if the club got a new owner they still need to pass the PL owners test. You may as well forget this transfer window it is what it is.
Considering Rice went for 105, 120 for Osimhen seems cheap. I know it sounds silly but in this market I expect Osimhen to be 140-150. Halaand and Mbappe are the 200 mark.
Ask yourself honestly, who else could we really get this summer with “a bit more” than 60m?
What’s weirder is people thinking we can afford him
I think they'll negotiate at 120m GBP, which is around 140m euros, i'd think. De Laurentiis is a tough negotiator, no doubt, but that 200m euro figure is unrealistic but either a negotiation tactic to scare off suitors or a ploy to start gathering interest. Not sure anyone would offer anywhere near 200m euros, but stranger things have happened. De Laurentiis have priced many players out of the market before (Koulibaly in his prime, etc).
Does it really matter if it's a bit late if he gets Onana? He's worked directly with him before and plays exactly how he wants us to play, hardly going to take much bedding in.
Hojlund is obviously much much better than nothing, that is an extreme comparison. But personally if we're going this route, I'd go for Jonathan David first and make Hojlund 2nd or even 3rd behind Kolo Muani. Reading the papers Jonathan in the similar price range as Hojlund and have a bit more experience (been at Lille since 2020 while Hojlund is only 20 and been at Atlanta for 1 year). If players turn into a world beater and we're missing on them, that's life, you can't have all the talents. But this club cannot afford and should not overpay without too much considerations anymore, hence going for the safer route in picking players. Seeing the price tag for Hojlund makes Mount looks a very good deal to me, PL proven, CL winner, multiple PoTY for his club. And to think people were complaining when we signed him...
Why is Napoli president such an attention seeking loudmouth though.
Whereas David to me doesn’t scream anything more than an average to good striker. I can’t see it with him. He would do well at Brentford or somewhere that could play to his strengths.
I think prices being quoted are just bobbins and tbf to the current board, I don't think it's all on them. They're paying the price for the idiocy of the previous board (trying to clear out deadwood on massive contracts and FFP restrictions due to "historic" purchases) and currently the uncertainty around the ownership.
Same goes for me with Hojlund. I can be wrong of course. I didn't watch Atlanta but in the highlights I don't see anything special with him. Good talent, yes, but not very productive in a league where Lukaku thrive.
Agreed. And Ten Hag has praised Martial multiple times when he was fit. Ten Hag has worked with different kind of CFs though. So I guess we'll see if he's really interested in Hojlund or is it just media riding on the back of Mr.Whatshisname going to the other side.
But also the league where Oshimen has thrived this year
Italian Levi.
Can't take posts like this seriously when you offer up no viable alternative and think we can get Osimhen for a little bit more han 60mill. Completely detached from reality.
I love Osimhen but aside from the price he's very much like Haaland in that he's very much on the periphery most games.
Imo it's pretty safe to say he's not atm. But he might be. Let's trust ETH I think. Hope ETH doesn't think like better have someone than no one. And Atlanta would stop being too greedy.
I have offered alternatives but yeah in another post.
Well I am not against your suggestion, both Jonathan David and Muani look decent choice to me too. But from reports they would both cost 80m, and considering the fact we have been struggle abit to pay up 60m asking price for Hojlund (our current offer is around 45m according to report), they would be even harder for us to pursue.
