13 Aug 2026 17:01:37
Looks like City have offered €120m for EF. According to the rags we are looking for £120m. I don't think that is enough. I would ask for £140m.
13 Aug 2026 17:30:41
I should have added, then another £140m for Neto and Gusto.
Let's take the money before they get fined, points deduction and transfer ban!! haha!!
13 Aug 2026 21:50:38
If it adds up to 300m for the 3, I'd run and take it. I do. Quite like Enzo, but he wants to leave so he can go. Don't really rate either Neto or Gusto.
13 Aug 2026 22:00:59
I'm with you fuser, let's take 1/3rd of a billion on just 3 players. Awesome financial business and some punters thought the owners were "blowing" money! makes me smile. As ED01 has said, Alex Scott is an upgrade on what we have and he will be the man. My CFC academy mate says we have no interest in Wharton whatsoever.
14 Aug 2026 07:18:07
As a player, I would rather we didn't sign Wharton as I'm not a fan, but my wallet says differently. I am also not a fan of Scott, but the club rarely makes me happy with signings.
14 Aug 2026 08:22:03
Have they actually made an official bid yet?
14 Aug 2026 10:42:36
This may be what we have to do, but it will mean another gutting of a side and a huge rebuild again. EF (10 and 4) and Neto (5 and 6) were both in our list of top four players in terms of goals and assists last season - the other two, of course, being Pedro (15 and 5) and Palmer (10 and 1).
Neto provided most assists last season, and only Pedro and Reece James were in the top six alongside Neto, Fernandez, Cucurella and Gusto. Garnacho was seventh with 3 assists. Gusto had as many goals in the EPL as Estevao and TC.
So obviously we hope that Alonso can build/rebuild a side that can do much better than the ones who have left or will leave, considering the side finished 10th, but it really would feel yet again almost like starting from scratch after four years of the new owners. And, if they have finally found some backbone in transfer deals now - and thank goodness they do seem to be holding out for decent sale prices, though 117 million for MR purchase seems v steep given his form was not outstanding last season - we should surely by now not have been in a situation when so many of our (statistically at least) top players want out.
Still, it is what it is, and if players do want out then getting top dollar is obviously important. As is getting any potentially disruptive influences out of the dressing room. But, in an ideal world - one in which the owners had picked managers who were not good enough or who had ambitions to manage another club as soon as they could - we would obviously have been hoping to have had consistent ECL qualification and keeping our top players and making only a few improvements/changes in key positions, e.g. GK.
Having said all this, I am still hopeful that Alonso can build a team that may be as good, or preferably better, than the sum of its parts rather than less good as has been the case too often with CFC sides in EPL matches in recent seasons. It will also be good if Alonso knows whether key player Enzo F is staying or leaving by 5 pm today. Hopefully that he will know soon too the fates of Neto and Gusto.
14 Aug 2026 11:02:25
JBS, some of this rebuild is not of our making, but some of the issues needed addressing no matter who was in charge. The CH situation needed rectifying.
I would like to think that better advice is now being given than when these owners first came in.
I personally would have gone for Costa seasons ago, but now it looks as if signing him creates a road block for Penders.
The window has a few weeks left to go, so I will wait before I make a prediction for next season. I got it about right for the first two years under this ownership, but was way off last season when I said 2-4th. I must try harder. ? ?
14 Aug 2026 15:54:51
I am also holding off making a prediction now, Tom, until after the transfer window closes. Much still v uncertain. You are probably right about why no seasoned good GK is being brought in.
In terms of players in our huge squad, we may find it tricky to sell likes of BB, Disasi, Delap and Guiu. Loans more likely, but how many are we allowed? Tosin a possible sale? Sarr loaned or kept, not sure.
Anselmino injury probably means he stays, whether this was planned or not. I have liked the look of him, so hope he recovers soon and completely. Do we need another CH if all these exit, plus Anselmino crocked? We are left with Lacroix, LC, Hato, Josh, Fofana (I may have missed someone?), enough?
14 Aug 2026 16:19:00
JBS, if rumours are to be believed, Lamps would like Josh on loan.
I think Disasi is sold. Badiashile loan along with Sarr. I think we sell Delap, Tosin, Gusto and Guiu but only time will tell.
14 Aug 2026 17:04:51
Hope you're right, Tom.