Will be a very, very interesting summer. If Lukaku or Stones want to leave it's only if we are offered stupid money.
We don't need to sell to generate funds, we actually now already have money from new investment and have the mega TV deal kicks on this summer. It's on our terms, or no sale, for both players.
If Lukaku goes, it's only because we are offered a deal that's just too good to turn down. Again, same with Stones.
Has Martinez seen performances this season and thinks 40m for Stones would, now, be too good to turn down? That buys two top-end proven players plus a backup player or two...
If Stones is 40m, then Lukaku has to be a lot more. 60m upwards you'd be looking at as too good to turn down imo. He's no longer just potential; he's the best striker in the entire country, and he's only 22.
Whatever happens with those two - and for the record I desperately hope we keep them both - I think we need a top goalkeeper, a creative midfield player (bearing in mind next year is likely Barry's last season with us, Osman is gone this summer (lol) and Pienaar and Gibson will also be leaving) and some stronger backup in various positions, namely right back and up front.
Should be a massive turnover this summer, as we'll almost certainly lose up to seven players from the squad (Howard, Hibbert, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar, McGeady, Kone...) and thus have freed-up wages and additional transfer funds to plug the gaps with more quality.
Might a deal for Yarmolenko be agreed and ready to be announced before the Euros?
Interesting times ahead.
We don't need to sell to generate funds, we actually now already have money from new investment and have the mega TV deal kicks on this summer. It's on our terms, or no sale, for both players.
If Lukaku goes, it's only because we are offered a deal that's just too good to turn down. Again, same with Stones.
Has Martinez seen performances this season and thinks 40m for Stones would, now, be too good to turn down? That buys two top-end proven players plus a backup player or two...
If Stones is 40m, then Lukaku has to be a lot more. 60m upwards you'd be looking at as too good to turn down imo. He's no longer just potential; he's the best striker in the entire country, and he's only 22.
Whatever happens with those two - and for the record I desperately hope we keep them both - I think we need a top goalkeeper, a creative midfield player (bearing in mind next year is likely Barry's last season with us, Osman is gone this summer (lol) and Pienaar and Gibson will also be leaving) and some stronger backup in various positions, namely right back and up front.
Should be a massive turnover this summer, as we'll almost certainly lose up to seven players from the squad (Howard, Hibbert, Gibson, Osman, Pienaar, McGeady, Kone...) and thus have freed-up wages and additional transfer funds to plug the gaps with more quality.
Might a deal for Yarmolenko be agreed and ready to be announced before the Euros?
Interesting times ahead.
