SKD

:lol: Does this mean I've made it as well?

Have City pretty much accepted he's not for sale then? Shame if they have as I really think given the attitude he's shown, we should have sold on and reinforced our starting 11 with the £70m. I'd be pretty happy for him to move on to pretty much anyone but Liverpool (oh and Everton and Tottenham) if I'm honest.

I remember a similar article regarding Mane.... we all know how that one went

Les Reed will have a major say in how much we sell for and where the player goes. If he goes to the Victims, he deserves all the abuse he gets.

Which would be a sensible approach and would appease all parties other than the victims. We cannot sell to Liverpool given the whole history of this transfer saga. If we do, Les' position will become untenable and I honestly believe a large number of fans will turn on the board.

FWIW I've been told by a very well connected source at united that they aren't / weren't ever interested in him and didn't rate him, especially at the value of what has been touted. It could well be (one that I suspect given what I have been told) that Monks original source, wasn't great. I've no doubt it wasn't just made up by Monk, he's probably just passing on info which he has been told.

I believe he knew someone who used to work as part of the coaching staff (Fran Alonso was it)? Obviously Fran no longer works at the club, so he has lost his links some what, however Fran is now working with a certain ex manager at Everton, so I'd assume he still hears bits and bobs? Monk - correct me if that is wrong.

Spot on. Very very poor by Les and the board.

Like we do every summer? Clubs (well 1 in particular) know they can take the **** out of us, because they get away with it... time and time again.

Why is anyone surprised? it's been pretty obvious that this day has been coming for some time Whilst it's been obvious that this has been coming, it's an absolute disgrace by the board to sell to the victims and for the first time, I've now completely lost trust in Les and the board. Time for change IMO.

100% Agree. If/When Les retires (I can't see that anytime soon though!) I'd get Mitchell back and combine Les and Ross Wilson's role into 1.

I agree - I think Stephens done well when he come in, but he is massively overrated by many on here. I hope he goes on to prove me wrong, but if we don't sign 1 (2 is VvD goes), top level CB's, we will have weakened our defense considerably compared to this point last year.

Completely different... Caceres has played as some of the biggest clubs in the world, Bednarek has played for pretty much no one and looked pretty average in the games I've seen. In honesty, we are still don't know if Caceres is better than Stephens as he had minimum game time with us.

As a football club, Liverpool FC and their fans are a skid mark on society. History (for example Heysel) shows this and also there is a reason why pretty much 90% of the country hates them.

I'd actually argue that Mane is more important to them than Coutinho.

I agree, I think most are realistic enough to understand that he is way too good for us, similar to Toby before him. An extra season would have been nice, but I don't think anyone would begrudge him a move to an elite club which is why if he moves to the victims, it'll leave a bitter taste in the mouth for most fans. I think the majority (well I certainly would) would be happy for him to move to a City, United, Chelsea, Barca or Real, but what is he really going to win at the Victims? an FA or League cup or at best the Europa league. If what LeG has said is true and he's leaving for the fans, he's obviously been to a different Anfield to what I've been to in the past couple of years.

If indeed it is us, for me it would confirm VvD is going this window. Whilst we can afford to, I can't see us spending anything close to £40m on one player, without selling first, for some time yet. Hopefully it is us though, he would be a great replacement for Wanyama and would complement Romeu well, IMO. Him + another top CB or 2 with the VvD money would strengthen our first 11 significantly.

If we don't sign an out and out No.10 and as it currently stands, I would be tempted to play with both, in a formation something like the below: ---------OR----------- -----JWP---SD------- MG----------------SB ----------CA---------

If they come in for any one of them (with an acceptable offer), then yes. I can't see all 3 leaving in one window though.

If the reports of Chelsea still having interest in VvD, Bertrand or Cedric are true, I would be doing what I can to get Andreas Christensen in as part of the deal.

I know it's a weak area for us, but I would say you are very much in the minority if you want to play Gallagher in defense

Let's be honest, if we had any stone wall evidence of tapping up, Liverpool would have been prosecuted by the PL last month. Whilst everyone knows they crossed and continue to cross (ex players in the media) the line proving it is a very different situation.

No, this is true. However, if the board tell him he is not going to Liverpool, then he has little option unless he'd prefer to stay with us.

That wouldn't mean would have to accept Liverpool offer though. I would fully expect us to decline Liverpool's offer and sell him to the other side.

It's not "clearly" though, is it. There is still a large amount of speculation that both VVD and Bertrand will leave and I'd be amazed if Cedric is 100% match fit come the start of the season, given he's still on holiday.