Xen

We've gone for 5, as first time buyers. Figure that we can afford the mortgage payment at the current rate, so i'd rather have the security that we can afford it for 5 years rather than the potential that we might save a bit of cash for years 3-5 (but could equally go the other way). One less thing to worry about, really, even if it proves not to be wholly optimal.

Worrying - but not at all surprising - if our board aren't on speaking terms. Wonder which side of that battle Top falls down on. Wouldn't be disappointed to see KP cut ties - we had a great few years but things have certainly shifted recently. Just hope that if Top does sell up, whoever comes in isn't even worse. Wonder what this would mean - if anything - for the stadium expansion. Presumably that's dead in the water and would have to start over from scratch with whoever takes over? Probably an unsubstantiated rumour anyway, so won't get hopes up...

13, 6 on target

Whats incredibly unlikely? That he plays well and we stay up? If thats reason to not look forward to this signing then we may as well not bother signing anyone at all... If you meant that its unlikely that we get him... Yes, thats exactly the point that I was making. We likely wont get him long term BUT that doesn't mean its not a successful transfer for the next 12 months.

3 options. 1. We get relegated and would have zero chance of a permanent signing anyway. 2. We stay up, but he's crap and we don't want him permanently 3. We stay up, he's great and goes back to Brighton. We might be able to afford him, but they'd be unlikely to want to sell. Ultimately, he's Brighton's player so they will expect the better end of the deal if they have any faith in him coming good. The exact same as we'd be if/when Alves/Braybrooke/Nelson go on loan - we'd be fuming if there was an option/obligation attached to the deal. If we stay up then he's done his job and we'll be in a financially better position to afford a replacement, and having a player on loan for a year is essentially a year of zero amortised cost on our rolling PSR total, so about £5-10m 'saving' on the books compared to signing a player like Soule. Honestly, its not all that different to signing Kante, having a great season, and then selling him 12 months later when a bigger club comes knocking - we'll still get 12 months of benefit either way.

Devastated. RIP Shakey. Legend x

WOW! What a finish! Pidcock, Yee and now the women's quad all with last-gasp overtakes. Really bringing the entertainment value with our golds so far! Edit: And a couple of 0.02s silvers in the swimming too. Lots of drama so far.

.

Wow! Thought Yee was out of it but he's judged that perfectly. Incredible finish!

The fans are NOT happy

What an overtake that was, incredible!

He's having a hell of a race. Unbelievable to close it back that quickly, last lap is going to be intense

I think the point was that those are the academy-trained players who are with the first team, so making the step up as 'future foxes'. Golding not being there just means he's gone straight into our matchday squad plans, i.e. he's not a signing for the youth teams.

Marching On Without You E.F.Lland Road

"Wants to go to Roma" =/= "Does not want Leicester"

It's just rumour that he supposedly isn't keen on Leicester, but that is far from being confirmed as fact, and even if it was true that doesn't mean that he wouldn't be happy to sign, just means that he has other preferred options if they become available. Even if he's not necessarily happy to come here, that doesn't necessarily mean he wouldn't be a model professional after signing. Mahrez didn't want to be here but apart from a couple of games he still put in great performances for us, on the flip side Evans gave the impression that he was a good personality at the club but he'd checked out long before his contract ended. Once again, people treating every rumour as definitive fact and making judgment calls on the player/our transfer strategy/Rudkin etc.

Lots of people being negative/critical in this thread and speaking with some level of certainty... 1. We don't know for sure if we've ever truly been interested. 2. We don't know for sure how much effort we've put into this transfer - it could be just an enquiry, for all we know 3. We don't know what Roma's bid is (if at all), or Juve's stance 4. Soulé apparently doesn't want to come here... because an italian journo said so? He might be thrilled at our interest and waiting to see his options, he might have been 100% against coming to the UK from the get-go. He might've already agreed personal terms, he might've never heard of Leicester. I don't know why people keep saying he's "set on Roma" or "We've been played". We might not get him in the end, but that doesnt necessarily mean our plans have been derailed. Everything is rumour and hearsay until its announced as official by the club(s) themselves.

Either that, or trying to get us to stump up for more wages to 'convince him' not to reject us.

It's pretty obvious what his price should be - c.£10m would be a very reasonable fee - but with some of the deals going on this summer at ridiculous prices you can't blame Spurs if they try and push their luck. If they ask for anything north of £15m I'd hope we just walk away without bothering to negotiate and don't let ourselves get sucked in...

I'd love to see us give Braybrooke a shot as the backup/alternative for Winks, but equally he could go on loan to the Championship and tear it up - similar to KDH - to continue his development for a half/full season. If he does go - and presuming that Soumare is surplus to requirements - then Skipp would be a steady option to supplement the squad. Fairly young and has prem experience, so whilst a bit of a boring transfer it wouldn't be too much of a risk. Imagine the fee won't reflect that though. If we play any sort of formation that has 2 deeper midfielders we'll need options. Winks, Ndidi, Skipp, Choudhury, (Braybrooke) with the options for the advanced role(s) being Soule/ORiley, Golding, (Alves), plus some fluidity from the wide players feels like a good - albeit young - core of the squad.

Not sure how we got there, and on form you'd probably say Spain are favourites, but in a one off final who knows... Redemption for last time around?

Milokleftis Greek cider whilst watching the England match in a bar in Crete. Bloody lovely

Cracking finish to win it 'n'all. G'won lad.

Never in doubt.

Best England half of the tournament so far, by a country mile. But still level and no doubt the Dutch will up their game in the second half, so need to keep up the pressure.