Finnegan

It's our liability for the year though it's not going to be we pay his wages AND give them ten mil. It probably works out at like 170k a week which is still very expensive for his ability but it's not as horrendous as it sounds at first. I also call massive bullshit tbf. Gala journos are obviously going to inflate the fee to make it sound impressive.

I mean this would be great. Seems a bit too great though if I'm honest

I don't think we can have Bounatte, Hlozek and Zaha all in the match day squad can we? I've seen conflicting information on how many loans we can have in the Prem. I downloaded the 300 odd page PDF of Premier League guidelines for 24/25 and then just questioned what I'm doing with my life so I'm still non the wiser.

Firstly, Panathinaikos haven't won the league in nearly 15 years and last season they finished 4th in a league with 14 teams. Secondly, last season was his breakthrough season and the first time in his career he was the main man. It was the first time he's played 20 or more league games in a season. He only turned 24 last year. Not every player is a Hlozek or Tielemans, smashing it from 16 or 17. At 24, Vardy was kicking it around non league. I mean look at someone like KDH, he's a year older and he only really started to bloom last year didn't he? And he needed to drop to the Championship to do that.

His running style with the ball is like if you combined Harvey Barnes and James Maddison and put that ability in Robert Huth.

I can definitely see this possibility: We want Ioannidis. We don't have the money to buy him unless we sell. We've been waiting and waiting trying to shift Soumaré etc. Daka gets injured. We bid for Ioannidis hoping we can sell someone later in the window or in January if we need to. We find out Leverkusen would accept a loan with obligation for Hlozek saving us money this season. We go for him instead. But I think if we were taking that path we'd have just followed through with the loan offer for El Bilal Toure who is a better fit as an outright 9 than Hlozek. Percy doesn't normally stick his neck out and say we've actually made a bid if he isn't quite certain. Obviously the Hlozek move could be because the Ioannidis offer was rejected or Panathinaikos see our desperation and are inflating their asking price. But it doesn't feel like that. Hlozek is more the guy you play behind the 9. I just think we want both. I'd be surprised if one of Zaha or Hlozek isn't signed this week alongside Ioannidis.

In fairness, Caleb Okoli is arguably the Adam Hlozek of centre backs. Was a really promising next big thing a year or two ago who hasn't quite delivered on that potential yet.

Didn't know Babs was writing for the Grauniad

I've given up trying to get foxestalk to temper their expectations.

Erm, he got a goal contribution every 0.92 games for Panathinaikos last season.

To anyone reading this that isn't aware: He made his Sparta debut at 16, had pretty much the responsibility of being their star player by 17, made his Czech debut by 18 and had been sold by 20. They had him as a literal child and almost immediately he had to deal with being their Jesus. Even at Leverkusen he arrived with enormous expectation. He'll be here with a lot less pressure, especially if Ioannidis rocks up at the same time for twenty mil.

I mean, in complete fairness he had Claude Puel putting him on the left wing.

Mavididi started on the bench against Lens and BDCR was in the 11.

I'd say it's reasonably fair to compare his career trajectory more to someone like Youri Tielemans than - yknow - Oliver Skipp or something though. He clearly has a lot of talent but he came through at a VERY young age in a pub team for a club that are very strong in his own country. Then all of a sudden he's at a big club in Europe in a much bigger league with a lot of hype and expectation and has found it hard.

So, guesses for Fulham (assuming Spurs too soon) something like Mads Ricardo, Faes, Okoli, JJ Ndidi, Winks Fatawu, BDCR*, Hlozek Ioannidis *absolutely wouldn't be my choice. Would much rather Hlozek sat behind Ioannidis and Mavididi on the right but Cooper seems to have a hard on for Reid.

Unfortunately Panathinaikos isn't in Santorini.

Just noticed they've just signed Tete so hopefully he'll put in a good word on Ric's behalf.

The most credible current links are from Panathinaikos and Galatasary along with Atalanta and Watford.

I think the most likely option is actually we're not even vaguely interested in Abraham and his agent is throwing around a few names of Premier League clubs because Roma don't want him and he needs a new club. I think he and his entourage are likely still a bit in denial of his level. He's basically the next Danny Welbeck but he's still dining out on one half decent season in Serie A. He probably does back himself to lead the line at Milan but he'll wind up at Everton or something eventually. I'll be genuinely surprised if he comes here. He'd be easier to sign than Fotis Ioannidis or El Bilal Toure who we've had very credible and believable links to.

I think I'd get the Premier League golden boot if they'd just offer me a contract. I have no evidence for this and I've done nothing to ever indicate I'm ready for that level but hey I'm not Patson Daka right now bad could I be. Plus I'm white British and I run around a lot which a lot of people tend to like. I don't see the problem tbh.

Sometimes it's better to keep your imagination to yourself man I'm not gonna lie.

They signed him on a contract til 2026 and paid him ridiculous wages to go there. Nobody is going to buy him now and pay a 31 year old those wages or want to give him a 3, 4, 5 year contract. He's still probably in the back end of his prime and in fairly good shape but he's not getting another elite contract without going to be a marquee signing in a pub league like America. If he wants to play in an elite league he either takes a loan or accepts a significant wage cut. Most settled clubs in better shape than us aren't looking to loan a 31 year old winger they've no interest in keeping long term or developing. But we're very specifically in a situation where we need to cover a lot of positions all at once. I'd say we're the perfect club for it to be a good deal for everyone involved.

For the record, having played with Singh, I'm pretty confident Patson Daka can run faster on his hands than Singh can on his feet.