CloudFox

Maybe we're going for one of them too, with Sylla also covering / rotating with Fatawu? I agree, I feel like we've needed a power forward-type striker for a while now. Was hoping it would be Koné, but that ship has sailed.

NEW NAME. But also, somehow, kind of an old name...? ...sorry, I'm in a Sylla mood. (He does look an interesting prospect—I like the sound of him having a knack for getting on the end of rebounds etc)

I was about to post that at least we don't have a striker Newcastle can unsettle or sign, as we don't have any. But wait.... 👀

A fair point, but I think one of the reasons people might make that distinction is that Mads was in demand and we didn't want to lose him, so we all wanted more for him, whereas Coady/Justin/Faes are players we want to shift and don't expect there to be much interest in. So any fee is a bonus! Historically we've also been pretty good selling players we wanted to keep for high fees (Maguire, Drinkwater, Fofana), and poor at shifting out players we don't want. So people will begrudgingly acknowledge that Rudkin has got good fees for in-demand players (maybe less so in recent years re: Maddison and Barnes), but our problem has been shifting out those we don't want, which is a failing. Earlier this summer, Tom Collomosse reported that Glover was being given more control on the transfer front, so people see success following that "change" and allocate that goodwill to Glover. Personally, I think Glover has got more control now, so he is accountable for transfers. As it should be since he's our Head of Recruitment! Rudkin is still responsible though, as he'll have final sign off. Just means they're both responsible for all of it, good and bad.

A couple of years ago, I'd be excited by this. His injury record of late is a pretty big red flag though. Is he robust enough to play in the Championship, playing twice a week?

Bearing in mind that Ricardo won't play every game this season, Coulibaly is actively not being selected, Kristiansen doesn't seem anywhere near the squad, and Aluko has yet to play a competitive game for us... That leaves Hamza and Thomas as our default first choice full backs, if we're honest. I'd love Ricardo to stay fit and Aluko to have a break out season, but the former is unrealistic and the latter unlikely given Cifuentes' preference for Thomas at LB. Once we sell Justin, a LB has to get added to the shopping list. But I guess that won't happen until Kristiansen is gone too.

Good fee since he's in his last year, but hard to feel pleased with when there's no sign of incomings. I'm a bit worried how short this leaves us at left back now, with Thomas not doing great so far, Kristiansen unlikely to stay, and Woyo ceasing to exist. Plus he's not one of the problem players we actually want to shift.

I am frustrated with the continual picking of Soumaré and Skipp as a CM pairing that clearly doesn't work, but others are right to point out Cifuentes doesn't really have much choice right now. His interviews are very encouraging. Post-Charlton and Preston he's said the same thing, regardless of result: He's not happy with the footballing performance, and wants to show the fans something better. That speaks volumes, and I genuinely believe these performances are not what he wants. He just desperately needs bodies in who can actually do the job on the pitch. Please, please, please, Top, Rudkin, Whelan, whoever can do something to make that happen: Pull your fingers out and give him the tools he ****ing needs, pronto. He deserves better. We deserve better.

No thank you, not for sale. He'll play a big role this season I think.

Skipp and Soumaré off, Winks and Ricardo on please. Ricardo to go to RB, Choudhury to move into CM alongside Winks, or as the holding player. We need to see more fight. Now.

It says a lot that we're captaining our 3rd choice right back

Confused why Skipp and Soumaré are ahead of Winks. We know that pairing doesn't work, so what is Cifuentes seeing...? Dreading Ayew up front again. Fingers crossed Page and Monga give us something to be excited about. Sad that we're reliant on two players who are collectively younger than our "starting striker" though 🫠

Well, quite . Was such an oddly specific link before though, so suggests there might have been something in it. Hey, I'm mainly just clinging to the hope we are actually looking at players to bring in at this point.

Sorry to bump without good news, but reports now saying we've dropped our interest, and he's now most likely to head to the Jupiler League (Belgium). https://sportwitness.co.uk/leicester-city-set-to-pass-up-on-19-year-old-after-following-him-throughout-season/

Would it be a great of business if he gets sold and we replace him with someone else? Yes. Is he currently our best ball playing defender? Also yes. I am...torn on this transfer. Even if he hasn't showered himself in glory of late.

Ah thanks, I've misunderstood there then. I thought BEK's book value was higher. Still not bad though!

What makes you say that?

Bloody hell, it's been confirmed! Edit: I'm a bit slow, apparently 🫠

It certainly would help us be tougher with negotiations with BEK, as the profit from McAteer would outweigh what we'd get for how BEK is currently being valued/allegedly bid for. It all depends on whether these sales are to reinvest in the squad or not. I'd love to believe that McAteer gets sold so we don't have to sell those two (although more open to with Justin given he's in his final year with us)...and can reinvest in at least a striker. ...but enough about my fever dreams...

Sad to see him go, as he's always worked hard for us, he loves the club, and both of those aspects seem in short supply from our current squad. However, £12-14m is absolutely ludicrous. That is pure PSR profit, so if that goes straight into purchasing the striker we desperately need, it's a great deal.

Oh please, don't give me hope like this

Same. That felt like the green shoots of Cifuentes' style and plan poking through...but it's gone. I don't get why, it's weird. And without it, I don't think the plan works at all!

His attitude the other week was daft, but so are any fans booing him, if we're honest. He's more than good enough at this level. But he needs a CB partner with some sort of pace and aerial ability to make up for when he pushes up so high. Used well, it's an asset. And hell knows we need all the assets and advantages we can get right now.

Got an assist last night in a 3-2 win over Zorya Luhansk. Looks like he played as a CM rather than a CAM.

Can still access the post via his Story, but the post itself isn't showing on his feed right now. I hear where he's coming from, and him saying this shows more leadership than anyone else in this squad right now. I can't fault his effort yesterday. However, by all accounts fans weren't leaving early in their droves, so not sure where he's got that from. These things are reciprocal: Players show effort on the pitch, supporters get behind them...and vice versa. Unfortunately, it feels like the fans have put in a lot more than the players for a while now. There's little credit in the bank, and thus patience.