11 Aug 2014 10:39:58
Well with the end of the trf window getting ever closer it looks as if things may finally start moving. It would seem that lvg has had his end of tour conversations with the squad and has told certain players that they are free to move on. If the names quoted are correct then I suppose the only surprise would be rafael who I would have thought is younger enough to learn and be developed by the manager.
As regards players coming in it is worth remembering that in the last 12 months we have spent best part of 130 million on 4 players( the wig, mata, shaw herrera) so it is difficult to accuse the club of being thrifty. One big change this year is that there has been virtually nothing official coming out of the club. Last year, rightly or wrongly, everyone new that we were trying to land fabregas and herrera and that we also wanted contreau? either permanently or on loan. This year all we get is constant media speculation plus people on this site who claim to know someone who knows someone who is the friend of someone who knows someone. You get my drift!
My one disappointment so far is that if we have all this money available why haven't we made a couple of bids for players that both the fans or the club would obviously want. Hummels we are told is happy at dortmund who have no desire to sell him. Why not test the resolve of both by say bidding 30 million and offering 150k per week. if the answer is still no from both parties then at least us fans, the media, and the club can move on rather than have this constant drip feeding of speculation that the club may, or may not, be preparing a bid.
Anyway I have had my monday morning moan and i'll leave it for others to pass comment.

1.) 11 Aug 2014
Who's to say we haven't made such a bid to Dortmund and Hummels? And maybe they said thanks, but no thanks.

The issue with making such a bid public knowledge is then who ever we approach next will know they were very much second choice, and what if they turn us down after we made it public that we wanted them, how would the third choice player feel about being approached?

You mentioned the shambles last season, well having approached Fabregas and Herrera the only midfielder prepared to join knowing he wasn't first choice was Fellaini.

Lets not go down that road again.

2.) 11 Aug 2014
No point bidding if the player isn't fully up for it, no point bidding if the players club isn't up for it.
we need to get our ducks in some sort of order before we jump in, and even after all the negotiating well have to accept we are not guaranteed a deal will happen. so why bid aimlessly and look bloody fools.