marcofisher

The Martin one is slightly perplexing for Southampton. Might fit their "style" but hasn't seemed to do anything of note yet and jump ships a couple of years into each project, each time before anything has been achieved? If they rebuild and get playoffs next year is he going to jump ship again?

God Monaco have had our pants down if he goes back there for compensation only! Essentially been paid for a 4 year loan without paying any wages either.

If the posters above are true about him working hard in the off-season, I have not lost hope for him. Players such as Vyner and Pring knuckled down when it was looking like curtains on their Bristol City career, and convinced Nice to give them another chance, and they were better for the experience. Maybe this could be another case of the same? If he comes back really fit and firing pre-season, then you never know. Otherwise, seems a great shame to lose a player with great upside, although I entirely trust the club's judgement. Any idea on the length on his contract? Would it make sense to keep him about for 6-12 months and really see what he is like when fit, potentially loaning him at some point for half a season to show what value he has? Could mean a bigger sale at the end of it.

They are Real Madrid and have won it 5 times in the last decade. While I agree that the current squad is dated. It would be naive to think that they will not rebuild and come again. Bellingham will know that and it's easy to forget that he is still only 19, 2 months older than Scott! If it takes a couple of seasons for Real to freshen up the squad (I don't think it will given the Kane/Mbappe rumours) then he is still a youngster.

I would love it if Scott signed a deal with a £25mill release clause next year. Such a shame that he will likely not be part of this team we are building this summer.

Very, puzzled as to why Brighton are seemingly keen to sign Gallagher when Scott seems a far more worthwhile investment.

You mean being part of the rebuild of a team who only last won the champions league a year ago and has the most wins of the competition in history? He is young enough to live through a number of great squads/eras with Real. I don’t see how it can’t be considered good from a footballing perspective.

If Scott goes, you would hope we would have more than enough funds available to bring in both a solid GK and CM.

Part of me wonders if he wants a move to Spurs, and would be willing to stay for a year and maybe even sign with a release clause to ensure that happens.

We don't need him. Only fit for one week and still needs a rest on the Sunday!

Tomas Kalas has barely kicked a ball for a year and is in his thirties now. Peak Tomas Kalas I would agree with but fitness levels have to enter the equation too when considering what is a bigger asset.

Seems a lot of money still. I can’t imagine Zac has been offered anywhere near that much and he was ever present last season.

It doesn’t seem much of a project to me, unless Huddersfield feel they are going to be in trouble again and just need to stabilise financially.

He plays with quite an intensity too De Zerbi, I can see him wanting 6-7 central midfielders who are all up to standard as he will need to rotate heavily.

Maybe they stock the Beano?

Can see Joe in the MLS. Sure he has said before he sees football as a career more than a love. Hopefully for him he goes to the sunniest part possible!

Maybe we will see us reignite interest in Currie then. More potential for punnery too. With regards to Bryan, I would have liked to have seen him back but don't see this as the end of the world. I didn't really see him as fitting the mould of what we need and I am not convinced he is the Central Midfielder that a lot on here seem to think he is.

No confirmed stories, just forum speculation.

Nicky Maynard left for less!

Exactly, it seems odd that he would have accepted a Player/Coach deal if he didn’t see himself working under Nigel Pearson as a coach following the completion of his time as a player too.

Have you just outed his second family? ?

Wow, didn't know that. That certainly offsets the Barnes/Maddison money somewhat then!

Agreed it is very different, but I think the situations are very different

They will be offloading players like Barnes and Maddison for as much as we get for Scott, or more! Nice £80mil kitty plus parachute payments. I think they are understandably favourites.

For a u21 national for the French team, I would say that is pretty low risk when the potential upside is considered. If he doesn't hit the mark and goes on a few loans they could probably recoup most of the spend.