I believe we are bidding at levels others wouldn't go to so that players don't get to talk to those other clubs. In any straight contest where a player can choose Palace or a decent PL club, where terms for the player are equal, we won't win. We'd basically come off 2nd v everyone except Bournemouth, Watford and be 50/50 v Swansea or WBA. Go well beyond the bidding of your Evertons and WHUs and they don't get to talk to the player. Ultimately that will make future acquisitions cheaper because we'll be seen as a better bet than we were. Short term it costs.

But I'm convinced Bolasie is gonna go, sadly.

If you want to live in a world full of kindness, respect and love, try to show these qualities.

shows im tired, sorry.

Could not agree more - has gone bloody mad.

"It feels much better than it ever did, much more sensitive." John Wayne Bobbit

Yes £27m Liverpools side seems to believe its £31m without taking any addons in check. will end up lower but if it is the full amount i wont mind as it means we're in europe!

The First 90 Minutes Are The Most Important!

Because you can go broke?

Should say I think Benteke would be a brilliant signing and is a massive show of force by the board. He's a great fit for the club and even after a poor spell at Liverpool has a very good goals:games ratio. I'd be very happy if we signed him.

But it is a fcukload of money to pay him and Liverpool to buy him (especially given he has had a poor season)

Edited by OknotOK (04 Jul 2016 5.26pm)

"It's almost like a moral decision. Except not really cos noone is going to find out," Jez, Peep Show

It seems a scary amount of money but I think this silly amount of money is what we're going to see as the norm this season with the new TV money etc.

I also think that we really need to sign fewer players of top quality rather than a huge number of bargain basement types (Cabaye was the first to break this mould). We have not had a reliable striker since Murray's phenomenal promotion year season; we NEED to invest in this position. It may well be a false economy to pay for two cheaper strikers say. We sold Gayle for £10million for instance which seems absurdly good business.

Townsend, Mandanda, Tomkins and Benteke for about £50million is a lot, but remember we have sold Gayle (£10million) and let a fair few others go. I don't think we have been too reckless. Plus, as well as Benteke, Tomkins and Mandanda are clearly to fill areas that were in desperate need of improvement. Townsend, on the other hand, gives us much greater strength in depth on the wings (we were far less potent following injuries to our wingers). I think Townsend will likely be a starter, but competition is very welcome.

There is some logic to buying early and being seen as a player to attract other big names but Benteke is not a sure thing

Townsend won't be supplying him many crosses- he's more a cut-in and shoot guy. When the best crosser of the ball in open play is probably Souare we are going to be relying a lot on Benteke goals from set pieces

I know Wilmots vies with Hodgson as crap manager of the Euros but when Belgium were chasing the game Benteke did not get a sniff with "one League goal last year" Fellaini preferred

Jonny has had a good tournament. As has Ledley and Hennessey (!). Looking good for the new season.

Think we are looking desperate and the teams will rinse us out of millions!
Benteke 30 mill?
Unbelievable and I seriously hope we don't sign him!Adebeyor was crap as predicted so please don't get this out of form turd.
He bloody dived against us to get himself a goal.
Has to be someone else surely at a fraction of the price!

GT

Eagles S*** on Seagulls, Eagles S*** on Seagulls,
La La La La,!
La La La La!

£30 million for Benteke could be offset by selling Gayle for £10m and Bolasie for £20m.