Only realistic, affordable options would be Defoe and Maguire who could improve/challenge the first team.

After that we'd still need a GK (assuming Mandanda leaves), RB and an attacking midfielder as priority signings.

We won't have too much cash because of our spending on transfers and wages in the last two transfer windows.

Hopefully with some deadwood out of contract, we can afford players like Trippier, and Begovic. Attacking mid a bit tougher, Sigurdsson ideal but maybe too expensive, possibly a Loftus-Cheek type loan signing if short on cash.

Allardyce definitely said something along those lines in one of his recent pre-match press conferences. I'm sure the is money there, it's just whether we'd be allowed to spend as much as we'd like under FFP rules.

Middlesborough basically went down because their strike force consisted of one sh*te striker, one striker who was famous for being sh*te, and Bumfluff, who doesn't count as a striker at all. That being the case, it's hard to see why anyone would go shopping for strikers there.

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The Ferret
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2 relegations in one season would probably be a first !?! Think we should be looking for players where we need to desperately strengthen than round pegs in square holes. As you say Pickford would be a great signing but highly unlikely, think Defoe might be tempted, altho the Spammers might be looking, as well as at Kone, Sakho is the big one for there. Maguire is highly rated and could be worth a shout for right back. Others like Friend don't fit our requirements at the mo.

“ [T]here are known knowns; there are things we know that we know.There are known unknowns; that is to say there are things that, we now know we don't know.But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know. ”
—United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

'Sright. Not all relegations happen because the players are rubbish and even when they do it doesn't follow that they are all rubbish. Defoe, Jakupovic, Pickford, Maguire, Markovic, Downing, for example.

However it is the case that Middlesborough are going down because their strikers are s***e. Which should not of course deter Seaweed from signing Bumfluff.

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The Ferret
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I'd go a put a brief case with £30m on the table at Sunderland and say you can have it all if we get.

Kone
Defoe
Pickford

Defoe is potentially a free but might aid us by tieing up other business with Sunderland. Would be money well spent.

Then hopefully Sam can find us a couple of gems on the cheap to give cover to Puncheon and Cayabe.

Only place left that'd need strengthening would be RB.

Really hope some of the deadwood space will be given to three or four youth players to start there transition.

As much as I love Sakho I'd take Kone and Pickford over him if that's the choice, can't imagine we'd be able to afford Pickford and Sakho.

Hopefully Sam has a relationship with him and he'll see Palace as a good stepping stone for a couple of seasons before moving to a top 6 club.