Liverpool wanted 32m for Benteke and we paid 27+ Addons. Benteke was fit and ready to play. There is no way we will pay 30m upfront for Sakho who still has to prove his fitness and get up to speed. I'm pretty sure that the newspapers are filling pages rather than know how much, if we have even submitted a bid. We all knew that if this signing happened it would be a last day deal.

"They got his own song 'He's just too good for you', it's quite unbelievable but when you see it and he's facing up someone - I actually feel sorry for them, 'Cos he actually is" - Ian Holloway

The biggest concern RE Sakho is the lack of other business leading upto it. Feels almost as if we are neglecting key areas in the squad, that desperately need filling, for the sake of one player. Was excellent for us but t I've said on a few occasions if our scouting network believes that he genuinely is the only classy centre back we could identify for the 25mil mark, then that is amateurish and lacks imagination ridiculously. I know the markets crazy etc but is there really no one on the same level as Sakho for the price we keep being rejected or for even less?

Think a lot of us allow the sentiment to cloud rational judgement sometimes. Having said that you certainly won't see me complaining if he returns, provided we still seriously strengthen in other areas - not just buying dog s*** on the cheap in an attempt to make up the numbers. As we saw on the weekend, we look fairly hopeless without Wilf and Ruben in the side and when Kelly has to step in - God forbid Benteke sustains any injuries and we have to do another season of Hennessey in goal.

Edited by Mstrobez (29 Aug 2017 6.40pm)

We're the Arthur over ere!

I'm wary of ever being "unsure" of Sakho again because I was unsure of him prior to us signing him on loan and in fairness he was excellent but I do completely get where you're coming from.

It's just this blind obsession with him that's a bit odd, seems as though many believe he is the answer to all of our problems and I'm not so sure it's quite as simple as that, and again, using up the majority of the budget on him when the squad is lacking depth severely would be absolutely idiotic. Don't get me wrong though, he was superb in the small time he did play for us, but it's worth nothing Martin Kelly looked decent under Big Sam. Defensive managers typically make all of their defenders look good - Pulis made Gabbidon look like Chiellini at times.

Let's wait and see how it all unfolds from now until deadline day - I just really hope we're taking other areas seriously.

We're the Arthur over ere!

It is a lot of money for a team like us, regardless of the market and it does seem strange that he is literally the only target we could identify for the price, especially at his age and with the fitness concerns etc. Like I said, he was fantastic and you certainly wouldn't see me complaining if he were to return but it is so important that we don't get so hung up on him to the point that we take our eye off the bigger picture, which up until now is looking increasingly likely.

We're the Arthur over ere!

Who's playing in the front 3 then ?

Another Damien Diagonal - Total Football

As he is still under contract, does anyone know (and I stress know rather than can speculate!) if Sakh could actually refuse to move to another club even if Liverpool agreed a price with them?

I know that players also get to negotiate personal terms with the new club, so could he just say "No! I won't play for (say) West Ham" ?

A stairway to Heaven and a Highway to Hell give some indication of expected traffic numbers