It's hard not to be pessimistic given recent windows. There are a couple of patterns though: one is that we often seem to stalk a player to the point of a restraining order being issued before finally getting our man; the other transfer we seem to do is the one no one hears about until Roy is giving them an awkward handshake and pat on the back. The headline catching tug of wars never seem to pan out and only seem to serve to frustrate us supporters. I'm torn between enjoying the speculation and rumour mongering, and being frustrated that all these 'gonna happen tomorrow/next week/soon' so rarely seem to come to fruition. I was convinced last summer that we would do more in the market and we didn't. The same applies to January.

I just had an 8-inch stick shoved up my nose to check for COVID only to come home and find I'd locked myself out. Just for once it would be good if the club could give us a nice surprise to cover up the general misery of existence.

We offered about 10-12 in January that was accepted apparently. Then when the medical failed we waited and got him for free. Apparently WBA were not going to accept any less than 6 million when we offered it a couple of weeks back and out offer was rejected out of hand. It was so far away from what they wanted that they have decided to wait for a tribunal. Good to see that we are cheap even with our free transfers. I’d imagine we will be forced to pay them a few million. I’d be surprised if it’s as high as the 6 they wanted but seeing as we had offered over 10 million some months earlier I’m sure they will get at least 3 or 4 at a tribunal.

This is where I get a bit confused with how it works. Compensation shouldn’t be related to transfer fees whatsoever. If a player is a free agent then he is a free agent, however to ensure that clubs are not fleeced of their youngsters, the tribunal agrees a fee that covers the cost of their evolution throughout the club. It should not on that basis be a huge number however.

Its depends on your standpoint of the valuation of the player. Most of the players, we appear to be linked with haven't ever played at Premier level. The lesson of Sorloth is still fresh in the mind.

Yawn you really can’t help yourself can you

I maybe wrong but don’t they work the fee out based on the category of the club’s academy and the length of time the player has been with the club? This gives them an idea of the money the club has invested on the players development and a rough figure for compensation.
That said Liverpool had to pay burley 6.5 million in compensation when he rejected a contract and moved to them He was a premier league goal scorer at point.