Blackburn are deluded if they think they can hold firm on £20m asking price for a player out of contract next summer. I think the most they will get now is £15m. If he’s still there in January they could get £5m at most or they let him walk at the end of the season.

Another striker would be great but we have at 3 senior options plus some good young prospects. We are in a good position to negotiate the deal.

Scoring regularly is partly about being in the right place for opportunities, Lineker for example was all about that....he had no significant speed or outstanding skills. Positioning and timing are massively unrated instincts by most fans who are more impressed by step overs.

The kind of striker who can make goals out of nothing is beyond the budget of a club like ours. Unless he comes out of the academy like Zaha that player isn't going to be purchasable.

However, that doesn't mean that Armstrong is the right striker for our set up. He could be but I profess no knowledge of the player and it's going to be all down to scouting and judgement by our professionals.

Edited by Stirlingsays (07 Aug 2021 8.38am)

You have to feel for Blackburn. If they were getting the full fee then they'd take £15m, I'm sure, but with 40% going to the toon it makes any deal less appealing. We may find ourselves in the same boat with Wilf next summer as his deal expires in 2023. If he's still here then I imagine we might see some derisory bids and we'll be looking at Man Utd's cut and wincing.

Armstrong for his part seems to be behaving professionally and he has certainly given Blackburn excellent value for their £1.75m investment. If Saints do sign him will they have the shortest strike force in the PL?

Apparently we’ve offered £12. Let them push us to 13 tops. He wants Palace. Don’t think there is anyone to outbid us.