Yes he was, but he was a 17-year-old boy playing his first full season of senior football. He featured 41 times for us according to wiki, and with Liverpool following his progress closely, I'm sure some of the times he was rested was due to fatigue and based on input from the Liverpool end.

Rich Sharpe has mentioned Norwich as well. Watford, Southampton, Norwich and Crystal Palace and judging by Mowbrays comments yesterday one or more clubs aren't far off: "“I think the club are right to have a valuation and it needs meeting. These clubs that have bids in for him, for me, the Premier League you see some of the money, we’re arguing over a few quid here and there, pay the asking price, get the job done and let’s get on with it." So bids from more than one PL club, and probably a little haggling as well as how a deal should be structured. Can't see him staying.

I think Rovers are just trying to get a bidding war going and then sell to the highest bidder with due time to sign a replacement.

There will be desperate teams in the PL in January so I reckon we can get £8m then. £15m + add-ons and he's gone now I think, but I like that we're not letting him go cheap. Would have bagged a few yesterday.

Great game. Should have killed it off though. Full of youthful energy and excitement, and Brereton Diaz has gone from being a scapegoat to a cult hero - hope he can avoid another injury setback. Our left side defensively with Ayala and Pickering will struggle at times, but hopefully Tony will add a central defender to our ranks soon. Midfield looked good and full of running, if Bucko can stay switched on for 90 minutes we have a player there. Davenport tidy when he came on, and was impressed by Butterworth as well. Mistake by Kaminiski on the goal but excellent apart from that. Rothwell did what he wanted, and deserved the man of the match for me.

Crystal Palace looking most likely then.

He'll sign the extension.

I would have saved that shirt for someone else. Worst number 10 since Craig Hignett?

Dolan #10, oooohhhhhkay...

Shouldn't be a window at all. I'm sure if a player went to court like Bosman did then there'd be a new law (in the EU at least).

Beggars can't be choosers.

https://twitter.com/reluctantnicko/status/1423211551490707458?s=20

Maybe an agent or the club being clever to get Southampton and Watford to up their bids/interest...?

Normally there's discussions before a formal bid is made. Norwich have been mentioned before and confirmed as an interested party by Rich Sharpe. We'll see who gets it right in the end.

Ings is 29 with an injury record, but a proven scorer indeed. In five years Ings at 34 will be worth a lot less while Arma could still fetch £25m with one year left of his contract 😉

We need a goal scoring striker to replace Arma from the get-go.

Source?

Rewarding players for promotion by handing out new contracts was a big mistake when it was glaring obvious that some of them weren't up to the task of Championship football.

Not so sure. If there's a three-way bidding war going on, then Rovers should be able to push the fee up to £20m. The question is whether they have someone lined up already if they refuse all the swap proposals. If we end up selling Arma and replacing him with a loan player I'll be very disappointed.

Venky's might pour cold water on any swap deal but certainly Obafemi or Idah would fit our profile and is well within what Mowbray and his staff are trying to do. Armstrong would be the perfect example of course. Idah is still valued at less than we brought Brereton in for, and has earned full caps for his country. A little haggling to bring the total sum up to £17m + £3m Idah and he'll be ready to make his debut around Christmas.

You'd rather keep Arma for 12 months and let him leave on a free?

Big risk if he suffers a serious injury, and he will lose out on top wages as well for the next 12 months. Have only seen clips of Idah but looks a bit raw, but very strong and quick and suited to lead the line. Armstrong is a goner sooner or later, and another promising youngster in our forward line would be great. Hope Nixon doesn't mean large loan fee, think he would have specified it was a loan if that was the case. Probably will want a buy-back clause or a sell-on or both. Would a swap deal reduce the share Newcastle are entitled to?

£15m they're having a laugh. Desperate would mean forking out the full £25m asking price. I'd take Obafemi if he's offered permanently.

Have a feeling we will end up selling our biggest star at the end of the window again and not sign a replacement, blaming on the lack of time to find a suitable one. Groundhog day. If we're looking at cheap loans then that's a waiting game too, and our team won't gel before we potentially face real trouble. Need to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later, get to work, Tony.

Tbh I don't know what Mowbrays system is. Two strikers on the wings and no consistency in style of play, nor any tactical nous.