Sounds a bit underwhelming. When targetting players from weaker foreign leagues you want them to be stand out or close to. De Neve didnt seem to be, surprising journalists with his move. Tavares was in and out at his mid table team and Alebiosu was surplus to requirements, although did admittedly have a productive loan spell in Scotland. It seems the motive to go abroad is purely to reduce costs. Seems like it is only an enquiry at this stage, and to be fair its not like you have said he is a bad player, just not stand out or that you are sure he could do it at this level. How is he for pace and what is he like in the air?

How does he compare to our current centre backs?

They also would have to agree a compensation package with us ideally to avoid a tribunal. But either way, all this stuff about his agent feeding him a fairytale at this stage is unfounded rubbish. Why have you got the impression that he and his agent see him as this hot property?

Because hes only in mid July not yet decided on his next move having rejected our no doubt pitiful offer? He must have been "sold a fairytale?" I dont get why this narrative has grown legs like it has.

Where did you see these? Both right footed so dont fit the criteria we want.

No football clubs are good investments.

I dont really get your comments financially. Even if you spent a reasonable amount in the Prem but that season would still be far better financially than treading water in the Championship. In League 1, the wage bill would drop considerably and that is by far our biggest expense so that would outweigh the reduction in income. The Championship is possibly the worst league to be in financially.

If you got promoted, your wage would automatically go up considerably, you would potentially be offered a bumper new contract. You would be expected to be relegated again but that promotion would also be great on your CV to get you future jobs. And worst case scenario, the club sacks you and you are left being paid out for the now increased contract that you have. It makes absolutely zero sense for any manager to not want and strive for promotion. They all do, some just dont have the competence.

We need to sign 2 centre backs. 1 isnt enough considering how much of a sick note Carter is added to Wharton being out for so long.

When will the minutes be out? Appreciate that people have busy lifes but some may lose some relevance if not out for a few weeks.

Thats us ruled out.

You are being particularly pedantic at the moment. What has how I rate both players got to do with anything? I had never heard of one until last week, I dont hold an opinion of him. We wanted a right back to cover Brittain coming into the summer, we got one, now Brittain is going. Naturally, you would think a new first choice right back would come in. You even agree with that. If we dont directly replace Brittain, I will presume it is due to budgetary reasons. You don't possess the ability to adopt critical thinking. If we dont sign someone, you think its because thats what Ismael must have wanted. You cant fathom that he might not get everything he wants. You have totally missed my point about Gestede and gone off down your usual rabbit hole of parroting lines about players fitting Ismael's style and naming various members of the recruitment team. These contract situations are of critical importance but Gestede has not treated them as such, he keeps kicking the can down the road. Now our whole window is still in limbo as we are nonethewiser about what is happening with 2 of the 3, and with Brittain we only know due to other team's interest. He seems solely focused on playing real life football manager trying to sign players from across Europe without seemingly enough awareness as to the importance to balance that off. If we end this window with no Dolan, Batth, Brittain and then potentially Tronstad and Travis, chuck in Weimann too, and just add too many random European players, I suspect there may be a lot of anxiety.

I think its come from a fake ITK account. Unless its also been reported by someone credible.

Elliott Jackson said that Ismael hinted that we would potentially go with Alebiosu and Montgomery at right back. That would be ridiculous but it would be cheap and help them to hit the arbitary academy minutes target so wouldnt surprise anyone.

I suspect he very much is better than whatever we have offered him.

Feels like Gestede being a total novice is really shining through. Clearly has lots of ideas about random targets from here there and everywhere but these contract situations were always the elephant in the room and he seems happy to just push them to the back of the priority list. The likelihood of these situations overtaking this summer was always high and it was avoidable. There shouldnt be uncertainty now, these players with a year to go should already know our highest offer and we could at least have some closure. That might be the case soon with Brittain but not in the way we would like. Broughton certainly had his faults but he seemed to actually know in the main what he was doing to an extent. Gestede doesnt.

The main reason he has played so much has been our repeated inability to sign competent wide players. It would be a huge risk to suddenly convert him and defending in front of someone is not the same as being a full back.

Why was he more productive last season than ever before?

Ok, so he actively didnt want to be successful.

They all want to do well, that success will lead to bigger future pay cheques.

Clearly not true.

Every manager and player is here solely for the pay cheque to be fair.

Montgomery started one game there. He got sent off. Duru played one minute and injury time.

Sorry, wrong poster!

He was brilliant last season. A huge outlet going forward and improved loads defensively. Lets not underplay his ability just because hes going. Not to be replaced by a kid who has had injury problems and has barely played.