The Chronicle’s Mark Douglas has given a pretty concerning transfer update after being pushed for news on our moves for Allan Saint-Maximin, Stanley N’Soki and Emil Krafth.
The club are said to be in talks with all three, however Douglas claims that ‘nothing appears imminent’ on this front – despite admitting that the club had hoped to get a couple of these deals done by ‘Thursday or Friday’.
What’s perhaps the most worrying part of his latest posts on Twitter is the fact he believes deals could now go ‘down to the wire’ – something which would be absolutely unforgivable given our lack of transfer activity all summer and our dire need for news faces:
“Working on it. Nothing appears imminent – and they’d been hoping to get a couple done by Thur/Fri.
“Have a feeling it could down to the wire now.”
Mark does admit in another post that he does believe we will bring in new faces between now and next Thursday’s transfer deadline, however it is hard not to be concerned when deals appear to be dragging and moves that were described as ‘imminent’ have no gone all quiet.
Yes we pulled off a £40m club record deal to bring in Joelinton, but he has only given us a Rondon replacement. Where is our Perez replacement? Our Diame replacement? The new full-backs we were promised?
Saint-Maximin, N’Soki and Krafth may all sign, but – just like the Rondon deal last summer – they’ll all come in late, will have missed our pre-season and may struggle to hit the ground running as a result.
Leaving 80% of our deals to the last minute and expecting bargains sums up Mike Ashley’s ignorant and arrogant approach to transfers.
It’s not totally fair to make out that this is just a NUFC issue. The biggest clubs in the world are all struggling to get deals done. I think the transfer market is getting more and more like. Vipers best due to agents. Not at all sticking up for Ashley… Guy is a total bell end. Just saying it’s defo much harder now than ever before. It’s a greed driven industry on all fronts… that therefore creates stabs offs and brinkmanship
Craig Chisholm(Quote)
Also Mark Douglas knows sweet FA about any of those deals.
Journos told us the delay in Joelinton was coz we want a 4yr deal and he’d only sign a 3yr deal – he signed a 6yr deal.
They know nothing.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Down to the wire and couldn’t get it over the line the Mike Ashley motto.
Nufc 11(Quote)
What’s new. **** up and brewery sound about right! Boycott boycott boycott ashleyoot
davep(Quote)