Manchester United Transfer Rumours

13 Jul 2026 22:18:11
I think Tielemans and Santos could prove to be two really shrewd signings.

Tielemans brings proven Premier League quality, experience and composure, while Santos gives us energy, physicality and plenty of potential. I'd still love to see us add one of Alex Scott or Carlos Baleba as well, although both would probably cost serious money.

One interesting name tonight is António Silva from Benfica. Bournemouth are reportedly interested, with a fee of around £20m being mentioned.

He's only 22, already has huge experience for his age and was regarded as one of the best young centre-back prospects in Europe not too long ago. His progress may have stalled slightly, but at £20m, surely he's worth United taking a serious look?

Young, technically strong, comfortable on the ball and still with plenty of development ahead of him. It feels like the sort of calculated gamble that could look incredibly shrewd in a couple of years.

Anyone watched enough of him recently to know whether the hype is still justified?

13 Jul 2026 14:50:02
The club have officially confirmed the signing of Andrey Santos.

It's a 5 year contract with the option of a further year.

Really pleased with this signing, he has high promise.

13 Jul 2026 15:19:06
Was traveling, so I downloaded all I could of him to see what he offers.
He looks like he could become an awesome player.
Watched 4 30 min highlights of 4 Chelsea and a couple from Strasborg games, so not just his u tube personal highlights.
A really impressive engine and excellent tekkers.

He is very defensively aware and, like Mainoo, is comfortable receiving the ball under pressure.
I think him and Mainoo will benefit greatly from having a player of Teilemans experience around them.
Some good business done so far imo. Let's see who else we sign.

13 Jul 2026 19:35:22
Yes, Ken, good business indeed.

One fact I saw, which is encouraging. Last season, he made 43 appearances for Chelsea, registered the highest pass completion rate, and made the most progressive passes per 90 minutes of all midfielders under the age of 22 in the Premier League.

Plenty more of the above would be very well received.

13 Jul 2026 11:15:16
Tielemans 35 mill all agreed. What's everyone thinking of this? G.

13 Jul 2026 11:40:29
Wanted us to sign him when he was available on a free. £35m for a Premier League proven player of his quality is still a great deal, but with him turning thirty at the end of this coming season, I wonder whether we're a little late to the ball.



That said, assuming we go on to sign another central midfielder before the window closes, I think it's a good bit of business.

13 Jul 2026 11:41:05
We needed a good experienced pro in there with the young lads, Mainoo and Santos.
Solid signing. I'm pleased. Hope he can do well. Good option to have imo.

13 Jul 2026 11:49:04
Not good enough for a team that wants to win the league in 2 years time.

13 Jul 2026 11:51:08
I'm underwhelmed. Genuinely, I wasn't concerned we swerved him on a free, and have seen nothing since to concern me that we missed anything.

That said, I note Villa let Douglas Luiz leave and then avoided the option to re-sign him, so maybe I just haven't seen enough of Tielemans since he left Leicester.

At that money, for a 29 year old, it makes sense if he's any good as a squad player, but the bar to replace Casemiro is high.

I expect a top signing as the third midfielder, and if that does happen, perhaps as a remote possibility even bringing in another midfielder, plus Ederson, we would be well served for different players in midfield for decent outlay.

I worry that the truth out of OT regarding delay for Ederson is pure misinformation until we sign who we want, so we aren't being held over a barrel.

So again, finding a player who's Premier League proven for that money is good business, but honestly, it doesn't feel like great business that is building on what we had last season. At best, it feels like standing still, and in truth feels like a step backwards.

I hear great things about Santos from Chelsea fans who appear to be furious we got him, but same with Mount, and that's been a poor piece of business, not the lads fault, but we signed a crock. Old regime sure, but can't shake the feeling we are not doing a great job this summer so far.

As they say, it's how you finish that counts, so I will hold on my final thoughts u til the window closes, but right now, I am pretty concerned we lost a legend and added a leg end.

13 Jul 2026 11:53:38
Sensible signing, as we need someone who can plug and play in place of Casemiro from last season's team.

Experienced in the Premier League and Champions League for a smallish fee, lots to like about the deal, honestly.

Only reservation is how well he will mesh with Bruno and Kobbie in the midfield, but they are all talented players so will work it out, you hope.

13 Jul 2026 11:54:42
Wow. That came out of nowhere. Didn't see a single link to him. I think he's pretty good. Solid midfielder. Not elite level, but can add some energy to the midfield and has an eye for a pass.

Seems fairly cheap in the current market. Did Villa not want him or did they need the money?

13 Jul 2026 11:59:37
I don't understand what I am missing here. Tielemans or Joao Gomes for the same money. How is Tielemans the better option? Anyone got stats or info on character or attitude that makes sense of it?

13 Jul 2026 12:07:49
Tielemans is a quality addition and will add an experienced head to what could be a young crop of midfielders, which makes sense to me.

If we end up getting Kone as well as Santos, then I think we will have a good group offering a variety of combinations.

Also, we would have done this all for similar amount to Elliot Anderson, which hopefully means we will have money left to cover a few more options.

13 Jul 2026 12:13:09
Good player. He makes good forward runs. Good passer, good at free kicks and can tackle. He also has a decent long shot, which is something we have been missing.

13 Jul 2026 12:18:43
Ronnie would be pleased with this! Only been waiting about 10 years for us to sign him.

13 Jul 2026 12:18:45
@CO,
Gomes was relegated, never played CL or European football.
Tielemans has vast experience, played in a team, and was instrumental to their good form and results over the last few seasons.
Good intl experience. Unlike Gomes, he has better passing, assisting, and scouting stats than Gomes over the past 2 seasons.
No doubt who the better option for us is, based on the above.


Gomes looks like a decent player, but has probably not got the profile and experience that we need. Mainoo and Santos are inexperienced at the highest level, but both have more to call on than Gomes. Adding him in the mix with Santos and Mainoo would be a mistake, imo, without having more experience in there.

13 Jul 2026 12:27:30
#Fallguy,
He's in the last year of his contract and 35m clause is active. He didn't want to extend.

13 Jul 2026 13:18:19
Excellent business. Very shrewd signing again. Delighted if this happens.

13 Jul 2026 14:42:29
Capt. O., what makes you think it is either Yuri or Joao? Perhaps both?

13 Jul 2026 15:26:06
Thanks Ken, feel better with that summary, and, yeah, understood. I'm maybe biased because I think Atletico are no fools under Simeone when it comes to solid midfield generals who are industrious and skilled. I don't see them signing any bang average CM or DM ever.

Hope Mbd is wrong also, as I definitely think it had to be one of the two, and I really hope we get a top class addition as well.

I don't know enough about Kone, but I hear the views on here loud and clear re injuries, and the same goes if we are worried about Ederson. I think there's little point putting out my own hopes for who the midfielder is next, as both options have come from left field and neither had any visibility from the press at all. It's a wait and see summer for sure.

13 Jul 2026 15:45:46
CO, Madrid pulled out of Gomes deal, and, as you say, they are not stupid.

13 Jul 2026 15:48:37
They did sign Conor Gallagher, Co.

13 Jul 2026 16:13:00
So did Spurs, Ken, and they obviously realised he ain't good enough either. Think we dodged a bullet with that one.

13 Jul 2026 17:09:01
Absolutely fantastic signing.

Let him and Mainoo rotate as the 'conductor' type.

Let Santos and probably Baleba rotate at the 6.

An infinitely better core of midfielders than we've had for a few years, and fairly 'cheap' with the three (pretty sure it'll be Baleba for £70m ish) obtained for around £153m, which leaves some cash for an elite left-back and a backup striker...

13 Jul 2026 17:10:30
Hahahaha, Supasub. My thoughts exactly.

13 Jul 2026 21:00:41
Don't get how anyone can be negative about this. He's literally one of the top midfielders in the league, steps up in big moments (goals in FA Cup/Europa League final/World Cup knockout round), vastly experienced, great off the ball work, real quality on it, and able to dictate tempo and control games. Arguably the best CM we've signed since Carrick himself.

13 Jul 2026 21:42:59
My only concern is that we are setting ourselves up to struggle with recovery runs when we lose possession.

Out of Mainoo, Santos, and Tielemans, none of them really excel at making those lung-busting 40-50m runs back to cover against a break.



Santos and Tielemans are both better at it than Mainoo, but, from what I've seen this season, not enough for my taste.

Or have I just not watched them enough and they are more mobile than I think?

13 Jul 2026 22:46:37
We badly need the experience so that makes it a good signing.
Still desperately needs an experienced CB with pace and another striker.

11 Jul 2026 01:02:38
Personal terms agreed with Kone. He wants to join and the deal will be done after the World Cup, provided he passes his medical, of course. Fee of around 46 million pounds should be enough, maybe a few add ons. Summerville will be worked on next.

11 Jul 2026 07:40:58
I'd true.

No coincidence that we've found an issue with Ederson if Kone is available?

11 Jul 2026 08:18:19
Manu Kone has had more than his fair share of injuries.

Personally, if Ederson isn't going to happen due to something in his medical, then Joao Gomes would be top of my choices as a similar player.

11 Jul 2026 10:13:14
Don't know much about Kone. But, I did see he started for France in the quarter final. If he starts for France, he must be half decent.

11 Jul 2026 10:30:36
Kone's injury record is concerning. You can't expect it to get better all of a sudden.
I wouldn't go after these injury-prone players. We already have enough in our team.
I don't care about his talent.

11 Jul 2026 11:55:33
Shappy, I agree regarding Gomez. I have actually heard that his move to Atletico Madrid collapsed, and we are in for him again, as he was one of the top targets. Kobbie, Kone, Santos and Gomez would be some high energy options in midfield.

Energy is something we've been lacking in midfield for a long time. If you can get Kone, Santos and Gomez for around 150 million, that is brilliant business.

11 Jul 2026 13:38:26
High energy is probably the last thing I'd call Mainoo.

11 Jul 2026 13:51:58
I checked his injury record. Didn't look that bad to me.

11 Jul 2026 14:00:28
Jd123, he actually was when Carrick came in. I was lucky enough to go to 4 or 5 games in the 2nd half of the season. Yeah, he's not the fastest, but he doesn't stop running, you just don't always see it, especially on TV.

11 Jul 2026 14:28:49
Kone would be an excellent signing.

Him and another physical specimen as the 6 options.

Mainoo and Santos as the technical 8 options.

Bruno and Mount as options at 10.

Thank God Ederson seems to be out of the picture. I've never been as sure that a United signing wasn't good enough as I was with him.

11 Jul 2026 14:30:04
Also, checked reports, so many conflicting ones again. We've approached him, he's going to Arsenal, he's coming to us, take your pick.

11 Jul 2026 14:45:07
Jd, he was. Next to Casemiro, he had to be. In fact, he was very energetic and very aggressive in the last part of the season. He surprised us all.

11 Jul 2026 15:27:02
Given our data-led recruitment model, his injury record will be flagged as very worrying.

Very unlikely signing. More likely J.
Gomez and Alex Scott.

11 Jul 2026 23:56:57
His recurring injury was a thigh problem which he's had an op for, and so far seems to have fixed it. He did suffer a hamstring issue, but that's par for the course for most players; usually fine as long as it's not a tear. He came back too early, but now again seems healed.

Main reason Ederson failed was due to his knee.

Knee injuries end careers, Rossi for example. Muscle injuries can be treated by operations, but not always successful.

Again, United will want to run the rule over him and will pull the plug if anything is flagged. If the deal's off, expect Berge to be the next target. Gomes is of no interest at this moment.

12 Jul 2026 17:37:18
I personally would take one of Kone or Gomes and sign Guimaraes. I think Santos, Bruno G, and Kone / Gomes would be excellent business.

Perhaps make Newcastle an offer of Bruno G and Lewis Hall for 150M.

12 Jul 2026 19:14:12
Joao Gomes won't happen.

He's tiny. You can't possibly have him, Mainoo, Santos, and, say, Alex Scott as your four midfielders in the Premier League; they'd be eaten alive. Not to mention how many goals we'd concede from set pieces.

Our big midfielder signing needs to be a big old unit.

13 Jul 2026 09:56:35
Downsie, What do u mean by tiny? As in height? Gomes is 1.76m, which is taller than Kante and Makelele. Santos is 1.8m, which is Roy Keane's height. I really do not understand why you'd think they'd be eaten alive. Do you want another Fellaini?

10 Jul 2026 23:20:16
Reports now coming out from MEN reporter say United sources strongly deny the Ederson deal is off!

Man Utd feel suggestions the transfer has collapsed is pressure to close the deal.

All very confusing. If he is OK then great. As I have previously said I have watched him a good few times over last couple of years and think he is a very good player and would be a terrific addition.



Clearly if there are any issues then no risks can be taken. We have our full quota of crocked players.

As someone has mentioned Joao Gomes of Wolves is no longer Atletico bound. He would be an excellent option. Baleba is still a possibility and seemingly has strong support from within the club.

Would just like to see a conclusion one way or another.

10 Jul 2026 19:42:44
Ederson deal off. He's heading back to Atalanta. I'm guessing it's down to something in the medical.

10 Jul 2026 21:42:25
Fabrizio said it's off, "Man Utd sources" say it's still on... It can never be a normal transfer window with us...

11 Jul 2026 07:18:35
It's more the fact that Man Utd and sensational journalism sell clicks.

If he's failed his medical, then we pull out. End of. If the club have found something they need to explore further, which seems the case, then we wait for the results.

10 Jul 2026 12:55:02
Further to my post earlier this week about Ederson having issues with his medical. Rumours continued today over his recent meniscus injury and the possibility of longer-term knee issues.

10 Jul 2026 16:13:57
If there's an issue, I think we have to pull out of the deal. We've seen it before, with Mount and Bailly, when there's an issue in the medical and how it pans out.

10 Jul 2026 16:18:50
100%. If it's not right, then it's not right.
If there is any doubt, err on the side of caution. That would be my view.

10 Jul 2026 16:21:43
If there is uncertainty, I hope they swerve him regardless of his price or potential. We've already got a growing list of players who miss too many games, including a couple who had well-documented issues prior to joining.

Let's hope the second medical is as thorough as possible.
If he flies through it, awesome - it's a good price for a solid player.
If it's uncertain, swerve and move on.

10 Jul 2026 21:05:48
I guess the people running the club have some sense after all. Ederson deal off.

10 Jul 2026 10:33:44
Hi Ed's is there any issues with the ederson deal? Few stories online that we might not go through with it? Media bs or possible? Any Insight be great if u have it.

{Ed001's Note - I haven't heard anything about it sorry.}

10 Jul 2026 13:55:46
No worries ed, cheers

{Ed001's Note - sorry I can't help. It is not easy to get news on medicals. What does come out is often just propaganda.}

10 Jul 2026 10:56:03.
Karl Darlow to us on a free medical today?

10 Jul 2026 15:25:17
Medicals don't usually cost too much, so it's an odd one to brag about.

10 Jul 2026 19:30:55
Depends if he went NHS or private.

08 Jul 2026 17:33:52
Santos from Chelsea seems to be gathering pace.

I wouldn't mind him as a back up. But if reports are to be believed, the price tag is around £50m. That is utter madness. He's not even a regular for Chelsea.

And watch Chelsea replace him with a top midfielder with Utd's money.

World has gone mad.

08 Jul 2026 17:47:02
Sky Sports saying it's been agreed.

08 Jul 2026 17:49:45
Fee agreed according to Ornstein and others. So him and Ederson, any chance of one more in midfield?

08 Jul 2026 18:00:02
The perfect midfield rebuild!

08 Jul 2026 18:06:19
Why go for the best when you can have mediocrity.

08 Jul 2026 18:21:08
He's not mediocre. Whether he can step up and be as good as we need is what we will find out. I was talking to a Chelsea season ticket holder, who says he is a proper 7/10 performance player on a regular basis, rarely has a bad game, and sometimes is an 8 or 9, and that if Enzo went, he would probably be kept and take his place.

08 Jul 2026 18:24:47
It's embarrassing, really. They've had months to work on the transfer plans. And the best they can come up with is a bang-average Brazilian that United have been linked to for the last few years and a reserve player from Chelsea.

Bet City and Arsenal are really worried!

08 Jul 2026 18:30:46
He wasn't even on the list a couple of weeks ago.
Could have got stiller for the same sort of money, who is playing and not a bit-part player.

08 Jul 2026 18:11:02
Ed001, what do you think of the player? I remember you said earlier that you think he has potential if he were given a run of games.

Would he fit, and how does he compare to Elliot or Mateus (I know you weren't a big fan of the former)?

{Ed001's Note - I don't think he is yet at the level of Elliott Anderson, but he hasn't had the same trust in him from Chelsea that Anderson got from Forest. But he is better than Fernandez (Mateus obviously, not Bruno!) with a lot of potential to go further. I was actually hoping we (as in Liverpool) would go for him last summer and did mention him as someone I would take to strengthen midfield. I think he will be a good signing.}

08 Jul 2026 18:35:57
It will be the wages that make this palatable for the club. Can't imagine Santos, after two loans in France and one season at Chelsea, is on mega wages.

08 Jul 2026 19:14:58
Ah, come on Tris, the experts on here have already decided he's bang average. What do you know, eh?

{Ed001's Note - I am surprised how little he is rated. Maybe they didn't see any of his time at Strasbourg?}

08 Jul 2026 18:59:13
#Twenty
Do you even watch games or just go off based on what you see on twitter?
We should have gone for the best?
So that's Anderson for 130 and Fernandes for 85? And then what? Transfer window over because no more money left.
We need at least 5 signings this summer.

08 Jul 2026 20:03:36
Featured in over 40 games last season, young, with Premiership experience, wants more minutes, won't break the club's wage structure... I think our boys have done their homework and this could be a good signing in today's crazy market. It leaves financial room for more upgrades.

08 Jul 2026 20:14:33
Many here didn't want Lammens either because he wasn't famous enough.

08 Jul 2026 20:26:01
The problem is, United want to compete with the likes of City and Arsenal. They have come out saying they will win the league in 2028. But they are trying to compete with the European elite with the transfer policy of a mid table club.



Unfortunately, the best players cost the most money. Just because the club has been burnt before with big-money signings does not mean you just stop.

08 Jul 2026 21:38:34
Let's just hope it's not Chelsea getting their own back for Garnacho.

08 Jul 2026 21:55:27
H94, First of all, I watched every United game last season.

Secondly, what's the point in making five signings if they're just average? I'd rather we bought fewer players, but ones who genuinely improve the starting XI.

We probably have around £250-300 million to spend, and we've also freed up close to £1 million a week in wages with the players who've left.

Look at some of our previous transfer windows. We signed Fred, Donny van de Beek and Alex Telles. Long term, were any of them good enough? No. Do we still have them? No. Did we make money back on them? No. We had other higher profile targets that year. That's exactly the kind of spending that's held us back for years.

I'd rather see us spend £250 million strengthening the midfield, just like we focused heavily on the attack last summer.

A midfield of Bruno Fernandes, Aurelien Tchouameni and Alex Scott would transform the team and would have been in budget.

I'm not saying Andrey Santos or Ederson won't succeed if they sign, but they're much bigger risks, risks other top 4 clubs wouldn't make. If the club is serious about competing with Liverpool, Arsenal and City again, we need to start buying players at that level.

I don't see those clubs building a title-winning midfield by shopping for the cheapest options on the market or prioritising players because they'll accept lower wages. We've done that too many times before, and it hasn't worked.

08 Jul 2026 21:58:09
Buy cheap buy twice.

08 Jul 2026 22:37:21
Twenty, you are spot on. We should be splashing the cash to make sure we don't have to spend again next summer to replace the cheap signings this summer. We need to spend big like we did on Maguire, Pogba, Lukaku, Di Maria, Antony, Sancho, Hojlund, Mount, Martial, and Veron.

Oh, wait a minute. 🙄

08 Jul 2026 22:49:04
Will reserve judgement until both players have had a chance to settle in, but Santos and Ederson have all the makings of the next McFred.

If nothing else, it's a little underwhelming to go from being linked with the likes of Anderson, Tonali, and Tchouameni, to this, especially with Spurs, City, and (seemingly) Arsenal all bringing in Premier League proven players.

08 Jul 2026 23:08:19
Vivell has signed Santos twice. He clearly sees something in the player. After last season's transfers, I believe we need to give him the benefit of the doubt. If it doesn't work out, then we can call for Vivell's head and get Twenty and JSU in to steady the ship. Proper footballing men. 😁

08 Jul 2026 23:16:59
Shrewd signing. Said it earlier in the week. Our "fans" hated Woodard for galactico signings, but in fact all they crave is household names.

08 Jul 2026 23:33:09
I don't understand why so many damn Santos, without actually having watched him properly and giving him a real chance to succeed. Patience is needed.

08 Jul 2026 23:39:00
Twenty, saying that Donny, Fred and Telles are the signings that held us back, is nuts.

Sancho, arguably Pogba, Antony, etc, are the signings that held us back. Each cost almost as much as the three you named combined!

As for Santos, he wouldn't have been my first choice, but he's good and he's young.

After last summer, I'm willing to trust the recruitment team to know better than me.

Ederson I'm happy about. I think he'll do well in this league. Hopefully, we'll still see one more midfielder, a LB, striker and a backup keeper.

09 Jul 2026 11:32:16
Until we've seen Santos and Ederson play at United, we have no idea. My main concern is the lack of experience, so hopefully that will be addressed, rather than ending up with a team full of potential and little proven quality.

Fingers crossed it transpires.
But, just because big signings have not all worked out previously, it is pretty stupid to think all will go that way. Plenty of potentials have not worked out either. Stop living in yesteryear.

09 Jul 2026 11:32:29
I'm going to wait and see. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. Presumably the club will have done its due diligence via the data department on him.

Everyone on here knows we need more depth to face a much heavier schedule next season. We don't know what will be the extent of his role, nor what other signings will take place.

Ederson and Santos will add depth, but do not remove the possibility of another more glamorous signing in midfield. Santos is young and could well emerge as a real star. He's just at the age to make an impact, if given a chance (or, indeed, not).

The window is still open for 7 weeks. Relax.

09 Jul 2026 13:03:46
We said we would do what we needed to win the league, at no point did we ever say we will act like idiots as we have in the past. Frankly this is the last time I reply to twenty and full guy becisse they either don't watch football, are intern gasloghting trolls or genuinely thought better of those past clowns Woodward and murtough who paid through the nose for biggest price, salary and lowest attitudes and potential.

We won't get it right every time, no one does, but as we are now data driven and u emotional I trust data and cold hard facts to make decisions over people every day of the week

09 Jul 2026 13:21:42
They are entitled to their opinions.
They are uneducated opinions from guys who know nothing about the data or the detail. They know nothing about picking squads or teams. They have no practical experience they are not subject matter experts and their opinions mean nothing. You might as well as Doris the tea lady that's watched games her opinion as its just as relevant or irrelevant.


Just accept they are empty vessels just making noise on a subject matter they know nothing about.
Nobody knows how the signings will do. We just have to wait and see. If they do badly then people can comment on what they see but to write them off before they kick a ball is idiocy.

09 Jul 2026 13:42:13
Lol, ok! No one can argue the facts. There are proven Prem players who would be a little risk because of that, but the club don't want to spend the money or the wages to get them. So we aren't operating as a big club. Would Liverpool, Arsenal or City do that? No.
I'm definitely not saying the signings we are making won't work, but it's a risk. For example, if you went for Bruno G and Tonali, you are getting players that have played consistently, know the league, and have Champions League experience.


We didn't want to spend the money on Rice a while back; we def wouldn’t have paid what City paid for Anderson.
In the future, we will miss out on a lot of players because now we have a wage structure that we won't break. I'm pretty sure Spurs had a similar wage structure and were rigid about breaking it, and look where they were until this summer. Whether you like it or not, we are acting like a mid league club.

09 Jul 2026 14:29:57
Amusing when somebody has a different opinion, they are classified as "empty vessels who know nothing and don't even watch football." It is like having a discussion with a Trump supporter.

My opinion is just as valid as yours. You have no idea of my background or knowledge.

If you want to blindly follow whatever the club does with no questions, then that is your prerogative.

That doesn't mean I have to. I'm entitled to say what I think. Maybe these signings will turn out to be the next Xavi and Iniesta; maybe they won't. But I know where I'd put my money.

Let's see what your opinion is if the team sits in 15th place at Xmas.

If you want to live in a world where everybody says the same thing and never offers a different opinion, you might like North Korea.

09 Jul 2026 14:52:22
I'm here for everyone's opinions. Sometimes hearing a different view can help all of us see things differently.
I want all players to succeed when they join us.
I'm confused, though I'm not blindly following the club's decisions. I'm pretty clearly against how the club operates.

09 Jul 2026 15:03:56
My response wasn't aimed at you, Twenty. Apologies.

09 Jul 2026 15:55:54
I guess after further reflection, my issue isn't necessarily the signing Ederson of Santos, it's more both being signed (assuming Ederson is confirmed at some point).

If it had been one or the other, alongside a top tier midfielder, then I would have understood it more.



Maybe that top tier midfielder is still to come. No idea who it would be, though.

I guess the best word to describe it would be "underwhelming".

09 Jul 2026 15:08:31
All opinions are just that they are not educated or coming from a place of knowledge. Don't get upset by opinions. If they were expert opinions then they would carry some weight.
You might as well pluck a person from the supermarket and ask their opinion on the national fiscal policy.

They may have an opinion on it but they would probably say themselves they don't really know what their talking about. Just like you on footballers.

09 Jul 2026 16:28:58
Twenty, it would be nice if you could share the apparent list so we know who else is on it and who isn't ;)

09 Jul 2026 18:06:27
As my Grandad says, opinions are like ....holes. Everybody has one, and more often than not, they're full of ....

I'm not saying I am right or someone else is wrong. It would just be nice if we could just all sit on the sunny side of the bus until we get burnt. New season, new bus.

09 Jul 2026 18:09:41
#Twenty,
This summer it's about quality and quantity.
We need more players because we will play way more games and our squad is already injury prone.
3 signings would mean nothing to us.
Sad but it's our reality.
Remember how we played last season when we had two games per week?
And very expensive signings rarely work for us.

09 Jul 2026 17:56:10
List?

09 Jul 2026 18:33:51
Why is it, Ken, you are so condescending to people's opinions, and then do it in a way that makes your opinion seem the most important and the most experienced? You have no way of knowing who they are, yet you still do it every time.


Just because you disagree with their opinions does not make them wrong or stupid or numpties.
Bad as the ones who block people cos they only want to hear nice things.....

09 Jul 2026 19:38:03
JSU, I think the negativity of the opinions is what's irritating. So many are suggesting our business has been poor or underwhelming. For what reason? Objectively, there isn't a huge difference between Santos and Fernandes - either on reputation, raw stats or on appearances - but one cost significantly more than the other. Frankly, I think Ken is being kind.

10 Jul 2026 11:13:54
I agree we need to see how they perform before making an informed opinion, but to call people uneducated or stupid because they have made their opinions before that is a bit rich. Just because it does not suit their opinions, there are many ex-players of the same opinion that both are not good enough, but what gives anybody the right to call them stupid?
I am not sure how just because one is cheaper than Fernandes makes it the right signing or not, though.

Let's be realistic here.

10 Jul 2026 13:01:50
Yes, List! Quoting you below.
'He wasn't even on the list a couple of weeks ago.'

10 Jul 2026 16:26:56
I've only seen him a few times for Chelsea. But the positive feedback from Chelsea fans who don't think he should be going is huge, which must count for something. International captain at a few levels also suggests we're getting a player with leadership qualities the others can look up to.

It's easy to band around things like 'a shrewd signing' when a player is a good price, but this one may well prove to be one, whereas the Ederson one looks like it needs a bit more delving before signing the check.