04 Aug 2026 16:51:21
There’s been a lot of talk about Mount in preseason. He’s been playing well, slotting in well alongside Santos, that he allows us to avoid buying a third midfielder, etc. However, the club would be making a mistake if they include Mount in their transfer planning.
I’m a fan of Mount. He is a good player and looked top class at Chelsea. But his injuries cannot be ignored. He isn’t a reliable squad option. If we go into the season with Mount as one of our 4 first team midfielders, we’re playing with fire.
The club must operate under the expectation that Mount won’t be fit for large portions of the season.
This has been the case since he signed and the odds suggest it’s more likely to continue that way. If the club doesn’t consider Mount a factor, the worst case scenario is that he’s injured but we already have 4 options in the middle. If he can stay fit, that’s a bonus.
The company line is that money for transfers is tight. However, the costs of failing to secure Champions League football are far higher than bringing in the players we need to secure it. We’ve shed two big earners in Casemiro and Sancho. The club need to decide if they’re serious about competing, or crossing their fingers that they’ll make top 5 on the cheap.
04 Aug 2026 18:00:48
Danny, I believe (via The Athletic!) we owe 360M in transfer fees, with 209M due this year. We're seriously restricted. I'm still expecting another signing or two. I think, with that, we'll be good enough for CL positions again, and we'll have a better squad and far more flexibility next year.
04 Aug 2026 18:44:01
Yes, but that £200m we have to pay out will, from a cash point of view, be largely offset by the non-cash amortization charge, which will probably be lower than the £200m+ likely charge in 2025/6. As a result, our cash position should not be too badly affected in 2026/7 by the paying down of transfer debt. Maybe £50m negative. And on the bright side, our overall debt will decrease by £200m.
Obviously, new players' transfer payments decrease the cash position, but as of now, I actually think our new players' wages and amortization costs are lower than the amount we've saved after Casemiro and Sancho left the club. Against that, we will sell some players: Amass, Frederickson and Vitek for starters, get some sell on fees from Greenwood, and the club should bring in a good £100m+ more in revenue, too.
Finally, the club renegotiated their long-term loan. The new one is at a higher rate, but it's also around £95m more than the old one. In the first instance, that £95m will go to reduce short-term bank borrowings, increasing the amount available to spend on operations. All in all, it looks to me like the management team is making all the right moves to get the club back into a healthy position. The increased flexibility should allow them to go ahead and buy at least 2/3 more players this summer without breaking the bank. The only way, ultimately, to reduce the debt is to make profits and generate +ve cash flow. They're on the way to achieving that, but the drag caused by the inherited debt and £40m+/- in interest payments per year is currently a major hindrance. It's the equivalent of £100m player on £20m a year.
04 Aug 2026 18:50:34
On repeat.
The Glazers would love you all to believe the club can't afford any major top level purchases. Funny how it always happened before, when we made top 4 as well.
They will be delighted at the poverty message getting out there and the pressure on them easing.
Are we a big club or not?
04 Aug 2026 21:05:56
I agree, Red Man. The money should be there to compete for at least one established top pro. If we're going to end up in this window with a net spend of £100-£150m and watch all the best prospects go elsewhere, then this squad is going to have to defy expectations. There's going to be some very annoyed supporters if we don't kick on from last season's second half after refusing to stump up the going price for any major talent. The excuse that there's no value in the market has worn thin.
04 Aug 2026 21:43:37
It's all very well asking for players. Most of us identify the need for fullbacks and probably another CM. It's less clear we should get another CB or a striker. I think we should, but on the other hand, by not getting them, we'll see more time for Heaven and Yoro in defence. And, probably, for Shea Lacey in attack (Mbeumo or Cunha providing striker options), or Mount in CM. It's not necessarily what I would choose. What I think is blatantly obvious is that we desperately need a new fullback. If that's the only business we do before the start of the season, I'll be satisfied. Not ecstatic, but I think we'll be in a strong position. Our attack has settled in, as expected, and it took time for them to build an understanding, and we've strengthened enough not to need Bruno to either play in CM or drop so deep as to effectively play there from No. 10.
04 Aug 2026 21:57:05
The club is now undoing decades of reckless overspending. It's not just about being a club that is competing on the pitch, but also about becoming a club that is fiscally responsible.
I've been very happy with all the signings made so far, last summer and this summer. Each and every signing so far makes us a better team and squad. I've no doubt that there will be more transfers.
This will take time. The club have been horrific in investment over the years, and I'm glad to see the turn, albeit slower than anyone would like.
This club has spent over 1.2 billion in the last 5 years, and we were nowhere near a Premier League title.
Spending does not equal whether or not we are a big club. Signing the right players at the right prices, and ensuring we have the right squad and manager, is what will put us back at the top.