Memphis Depay

[The_weatherman]

The players we need to be signing are the odd ones teams like Villa, Spurs, Newcastle, Southampton, Evert etc got right, and then sold on to top clubs.

We need to be identifying and buying those players, which tbf just involves looking at who they bid for, and then pick the best. Seems to work for other clubs where we're concerned anyway.

I agree, we always try to be too clever, we sign Aspas and Alberto FFS while Tottenham sign Eriksen for a similar amount, Newcastle get in Cabeye and Sissoko for peanuts.

[danperkins]

Let's be honest, who in their right mind would join us rather than a more established top four side with more money, given the choice? Add the Dutch manager and lack of any affiliation to LFC and it's a no brained for the lad.

We're second tier, we don't get first dibs on players in demand.

[Venton]

The first rule of negotiation is to be realistic about your strengths and weaknesses and what you can expect to achieve.

It isn't realistic to expect to come up against and beat clubs who can pay more, offer CL football and prospects of success. The pay more bit especially.

[Muddled]

You are more condescending than I thought. What players have we managed to sign recently where there was any competition?

Lallana
Lovren
Balotelli
Lambert
Markovic
Moreno
Borini
Allen
Sturridge
Coutinho

We got a free run to sign them all. Where there has been any interest from other sides we invariably lose out, I'd expect it maybe most of the time but all the time. We take too long, and usually the targets then end up elsewhere, and IMO we don't seem to make players feel wanted, Barrett could have said that the deal was off or we decided to pursue other targets but he said that it's on hold, I think there is something to it.

I doubt very much we got a 'free run' at them. Other clubs will bid for players; The examples you have chosen - bar the odd one - will have been subject to several bids.

Snippets from the press ...

Markovic

'Markovic was tracked by numerous Premier League clubs since making an impression at Partizan Belgrade as a teenager, most notably Chelsea who seemed in pole position to sign him.'

Lallana

'It is little wonder, then, that Lallana has been linked with a transfer to a club of greater standing during the summer window, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all have been linked with respective moves for the player.'

Moreno

'Manchester United are reportedly planning a January swoop for Sevilla defender Alberto Moreno. United are keen to secure a long-term replacement for 32-year-old Patrice Evra and have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign Everton star Leighton Baines.'

I can't be bothered searching the rest.

[Maxiedge]

I don't believe we're second tier. Well, we certainly weren't last summer. I believe the people doing our transfer business are second tier.

[G]

Remember when Tom Werner said we could compete for the best without doubt. Sound him.

[The Birdman]

It's been reported in the national press and also a couple of journalists told me the same/verified it.

If that's the case (as opposed to lfc told them that) then the question isn't why have we wasted all that time it's why didn't we sign him for a reasonable amount while he was still under the radar?

£25 mill now means 18 months ago (Jan window before the World Cup) we'd have got him for £8-12m allow him to stay at PSV on loan for rest of that season, maybe even this one just gone.

Look at what Chelsea do.

Never, ever, ever in a million years will we be able to compete for any player once they are a 'name' or are 'established'

[Phoenix07]

It's been reported in the national press and also a couple of journalists told me the same/verified it.

There've been dabs throughout the season about delegations watching him. Isn't that the only reason why we've watched PSV so often?

Frustrated beyond belief.

[danperkins]

He was never a realistic target for us unfortunately, we just don't have the draw or the money anymore. Getting rejected by these targets constantly is quite embarrassing for the club but a good barometer of where we are.

[danperkins]

It's hard not to get cynical about the way we go about transfers.

[tanner]

I don't believe we're second tier. Well, we certainly weren't last summer. I believe the people doing our transfer business are second tier.

Of course we're second tier. Just because we finished second last season doesn't change that, it needs to be sustained success, be it in the form of trophies or CL qualification.

We offer none of that and will always lose out in transfers to Utd,City,Chelsea, Arsenal. We're second tier in a 4 tier league.

[The_weatherman]

I doubt very much we got a 'free run' at them. Other clubs will bid for players; The examples you have chosen - bar the odd one - will have been subject to several bids.

Snippets from the press ...

Markovic

'Markovic was tracked by numerous Premier League clubs since making an impression at Partizan Belgrade as a teenager, most notably Chelsea who seemed in pole position to sign him.'

Lallana

'It is little wonder, then, that Lallana has been linked with a transfer to a club of greater standing during the summer window, with Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham all have been linked with respective moves for the player.'

Moreno

'Manchester United are reportedly planning a January swoop for Sevilla defender Alberto Moreno. United are keen to secure a long-term replacement for 32-year-old Patrice Evra and have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign Everton star Leighton Baines.'

I can't be bothered searching the rest.

Chelsea decided against Markovic, United went for Shaw and now one was going to pay 25 million for Lallana.

[Glenn Hysen]

Stop the god damn whining...
We can't expect a top talent from another country to choose us over a club in champions league, better recent record and with a manager from the same country.
Also, we know feck all about what really happens behind doors. Any gossip from journos or players or agents is most probably used for someones gain.
For all we know we might have played this right until United entered. He might have waited for their offer...

[The_weatherman]

Of course we're second tier. Just because we finished second last season doesn't change that, it needs to be sustained success, be it in the form of trophies or CL qualification.

We offer none of that and will always lose out in transfers to Utd,City,Chelsea, Arsenal. We're second tier in a 4 tier league.

We could be smarter about things though, we need to identify targets early and act fast, but we always haggle and haggle until we lose our top targets. Might be better of then to target second tier players from the start.

How long was it that the guy from PSV said Liverpool and PSG were front runners about Depay but United just wanted to be kept informed, the it took them what three or four days to tie up a deal.

[Buzzo]

It'd be great (albeit unlikely) but great if we stole 4th from Utd.