tbh i think mandzukic is about the best we'll get this summer as far as strikers go

Claudius wrote:

oh, no, wasn't saying he's a striker. just that i don't think we are going to find a top striker; so we need to be clever this summer. bring in a tier two striker like Mandzukic or Benteke, and then bring in some scoring wide forwards

Mandzukic is on a completely different level to Benteke. Benteke couldn't buy a goal for about 5 months

Seriously, Mandzukic is starting for Bayern and is the leading top scorer in Bundesliga. He might not be a world-class signing but the way he's put down in here is ridiculous. He'd be a tremendous improvement on any striker in Premier League who isn't named Agüero, Suarez or van Persie. People need to come to terms with the fact that we're probably going to need a strong centreforward who can hold up the ball in this league. It's a pragmatic signing if we aren't lucky enough to land one of the 2-3 top strikers that everyone in Europe will be after this summer. It's infinitely better than to just keep on trucking with a Giroud-level type of player.

Do you lads really think any of Mandzukic, Costa, Cavani, Benzema or Falcao are attainable for us this summer? I mean, realistically? Forget about our general tight arse ways, but in terms of offering enough financially to these players and clubs, the players being able and willing to move and their clubs allowing them to leave?

Costa yep

We have the money.

Yeah, Costa is the only one who looks likely to move at the moment. Possibly Benzema if Real decide to have another galactico summer, but it's not obvious who they would bring in and Benzema wouldn't lack suitors if he became available.

Things might change quickly though. I never thought Özil would leave Real Madrid a year ago.

I think Mandzukic could well be on the move in the summer, but it is far from given. The fact that Guardiola uses Müller as the back up when he wants to change things up could be the deciding factor. That is, I could well see a situation where Bayern are looking to sell. If not, then I think he will stay. Players often need a season on the fringes before they want to go themselves, so I doubt Mandzukic himself will look for a move.

depends what chelsea do tbh. agents run the game these days, and costa/falcao's agent is jorge mendes, who is also mourinho's agent. i'm sure there's been preliminary conversations had between parties, so chelsea have the big edge with those 2

In the end I don't think 'the same agent' theory holds water. The selling club will have their asking price, and when that is met it comes down to the player's preference. If we want a player, we just have to have a better pitch than competitors.

And 9/10 it's the players agent you're pitching to.

I think reus is getable

Only a shit agent would keep it from his employer that a club like Arsenal has shown interest and is prepared to pay the asking price. Then I reckon the player will talk directly to the club.

I would have thought that agents are far smarter and more devious than the players that they represent.
Remember Denilson saying that he expected to move to Spain or Italy as a better fit for his style of football, but while he was back in Brazil his agent chatted to the press and admitted that there was no interest in him from any Spanish or Italian clubs, he also said that even though he spoke regularly to Wenger that he had not spoken to him about Denilson

What about the agents asking price?

We know for a fact that Wenger speaking directly to Ramsey and Özil was instrumental in us landing them, so I reckon that happens fairly often.

That's probably only at the final stage, once Dick Law has done the leg work.

The final stage seems the most important one to me; once you get past the club you need to convince the player.

Timothy wrote:

What about the agents asking price?

yep. our club seem to have some standards about what fees they're willing to pay to agents, much like how we won't go above a certain valuation for a player