I do still think that we are restricted in our budget even if not for 40m, however the structure of our deals this summer is very much an example of Raul's comments about outsmarting the market.
It seems the key thing to this deal was firstly that Lille are willing to accept a payment schedule in instalments of around 12-14m preseason. The second factor being that we then accepted the agent terms = you scratch my back & I'll scratch yours.
I think Zaha may have been the primary target but Palace were unwilling to accept payment by instalments.
With the instalments being accepted in this deal and the subsequent sale of one of our kids I expect to see us be able to get Tierney over the line. I think it was always a case of wanting to land the big signing and then the rest would follow based upon what was left over.
EDIT - other thing of note re instalment payments means we do not need to sell PEA or Laca, whereas with Palace holding out for most of the fee up front meant we probably would have needed to do so.
