You guys aren't doing the math. There's no scenario where you keep all 3 happy by keeping them around. There's no scenario where Jesus is happy playing less than 70% of available games. There's no scenario where Eddie is happy starting fewer games than this season at 24. There's no scenario where 'Ligue 1s top scorer' is either happy or developing playing a bit part role.

Fabio Vieira who has arguably been first choice backup for 3 positions this season has started just 8 games. It probably would have been less if we were playing Milan and Porto rather than Tumbleweed FC.

I'd understand if we still had Auba and Laca here stinking the place up. But unfortunately for Balo he's got two guys performing very well and heading into their prime ahead of him.

Also think there's a bit of projecting going on with whether or not he'd be happy with a loan. Reckon he'd absolutely love playing week in week out in a top half PL side or a good European side. We then give ourselves 12 extra months to make a more informed decision.

I’d sell Balogun in the summer. He’s getting numbers in Ligue Une but I’m just not keen on his overall game. It’s not dynamic enough.

Cash in whilst he can command a lot

Just a poor man’s Nketiah

Clrnc I don't see why not. Doesn't it depend on the loan? Being loaned out is not an insult for a young, developing player - it's what they are usually demanding so they can advance their careers. The whole "stay and fight for my place" mentality seems a bit misguided, unless you're 24/25 or you've got some serious indication from the coach that there is a vulnerability in the squad you could exploit.

    Claudius You can only sell Tierney if the price is right too and if you have a number of replacements you feel can do a better job. The thing about Tierney is that he's still very good, he's just not Zinchenko. Who is though? Its a big ask to find a player who can do what he does.

      I don't think it's that he's not Zinchenko, I think it's more a stylistic issue. Tierney is great as a more conventional full back that the large majority of teams still play, but he's not amazing at the inverted role.

      I know there's a school of thought that says it's good to have alternative styles, but I've never bought into that personally. It's far more beneficial to be able to play the same way even when 3 or 4 players leave the line-up.

      It's one of those where you might as well cash in because it doesn't suit anyone to persist.

      Who can play the Zinchenko style though. Who else can be the left back who also sort of players as a number 10.

      Like I say if we sell Tierney for a good price and reinvest in someone more suited to the role then thats fine. I just hope we don't move a good player and replace him with someone who isn't up to it. We've already signed Nuno Tavares, thats not a mistake we can make again at left back.

        You'd probably have to sign a hard working attacking midfielder and convert him like what was done with Zinchenko already.

        That said, I was thinking the other day that prime Monreal would do very well in the role if he were around now.

        • Daz replied to this.

          If you got him young you could definitely have coached him to do it alright. He was tactically astute on the ball and had a great technical level like Zinky.

          Pepe LeFrits Actually Saka could probably play that role quite well, though of course we wouldn't want to move him there

            23 days later

            Definitely- cash in before his value drops. He’s not suited to how we play. Good player and character but ultimately the squad has out grown him

            What kind of money should we expect for Tierney?

            If it is Newcastle, anything from £40mil and up.

            To be honest, £45mil plus incentives.

            Good test for Edu this one, conditions are there to make a tidy sum. Anything over £30m would be a decent enough deal imo.

            What did we buy him for? Some of the price was probably tax for expected improvement that hasn't really happened, so the only reason to get more for him than what we paid is the inflation in the market, really.