Got a link to the Zubi confirmation? I don't actually remember it being a long courtship with Rice or Timber. Raya is a sort of grey area as we signed Ramsdale so not sure you could consider that the same circumstances of a long courtship as you might for Zubimendi or Sesko. Even if your point stands, spending two years courting a player is just ridiculous. You either need him or you don't. If you identify a need, and the target isn't available, you should be moving on to alternatives. Two year long courtship is the 2020s version of the 2000s/2010s keeping the powder dry.
I'm with Sicario and Daredevil on this one to an extent. I'm not yet overly concerned we haven't signed a striker, but that should have been top priority going into the summer. We know who and what we need. Or at least we should. There is very little reason not to do it early. It can be done, and as much as it depends on other clubs and players, desire and intent play a huge part. We wouldn't be going for these targets if we were not comfortable a) they were open to a move and b) clubs were willing to sell. If a) and b) are true, the issue then lies with our desire to make it happen.
