Declan Rice

[DMA's]

Not at all. Arsenal look silly here if anything. 105m for Declan rice..

If he improves arsenal and they win trophies nobody will care. I really don’t get people losing their minds about transfer fees. Everyone is paying stupid money these days the most important thing is giving pep the ammo he needs to keep us at the top of the tree,

 

[M18CTID]

Pah! Never wanted him anyway ;)

Seriously, it is what it is. Fair play to Arsenal for coughing up - can see him improving them a fair bit. No doubt we'll move on to other targets

 

[waspish]

Well it’s over!

 

[Biamp]

So we have missed out on out top 2 midfield targets?

Just like 3 summers ago we missed out on Koulibaly and Kounde and ended up signing Ruben. I wouldn't be too bothered about it, Rice is not worth that anyways.

 

[Manchester_lalala]

It does actually look like City intentionally drove up the price. Smart work Txiki.

 

[theres only one carlito]

But what were we expecting? Was always gonna take a bud of around 100 mil so why get involved at all?

We weren’t far off, 80 up front with achievable add ons. We thought that represented a satisfactory deal. £105 million has took the piss and we’ve rightly fucked it off.

 

[Dr Jacoby]

Yep. Plan C better be good.

Wasn’t Dias Plan J?

 

[bluemystery]

So we have missed out on out top 2 midfield targets?

Kovacic?

 

[Kamaro011]

Yep. Plan C better be good.

Don't think so, we may not even have immediate replacement for this season for all we know and wait for next season.

 

[Rolo]

But what were we expecting? Was always gonna take a bud of around 100 mil so why get involved at all?

Tbh I think we were just testing the waters. That first bid was a take it or leave it offer. If City were truly desperate for Rice an extra 15 million wouldn't bother them.

 

[SWP's back]

City look a bit silly here imo

Treble winners and just made Arsenal spend £15m more than they wanted. I don’t feel silly in the slightest.

 

[rice10]

Personally I was never that bothered about Rice, I really wanted Bellingham.

This does remind me of when we unexpectedly lost Kompany and we’re not properly prepared for it and took over a season to replace him. I don’t see Kovacic as a replacement as I think we are short on numbers still.

However we usually get it right in the end so I am excited to see who we end up with but I think we could have to wait.

 

[manimanc]

Stonesy's Midfield performances this season have pissed all over Bellinghams and Rice's performances.
Just saying like.

 

[MillsyTheMosher]

I wouldn’t anticipate the arrival of another midfielder now.

Kovacic has replaced Gundo (all be it Kova will play deeper much of the time allowing Foden to play centrally as a like for like replacement for Gundo).

Phillips will also be much better next season.

 

[bluemystery]

Why? We've made Arsenal pay at least an extra 15mil

Yeah, similar to Sanchez/Maguire/Fred etc.

 

[LangleyBlue1970]

Not flapping mate? Just stating the fact we wanted Bellingham and Rice was the plan B and we`ve lost out on him as well?

Our club will have better seasons than their new clubs.

 

[vicblueman]

Hmm thought Rice was abroad on his Hols?

Does Gaughan usually get his information spot on ?

 

[DeBlueLou]

Don't think so, we may not even have immediate replacement for this season for all we know and wait for next season.

Big mistake, that. We have three injury-prone players centrally.

 

[Kamaro011]

Btw this will be time for Phillips for shine next season, he probably get his wish to stay and fight for his place.

 

[Ajm1985]

No idea why we wasted our time here. Yet again, the selling club had a price in mind, we didn't want to meet it and have bid under it, knowing we had competition for the player and that it would be rejected.

Pretty pointless endeavour.