"the guys who put the deals together seem to still think they can lo ball" so you mean Khaldoon, Sheikh Mansour, Soriano, Omar and Txiki?
Other than the past decade of success, what have these lot ever done for us?
We don't low ball anyone. We put our valuation on the table and if someone comes in and over pays to beat us, good luck to them.
Dealing with Raiola has already been noted as not being a problem. I don't believe the lad wants to sign for us, but regardless, we have put out offer on the table and if the rags or madrid have doubled our offer then I am sure he will take that one.