They’ve definitely got the money, it’s the point you make about ‘if they want to’ which is what I was trying to say. I just can’t see FSG ‘wanting’ to blow an unprecedented fee on a player when they’re actively trying to sell.
It makes no logical sense for any owner when they’re in the process of trying to offload an asset.
Plus the next regime will be the ones to reap the benefit - and the credit - for having the player at the Club.
And the media heat for not getting him over the line is simply never going to happen. The whole ‘we tried, but poor old FSG couldn’t compete against state-owned Clubs like City’ angle writes itself, and absolves then of any blame. We all know their supine media lackeys will be more than happy to peddle that line for them all summer.
The cynic in me could argue that’s their objective, setting the scene and making the case for why they had to leave - when we all know the real reason is because the super league smash and grab their owners pushed so hard for ended up in such catastrophic and very public failure.
Completely agree they need a complete squad overhaul and rebuild which goes way beyond Bellingham, so they need to balance his signing with filling a whole host of ageing holes in their squad to be in with a chance of competing again.