When he's a got an accompanying quote from GP about how pleased he is with this transfer window's business, and how he's "happy with the players we already have"
For me, (Clive), it all points to somebody else coming in - for the 1st team squad.
* this point boils down to the club's assessment of 'dire need'. It would be a false economy to pass up the opportunity to sign someone now for £7m, who might save us spending £30m+ next year (a big 'might' though). If Potter, Ashworth etc really think we have enough with Maupay, Welbeck and Connolly, (plus a greater contribution of goals from midfield?), then they wouldn't want to interrupt the 'investment' plans.
- Zeqiri going on loan - surely wouldn't happen without a forward coming in for the 1st team squad?
- Sima - if there's nobody in the pipeline for the 1st team, would we be spending £7m to get him in and send him out again (budget from a different pot I suppose - more of an investment, but still if money's tight for a 1st team forward, I could see the justification for borrowing from the 'investment' pot when in dire need*)
- Connolly - I reckon he was given assurances that he'll get more game time this season (hence the meltdown when he heard he wasn't starting vs Burnley). Even with him firmly in Potter's plans, would he rely on an as-yet unproven youngster, with no lack of talent, but a few temperament problems to iron out?
- Welbeck - no question for me re his quality, but can't be relied upon for 38 games due to persistent injury problems
- Maupay's injury. OK, so he's back already, but surely that was enough of a scare to underline the need for more than 3 viable options, when Welbeck is often injured, Connolly is unproven and Maupay was hardly prolific last season.
Despite the club comments regarding moving away from bringing in loan players, I actually think this year's situation might warrant a rethink. A decent, experienced player on loan for a year really could fill a worrying gap, whilst Sima and Zeqiri develop on their loans and Connolly has a chance to mature into the player he could be whilst still with us.
There are 38 weeks until the end of the season, so if the only cost is wages, we could get Cavani (apparently on £250k pw) for a cool £9.5m - he's going to be an expensive spare part at Man U with that preening pr|ck Ronaldo back.
I mention Cavani in jest, but there have GOT to be proven strikers out there whose clubs would be keen to get off of their wage bill for a year.
PSG aside, pretty much every club on the continent is skint and many with bloated squads so there must be a deal to be done.
OR, the whole loan theory is MOOT, because there's a permanent deal for a 1st team forward still in the offing!
Plenty of time left - keep the faith!
