Keep hearing our name pop up when people are talking about Rice this summer but probably all just paper talk and agents spinning the media along and trying to generate more money but it got me thinking... Dangerous! Personally think Rice is class, would love to see him in a Black and White shirt but I don't think we have the pull yet to bring him in so was thinking of ways around it to try and entice him to the North East. It's a well known fact him and Mason Mount are BFF's from the Chelsea academy - would you bring both in if it meant getting Rice in? I initially said no to myself but the more I think about it between the two of them they can fill a multitude of positions. Rice: CB/CDM/CM and could probably do a decent job at RB if needed Mount: CAM/RW/LW/CM basically across the three behind the striker and deeper in the "8" position of our formation. While it would cost ALOT to bring both in, they would add some serious upgrade in quality and cover across the entire midfield, they also know a few of the England lads already from the national squad and being best mates think they'd settle into the group well. If you could get those two, a decent RCB and a third choice striker I'd be very happy with that as a window. So would you bring them both in and what would the top of the budget be for the pair?
Mount has agreed terms with Manchester United Rice - we won’t spend over 50% of our budget on him and then give him wages above the £200k a week we’ve offered Bruno
Would love them both here, however I suspect their wage demands would blow our structure out of the water. If Chelsea can't agree a contract with Mount, I can't see how we would either. Rice is one of the best CM's in the league so he'll be looking for £250k p/w at least as well I suspect. All in all they would improve our squad and having more English players is great for UEFA quotas but the English tax will take them out of our grasp
Wouldn't want either tbh. Mount - Nah, too unpredictable. Rice. Maybe if Bruno goes to Barca for 100m or something then I'd consider spending the Bruno money on him, but only then. We don't need to spend 100m on Rice when we already have Bruno. It's attacking quality and a left back we so desperately need. I don't trust any of our wingers to provide next season.
Yeah saw that about 5 mins after I posted ffs! Bit of a pipe dream but just interested to see if people would go after them if it was possible. Apparently we are lining up Bruno for a 200k contract if media is to be believed so I'd think we could get away with Riceon similar. My dilemma is this: I really, really dislike Mount, I don't get the hype and think he's a top 10 players but nothing special. But Declan Rice I think will be one of the top CDM's of his generation. Him and Bellingham as a double pivot for England excites me greatly. Tbh Rice is that good I'd wax the budget on him alone, think with Longstaff, Joelinton, Willock and Bruno he would slot in fantastically and release Bruno a bit more with Miley and Anderson to back up the CM's I'd be happy with that.
I’d love to have both here. Think Mount being at Chelsea has hindered his progress in the same way Bruce hindered everyone here
I would also argue that if EH was prepared to take on Alli and Lingard then Mount should be a no brainer
Jeeeeeeezus can you imgaine. Although Eddie would probably have them playing like prime Pele and Maradona by now
Mctomminay to Newcastle seems highly likely... he's exactly the type Newcastle and howe like. They've been signing this type of character ever since the takeover and it's been so successful I don't think they'll change the strategy. Newcastle seem to like character above everything else.
He's so overpriced that it remains unlikely... Though the same could have been said for Gordon I suppose.