Mate I'm a fully paid up member of the 'stop trying to hoodwink everyone into thinking you're paupers when you spend shitloads and always have' society. I've argued this with them for years.

But over the last 12 to 18 months they are defo looking to take advantage of the release clause and coming to end of contract thing.

I'm not saying I think they are getting bargains but they have defo paid under the market value for a few because of clauses.

Macallister, gravenberch, kerkez, frimpong, guehi if they get him, even that keeper they signed for 25 mill last season then loaned him.

And then there's the kids they constantly steal off other academies because of contract situations.

It's a targeted approach.

Looking at young players with contract issues that they know will have a good re-sale value even if they bomb.

It's clearly not an exact process as they have paid shitloads for ektike and the German fella but it's something they are defo looking to take advantage of and are clearly tapping these players up from a fair distance out.