That’s what burns my head out the most about the whole saga. We want to sign players for under 20 million. Fine, if that’s our strategy, it’s a good one. For it to work you need extensive scouting networks to identify young up and coming talent from the lesser known leagues, and you need a manager willing to invest playing time in these players whilst they develop and adjust.

It might be the clash between Moyes and the rest of the committee, but we seem to want proven premier league experienced players who are ready to go immediately, which again, fine if that’s your strategy, but in that case, you’re generally shopping in the 40 million+ bracket to get anyone of decent quality. Because we are trying for proven PL players, but also trying to meet that under 20 mil threshold, it just means we scrap around trying to sign over the hill lads and second choice lads who aren’t very good, because they are the only ones within that budget, who also know the premier league.

Our record signing for this summer is an initial 18 mil. That is wild in the context of fees now and the fact we paid 50 for Sig near a decade ago.