21 Aug 2025 02:59:09
As nicely as Berta has done on the incomings, that's only half his job. We really need to shift the unfancied players now, more than ever if we want to avoid looking like Chelsea and having a group of sad rejects kicking about with the U21s.

Say what you will about that mob, but Chelsea manage to fleece just about everyone coming in for their deadweight while we're just happy to recoup the fee we paid 3-5 years ago. I don't understand how they manage it! Zinchenko in particular is too good to just rot in the reserves (as long as he isn't asked to defend) and could be tearing it up for a club in Spain or Italy. Can't understand why none of them have found a move away.

1.) 21 Aug 2025
21 Aug 2025 06:41:32
Hi Wire, we just don’t sell well full stop. We put players on wages that other clubs bilk at so we don’t even recover our initial fee despite transfer inflation. Take zin - who will pay what we paid and put him on 150k? We’ve just upped Trossard wage. If we need to sell Kai - who is giving him 280k per week plus a transfer fee? We do sell but not great as you say and some of it has to be we over pay wages for non star players. To be fair - who is going to pay 150m plus 209k per week for Isak - the system is set up for players to run down contracts if they are brave enough.

2.) 21 Aug 2025
21 Aug 2025 07:01:30
It doesn't help our unwanted players are on such high wages. That's why we always let them go so cheap.

3.) 21 Aug 2025
21 Aug 2025 16:48:03
True, what strikes me about our wage bill (via FBRef) relative to the rest of the league is how flat ours looks. Not a lot on huge wages, but lots of players on higher wages. Probably good for squad harmony but we must be regretting paying Jesus, for example, so much.

4.) 21 Aug 2025
21 Aug 2025 20:35:30
Our top wage player - Kai on 280k per bloody week. Sure Saka, Gabs, Rice, Saliba must be scratching their heads. Think Jesus is a top top earner too. Some stupid decisions.