[BaggieSteve]

I think many of just get so frustrated at the club's approach to dealing in the transfer market. I fully understand that much will be going on behind the scenes of which we are unaware and I know that transfers involve negotiation and barter. However, we seem to have raised the latter to an art form. At some point, it should become clear, after several conversations, that if a club is demanding £30million for a player (eg Slimani) then you can either offer well below that amount and then keep slightly increasing or you can recognise that the seller wants the £30million so you pay it because you really want the player. The former approach may mean you get a cheaper deal but also risk losing the player to another offer (Arsenal, in this instance) or you possibly pay slightly more than you really want but get a positive outcome (the player joins the club). In this instance, if we have already offered £26million, as reported, then, ffs, pay the additional £4million now and get him. The days of securing absolute steals in the market, achieved by Dan Ashworth, do seem to be over now so we need to recognise the new reality - if you really want a player, you will have to pay the amount demanded because the EPL is awash with money and overseas clubs know this. No doubt we'll lose out on this player but sign one of Burnley's reserve strikers on deadline day