[adzii_nufc]

Receiving further reports that Newcastle have indeed had a £35 million bid for Bas Dost of Sporting rejected and Sporting are negotiating for a free close to £50 million.

The original source appears to be in Portugal but i have a hard time believing any of it. I know Newcastle wanted to make a statement but I think it's fairly evident that they'll be targeting players both domestic and in particular the Spanish top division. Of course Portugal are just next door but I still find it hard to believe the club that launched an audacious bid for Alexandre Lacazette over a season ago are willing to throw double that at Bas Dost.

In financial terms it's a deal that could wipe out a third of Newcastle's summer budget.

I also struggle to believe Sporting would dismiss £35 million in straight cash just like that. (Newcastle United refuse to do installment deals and pay up front - club policy)

2/10 for me. I'll eat my words of course if Bas Dost appears on Tyneside for £40 million but it just isn't Benitez. Conflicting reports suggest he's about to launch a £28 million bid for Cedric Bakambu of Villarreal which seems far more reasonable.

I don't think there will be massive spends at Newcastle until Benitez gets the players he wants rid of, out of the way first, freeing up sizable wage funds which allows for better deals all round of course.

After writing all of this I remember Mo Salah went to Liverpool for near £40 million. So yeah, well played to Liverpool who just inflated the value of above average foreign players to a premium.

This new found money now has no impact in the transfer market regarding the top 5 leagues in Europe. You could of course argue that's natural and expected but I didn't at all expect the supposed Glory of it all to be done with in a single season. Which brings me to my next problem. As we move onto £20 million being the normal cost for average players, the teams that had the spending power will have to go after other incentives to attract the above average, such as offering £80,000 a week until that of course also becomes normal practice and the average wage rises across the board.

So you want a player right and you enquire or submit an offer and they go yeah alright what to do you have in mind, you both know he's worth about £25 million by previous standards. You submit £20 million because you're stingy and the guy turns around and oggles that pile.of cash you're now sitting on and says £60 million or gtfo. You then have to settle for a deal on £40 million but note he's still pulled your pants down and had you. The more this happens, the more previous standards will become a relic and this will become the normal window.

This is just shock at how quick it's actually developing. We've seen it before. Alan Shearer's £15m transfer was termed as ludicrous. Ronaldo and £80 million was ludicrous but deals for Bale and Pogba are quickly showing that the elite will be going for those prices and Ronaldo level fee's are no longer exclusive to a Ronaldo or a Messi. So what does the next Ronaldo level player sell for? £200 million?