Ruben Neves

[HughieG]

A lot of rumours will now emerge and soon evaporate as we will be looking to sign a (temporary) replacement for Tonali. Here's one.

I'm seeing us being linked with Ruben Neves on a loan deal from January. I remember him being very good at Wolves, but couldn't say no to the money in the Saudis. He's probably still a great player and only 26. He was linked to much bigger European clubs at his Wolves peak.

Not a bad loan signing, I'd say.

[Zippity]

He'd be a very good loan signing, not only because he's a good player, but because of the amount of whining and crying we'd get from fans and managers of other clubs.

Klopp would likely just explode.

So worth it for that alone. 😁

Mind, I suspect it's a link generated entirely because of the Saudi thing as opposed to anything concrete.

[HughieG]

Klopp would likely just explode.

So worth it for that alone. 

[Ragatino]

Hughie G wins today's internet post hahaha that image is priceless. Only way it could be better is if (not condoning it) he's hit with a projectile hahaha like a Mcd's milkshake covered in it haha not painful just humiliating

[Jammy89]

He would be a good signing, when Wolves got him I was pretty jelous - I always signed him on Football Manager

I do think it could cause us issue though - nothing officially but think it could.

I mean, it makes no difference when City do it, or Brighton with their Belgium club, or Chelski but if we do it. . . bet it causes issue.

[Ragatino]

The argument is that other teams are not co-owned by the PiF.
The feeder clubs in the City Group etc are funded by City.
Our owners can literally buy all of world football and still buy all the critics each a Ferrari.

Man City owners will always 'abstain' from votes against us, however the rest will block vote against any and every tiny action we take that could be perceived as giving us an advantage.

Yes we have signed some world class foreign talent, Botman, Bruno & Isak.

However, looking at it from my uninformed distant position, EH has focused on a core of English players.

Hall, Burn, Livermento, Tripz, Popes, Barnes, Ashby, Targett.

Give the option of Neves or Phillips I guess he'll plump for Phillips.

My concern, I'm pretty sure I'm not alone in this one, is that Phillips has had some criticism regarding his fitness levels.

Whilst City are one hell of a fit dynamic team, will he be able to hit the ground running and keep pace with the Eddie Howe team or will he need a month or so to get up to speed as we have seen with Gordon etc?

Doesn't seem to make much sense to bring in a player who won't be able to add value due to being off the pace physically.

I would like to hope that if NUFC have made it as clear as has been mentioned in the gossip columns to the player & agent that we want him that he would be putting in the extra miles on the tread mill and get himself in A-1 tip top shape.

It just looks like he wasn't gonna fit in the city set up.

[Zippity]

That's a great point about Philips' fitness, Raga. We need someone who can hit the ground running-and keep running.

I guess the concern about Neves is that the Saudi league isn't at the intensity of the PL so the same issue might apply, albeit to a lesser extent.