Mbappe probably wanted Real already at a time when Real didn’t know who he was. The rest is history of course, one of the best talents out there, then one of the best players out there being wanted by the world’s biggest club.
Not saying Bellingham is impossible, but it’s hard to compare. We would face competition. Maybe also from exactly those “Reals” of this world or Real themselves.
What amazes me is that Dortmund got him from Birmingham - where the fuck were we?
Same can be said for Sancho when he left City for Dortmund.
Dortmund obviously targeting the UK academies
We got rejected both times.
City refused to sell Sancho to us, Bellingham chose Dortmund over us and Utd.
I’d say game time is a pretty big factor. Plus, their culture and know how (not always the same though, we don’t have to create stereotypes) with young players as a step before going to the biggest teams/serial winners.
We’re we really in for Bellingham for 30 million though? I doubt it
When it got to that level I doubt it, but we were certainly part of the initial discussions. He 100% turned down Utd who bid the same as Dortmund as he wanted gametime.
A lot of young players won’t move to the big clubs if they have any sense, gametime is paramount at that age. Also a lot of the big clubs won’t take the risk, they’d happily pay double the price 2-3 years later when the player has proved themselves.
He was following in the footsteps of a number of young english players who have moved to Germany recently as the league has an excellent reputation for coaching young players and giving them regular playing time.
Part of the Dortmund strategy is to pick up highly rated English youngsters knowing they can give them regular playing time and if successful sell back to English clubs at a much higher price. This allows them to pay more than many English clubs can or are willing to at that time.
As @Draexnael says, we were definitely in the conversation and keen to bring him here. We also moved for Sancho before he went to City but missed out as City could offer more. When it came to him leaving city, we were still interested but as @Draexnael also said, City didnt want to sell to us.
I said a few years ago how I rued the fact that not many young English players pursued opportunities abroad and now many of them are. It’s 100% the best way for many of them to progress.
Not only that, but they are not hampering their choices of which clubs they may wish to move back to in the PL if they run down their contract as compensation would be calculated on the FIFA formula, not the ridiculous PFCC measures.
Bellingham, Sancho, Lookman etc have made exactly the right decisions imo.
Agree
Not sure you got my point.
Bellingham has been known about by most clubs since he was 11 years old, everyone has tried to sign him but he has a very good and strong family structure who made sure he stayed at Birmingham and then picked the right club for him to develop at from there.
I can’t argue with Bellingham’s decision. Young lad, broke through at Birmingham, assessed his options to make a step up, chose Dortmund. There will be another step up after that, but for now, he is playing in a good side in a good league, CL too, and seeing more action than he would here for the time being.
Hopefully we sign him in the future.
Tchouemeni played for France today why didn’t we buy him this window gone we’ve already missed out on camavinga?
Because we don’t need him? Radical thought, I know.
Maybe but with a heavy schedule in December it will be a miracle if we come out of it with no injuries to the midfield part of the squad?
Isn’t that why we have more than 3 of them in the squad? 
We also had more than 3 CHs and they all got injured I remember when we didn’t replace Lovren I was thinking then I hope nothing happens toVVD but the unthinkable happened.
By definition it can’t have done.
You’re right it can’t have done it must have been one of those nightmares I regularly have
Looking at possible departures for next summers transfer window I’d say
are very likely.
could all happen.
Not all of them will leave of course but even with just 3 of them leaving it would need some new players in.