With Lille’s league position and being out of Europe, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the French club also happy to deal on the player now, with maybe even some compromise on the asking price which could satisfy Mike Ashley’s need for a hard bargain.

Watching Herbie last year was a great adventure and we all very much enjoyed the ride but this year has been very different, the scriptwriters are still scribbling away and who knows where we’ll end up. However, he definitely needs an overhaul and unfortunately only one man is in control of that.

Tiote back in the middle of a settled 4-3-3 formation, with more midfielders supporting him, then he’ll settle down again and be as pivotal as he was in his first 18 months at the club.

With Lille only in 8th in the league and their Champions League dream over, surely it will suit all three parties to see Debuchy at last get the move he ‘fought for’ so strongly in the summer.

The problem comes when you expect players like Simpson to play first team football every week but not pay him as a first teamer.

At Toulouse as man and boy he will not be on great money, though his team currently sit second from top, behind free-spending PSG, they are still only averaging sixteen thousand crowds.

To be told already that no reinforcements will be riding over the hill in January….it could be a long hard cold winter.

After the way the Carroll transfer played out with manager/player saying going nowhere, only for him to leave, I struggle to sleep soundly.

Cheick Tiote and his manager are saying all the right things and I believe them but what if money is put on the table?

Will Mike Ashley buy, sell or stick in the January transfer window?

I think there is little chance of money been spent and every chance of one of our best players sold because the offer was too good to turn down…