[Ska'dForLife-WBA]

Would they really come in as early as January? It would take football to a new level of insanity to start shelling out tens of millions in January for a player who'd only managed a few months of good form following a patchy breakthrough season. (Then again, I look back at that Liverpool/Andy Carroll pantomime a few years back, and admit that the precedent's already there).

I'd hope that the vultures would leave it at least until next summer and see how he performs across the season as a whole, but then, I also realise that part of the motivation for them isn't just securing themselves a new talent but also making sure their rivals don't get hold of him first.

Get him on that five-year deal and let 'em count their dosh.