"How fit Caceres actually is will be another question" and the most important one. If he is fit enough to play then we need to do this, if not then what is the point...

"How fit Caceres actually is will be another question" - This is why we do medicals. What is really the question is his attitude in terms of getting match fit. I'm guessing that's why he wants a 100% performance bonus. One thing is for sure we haven't exactly played our cards well considering the awful position we have put ourselves in. Even Les (when picking the team) must be holding his breath and hoping for Yoshida and Stephens to avoid injury

We'll find out how fit he is if he has a medical but he has had a few injuries in the recent past. He also wrapped his Ferrari around a lamppost so he's definitely not out of the black box! You couldn't make it up.

He has apparently already passed recent medicals so, presuming he is as fit as JayRod, Charlie and Boufal there seems little option but to get his signature on a contract. The team needs a lift and, in all honesty, Yoshi and Jack would probably like to get some of the pressure off themselves at the moment. Could be the signing that keeps us in the league.

I read it the other way round, I thought AC Milan offered a signing on fee, £4k per week and £20k per game but Caceres said no. I guess Caceres will either want a long-term contract for security, or a short-term contract so he can secure another signing on fee at a bigger club in the summer. Surely as a former Champions League winner he’ll be looking for at least double the £25k per week that Milan were offering.

Regardless, it shows how desperate we are that we’re turning to this player. If he does come he’s going to have a lot of fan expectation on his shoulders.

I doubt any of us know diddly squat about Caceres which in itself is a worry so this all smacks of desperation after the Saturday fiasco and Les trying to save his own skin before Kat knifes him.

On the basis of seeking shelter in any port in a really rough storm is a good idea this must be worth a punt. If he helps us avoid the ignominy of a bottom 6 finish - what's that? Top 6 our aim, Les? - then few will complain at season's end and Les will be off the hook again even if undeservedly so.

If he wrapped his Ferrari around a lamp post then he's lucky he's not in a black box!

He last played a game of football more than a year ago, and because of his injuries was only able to play a few games in the 2 years before that.

But, if by some miracle the club can get him fit enough to play in the cup final and help us avoid relegation, then he's the best option we've got left.

SaintBrock, you are right. He is very lucky to still be alive. This was the crash scene:

http://www.101greatgoals.com/blog/in-pictures-juventus-defender-martin-caceres-h

http://saharareporterssport.com/drink-driving-juventus-suspend-defender-martin-c

Having looked at different media reports, it's suggested he's asking for the equivalent of either £45,000 per week or £85,000 per week on a six month contract. I'd imagine it's the higher, but we could get around our wage cap by paying him a significant signing on fee.

I know we're desperate, but I'm terrified we're going to spend a large amount of money on an unfit, injury-prone flop.

If he is fit enough and we can swing a 6 month deal, we have to go for it. We can't afford to do nothing.

Les reed hang your head in shame how it came to this for a top flight football club god knows
Oh yes I do know les reed wasn't doing his job properly.

Ouch, that must have hurt in the morning dirk_doone

Why is everyone constantly blaming Les Reed. He just signs the players. If he isn't given a budget, we don't sign anyone. If people connect the dots, the reason we are in this mess of signing players it is because Kat has refused to fund the club.
That all points to the club having been sold, whatever we are told in announcements but that until the new owners are in place, there is no one to sign off anything.
I appreciate that Manolo was an exception to this, but can only assume that a special exception has been made for the current board's genuine fears that we might go down.
As the saying goes, follow the money. And seeing as there currently is no money, it suggests that Kat is keen to pocket the full £200m from Lander

It's a gamble this. His pedigree is not in question, but he ain't played for over a year! He passed a medical at Milan? It seems fitness wasnt the issue but rather money.

Even Palace discarded him although that was due to "safer bet" of Sakho!

Jees- this could be signing of the season or a complete and desperate failure! But I agree that it's one that we probably find ourselves needing to take.

As an aside: for a club that prides itself on using cutting edge sports science, we do allow some crocks to pass our medicals. And for a club that prides itself on its black box...

Completely agree with you St Ripper...the problem lies with the owner first and foremost; nevertheless I don't think all that much of Les Reed over the years; but a lot of our problems have not been of his making. But he can't do all that much if he is prevented by owners with a rather different agenda.

A well put alternative point of view StRipper. It would also make sense as to why we were happy to let Fonte go. VVD stays fit, we finish mid table and Kat profits to the tune of an extra £8 million. Unfortunately not all perceived dead certs come off.

Let's be honest, there are those that blame the manager being out of his depth, those who claim Les is the anti -Christ and those who swear blind that the board are purely motivated by cash. Everyone's mad right now and wants to point a finger. I'm fuming because I find it unbelievable that we didn't replace Fonte or VVD, or both when we had an opportunity to with advanced notice. I can't be bothered to speculate why but ultimately whoever made the final call on this could have cost the club dearly. It's inexcusable. I can't believe we're in this position where we're being linked to paying obscene wages for free agent gambles. If that's what it takes so be it, but big mistakes have been made this time and for once I think we're owed an explanation.

I assume it's all going to come out in the wash. I'd also expect us to be back in track when all investment issues are resolved.
I just hope the secret squirrel tactic employed by the board doesn't have the net effect of causing real damage to our progress so far by fans, players, manager and staff falling out through anxiety about where we're heading

I see Nick is in the Echo this morning - his views on Yoshi have not changed but TUI has - it's now the Uglier Inside.

It is interesting that, for once, we all seem united: a serious if not catastrophic blunder was made last month. If we knew for definite who was responsible we would be closer to having a clearer idea of the future of the club. I fear for us if StRipper is right - a conservative Kat may turn out to be the devil we know, no reason I can see that Lander are going to be taking us to the promised land.

Top post bstokesaint. Says it all and speaks for all, I suspect. Never been a bedwetter, but the mattress now has a protective covering.

What this fiasco tells you is that there no longer is a plan being followed. Management are treading water whilst the Chinese Whispers go the rounds. The Liebherrs want out and will spend just enough money to get by and secure their assets, i.e. avoid relegation. Hence this patch-up approach to running a football team. I'm certain Kreuger will go with them as he is a part of it really.

They won't sack Puel as that will cost money to buy out his contract and they know full well that a new oner will do that particular piece of dirty work for them as soon as they take control. With luck Reed will be joining him in the taxi ride to the station. Right now is as good as it gets this season.

Any moves to sell the club are worrying, mostly given how stable the club has been since Liebherr bought it and especially since Cortese left.

But any suggestion that selling Fonte and the failure to buy a central defender is proof that Katharina wants to sell is pure conjecture. None of us understand football finances enough to know where the £8m raised through Fonte’s sale goes. The facts suggest no link between the failure to secure a central defender and a desire to sell:
• We broke our transfer record to buy Gabbiadini.
• Katarina Liebherr is worth £3bn, why would she risk the value of the club and her father’s legacy to line her pockets with an extra £8m?
• We know Fonte was unsettled, it’s not a surprise to see him go.
• We are preparing to pay high wages gambling on a defender that hasn’t played for a year.

I read Nick in The Echo this morning, I’m not sure where he got the £5m increase in asking price story from but I assume that is Tasci.

I think the signing of Gabbiadini shows that we still have ambition. I am convinced that the failure to secure a central defender was a cock up rather than a conspiracy to strip assets before the club is sold.

The club has been open about its transfer policy. We can’t match the financial clout of the top clubs so we buy promising ambitious players who are undervalued then sell them on to bigger clubs. We wouldn’t attract players like Gabbiadini, Boufal and Mane unless they felt we were a gateway to the top. The hope is that we can do a Leicester, grab a Champions League place and then these players stay longer.