If our focus next summer is not Haaland, I'll be very surprised. That doesn't mean I think we will sign him, but whatever happens that will dominate our focus until he has moved somewhere.
Agreed.
My thinking is that it will be Haaland and Rice we go for.
Hopefully next year with the bounce back of the market from COVID, we'll see the likes of Pereira, Dalot, Williams, one of Axel or Bailly, and maybe one of DDG or Henderson sold which should ensure that we get our net spend down to a reasonable enough level.
Add in Grant, Mata and Cavani leaving at the end of their contracts too, and we should be clearing a good £400k-£500k cleared in wages without needing sales as well.
EDIT - While I do think we'll go in for Haaland in 2022, I don't know if we'll get him. In the case that we don't, I can see a move for Martinez at Inter (who isn't necessarily a 9 admittedly), Vlahovic at Fiorentina, or even Calvert-Lewin happening. The good thing is that while we will no doubt have Haaland as the obvious plan A, the alternatives all have plenty of their own strong points too and I would not be unhappy with any of them coming in.