Possibly.
Foley is a smart man and it’s obvious that he is recruiting for performance and ROI. Buy young, develop and sell.
I can see that happening with a good number of players in addition to Cook.
You’re always in a better spot selling when you already have potential replacements in house, versus having to go get them after everyone knows you’ve just cashed in and need to replace.
Much as I hate corporate clichés, very much fits into the tiresome adage of 'be proactive rather than reactive'.
I was assured by someone close to a former legend manager of club and the chap rumoured to be leaving, that the guy rumoured to be leaving is absolutely... urrgggh... leaving.
I think Hughes is extremely competent, but I reckon Foley is in consultation with extremely smart people in the game/sport, abd they have clearly mapped vision/plan for us/him.
Suspect foley is buying into Brighton type moneyball route... and by that, I don't mean just signing load of unknow players for 5 mill. I do think we'll see a number of players arrive each year, similsr to profile of this guy..'grooming' hot prospects into way we play from young age, perhaps going out on a few season long loans... or I itialky signing for one of other clubs foley has stake in, before the best ones eventually join us, after proving themselves 'worthy' armed with a freshly pressed euro passport....
Hughes is extremely competent, but imo, he doesn't fit the mold for what foley and associates are looking to implement. He's leaving not because he's bad at his job. But like defoe or Murray... doesn't fit the profile for whst I imagine extremely switched on people behind the scenes have evaluated side decided on likely path to success...
The bloke is loaded, has extremely wealthy investors also on board. He's extremely successful. I honestly believe this is just the beginning and he is utterly (ruthkessky?) determined to eventually achieve success with us on European scale.
Not saying I'm expecting thst, but given what I've read about him, his undeniable success in other domains... he's a winner and will put everything he's got into taking us to realms probably no one thought possible before. Amount we've spent km players since arrival is almost incomprehensible in short space of time... for us. This will continue imo, as much as ffp allows, his finance guys will be looking to ensure we're able to push tgst to the max.
We tried to sign daka in summer. Would have completed if a more appealing club had approached Moore. Daka is apparently on 50-70k a week... fact we were in market for players in that ballpark and it only collapsed due to Moore not agreeing to loan, shows we still have decent spending power, and foley has signed it off as... yku don't soend money he/we have unless you have genuine ambition imo.
Demin era and Demin himself was incredible of course. And most of us I guess were/are happy with decent football and retaining pl status. Foley actions says to me he wants more than thst.
I reckon he and his directors/advisors go every minute of detail throughout club. Evidenced by whst I read about knomights nhl team abd rapid rise to success after being formed
Still recall thst cold winters day losing to Barnet at home. Who in a million years would have envisaged where we are now... and what I think cohkd very well happen over tge next few years.
As you mentioned with transfer policy... v
Clear going for young players, many of whom are regarded in game as being capable of becoming full internationals for England.
Solanke most likely of course in near future.
Scott also, perhaps 2 or 3 years.both displaying signs of being 50 to 100 mill players... perhaps getting carried away, but 100 not totally crazy, if inflation continues.
Aarons extremely well regarded in game 2 years ago. If he continues to step up,...
I reckon we benefitted from ffp in signing Scott actually. 10 years ago a bigger stature club wkukd have secured a deal, then hardly played him, or loaned out for 2 or 3 years hoping he'd deliver. Not nig deal if he didn't, discard him and continues signing other high potential youngsters. Now tgey have to give more thought to where they allocate funds, as also need immediate impact. *unless you're Chelsea of course, and have some weird thing setup to keep dancing round loopholes/ffp...long contracts... Saudi- allegedly. Clearly they're happy to operate in extremely dark grey areas...as most clubs are tbf. Tends to be a trsit of extremely successful, ambitious, competitive, 'goal orietated' , wealthy men. Man City case is going to be interesting... and extremely awkward for pl when tgey finalky unravel that spiderweb/maze. Allegedly if some of those 100+ breaches are true...probably coincide with them joining euro league tbh. Like I say, very awkward situation for pl to deal with... and if true, can't see how they can wriggle out of it without serious disciplinary action.