The Summer Transfer Thread [17 May - 9 August]

[phonics]

Starting early because of World Cup and shorter transfer window.

Looks like Arsenal are doing their deals before they've even got a manager in and going full Mediterranean/Unspellable with their purchases.

Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Caglar Söyüncü (no I have no idea how to say it either), Jean-Michel Seri (if a decent team don't go for him) and a Keeper to come in and Mustafi, Ramsey, Ospina at the minimum out.

I would have cried to see Ramsey go to United a year or two ago but now they've got about 40 players in that position so it's not as bad (although maybe Sanchez being there and them absolutely hating each other throws a spanner in it). Still think that's where he'll end up though, he thinks he's a Barcelona tier player but I don't think they do.

[Danny]

Highlight from last years thread

£10 on Rooney getting 30+ goals.

[Magic]

Allardyce ruined that for me.

[John]

Thirty five million quid for a twenty one year old Turkish defender is just about the most Arsene Wenger way you could imagine to spend that sort of money.

[Lewis]

Cannot wait. Get the shitty cup finals out the way, and the bollocks World Cup, and we can get down to the real business.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In the expectation that Chelsea don't magically have an amazing window, I'd quite like to see us properly balls it up, end up with comedy panic Frenchmen, a couple of losers from whichever is the World Cup surprise team, and maybe a beanpole striker direct from the Argentinian league, and insert ourselves into the bottom half. It would be good sport.

[Adramelch]

Thirty five million quid for a twenty one year old Turkish defender is just about the most Arsene Wenger way you could imagine to spend that sort of money.

Isn't spending loads of cash on unproven youngsters the new trend regardless of manager though?

[SincereTheRebel]

Ribery and Robben both have signed one-year extensions at Munich. Robert has had a great season. Both are 50 years old now and still going strong. Leon Bailey is the fast winger they are all after. Don't know where he fits in now.

[Adamski]

Rangers being linked with Connor Goldson from Brighton. What’s he like @Reg?

[niko_cee]

Class.

Dodgy heart though.

[Adamski]

Couldn’t remember your exact username to tag as well.

Yeah seen that, haven’t ever heard of him before tbh. Take it he played a lot in the championship?

[niko_cee]

He was always behind Dunk and Duffy in the pecking order, but whenever I saw him play he looked good. Before that heart thing, and before Duffy was signed they had high hopes for him. Quality on the ball, reads the game well, but is big and reasonably athletic as well. He would be quality in Scotland.

[Disco]

Going to Scotland with an existing heart condition is a bold move.

[niko_cee]

In other Brighton defender news, I continue to be amazed (as I was last summer) that one of the 'big boys' hasn't come in for Dunk. Made Garth Crooks not-at-all biased team of the season and everything. If/when Spurs sell Alderweireld they should definitely go for him. Would obviously take big money now, but he's a far better player than Michael Keane is/was, or Harry Maguire.

[Baz]

Thirty five million quid for a twenty one year old Turkish defender is just about the most Arsene Wenger way you could imagine to spend that sort of money.

He’s class on FM.

[SincereTheRebel]

I don't believe this arteta as the next arsenal manager. May as well run with cazorla as his assistant.

[randomlegend]

Made Garth Crooks not-at-all biased team of the season and everything.

Whether Dunk is that good or not I don't know (I only watch Utd games tbh) but Garth Crooks' teams are universally retarded.

[John]

Whether Dunk is that good or not I don't know (I only watch Utd games tbh) but Garth Crooks' teams are universally retarded.

Not this year. He seems to be over whatever mania it was that had him picking Deeney as a central midfielder.

[randomlegend]

Lot of rumours of Alex Sandro to United. 12 months ago I'd have been ecstatic at that but apparently he's been absolute shit for Juve this year.

[SincereTheRebel]

Lot of rumours of Alex Sandro to United. 12 months ago I'd have been ecstatic at that but apparently he's been absolute shit for Juve this year.

He didn't make the brazil squad either.

[Lewis]

Elsewhere United and MLILY, the club's official mattress and pillow provider, have signed a new contract. Quality signing that.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He didn't make the brazil squad either.

Brazil squads are always mental though.

[randomlegend]

He didn't make the brazil squad either.

The reasoning I've read for that is that Marcelo is the better attacking full-back and they take Filipe Luis as a more defensive option. Although it may well just be that he's been shit this season.

[Lewis]

Danny Rose must be gutted.

[Kikó]

He's not Brazilian mate.

[niko_cee]

Being considered inferior to Marcelo and some long haired pensioner is hardly a ringing endorsement of a player. Particularly one who was being touted around for mega money last summer.

Spuds will be laughing when they get Shaw and a load of cash for Rose.

[randomlegend]

Marcelo is brilliant, the fuck are you on about

[SincereTheRebel]

Marcelo seems to have stepped it up a level over the past few years from an offensive standpoint. As always Brazilians defensively, are mad suspect.

[Spikey M]

Brazil don’t breed defenders. They breed strikers, wingers and attacking midfielders. If you’re not good enough to pull off one of those positions you just get chucked somewhere else.

[phonics]

The 'Brazillians can't defend' is the worst cliche. It's not 1970. Casimeiro will be playing in his 4th Champions League final in 5 years next week, just for starters.

[niko_cee]

The also have top quality centre-halves and even 'keepers sometimes (more often than we do anyway, and weren't we the home of good goalkeeping?).

But then they also have David Luiz and Marcelo so it's swings and roundabouts.

[SincereTheRebel]

It wasn't that long ago they embarrassed the national against germany.

[niko_cee]

Dembele being touted around by Barcelona is fairly lol if true, although I have no idea how they plan to shift him. Probably a 'long loan' somewhere (Munich or Juve seem to like those) so he can be written off over time. Top signing.

[phonics]

Dembele being touted around by Barcelona is fairly lol if true, although I have no idea how they plan to shift him. Probably a 'long loan' somewhere (Munich or Juve seem to like those) so he can be written off over time. Top signing.

He had to sack the chef they hired for him because he was taking notes on his life, who'd come over, what time etc. and sending them back to the club. Mental.

[SincereTheRebel]

They may as well bring back Adama Traore who is looking like a decent winger now if he can work on his end product. Probably why barca got rid of him actually.

[CJay]

The 'Brazillians can't defend' is the worst cliche. It's not 1970. Casimeiro will be playing in his 4th Champions League final in 5 years next week, just for starters.

You just make stuff up for fun, don’t you.

[phonics]

Did he not play in the first one against Atleti?

[CJay]

Nah, that was before his time as a regular.

[phonics]

I amend my post to say '3rd Champions League final in 3 years'. I'm not sure it changes the sentiment.

[niko_cee]

They may as well bring back Adama Traore who is looking like a decent winger now if he can work on his end product. Probably why barca got rid of him actually.

Ah, the old, if only he was any good at football one. Shame he isn't, particularly. Career trajectory doesn't go Barcelone - Villa - Boro if you are any good. He's just another one who was good at youth level based on physicality.

[-james-]

Traore is probably one of the best dribblers in the world, but yeah, not so good at the other stuff.

[Spikey M]

I amend my post to say '3rd Champions League final in 3 years'. I'm not sure it changes the sentiment.

We’re about to witness Jordan Henderson play in a Champions League final, but I take your point.

[Mellberg]

He is ridiculous at dribbling. Just got Alan Huttoned over 180 minutes though, so should probably take a look at himself.

[SincereTheRebel]

Players who deals expires in the summer and may leave

Pepe Reina (Napoli)
Iker Casillas (Porto)
Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus)
Giorgio Chiellini (Juventus)
Andrea Barzagli (Juventus)
Kwadwo Asamoah (Juventus)
Yohan Cabaye (Crystal Palace)
Yaya Toure (Manchester City)
Emre Can (Liverpool)
Jack Wilshere (Arsenal)
Hatem Ben Arfa (PSG)
Marouane Fellaini (Manchester United)
Fernando Torres (Atletico Madrid)
Mario Balotelli (Nice)

[SvN]

Buffon has confirmed he's leaving Juve, but no word on whether he's retiring or not.

[niko_cee]

I see he's been linked with Liverpool this morning.

That would be lol on a number of levels.

[Spikey M]

That would finish him like Sweeper Keepering finished Joe Hart.

[SvN]

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Jesus Christ

[phonics]

I'm starting to take Buffons side in all this now.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If he wasn't from a nation that people inexplicably hero worship then he'd be getting it from everywhere.