The ULTRAMEGA Summer 2017 Transfers and Rumours Thread [featuring THE MIGHTY BLADES]

[Lewis]

Mane - Firmino - Salah
Keita - Coutinho - Henderson

I bet Daniel Sturridge is sitting there right now rejecting approaches from the sort of crap club he will have to settle for in August.

[Spoonsky]

What sort of player is Keita? That strikes me as 5 attackers + Henderson but I might misunderstand Keith a little.

[Spikey M]

Keith.

[Gray Fox]

What sort of player is Keita? That strikes me as 5 attackers + Henderson but I might misunderstand Keith a little.

Box-to-box ish with more of a focus on going forward. But it does leave me thinking we're all-out-attack with whatever team I think we might play.

[niko_cee]

You'd expect we should give up and wait for that clause

He'd go to someone better [richer], which is why Liverpool have to pay over the odds to have him now.

[Gray Fox]

It also seems we're likely to get Robertson from Hull. £8m. Not much to complain about there.

[Reg]

If we do end up getting him, it's going to be a little tough to predict a Liverpool line-up. You'll have Firmino, Coutinho, Mane, Salah, Lallana, Wijnaldum, Keita, Henderson, Emre Can, Sturridge, Ings, Solanke and Origi all vying for the 6 spots ahead of the defence. That's not even including Milner or Lucas, with the former now seen as a left back and the latter expected to move to Lazio.
The bolded ones are all backup though, right?

Trouble is Salah and Mane are both better from the right, but you'd expect both of them to start. You've gotta put Coutinho in the midfield three if only to fit others in (and he was playing there toward the end of last season, or at least a couple games?)

Mane, Firmino, Salah
Coutinho, Keita
Henderson

Would be harsh on Wijnaldum. You could just shove captain Henderson on the bench and go all out mental attack. Heavy metal etc.

[Gray Fox]

You've also got Lallana missing out, which is again harsh on him.

Options are good though.

[Spoonsky]

Is the defense still a pile of shit?

[-james-]

Dejan Lovren is, yes.

[Gray Fox]

Is the defense still a pile of shit?

It always will be when you are that attacking.

[niko_cee]

Coutinho in the midfield three is only going to happen against wank (which is a good idea, incidentally). I would imagine Wijnaldum-Henderson-Lallana would be the BIG GAME midfield trio (from currently available options), but assuming everyone is fit all the time is daft. Someone is always injured and Liverpool's bench was very weak last season.

[Reg]

Oh yeah, forgot about Lallana. He was arguably the best player? In conclusion, I have no idea.

[John Arne]

1-1 against Wigan at HT.

Alexander-Arnold looks to be genuinely pushing Clyne for starting right-back... very impressive so far.

Lallana was probably our best player last season (Coutinho missed too many games).

[Adamski]

It's all incredibly average, Coutinho & Mane apart.

[niko_cee]

Lallana was probably our best player last season (Coutinho missed too many games).

They played the same number of [league] games last season (Lallana more minutes).

[John Arne]

They played the same number of [league] games last season (Lallana more minutes).

Yeah, I seemed to forget the Lallana injury. Still, he was very good.

[niko_cee]

Lallana just kept getting injured for months on end after playing for England.

[GS]

Much like Torres coming back with a muscle injury every fucking time he played for Spain in 2008/09. You'd think they'd learn.

[phonics]

If you sign Oxlade Chamberlain expect to have a good portion of the team out with hamstring injuries. I love to watch him play when he's at it but he's so, so, so bad when recovering from injury. His entire Arsenal career could be summed up 3 bad games with 2 average games, hits another level for 3 games, out for 7 weeks, repeat. The player is absolutely there which is why I'm frustrated we'll no doubt lose him but he has baggage.

[niko_cee]

I'd be genuinely interested to see how Chamberlain got on in a system like Liverpool's (assuming he would play as one of the supposed midfielders). He's always seemed like he has talent, but not really as a wide man (I'm sure Southampton always had him pegged as a central midfielder). Now that Arsenal have adopted the a la mode 3 man defense maybe he'll get a chance there for them (or just get to play as a wingback as and when hamstring injuries permit).

[niko_cee]

In other news, look at the state of Diego Costa:

http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/800/cpsprodpb/D998/production/_96940755_matic_costa2_getty.jpg

I looked for a better one on their official site but there must be some kind of embargo on them (that's probably an archive photo). I bet there's a fair amount of timber around the midriff there.

[Reg]

I think that'd be interesting to see too, Niko. Sure he'd be willing to press like Klopp wanted (until he got injured at least).

Seems that Kolasinac dude will be first choice left wingback for Arsenal, and Bellerin will presumably be on the right, so Ox would be on the bench. If I was him, or just about any player there, I'd have a change and try somewhere else.

[phonics]

He was absolutely immense as a wingback last year but I'm starting to think anyone can look good there. I'd say he's an improvement on Lallana in his dribbling ability but his final ball off a touch is really poor which often has him beating a man but then knocking it into the next or fucking up the next ball. I once saw him beat the same man with a Cruyff turn 4-5 times in as many seconds and then fail a 5 yard back pass on the halfway line, as an example. He shone as a wingback as he was often taking a cross off the first touch back off a pass from the edge of the area and he hits it very sweetly. It's noticeable how much interplay he has with Giroud vs Ozil, a man of many touches.

In our old formation he would/should get in front of Walcott but Ramsey/Xhaka/Oxlade-Chamberlain is a weird mix of CMs.

[SincereTheRebel]

Ozil should be sold. He has given arsenal four years of decent game. He is 30 now (i think) with one year left on his contract. He isnt going to start doing better numbers. It should be oxlade who should be first choice for that right wide slot. Both walcott and ozil are way best their experation date.

Bellerin looks like he is staying so RWB is probably going to be bellerin. Put oxlade in front of him, further up the formation.

[Gray Fox]

The Ox sees himself as a central midfielder these days. Though how this much rumoured move to Liverpool will help, I don't know. He's more likely to play there for Arsenal than us.

[Jimmy Floyd]

lol at Costa. Maybe China is too demanding a league and he's holding out for Thailand.

[GS]

I can't see any point whatsoever in spending £25m on Oxlade-Chamberlain.

[phonics]

Ozil should be sold. He has given arsenal four years of decent game. He is 30 now (i think) with one year left on his contract. He isnt going to start doing better numbers. It should be oxlade who should be first choice for that right wide slot. Both walcott and ozil are way best their experation date.

Bellerin looks like he is staying so RWB is probably going to be bellerin. Put oxlade in front of him, further up the formation.

Ozil is 28, scored 8 goals and got the 6th most assists in the league last season where he spent 3.5 months injured. He was poor the moment Arsenal became a poor team. Very much a player who makes good teams great rather than someone who drags them through. Still a fantastic player. No-one wants him outside of Fenerbache because no-one still plays with a 10/8 hence he'll stay.

Scored our best goal last year too, the guy is a non-competitive version of Bergkamp you just need to put good enough players around him to let him play his game
https://media.giphy.com/media/MHLU4RUR7IaEU/giphy.gif

[Danny]

885911947400552448

:d

[Reg]

phonics Does he not have a habit of disappearing in big games, though? Genuinely asking. I don't watch that much of Arsenal.

[Lewis]

It's more that Arsenal do, but he stands out more because he doesn't PRESS and people expect him to do something with nothing.

[phonics]

@phonics (http://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/member.php?u=1) Does he not have a habit of disappearing in big games, though? Genuinely asking. I don't watch that much of Arsenal.

As Lewis says, that's far more Arsenal's fault than Ozil. In our two marquee wins over big opposition (the 2 3-0's vs United and Chelsea) he was absolutely key in both. I watched him vs West Brom when I went there on boxing day and a ball went out of play due to his fake and he ended up kicking the water bottles by the corner flag into the crowd and screaming so loud I heard it in the middle tier. We won 1-0 through an 88' Giroud header (selling him is going to be the biggest mistake we make this year) despite dominating the game. Though you could that problem down to a poor conversion of chances etc.

Hes both frustrating and in the top 10 players that's ever played for the club (that I've seen)

[Reg]

That's fair enough. And yeah selling Giroud would seem a mistake to me. If he'd rather be off probably not much you can do though.

[phonics]

Arsene Wenger is literally the only manager in the world that's never kept an unhappy player. If you're willing to let Alexis Sanchez go on a free next year to win the league this time round, why would you let Giroud go because it's a World Cup year.

[Danny]

Former Southampton Striker Emmanuel Mayuka

Then

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5a/Emmanuel_Mayuka.jpg

Now

885831802883117057

[McAvennie]

Southampton in Twitter fat shaming controversy....

[Shindig]

I had a dream last night I was in line for some pizza and Mike Ashley was ahead of me in the queue. I wish he kept to his word about giving Rafa what he needs. At least the new guy almost scored on his debut. Looks like Gouffran's away which is fine. A season in the Premier League might be too much for him.

[Baz]

It also seems we're likely to get Robertson from Hull. £8m. Not much to complain about there.Except he's dog turd and can't take a throw in to save his life.

[Reg]

Interesting from Mourinho on Lukaku: http://www.manutd.com/en/News-And-Features/Football-News/2017/Jul/Jose-Mourinho-Why-I-signed-Romelu-Lukaku-for-Manchester-United.aspx?utm_campaign=ManUtd&utm_medium=post&utm_source=facebook

[Weaver]

Loic Remy's been told he can leave Chelsea this summer, according to Sky.

I'm not sure there'll be too many takers for him now - I was expecting him and Benteke to tear it up last season for Palace, but he spent nearly all season injured, he's 30 now and he'll still be on big wages.

[Raoul Duke]

I'm more surprised he's still there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40609989

Chelsea have signed Bakayoko.

[Magic]

£40 million is the new £12 million.

[Baz]

Aguero to Chelsea?

[Gray Fox]

Milan are basically buying a new first XI at this point.

Biglia now to add to, Bonucci, Andre Silva, Musacchio, Rodriguez, Conti, Calhanoglu and Kessie. Signing Donnarumma to a new deal and supposedly still want Belotti.

[John]

I'd completely missed Andre Silva going there. Thirty million quid and Porto were still skint enough to send Neves to Wolves for half that.

[Magic]

Inter. :(

[Kikó]

Milan are basically spending money until fair play kicks in for them in September.

[Magic]

Milan are basically spending money until fair play kicks in for them in September.

Fucking hell they've spent nearly £170 million whilst Inter have only spent about £22 million.

Lol fair to see who got the best new owners.

[phonics]

Inter spent similar money over the last 2.

[Magic]

Ok yes fair enough. Didn't realise that, and that's actually scandalous given how bad they've been.

[Weaver]

Renato Sanches on loan as well, according to Sky.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I wanted him to come to United :(

[Kikó]

Perisic is supposed to be done according to Miggy Delaney.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Meh, I'm not convinced by him.

Any news on a central midfielder, Keeks?

[niko_cee]

I'm confused with this Lemar chap - did he play centre-half against England in that recent friendly? I could swear he did, but it would seem he's actually a winger so I'm doubting my memory.

[John]

He might have filled in momentarily when Varane got the boot, but he wouldn't have played there. There's a French centre back named Laporte who may be fucking with your memory.

[SincereTheRebel]

Aguero to Chelsea?

Just reading about this. Seems unlikely to happen. Sanchez is much more likely.

[Raoul Duke]

Bravo to zero, lol: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/17/manchester-city-make-bid-for-napoli-pepe-reina-claudio-bravo

[Reg]

Can't see it working out amazingly well for Milan this season. That many new players to go straight into the first eleven is a big move. Top four would be a good achievement.

[John]

We're doing the same thing and just got murdered by a load of lollipop men and PE teachers. They could finish twelfth and it wouldn't be a shock.

[CJay]

Bravo to zero, lol: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/17/manchester-city-make-bid-for-napoli-pepe-reina-claudio-bravo

At only £14m I think it's over exaggerated what a failure Bravo was. Hart was terrible for Torino last season, for example.

I thought Reina was a big cheese and highly regarded at Napoli?

[Lewis]

Using the fees themselves as emphatic evidence for football’s moral malaise is also a little simplistic. Kyle Walker may cost Manchester City £50m but their revenue at the last count was £392m – the fee is 12.8% of their revenue. In 1998, Manchester United spent £12.5m on Dwight Yorke and £10.8m on Jaap Stam when their revenue was £87m, and two years later Lazio would spend 45% of their annual revenue on Hernan Crespo’s transfer fee. City – and others – have unprecedented resources; why wouldn’t the transfer fees be unprecedented too?

And we're back. :cool:

[John]

You should get Mert on the case and get a cut of whatever these frauds are being paid.

[Lewis]

I remember floating it on the Old Board years ago, so I could have retired on it by now.

[John]

You definitely did, but there's also whatever you submitted to Football365 which, as I remember, came about a year before I seen a proper article with the same idea.

[Shindig]

I don't know what it would take for a football bubble to burst.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The same thing it takes for any other bubble to burst - rampant over-valuation of things.

[Kikó]

If sport 2.0 kills it I think I'll cry.

[Jimmy Floyd]

What does that mean, everyone stops watching it as they are too busy playing Fifa?

[Kikó]

No everyone starts to watch other people play FIFA and pay for the privilege.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sounds exciting. I wonder if I could monetise people to watch me post on here.

[Kikó]

How would FIFA work as a game if the sport collapsed anyway?

[Jimmy Floyd]

You could have avatars playing for brands, instead of players playing for clubs.

[Magic]

We're doing the same thing and just got murdered by a load of lollipop men and PE teachers. They could finish twelfth and it wouldn't be a shock.

Your players are shite, though. And your manager is shite.

[Magic]

No everyone starts to watch other people play FIFA and pay for the privilege.

5 year season ticket holder for Mahow's bedroom.

[phonics]

Graham Hunter has a new podcast out today called 'THE BIG INSIDE VIEW' where he reveals his EXCLUSIVE insider knowledge to people who give him a fiver. In the first episode he says M'Bappe will stay at Monaco, Kyle Walker is moving to Man City and Bonucci will move to Milan. I repeat, the podcast came out TODAY.

With EXCLUSIVES like that I can't see why he's not charging 100 pound an episode.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's just Guillem Balagué without the foreign mystique and crap goatee.

[phonics]

His Big Interview show jumped the shark when he got Jody Morris on and said he was one of the finest passers of the ball to ever grace the nation of England. Stopped listening after that.

[Danny]

I startled listening to those again the other day. Forgot it was still running.

He is full of shit though. I skip the bit where he talks.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Us going after Aguero is mental/desperate. Our transfer policy seems to be the result of daily liquid lunches. Pity AVB isn't still around to see it.

So dependent on having a top head coach under the current setup (and I mean head coach, not manager).

[Weaver]

Javi Manquillo, the right back of Atletico and previously on loan at Sunderland and Liverpool, is having a medical with Newcastle at the minute. Can't say he's impressed me in either Premier League spell, so we'll see.

Jacob Murphy of Norwich is expected to have a medical today too.

[SincereTheRebel]

Did they go after lukaku in the end or was he too expensive?

[Lewis]

Sky Sports News appears to be giving credence to the Neymar to PSG stuff, which would be shit for Barcelona even with the lol transfer fee.

[Gray Fox]

Manquillo was the definition of average in a 7th/8th place Liverpool team if I remember right.

As for us, Robertson has left Hulls pre-season tour, so you can only imagine that's to complete his Liverpool move. Fee just under £10m last I heard.

[Gray Fox]

Wait, PSG are willing to pay €222 million?

What even is financial fair play?

[niko_cee]

£24m for Arnautovic.

How much did West Ham pay for Ayew again?

[Reg]

:D I wonder how many sub-£20m transfers there'll be in the Premier League this window.

[Raoul Duke]

West Ham's recruitment for the last few seasons has been abysmal. So many chancers.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Sky Sports News appears to be giving credence to the Neymar to PSG stuff, which would be shit for Barcelona even with the lol transfer fee.

The Spanish tax man seems to be catching up with a few people, which is an unexpected development it has to be said.

No such problems in Macron's France.

[Shindig]

Aye, until the bus blows up.

[phonics]

Danilo's gone to City. They've now spent over 80 million quid on right backs.

[Lewis]

Whichever Manchester manager doesn't win the title is a cunt.

[bruhnaldo]

The internet told me that Veratti is going to sign with Mino which means my midfield might be Pogba-Veratti-Herrera next season and for some reason I'm hard as bricks.

[phonics]

'My midfield'

[bruhnaldo]

Well I am a card carrying Member of Manchester United Football Club after all, phonics.

[Disco]

#Engagement

[Gray Fox]

Robertson is on his way over for a medical for a shade under £10m. Kevin Stewart is going the other way for somewhere around £7-8m, we we're gaining a left back for almost free. Or the cost of our 8th or so choice centre mid.

The Keita saga rumbles on. We bid €65m and saw that rejected. We returned Tuesday with €75m and that has today been rejected, with the owner of RBL stating they wish to make a point of not selling their better players. It was expected that the latest bid, which was £66m would seal the deal so I don't know what happens now. Unless he turns in a transfer request then I can't see this one going anywhere.

[Waffdon]

Think Morata will be the better of the two out of him and Lukaku. Chelsea could really do with a defender.

[Reg]

I'd be really surprised if Morata is better than Lukaku this season.

[Lewis]

I wonder what the fee is. Madrid could probably have rinsed them, but they might be SEETHING enough at all things United not to have bothered.

[randomlegend]

80-85m Euros say the reports.

[SincereTheRebel]

Surprised madrid sold him. Benzema is 30 before the year is dome. I would have thought he would have left before morata. Morata to take benzema's spot or move ronaldo into the CF position instead.

[Byron]

West Ham's recruitment for the last few seasons has been abysmal. So many chancers.

You could probably extend that back about 15 years. £24m for a striker who scored 7 in 35 last season, for fuck sake.

[Weaver]

When was the last time Real Madrid or Barcelona actually sold one of their starting XI though?

The likes of Sanchez, Xavi, Casillas etc have left in the last few years, but they've either been backups or their contracts have been allowed to run out.

Özil maybe?

Real Madrid will be able to buy a few quality players for the £100m from Morata (backup) and Danilo (backup), rinse and repeat with their replacements.

[SincereTheRebel]

Sanchez had more league starts than messi during his last year at barcelona.

[niko_cee]

80-85m Euros say the reports.

BBC says 'about £60m'.

[Adramelch]

Sanchez had more league starts than messi during his last year at barcelona.

Yeah but they were signing Suarez so he was essentially backup at that point.

[Reg]

Weaver - Real Madrid sold Di Maria. But you're right, it doesn't happen often (and that was a while back now).

[Lewis]

80-85m Euros say the reports.


BBC says 'about £60m'.

SEETHING it is. :cool:

[Magic]

Morata - 29 goals
Lukaku - 29 goals

Difference?

Morata - 1 goal per game ish
Lukaku - 10 game dry spells before scoring 7 against Huddersfield.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Morata will score about 9 all season, 4 of them in a Champions League dead rubber against Slavia Prague.

[John]

The fee is fucking bonkers for a player who's played for nothing but dominant sides and has fifteen league goals as his high watermark.

[Reg]

Morata - 29 goals
Lukaku - 29 goals

Difference?

Morata - 1 goal per game ish
Lukaku - 10 game dry spells before scoring 7 against Huddersfield.
The difference is more that Lukaku scored those goals in the Premier League for Everton.

[John]

He's predicting next year's tallies.

[Reg]

Ah, apologies. I see Morata scored 23 club goals, all comps. I don't think he's done enough to be expected to score 29 for Chelsea. It's a different game in the Prem, unless Chelsea start racking up the 5-0s next season. (Real scored 106 in the league; Chelsea 85.)

[Spoonsky]

Lukaku's definitely going to outscore Morata. The man's a beast in the Prem whereas Morata's fairly unproven.

[John]

He'll also be playing for a side which scored thirty fewer goals than Chelsea last year and at the moment has him as its only arrival.

[Baz]

I feel like Lacazette should be in the comparison too.

Although it's a bit worrying that a Liverpool's frontman is Firmino, when the rest have Morata, Jesus/Aguero, Kane, Lukaku & Lacazette as theirs. :uhoh:

[Spikey M]

You have Sturridge for 5 games a year too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Don't forget Divock Origi.

[John Arne]

Don't forget Divock Origi.

He's no Loic Remy.

[Giggles]

Maybe when he develops a bit more.

[Jimmy Floyd]

He's no Loic Remy.

Who?

[John Arne]

Who?

I had to double check that he was still at Chelsea. I assumed he was in the Middle East by now.

[McAvennie]

You could probably extend that back about 15 years. £24m for a striker who scored 7 in 35 last season, for fuck sake.

But what are the other choices, anyone who scored more than 12 in 35 is going to cost over 40million and won't be interested in West Ham anyway.

Also maybe he won't get played as the number 9, chicarito will play that role, Arnautovic may play as a wide left attacker instead?

[niko_cee]

Although it's a bit worrying that a Liverpool's frontman is Firmino, when the rest have Morata, Jesus/Aguero, Kane, Lukaku & Lacazette as theirs. :uhoh:

It's fine as long as they can keep a few more out at the other end . . .

[SincereTheRebel]

May have already been mention but world cup winner cristian zaccardo is a free agent and is using linkedin to find a new club.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/cristian-zaccardo-65b0a3116/

[Reg]

Arnautovic is a winger so 7 in 35 is alright. He was playing for Stoke as well.

[Magic]

Ah, apologies. I see Morata scored 23 club goals, all comps. I don't think he's done enough to be expected to score 29 for Chelsea. It's a different game in the Prem, unless Chelsea start racking up the 5-0s next season. (Real scored 106 in the league; Chelsea 85.)

My point was they'll both probably score a similar amount of goals but in very, very different ways, and that's huge and another reason why stats are bollocks. xxx

[SvN]

I'd love to see Magic's opinion in a parallel universe where the signings were reversed. I suspect his opinion would be reversed, too.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Not transfers but check out the Gold Cup: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2017_CONCACAF_Gold_Cup

Honduras v French Guyana finished 0-0, but later awarded 3-0 to Honduras because FG fielded Florent Malouda, who was ineligible owing to the fact that he has 80 caps for France.

How can you get that wrong in a major tournament?

[SvN]

There's a lot of history there. Read up on it, it's not just an admin error. They knew they'd be punished beforehand.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just did, so what was the point of that?

[SvN]

FIFA don't recognise them as a country, so they're saying that shouldn't have to follow their rules.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well they can 'say' what they like, but it isn't their tournament.

[SvN]

Of course, and they've obviously been punished.

[SvN]

From what I can gather, this is the first time the Gold Cup has enforced those rules - so that's probably why they're a bit salty.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't see why the organisers didn't just ban him from the squad in the first place. Makes the African Nations sound thoroughly professionally organised.

Speaking of the African Nations, I saw a proposal yesterday that they might expand to 24 teams including 3 non-African invited teams, and host it outside Africa. I think you're kind of missing the point, chaps.

[Giggles]

The point of all football now is money, so they're getting exactly the point.

[Lewis]

Rugby league leading the way again. :cool:

[Magic]

I'd love to see Magic's opinion in a parallel universe where the signings were reversed. I suspect his opinion would be reversed, too.

Here's my parallel opinion:

Go fuck yourself.

[Giggles]

Here's my parallel opinion:

Go fuck yourself.

:D

Magic :cool:

[Jimmy Floyd]

On balance I'd rather have Lukaku than Morata (being a Chelsea fan), but that's mainly because a big physical striker suits THE SYSTEM better than sexy Alvaro and his dreamboat eyes.

If we change THE SYSTEM and have some more bursting presence from midfield, as we will have to do in order to avoid finishing 13th, then you never know.

[Giggles]

Still surprised nobody has splashed on Kane yet. He's the most natural striker I've seen in years.

[Jimmy Floyd]

You'd have to pay £300-400 million for Kane, surely.

[Lewis]

I think he will go in about two/three years, when he's sick of having nothing to show for his thirty goals a year, and when the stadium costs are starting to bite. Right now anyone after him would get Jewed into oblivion.

[Spikey M]

Kane is happy at Spurs so you would be looking at stupid money. With Walker, Bale, Modric etc they were all agitating for a move and Levy still got twice what they're all worth for them.

Actually, I think there's an argument for the current transfer fee's going round being traceable back to the Bale deal.

[Max Power]

Next year will be the Spurs exodus (if they don't win anything).

Alli, Kane, Alderwiereld, Eriksen all too good to go trophyless.

[John]

On balance I'd rather have Lukaku than Morata (being a Chelsea fan), but that's mainly because a big physical striker suits THE SYSTEM better than sexy Alvaro and his dreamboat eyes.

If we change THE SYSTEM and have some more bursting presence from midfield, as we will have to do in order to avoid finishing 13th, then you never know.

Morata is a big, physical striker. At a guess I'd say he's probably bigger than Diego Costa. What you'll be missing out on is pure nastiness but Lukaku wouldn't be bringing that anyway.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I must have watched him a good 10-15 times and I've never noticed his physicality or height featuring. Could be my fish tank talking though.

[Lewis]

United should really have brought Javier Hernandez back for the sake of it.

[Gray Fox]

Barcelona have bid £72m for Coutinho. I look forward to us firmly holding out for a week or so before caving in and selling for £75m.

I also look forward for the coming challenge to reach 6th place.

[Max Power]

Does that mean this mad Neymar deal is on then?

[Gray Fox]

It points to that. I don't think Barca have £72m available to spend now without selling, after buying Semedo and Deulofeu for about £35m.

[Lewis]

They can surely afford whatever transfer fees they want, but they apparently struggle with their wage bill (or are at least paranoid about it, since it nearly ruined them fifteen years ago), so Neymar going would help them there more than the actual fee would.

[John]

That sort of fee does suggest they've got something coming in, but they could be doing with central midfielders too, so it's possible they just plan to play him there. They have a shitload of them already but half of them are rubbish.

[CJay]

Coutinho is probably the ideal replacement for Iniesta. I hope he stays put though.

[Gray Fox]

It's not the first time I've heard of Coutinho potentially replacing Iniesta.

I'm already anticipating he'll leave. If Neymar does go then I imagine it'll become more of a formality. Who we panic buy should provide much entertainment to the rest of the league.

It gives the ownership a chance to prove themselves. Then can go with the hardline stance RB Leipzig are showing us now and say we have no desire to make money and would rather keep the player. The problem they have though is that the fanbase are already wary of them. They've been trying to prove themselves to be not about making a profit for years and under Klopp this hasn't gone away. Should Coutinho leave and the money not be reinvested in a quality player we may well see the protests back again.

Our only saving grace might be that he's openly critisized Madrid and Barcelona lately, saying he'd rather play somewhere and be loved than go to one of them and be another of their many bought and sold.

[niko_cee]

I don't mean to sound unpleasant, but you don't half talk some shit at times.

When's the Keita done deal getting wrapped up again?

[Spikey M]

The lulz if Coutinho leaves. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

I don't mean to sound unpleasant, but you don't half talk some shit at times.

When's the Keita done deal getting wrapped up again?

There's a 3rd bid of £71m coming if that makes you feel any better?

The indication was that the previous bid was supposed to have been enough to get the deal over the line. Hence the surprise when it was turned down.

[Spikey M]

I love this stuff. "There's a 3rd bid of £71m coming".

Nice of Liverpool to let the papers know.

[niko_cee]

Aye. Not quite my point, but nice to know. Exciting times.

[Jimmy Floyd]

At what point is Naby Keita not worth the money?

[Kikó]

What is a Naby Keita?

[niko_cee]

At what point is Naby Keita not worth the money?

I think that point has been and gone.

Although, I suppose, in the alternative, if he really is the macdaddy "TOP TIER" uberplayer the price tag suggests, a club like Liverpool have to overpay now when they have an amount of leverage (Champions League football) as that could quite likely not be on offer next summer, when he''ll go for whatever it is his release clause is. €50,000,001.

[Giggles]

If he'll improve them then he's worth whatever.

[Mazuuurk]

No player that comes off of one decent season in Bundesliga is worth 70 Million, even at todays crazy valuations. Specially not when they come from one of these random "success-story teams" who upset the league and played brilliant football for a whole season somehow (see: Leicester).

[nsd]

No player that comes off of one decent season in Bundesliga is worth 70 Million, even at todays crazy valuations. Specially not when they come from one of these random "success-story teams" who upset the league and played brilliant football for a whole season somehow (see: Leicester).

tbf, Keita is Leipzig's Kante, who has been a huge success at Chelsea.

[Mazuuurk]

That's impossible to know - And I wouldn't say it's the same. Kante was more or less the life and breath of that whole Leicester team, whereas the Leipzig team has had a plethora of players perform quite well, haven't they? Like Forsberg and Werner.

And Kante went for, what, 32 Million, right? Which is a reasonable - even bargain - price for someone who has proven himself in the same league already (albeit for only one season). 30 million is the new "let's take a punt, what's the worst that can happen" - price these days.

But for 70 million, you'd expect someone who has proven a bit more than that. I mean, Lukaku was 75 - and he has proven himself in the same league for several years now.


Of course it may end up being worth it in hindsight, if he turns out to be as instrumental as say Suarez was, but then you're back to it's still a bit of a gamble to get a player like that, and at that point 70 Million seems completely off.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The price is high because Leipzig are backed by sugary drinks and don't need to sell. If it was Mainz he'd already be in Liverpool and claiming he saw the Beatles at the Cavern Club.

[Spikey M]

No player that comes off of one decent season in Bundesliga is worth 70 Million, even at todays crazy valuations. Specially not when they come from one of these random "success-story teams" who upset the league and played brilliant football for a whole season somehow (see: Leicester).

They're more a Man City than a Leicester. In fact, aren't they basically thought of as the most evil organisation since the SS?

[John Arne]

I for one think that Man Utd players are rubbish, whilst Liverpool players are THE BEST.

[GS]

Lol at football. £72m on Coutinho to spend it on someone with a decent season behind him.

[-james-]

Lol at football. £72m on Coutinho to spend it on someone who has never been on terrestrial telly

Fixed that for you

[Lewis]

https://s2.postimg.org/iy4zb2gy1/The-_Simpsons-_Season-7-_Episode-24-3-55f7.jpg

[GS]

Fixed that for you

I hadn't heard of him before the summer, so yes.

[Mazuuurk]

They're more a Man City than a Leicester. In fact, aren't they basically thought of as the most evil organisation since the SS?

Really? Didn't know. Thought they largely had the same team in the second division as what they did so well with in Bundesliga the year after or whatever.

Not having to sell for being rich makes sense, but I guess I didn't realize someone like Red Bull would be so happy to shell out money on something like that (as an Oligark or Sheikh might for their own amusement more or less). Red Bull has always just sort of sponsored extreme sports and Salzburg - which is a bit of a nobody team really, which is why it would seem weird that they'd be happy to just fork out cash all of a sudden.

[John]

That's impossible to know - And I wouldn't say it's the same. Kante was more or less the life and breath of that whole Leicester team, whereas the Leipzig team has had a plethora of players perform quite well, haven't they? Like Forsberg and Werner.

How on earth is it impossible to know? He's not the same type of player as Kante, much more of an all action box to box type, but he was every bit as much the engine of the team as Kante was for Leicester. A playmaking winger and a rapid striker also performed well, you say? That sounds familiar.

[Mazuuurk]

I meant it's impossible to know that Keita would be a success at Liverpool just because Kante was a success at Chelsea.

But, I do seem to have misunderstood what type of player he was - so fair enough. I thought he was a Winger, for some reason.
Probably because he's African and Liverpool want to buy him.

[Giggles]

I for one think that Man Utd players are rubbish, whilst Liverpool players are THE BEST.

That's the Liverpool spirit we all know and love. Straighten the tinfoil hat, they're all against you.

[Gray Fox]

Robertson has been announced.

Stewart also confirmed as having gone the other way. The fees almost cancel each other out.

[John Arne]

That's the Liverpool spirit we all know and love. Straighten the tinfoil hat, they're all against you.

I was being sincere. Bloody love Lazar Markovic.

[Waffdon]

Andy Robertson :wub:

[niko_cee]

That Stewart fee really is mental. He's barely even a reserve, and it's not like he's that young. Is that the price of base competence these days?

[Kikó]

Andy Robertson :wub:

Doesn't that transfer save Dundee united due to the sell on clause?

[niko_cee]

They get £600,000 apparently, although Hull's renegade owner probably won't pay.

[Gray Fox]

Stewart played 18 mins of Premier League football last season, according to Whoscored.

We've done well out of this one.

[Adamski]

Can we expect a £79m bid for Keita tomorrow?

[Gray Fox]

I think the more pressing concern over the weekend will be this:

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11700/10956735/virgil-van-dijk-tells-southampton-he-wants-to-leave

[Lewis]

The daft cunt has five years left on his contract, and [at least] two until he could try to buy himself out of it. If he insists on striking the other clubs, as a long-term measure, should all help Southampton pay his wages and let him miss two years.

[Weaver]

How would you lot deal with van Dijk in this situation, out of interest?

Making him train on his own is fair enough if Pellegrino wants to punish him before selling him on, but I reckon Southampton want him in their first XI when the season kicks off and beyond.

[John Arne]

Ideally, you make him train with youngsters, then come the season - you pick him - if he refuses to play, I believe that there is a rule that the PFA agreed to - where the club don't have to pay him (I may have mis-remembered this, cos I can't find a link online).

The big problem, of course, is that Southampton have presumably a few clubs waving £50m quid at them, for a player acting a cunt.

[Spikey M]

They have to sell really. West Brom learnt that the hard way with Berahino.

[SincereTheRebel]

Yeah, and then when time goes on, you realise the player has no consistency and turns out shit. They lose all their value then.

[niko_cee]

Poor little lambs, having to sell a permanently injured player for a grossly over-inflated fee.

They'll probably hold out until as close to the deadline as possible. Sometimes changes of heart occur. Didn't Liverpool have a similar thing with Suarez or did he end up going that summer [Bodgers sent him to train with the youth team] anyway? Did that even happen?

[SincereTheRebel]

Gerrard changed his mind once too.

[Waffdon]

Doesn't that transfer save Dundee united due to the sell on clause?


They get £600,000 apparently, although Hull's renegade owner probably won't pay.

We'll get an okay sum. Pisses up the wall though.

He was playing for an amateur team four years ago. Fkn hell.

[Weaver]

Sky are running with Neymar to PSG this morning again, this time saying that he's '90% likely' to leave this summer.


More on this breaking news from Spain...

"Only a miracle will keep him, he really has made up his mind to leave," says the source. "At the age of 25, he thinks it's his time to win the Ballon d'Or," the source adds. "He believes he can be the best player in the world at another big club."

It is understood Paris Saint-Germain remain the only current club willing to meet the player’s €222m (£196m) release clause, with Chelsea and Manchester United unwilling to do so.

It is also claimed Neymar is aware that a "growing number" of supporters do not want him to stay, with recent media polls in Globo Esporte and the Barcelona-based Sport newspaper revealing that the majority of those asked think he should leave.

"Barcelona keep asking him to deny stories and to tell publicly what he told them two days ago - that he's happy at club. But he's quiet." said Guillem Balague, Sky Sports' Spanish football expert, on Twitter. "Barcelona expect PSG to pay Neymar's buyout clause this week."

The other 10% will be a pay rise.

[Lewis]

Short of single-handedly winning PSG the Champions' League, you're not winning any individual awards playing in the French league.

[Magic]

£200m? What.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40691689

Another £50m defender for City.

[Lewis]

You could have Paul Breitner and Antonio Valencia patrolling either flank and they wouldn't make up for John Stones.

[Magic]

That is obscene. We must be nearing the end game now.

[Lewis]

Elsewhere, United still need a winger, and PSG have reportedly told Dire Maria he can leave... :drool:

[randomlegend]

Di Maria was quality for us the first few games, before his house got broken into and Lewis Van Garl started using a random number generator to determine his position each game.

Bring him back.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He should never be allowed in the country again.

[randomlegend]

It'd be worth it just for mahows seethe.

[Lewis]

The Guardian sez (https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/22/manchester-united-transfer-nemanja-matic-chelsea-tottenham-eric-dier) that a SEETHING Chelsea will take fifty million for Nemanja Matic. Whatevs lads. Chump change. Also:


Tottenham’s position on Dier has been resolute all summer. When Ed Woodward, the United executive vice-chairman, made his first approach to Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman – and made a preliminary offer of £25m – he was told in no uncertain terms that Dier was not for sale. United have continued to chip away, bidding £30m and then almost £40m but, in the context of an inflated market, the offers have served only to irritate Levy.

Heroic stuff. The Iranians will probably name a street after him.

[niko_cee]

Are City's back 5 now the most expensive of each position ever?

Or does David Luiz lol his way into that equation?

[Giggles]

Someone posted it the other day and Luiz was there.

[Ian]

Woodward to go back to Spurs with a new offer of £39m for Dier next week then.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40686943

Another defender for City for only half the regular price!

[randomlegend]

£75m on right-backs in one window. Jesus christ.

[Lewis]

From what I remember of when City played really well for those ten games last season, their SYSTEM relied on their full-backs being extremely disciplined, and, as past it and/or crap as their 2016/17 full-backs were, are their new ones more intelligent? They are obviously better on paper, but Kyle Walker is an idiot, and that Benjamin Mendy has probably never marked anyone or anything in his life, so building your SYSTEM on their ability to hold particular positions seems risky (and probably futile in a quicker league regardless).

[Reg]

At the start they were playing with both full backs as "inside full backs" tucked in alongside the holding midfielder (when in possession). A better idea when your full backs are Lahm and Alaba than two guys whose strength is running - Walker and Mendy - so they'll probably just do their usual thing and get up the wing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

In this market Dier (as an England international, homegrown player (or is he?) and proven Premier League performer, to a certain level, at a club that doesn't need to sell) is worth at least £60 million.

[Lewis]

At the start they were playing with both full backs as "inside full backs" tucked in alongside the holding midfielder (when in possession). A better idea when your full backs are Lahm and Alaba than two guys whose strength is running - Walker and Mendy - so they'll probably just do their usual thing and get up the wing.

Wasn't that partly to protect their relatively light-weight spine? If their full-backs remain wide at all times, any likely central midfield combination (assuming they won't start Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan) seems susceptible to being overrun, thereby further exposing the losers in central defence.

[Kikó]

You're turning into a tactic bore, Lewis.

[Max Power]

Pep can't truly actualise his genius without £200m on full backs.

[Spikey M]

If Man City don't win something big - never mind top 4 - after all this then 'Pep' needs to go on the bonfire.

[Yevrah]

If he has another season that's anything like the last one then I'm afraid he'll have been found out.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I've just noticed we've loaned Kurt Zouma out to Stoke, and Mason Mount is heading to Vitesse.

One Englishman in the squad these days, which is captain Gazza Cahill.

[SincereTheRebel]

I missed that zouma transfer. Also missed douglas costa joining juventus and assombalonga joining middlesbrough.

[Andy]

We could really do with sorting this VvD situation out. It's been clear for a few weeks that he won't be with us next season.

I'd rather sell him now then wait till the end of August to squeeze the extra couple of million out of whichever club.

Need a centre back to replace him and then some sort of marquee signing.

Have a feeling this will be a very long season, we where crap last season despite finishing 8th and we haven't really added anything.

[SincereTheRebel]

Liverpool target keita - who ive never seen play, not even youtube highlights - managed to get the the leipzig training session called-off after an alleged savage tackle. Diego Demme had to leave the field on a stretcher with bandages on his knee caps.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4724806/Liverpool-target-Naby-Keita-training-ground-bust-up.html

[Lofty]

Hopefully now they sign him and in 2 years time he pulls the same stunt on their star player so he can get a move to Spain :D

[Jimmy Floyd]

Just saw this on BBC website:


Who is Benjamin Mendy?

Born in Longjumeau - a suburb of Paris
Signed for Monaco in June 2016 for a reported £11m
Has made four appearances for senior side
Has represented France's youth sides (under-16, 17, 18, 19 and 21)

Well worth £52 million then.

[Giggles]

No mention of his Monaco season (which one would assume was pretty good). Reads like a bit of an agenda.

[niko_cee]

Keita is similar, although his fee last summer might have been a bit of a stitch up between Red Bull teams.

There have probably never been more 'scouts' in the game but fuck know what 99% of them do.

[Reg]

Wasn't that partly to protect their relatively light-weight spine? If their full-backs remain wide at all times, any likely central midfield combination (assuming they won't start Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan) seems susceptible to being overrun, thereby further exposing the losers in central defence.
Maybe, but mainly to outnumber the opposition in midfield and make it more difficult for them to counterattack because their wingers were having to tuck in and try to make up the numbers. It also meant City's wingers had more space which is why they could play those quick balls out wide for Sterling/whoever to have a 1v1.

[Lewis]

So now they can be counter-attacked more easily and have Kyle Walker defending for them. Win/win.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40669333

Hope he does well.

[Offshore Toon]

That's a proper bargain.

[Byron]

:drool:

[Ian]

Love a bit of Hernandez. :(

[Mazuuurk]

He's only 29...?

Funny to think that if that was Jamie Vardy, 30, then the price would probably be at least double. And he'd still at best score 5 goals less than Chicharito will.

[SincereTheRebel]

Just checked last years bundesliga. Leverkusen finished 12th.

[John]

The picture they've chosen for that Danilo article is quality. It looks like he's just leaving his man to run through.

There was a tweet yesterday which I enjoyed, saying that Man City have had a higher 'defence budget' this year than most countries.

[Mazuuurk]

Is City basically just planning on playing Stones and Otamendi in central defence all season then? I mean as Kompany invariably will get injured after two games.

:harold:

[SincereTheRebel]

Mangala and fernando are both still officially man city players.

[John]

Juventus are after Mangala to replace Bonucci. :cab:

[Andy]

Is City basically just planning on playing Stones and Otamendi in central defence all season then? I mean as Kompany invariably will get injured after two games.

:harold:

Is Danilo the sort of full back who could drop into a back three? Pep must have his eye on a midfielder who cab drop into defence.

[Adamski]

Is Danilo the sort of full back who could drop into a back three? Pep must have his eye on a midfielder who cab drop into defence.

Fernandinho.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mbappe going to Real Madrid for £161 million. Excellent value.

[John]

889802385400483840

Important to know.

[Lewis]

Why bother? They're loaning him back for a year anyway, and realistically who else can (or would) pay a similar amount (whilst also representing a progression, thereby ruling PSG out)? It's not as if he will have ten clubs in for him next summer, so wait eighteen months and see if he doesn't flatline.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Where would he even play?

He's going to end up being a more expensive Odegaard.