January Transfers 2020 - Sponsored by the WTAS™

[bruhnaldo]

Welcome to the 2020 January Transfer Window thread
(sponsored by the TTH Winter Transfer Advisory System™) !!!

Completed Deals

Amido Balde - Ho Chi Minh City - FWD
(free transfer)
https://www.vocketfc.com/app/uploads/sites/2/2020/01/82746275_2513316765655348_8100520745043492864_o-1050x571.jpg

Lukas Rupp - Norwich City - MF
(from Hoffenheim - ??)
http://img.allfootballapp.com/www/M00/6B/4E/720x-/-/-/rB8CLF4cpkaAWVpRAAjMDcJKv2o058.jpg

Junior Urso - Orlando City - MF
(from Corinthians - free)
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/K-0_LB3e_WXuAhAKWGIBrFxMxNI=/0x0:6720x4480/920x613/filters:focal(2082x618:3156x1692):format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66093355/MarkThor_JrUrsoInOffice_011320_TCP_7785.0.jpg

Pepe Reina - Aston Villa - GK
(from AC Milan - loan)
https://resources.premierleague.com/photos/2020/01/13/f7a8ed88-b944-4247-bae7-d0d87ca84a78/Pepe-Reina-signs-for-Aston-Villa.png?width=930&height=620

Ondrej Duda - Norwich City - MF
(from Hertha Berlin - loan)
https://scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/81175512_2002273586584637_8281858540389425840_n.jp g?_nc_ht=scontent-dfw5-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=105&_nc_ohc=s-8pDpVcE6cAX_fqA4f&oh=71181c0500cf333db88945f389831ccc&oe=5E96F251

Cenk Tosun - Crystal Palace - MF
(from Everton - loan)
https://www.cpfc.co.uk/siteassets/images/galleries/signings/tosun/tosun-11.jpg/Large

Danny Drinkwater - Aston Villa - MF
(from Chelsea - loan)
https://d3vlf99qeg6bpx.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2020/01/07152649/Danny-Drinkwater.jpg

Julian Weigl - Benfica - MF
(from Benfica - 16.9m)
https://pbs.twimg.com/profile_images/1213214570526887936/AgBVY-Qs.jpg

Jack Rodwell - Sheffield United - MF
(free transfer)
https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/2qu5QcbWxN.xNuVx3vIbrw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTY0MDtoPTM2MA--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/BXI8eskXX6Ehw0BAq0szKw--~B/aD0xMDgwO3c9MTkyMDtzbT0xO2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://media.zenfs.com/en-US/nbcsports.com/7e77ef66744e8a857a3dcd760b58dce4

Dejan Kulusevski - Juventus, loaned to Parma - MF
(from Atalanta - 30m)
https://specials-images.forbesimg.com/imageserve/1197171410/960x0.jpg?fit=scale

Joao Pedro - Watford - FWD
(from Fluminense - 10m)
https://br.bolavip.com/__export/1578074152981/sites/bolavip/img/2020/01/03/joao.jpeg_1693159006.jpeg

Exequiel Palacios - Bayer Leverkusen - MF
(from River Plate - 18m)
https://golazoargentino.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/el6-asiwkaa7tw2.jpg?w=470&h=264

Zlatan Ibrahimovic - AC Milan - FWD
(free transfer)
https://www.elcomercio.com/files/article_main/uploads/2020/01/03/5e0f82831c864.jpeg

Erling Haaland - Borussia Dortmund - FWD
(from Salzburg - 17m)
https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/BBYrcXJ.img?h=0&w=720&m=6&q=60&u=t&o=f&l=f&x=1233&y=433

Takumi Minamino - Liverpool - MF
(from RB Salzburg - £7.5m)
https://static.standard.co.uk/s3fs-public/thumbnails/image/2019/12/19/08/0minamino1912.jpg?width=530&height=353&fit=bounds&format=pjpg&auto=webp&quality=70

----------------------

https://i.imgur.com/wMkPcxh.png

Severe - Reputable sources confirm transfer is imminent
-----


High - Transfer seems very likely to be completed
-----

Gedson Fernandes - loan - Benfica - MF
Interested Parties: Tottenham


Elevated - Reputable sources confirm interest between club and player
-----

Bruno Fernandes - ??? - Sporting - MF
Interested Parties: Man United

Jarrod Bowen - £10m - Hull City - RW - link (https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/12/15/report-leicester-city-to-beat-leeds-united-to-jarrod-bowen/)
Interested Parties: Leicester City, West Ham, Leeds, Newcastle, Southampton




Guarded - The smoke before the fire
-----
Lewis Dunk - £50m - Brighton - CB - link (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/tottenham-hotspur-set-to-sign-benficas-gedson-fernandes-626b885p2)
Interested Parties: Chelsea

Nathan Ake - £40m - Bournemouth - CB - link (https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1218232/Chelsea-trigger-Nathan-Ake-release-clause-January)
Interested Parties: Chelsea

Wilfried Zaha - ??? - Crystal Palace - FWD - link (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7803099/Crystal-Palace-hold-firm-80m-valuation-Wilfried-Zaha-January-transfer-window.html)
Interested Parties: Chelsea, Everton, Arsenal

Marcos Alonso - £25m - Chelsea - LB - link (https://www.calciomercato.com/en/news/from-england-chelsea-set-e30-million-price-tag-for-inter-s-targe-11825)
Interested Parties: Inter Milan

Ben White - £25m - Brighton - CB - link (https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10553083/chelsea-january-switch-ben-white-leeds-brighton/)
Interested Parties: Chelsea

Olivier Giroud - ??? - Chelsea - ST - link (https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1217393/Chelsea-transfer-news-Olivier-Giroud-Inter-Milan-Antonio-Conte-January-Euro-2020)
Interested Parties: Inter Milanl

Andrz Sporar - £5m - Slovan Bratislava - ST - link (https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2019/12/15/report-celtic-move-for-andraz-sporar-given-green-light-but-there/)
Interested Parties: Celtic

Ki Sung-Yueng - ??? - Newcastle - MF - link (https://www.thethirdhalf.co.uk/showthread.php?2574-January-Transfers-2020-Sponsored-by-the-WTAS%99)
Interested Parties: LAFC

Kai Havertz - ??? - Bayer Leverkusen - MF - link (https://www.skysports.com/transfer/news/11891/11889096/kai-havertz-liverpool-man-utd-chelsea-and-tottenham-target-to-stay-at-leverkusen)
Interested Parties: Bayern, Man Utd, R. Madrid, Liverpool, Man City, Atletico

Timo Werner - £30m - RB Leipzig - ST - link (https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/12/12/chelsea-rival-man-utd-for-werner-dembele-transfers/)
Interested Parties: Liverpool, Bayern, Man Utd, Chelsea, Atletico

Leon Bailey - ??? - Bayer Leverkusen - RW - link (https://www.90min.com/posts/6519055-timo-werner-leon-bailey-on-chelsea-s-radar-as-six-player-attacking-shortlist-revealed)
Interested Parties: Chelsea[i]

Moussa Dembele - ??? - Lyon - ST - link (https://www.caughtoffside.com/2019/12/12/chelsea-rival-man-utd-for-werner-dembele-transfers/)
[i]Interested Parties: Man Utd, Chelsea

Jadon Sancho - ??? - Borussia Dortmund - RW - link (https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1218112/Man-City-transfer-news-Jadon-Sancho-Dortmund-Liverpool-Man-Utd)
Interested Parties: Man City, Man Utd, Liverpool, Real Madrid

Saul Niguez- ??? - Atletico - MF - link (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-7772705/Man-Utd-tell-Ole-Gunnar-Solskjaer-job-safe-wont-Mauricio-Pochettino.html)
Interested Parties: Man Utd



Low - Get this silly shit outta here.
-----

Leroy Sane - ??? - Man City - LW - link (https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10330793/arsenal-line-up-arteta-talks-sane-upamecano/)
Interested Parties:Arsenal

Phil Foden - ??? - Man City - MF- link (https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10330793/arsenal-line-up-arteta-talks-sane-upamecano/)
Interested Parties:Arsenal

Dayot Upamecano - ??? - RB Leipzig - CB - link (https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/10330793/arsenal-line-up-arteta-talks-sane-upamecano/)
Interested Parties:Arsenal

Luka Jovic - ??? - Real Madrid - ST - link (https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/football/man-utd-receive-luka-jovic-21102866)
Interested Parties: Man United

Lautaro Martinez - ??? - Inter Milan - ST - link (https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-eyeing-transfers-120m-21100475)
Interested Parties: Man United

Leandro Paredes - ??? - PSG - MF - link (https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-eyeing-transfers-120m-21100475)
Interested Parties: Man United

[Lewis]

Can't see this dropping below HIGH with Randrew about. :drool:

[John Arne]

We, Ho Chi Minh City FC, recently had Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, David N'Gog and Philip Hellquist on trial - none have been offered a permanent deal. Currently we only have a never-fit Mati Jadue as our only import player. 4 weeks until Buriram.
Local player wise... Bui Tien Dung looks to be coming as as our second choice keeper - although he likes to chuck one in every now and then - decent enough back-up, and a nice little PR move given his good looks.

[Disco]

We need a special ITK tier (above all the others), perhaps a nice imperial purple colour.

[SincereTheRebel]

Severe should really be changed to Sincere. As all the transfers that are posted from him. Are 100% certified.

[John Arne]

ITK, Ki Sung-yueng to LAFC. I think I also attempted to predict this last summer :/

[Pepe]

I'm here just for the plane tracking.

[Kikó]

Haaland. :nodd:

[niko_cee]

That'd be an odd one, seeing as Greenwood looks like he might be decent.

Liverpool could really do with buying some sort of utility defensive man in the mould of Alvaro Arbeloa (or Carragher).

[Ian]

To be honest Randrew's already let the side down a bit by not having told us what seat Solskjaer was in on his flight to Salzburg.

[Jimmy Floyd]

That'd be an odd one, seeing as Greenwood looks like he might be decent.

Liverpool could really do with buying some sort of utility defensive man in the mould of Alvaro Arbeloa (or Carragher).

Isn't that what Joe Gomez is?

[Lofty]

Apparently if Arteta gets the job he wants to sign Sane, Foden and Upamenco. Think we can all safely put them in the 'Low' bracket.

[niko_cee]

Isn't that what Joe Gomez is?

Not really, but if he is, we need another one as Matip and Lovren spend a lot of time being injured and we have very little cover for either fullback.

I suppose Milner is the fallback fullback (as well as most other positions).

[Gray Fox]

Considering Timo Werner has a £30m odd release clause active this coming year, I'd imagine he's going to be off to Bayern whilst the Red Bull clubs shuffle Haaland between themselves.

[Smjffy]

I don't think we need another. Milner can fill in at either fullback positions, Neco Williams is another if worse comes to worse (I hope he makes the step up so he can challenge Connor Roberts). Fabinho can cover at centre back (when fit, obvs) as we have enough cover in midfield.

[Raoul Duke]

You need to add Sancho - lots of rumours about him.

Haaland looks like a possibility, with the Solskjaer connection. Absolute unit too, although he looks a bit like a fish. We'll probably end up with a decrepit Madzukic whilst Pogba dances around on eleventy billion a week "injured".

[Lewis]

He looks like one of those African albinos you occasionally see in the news being hunted for their bones.

[Shindig]

We'll probably buy another freebie former striker. Erm ... Shola Ameobi.

[bruhnaldo]

You need

:arry:

[niko_cee]

Upgrade Minamino to Defcon Done (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50833676) pending his knees not falling off.

[randomlegend]

1207097359899021312?s=21

I'm not interested in Sincere's nonsense tiers. This is tier 1.

Reliable reports in Germany say Leipzig are priced out by the wage demands.

If playtime is the sticking point I don't see him going to Juve. Raiola would probably prefer he go to Dortmund so he gets another big payout in a few years when he moves him onto a bigger team, although I suppose I have to admit that unless we have a big resurgence then we would be a stepping stone too.

We definitely need a player with presence in the box like he has. None of our current forwards have that (blah blah just sold Lukaku blah blah blah). Greenwood is mostly playing on the right so I don't think it should hinder him coming through too much. Martial would probably be the most at risk, but essentially it leaves us with 5 good young players for 3 positions and there's enough games to keep them all happy until their improvement (or otherwise) naturally puts them in a pecking order.

[Ian]

Maybe Martial would be less at risk if he wasn't such a flaky disinterested twat half the time.

[Smjffy]

Man United should be focusing on midfielders as opposed to strikers in my opinion but I still sense it's all too soon for Haaland and it'll end up being detrimental to his career if he goes to a big club. I appreciate he's got a bit of talent but the standard of Austrian football can't be that great. A quick Google shows that Salzburg scored 79 league goals in their 32 league matches last season. This season they already have 66 in 18. I'm of opinion that his stats in front of goal are quite misleading too. 28 in 22 is a great return but that only tells half a story as he's gone more matches without scoring than he has with.

:cab: £40M would be a big gamble.

[Ian]

it'll end up being detrimental to his career if he goes to a big club.

So United would be an alright move in the meantime then.

[Baz]

So United would be an alright move in the meantime then.

A few years there before moving to Leicester.

[randomlegend]

I'm enjoying Ole's Football Manager approach of selling everyone over 28 and trying to hoard all the 18-21 years olds with high PA.

And yes we absolutely need midfielders. Given how much money we should have, signing Haaland should make no difference to us being able to get some midfielders too, but then Ed Woodward.

[mugbull]

Haaland’s gonna go to Dortmund

[Smjffy]

So United would be an alright move in the meantime then.

"One step forward, two steps back." has never been more apt. Germany it is then.


I'm enjoying Ole's Football Manager approach of selling everyone over 28 and trying to hoard all the 18-21 years olds with high PA.

And yes we absolutely need midfielders. Given how much money we should have, signing Haaland should make no difference to us being able to get some midfielders too, but then Ed Woodward.

It would make a difference in that Rashford, Martial and then Haaland would all want to play in the middle of the front three and if Haaland wants to be a first team player as stated then that would mean both Rashford and Martial would have to play wider, or you bench one which wouldn't go down too well either or you play both then bench your the better wide player in James which again would be a poor decision.

[randomlegend]

Rashford has been much better since moving to the left, I think he'll stay there. As I said, Martial is the most likely casualty, but there's enough games that they'll all get a good amount of time until they establish themselves as first or second choice.

[randomlegend]

But yeah he'll prolly go to Dortmund lmao

[randomlegend]

Didn't realise the ITK subreddit was back up and running so long before the window opens :drool:

Haaland to Utd done deal as of today according to them.

[Smjffy]

Manchester United are reportedly closing in on a £76million deal for Red Bull Salzburg wonderkid Erling Braut Haaland in January

:roflol:

[SincereTheRebel]

Haaland is a bargain at that price. Especially since Timo Werner is available for £35m.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't realise the ITK subreddit was back up and running so long before the window opens :drool:

Haaland to Utd done deal as of today according to them.

Same people who confirmed De Ligt et al?

[randomlegend]

Same people who confirmed De Ligt et al?

Nah that guy erased himself from the internet.

[randomlegend]

:roflol:

Says Kate McGreavy in the Daily Mail. According to her we were signing Bakayoko and Milinkovic-savic in the summer.

[Gray Fox]

What time does the plane leave? I'll go and get some popcorn.

It wont be anywhere near the Bruno Fernandes flights, but it'll be great viewing.

[randomlegend]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKkdsdNK_GA

Can forget goals and skills, this is the future :drool:

[Smjffy]

Says Kate McGreavy in the Daily Mail. According to her we were signing Bakayoko and Milinkovic-savic in the summer.

According to the media you're practically signing an entire new squad in January alone as I think there's been at least ten different players at silly fees but aye, it's taken with a pinch of salt.

Minamino confirmed during the football last night and posted a welcome video this morning. It's difficult to gauge how good he is as you can't tell a lot in 180 minutes of football but he caused us more problems than anyone else in the Salzburg team and for the price we got him for, it's a win/win, I reckon. Certainly adds a bit more depth and variety. I get the feeling the commentators are going to love rattling off his name.

I'm hopeful we bring in a centre back on loan but it appears unlikely we'll entertain the idea as our defence is getting really stretched now.

[SincereTheRebel]

Zlatan to Liverpool

[randomlegend]

ITK update:

Sancho back on the table
Haaland done (might be loaned back to Salzburg til the summer)
Want Madison but Everton *Leicester not willing to sell till summer
Negotiations going on for Grealish
In for a mystery midfielder from a Championship club which is believed to be Kalvin Phillips.
Contract talks failed with Gomes, he's leaving as it stands

[Lewis]

Can Sancho play number ten?

[randomlegend]

Can Sancho play number ten?

I think he has done, but more often plays on the wings.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why would Villa sell Grealish? And for that matter, why would Leicester (I presume you refer to them and not Everton) sell Maddison?

[randomlegend]

Why would Villa sell Grealish? And for that matter, why would Leicester (I presume you refer to them and not Everton) sell Maddison?

Oops, yes Leicester. Same reason they sold Maguire I guess.

[niko_cee]

Villa might be in FFP trouble apparently.

[SvN]

Does Sancho play on the right? If not, then another left winger is the last thing we need.

[SvN]

As for Gomes, he's never once looked any good in the first team, similar to Chong. I doubt either of them will ever amount to anything at the top level.

[Mellberg]

Villa might be in FFP trouble apparently.

We only spent 134m in the summer. What's the big deal?

[randomlegend]

Does Sancho play on the right? If not, then another left winger is the last thing we need.

He seems to split his time half and half between left and right for Dortmund.

[Max Power]

If you thought Maguire was a rip off wait until Maddison is on the table. Especially in a summer where we are in the CL and United aren’t.

[Smjffy]

It was daylight robbery and it's even funnier that Leicester have that Soyuncu to step in and highlight how average Maguire is. Wan-Bissaka is clearly their best defender but that's pretty much all he can do. A hybrid of him and TAA would make Cafu look like Kvarme. :drool:

[Baz]

If you thought Maguire was a rip off wait until Maddison is on the table. Especially in a summer where we are in the CL and United aren’t.
Don’t you rate him?

[Ian]

I see some criticism of Maguire but I dunno what for really. We probably overpaid but how could you possibly care? So we have to sign a questionable new sponsorship deal for our away training short lining.

Getting ripped off is what Ed does and it was obviously happening when he spent a fucking summer haggling only to pay what he was told to pay in the first place.

He's good at swindling companies into sponsoring the inside of our socks or whatever for £40m a week but not so much at convincing other teams that poor downtrodden Manchester United don't have a pot to piss in and really need to buy that player for less.

[Gray Fox]

I think it's more that you could replace him considering you're probably looking at £90m+ with 2 maybe 3 players.

He's good but not irreplaceable.

[Max Power]

Don’t you rate him?
I rate him but he’s gonna them cost £100m+

[Lewis]

I can't complain about Maguire up to now. He's a fifty million pound defender, but as Webly said who cares? The extra thirty is not to have to watch Phil Jones.

[Ian]

Any money we don't spend is just gonna go on the Buccaneers drafting some useless shitheap or upgrading that stupid pirate ship in their stadium anyway.

[Gray Fox]

Famous Jameis needs a new contract.

[SincereTheRebel]

https://i.ibb.co/ZgJ0Ds9/dfgfdg.jpg (https://ibb.co/wQLfmHt)

[Giggles]

#itk


https://media.kasperskydaily.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/92/2015/04/06040908/flightradar-featured.jpg

[Kikó]

Pogba out for big money in Jan with Maddison the preferred replacement.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-hierarchy-convinced-paul-21131229

Grealish has a £45m release clause.

[thommo]

Paying £45m for that overrated tosser WOULD be a rip off.

[randomlegend]

Pogba out for big money in Jan with Maddison the preferred replacement.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-hierarchy-convinced-paul-21131229

Grealish has a £45m release clause.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/12/20/exclusive-paul-pogba-wants-stay-manchester-united-needs-support/

Or otherwise not.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

For Raiola more support = more money.

[randomlegend]

Yes. I'm guessing Real and Juve won't pay up for him so now Raiola's looking for more money from us instead.

[Kikó]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2019/12/20/exclusive-paul-pogba-wants-stay-manchester-united-needs-support/

Or otherwise not.

Numerous sources inside the club disagree.

[Gray Fox]

Arteta is confirmed.

Not sure I understand this trend of former players taking the job, but they've been after him for some time so we'll see.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

If he's not travelling to London by a plane I'm not interested.

[Ian]

ITK battle. :drool:

[Smjffy]

Arteta is confirmed.

Not sure I understand this trend of former players taking the job, but they've been after him for some time so we'll see.

It's hardly a current trend. It's always gone on. Southgate, Woodgate, Bilic, Di Matteo, Sherwood, Monk just to name a few, not forgetting the other ones like Dalglish, Keegan, Vialli etc. Barcelona with Guardiola and Luis Enrique, Madrid with Zidane and Solari, Antonio Conte at Juventus and so on.

It probably seems as though it's happening more now as our generation of footballers have all retired in the last few years. Your Gerrard's, Terry's, Lampard's, Campbell's etc so it's almost inevitable that they too will find themselves back where they started.

[John Arne]

We've been linked to Cong Phuong today, which is a little strange. Currently at Sint Trudent on loan, but hasn't managed a game all season. HAGL have confirmed that we can take over the loan until the mid season break. Would be a great PR move, and would be a decent back up striker to fall back on.

[SincereTheRebel]

It's hardly a current trend. It's always gone on. Southgate, Woodgate, Bilic, Di Matteo, Sherwood, Monk just to name a few, not forgetting the other ones like Dalglish, Keegan, Vialli etc. Barcelona with Guardiola and Luis Enrique, Madrid with Zidane and Solari, Antonio Conte at Juventus and so on.

It probably seems as though it's happening more now as our generation of footballers have all retired in the last few years. Your Gerrard's, Terry's, Lampard's, Campbell's etc so it's almost inevitable that they too will find themselves back where they started.

It's weird to see players ive watched being managers. The trend of ex-players managing teams seem to work more often thatn not?

What is Xabi Alonso doing these days? Get him as the number 2

[Smjffy]

He manages Real Sociedad B. He already ruled out joining Arsenal or City a couple of days ago. I think Steven Gerrard is the only footballer I can recall seeing come on for his debut, play out his career and then start in management. It's a right blast from the past though coming on for Vegard Heggem. I still remember his goal against Sheffield Wednesday as though it was yesterday. A drop of the shoulder, and another, GOAL! I don't think anyone expected him to be half the player he became thereafter. I always thought David Thompson was the one but it wasn't meant to be. Poor chap.

[Shindig]

I hope Shola's got his badges.

[SincereTheRebel]

What about Xavi, what's he doing? Wiltord, Kanu, Lauren. Give them all a go

[Foe]

Get eboue in.

[Spikey M]

None of them have the great footballing mind of Sol Cambell.

[Smjffy]

What about Xavi, what's he doing? Wiltord, Kanu, Lauren. Give them all a go

I'm arsed checking the others but Xavi manages some team that lost to Monterrey in the Club World Championship. Some Qatari outfit.

[Smjffy]

None of them have the great footballing mind of Sol Cambell.

To give him his due he kept Macclesfield up and given their issues at the moment, that doesn't seem like a small feat. Probably too much to ask him to repeat it at Southend though. He's one of footballs misunderstood individuals, I reckon.

Joey Barton's lasted longer than I anticipated at Fleetwood.

[SincereTheRebel]

Has the black man got a sympathetic role at a major club yet ?

[Jimmy Floyd]

Yes, the Watford club chaplain is black.

[mugbull]

Henry and Vieira both shitting up the French league

[bruhnaldo]

Henry is now the manager of Montreal Impact too lol

[randomlegend]

Pogba out for big money in Jan with Maddison the preferred replacement.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-hierarchy-convinced-paul-21131229

Grealish has a £45m release clause.

He's in the squad for tomorrow's game :thbup:

[Kikó]

👎

[Waffdon]

Sancho to Chelsea sounds closer to happening. It was obvious six months ago. ITK Shane

[Shindig]

Y'know, he might do alright there. Lampard's got a good rapport with the young-ish players there. Certainly better than if he wound up under someone like Mourinho.

[phonics]

‘Look Mason, cheers for filling in for 6 months but the transfer bans lifted so you can fuck off to Bournemouth now’

[Waffdon]

He would be perfect for them, Tbf. He shouldn’t be close to being one of the first choice players for a top 8 club.

[Shindig]

He'd add goals to us. Probably.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Mount is a lot better than Waff thinks. I don't think he's far off Sancho at all. Southgate wouldn't be picking him if he didn't know this.

[randomlegend]

��

:thbup:

[John Arne]

Mandzukic has signed for Al-Duhail.

[niko_cee]

Collective sigh of relief from United fans.

[Smjffy]

Granit Xhaka agrees terms with Hertha Berlin, apparently. Probably for the best for both but who would replace him?
phonics?

[phonics]

Rabiot on loan is the rumour. Bring back Kim Kallstrom.

[niko_cee]

You could probably have Emre Can off Juve as well.

Hopefully Hertha are making provision for when Grujic comes back to us (by signing Xhaka).

[phonics]

I presume Can getting all that money from Juve involved him having to sell his soul to the devil. The worlds most unremarkable player.

[Lewis]

lol at Adrien Rabiot if Juventus want rid of him already. United should have another crack if Scott McTominay is nacked.

[Bernanke]

Ibra back in Europe again to prove his doubters wrong once more. :drool:

[phonics]

My biggest problem is that I don’t need a third player that looks like David Luiz. It’s confusing enough watching a stream with two of them on the pitch.

[Gray Fox]

I presume Can getting all that money from Juve involved him having to sell his soul to the devil. The worlds most unremarkable player.

He'd have had a new contract at Liverpool too had he not pissed and moaned about a minimum fee release clause. That he's now failing to get in over Ramsey says enough about how that's worked out for him.

[niko_cee]

He's not really comparable to or in direct competition with Ramsey (is he?), but yeah, point stands, what a twat.

He was probably too ponderous for Klopp anyway.

[Gray Fox]

He was big and physical which I liked, he also scored a screamer at Watford to get us a vital result towards Champs League football for the first time in a while. However you're right. He just could not play a first time pass or shot to save his life. He had to take 2 or 3 touches first.

Like Coutinho, him leaving turned out to be a blessing in disguise.

[Ian]

People might have figured out how to show Coutinho onto his left foot after another few seasons anyway. Best to cash in when you did.

[Waffdon]

Haland signed for Dortmund.

£18m lol

[phonics]

But the plane!

RL’s tier 1 sources nail it again.

[Spikey M]

Mock them all you want, they have a 100% record.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My mate Transfers Tony said he was going to St Mirren. I now realise that was just code for Dortmund, as Paul Lambert played for both. Tony bang on again.

Tony also says Jadon Sancho is off to Bristol Rovers, so watch this space.

[Gray Fox]

1211294163234443265

[Lewis]

Dortmund have the worst social media team in football.

[Giggles]

Who is Haland? I never heard of him before. And if he’s such a big deal why is he getting sold for €250,000 in 2007 money?

[John]

Who is Haland? I never heard of him before. And if he’s such a big deal why is he getting sold for €250,000 in 2007 money?

Alf Inge Haaland's kid. He's been scoring a lot of goals in Austria.

It's rare to see one of these unexpectedly good teams picked apart in January. That's two they've lost and the window isn't even open yet.

[Ian]

If he doesn't want the chance to player ahead of creative force Andreas Pereira then fuck him.

[John Arne]

To be fair to RL, every time his sources have predicted a transfer after it's been confirmed, they have been 100% correct.

[phonics]

Dortmund have the worst social media team in football.

Think it’s Dortmund, Bayern, Roma and someone else that are all run out of the same office in New York. They’re all awful.

[SincereTheRebel]

This Haalnd is weird looking. I cant figure out what is weird about him though.

[Lewis]

If there is anything in the stuff about United refusing to put a buyout clause in his contract then Dortmund must have gone along with it, which presumably means that somebody will have him for cheap in a couple of years.

[Gray Fox]

Rumours going about that Dortmund will now accept an offer in January for Sancho on the condition he's loaned back to them for the rest of the season.

I think it's bollocks but we've nothing better, so it could be Chelsea. Maybe Madrid would be interested. Beyond that there's a few who could afford him but they'd be backwards steps in terms or career, but he could make lots more money.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't realise the ITK subreddit was back up and running so long before the window opens :drool:

Haaland to Utd done deal as of today according to them.

Another win for the ITK's.

[randomlegend]

Another win for the ITK's.

My boy still carries his 100% record. The other ITKs are almost as dodgy as ITKiko.

[Spikey M]

:harold:

[Pepe]

:harold:

[Waffdon]

Rumours going about that Dortmund will now accept an offer in January for Sancho on the condition he's loaned back to them for the rest of the season.

I think it's bollocks but we've nothing better, so it could be Chelsea. Maybe Madrid would be interested. Beyond that there's a few who could afford him but they'd be backwards steps in terms or career, but he could make lots more money.

Chelsea should give them Hudson Odoi on loan for rest of the year to sort him out.

[Waffdon]

Hamez to Everton apparently. He done well under the manager but not really sure that’s what they need.

[Lewis]

He's a good player, which they don't have [m]any of.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

My boy still carries his 100% record. The other ITKs are almost as dodgy as ITKiko.

Give up mate.

[Gray Fox]

He's here.

https://i.gyazo.com/616408f751f4baf5debcbbcee8691d0c.jpg


Given the fixture pile up, I hope he's in decent shape as he'll likely get a game soon.

[Vercetti]

I bet he got Klopp to take one of him and his wife after that.

Or possibly before, judging by Klopp's expression.

[Shindig]

"Put the shirt on now before we get one of us with the gingerbread house."

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looking at that picture I assumed the guy on the left was an excited restaurant owner welcoming a weary Klopp into his place for lunch.

[Mellberg]

Shouldn't they be hugging?

[Kikó]

My boy still carries his 100% record. The other ITKs are almost as dodgy as ITKiko.

Back off cunto.

[SincereTheRebel]

Contracts expiring in six months.

Christian Eriksen
Willian
Ryan Fraser
Thomas Meunier
Dries Mertens
Edinson Cavani
Eric Bailly
Nemanja Matic
Jan Vertonghen
Blaise Matuidi
Pedro
Fernandinho
Nathaniel Clyne
Olivier Giroud
Luka Modric
David Silva
Adam Lallana

[randomlegend]

Apparently we've been quoted £75m if we want Grealish in January.

[Mellberg]

Absolutely zero chance of that one happening.

[John Arne]

One for Ian and Mazuuurk

Ho Chi Minh City FC have completed the signing of one-capped Swedish striker Viktor Prodell.

That completes our 3 foreign limit, with Papé Diakité and Mati Jadue already signed up.

Those 3 join Vietnam stars Nguyen Cong Phuong and Bui Tien Dung.

Bring on Buriram and the Asian Champions League!!!

[Bam]

Absolutely zero chance of that one happening.

If they offer £75m then Villa are taking it all day long.

[niko_cee]

How about £45m + J Lingz? :harold:

[Bam]

You saying ya boi J Lingz is worth £30m?

[niko_cee]

Probably more considering that's what they're apparently offering Leicester for Maddison.

[SincereTheRebel]

He isnt good enough for Leicester.

[SincereTheRebel]

J Linkz was finished once he gave himself a nickname.

[John Arne]

Grealish is basically Zaha. Good for mid-table teams, but not sure he'll make it at a top 6 team. Here's hoping Man Utd spunk 75m on him.

[Spikey M]

Buying British is just pure folly at this point. Any decent team must have a couple of prospects knocking about in their academy's. Just promote them, fill the bench with them and crack on with signing Johnny Foreigner for a quarter of what you'd pay for fucking Maddison.

[Shindig]

United's prospects are in the team already.

[Spikey M]

Then stop staffing silly money English players.

[Bam]

Go back to watching Southend.

[Spikey M]

I'd rather take a cheese grater to my cock at the moment.

[Bam]

:D

[Ian]

Quoting that in next month's OP.

[Lewis]

If someone with the power to be sanctioning transfer bids rates Jesse Lingard at thirty-odd million quid then that explains a lot.

[igor_balis]

Buying British is just pure folly at this point. Any decent team must have a couple of prospects knocking about in their academy's. Just promote them, fill the bench with them and crack on with signing Johnny Foreigner for a quarter of what you'd pay for fucking Maddison.

i agree with the theory generally, but i think maddison is genuinely a bit special. maddison > grealish

[Jimmy Floyd]

They're slightly different. Maddison is more of a sort of prettier Lampard type figure. Grealish is a pure technician. Love watching them both.

[igor_balis]

They're slightly different. Maddison is more of a sort of prettier Lampard type figure. Grealish is a pure technician. Love watching them both.

In theory, an england midfield 3 with j madz alongside a shitkicker and grealish in front would be boss.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Would need to be a world class shitkicker against the better teams, but we should already be fielding that in qualifiers vs the shite.

[Spikey M]

i agree with the theory generally, but i think maddison is genuinely a bit special. maddison > grealish

I was using Maddison as the example because he was the last Brit mentioned, but yeah, he's decent. I'm not convinced you couldn't get a comparable Spaniard for a quarter of the price though.

[Giggles]

Why buy a Spaniard before you know what way Great Brexit will treat forriners going forward? Quarter of the price is expensive if you can pick them.

[niko_cee]

Nothing's going to particularly change desperation chops.

And even if it did, it'd probably be better to have the 'EU national' in the country and working before any change comes along as, sorry to break it to you, people aren't going be getting put on boats come the end of the year.

[Giggles]

Nothing's going to particularly change desperation chops.

And even if it did, it'd probably be better to have the 'EU national' in the country and working before any change comes along as, sorry to break it to you, people aren't going be getting put on boats come the end of the year.

Break it to me? I’m just wondering who broke it to you.

[Lewis]

If foreigners aren't allowed in Ireland will have to start producing decent players again.

[Giggles]

If foreigners aren't allowed in Ireland will have to start producing decent players again.

That ship sailed about 15 years ago and we didn’t put anything in place to counter it. It’s not really going to change anything for us at all.
In the long run I’d love if you had foreigner limits there.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We will never have any kind of limits, even if it means the government giving football an arbitrary exemption. The Premier League is great business as it is.

[Giggles]

We will never have any kind of limits, even if it means the government giving football an arbitrary exemption. The Premier League is great business as it is.

That’s what I was more wondering before the Ingurrrluund oi oi oi twins jumped on me above. Has there been any chatter about an exemption or is it all up in the air?

[Spikey M]

It won't even need any kind of exception. When was the last time someone from outside the EU struggled to get a work permit?

They're coming here to earn and spend millions. They're not Thai kitchen staff.

[Ian]

When was the last time someone from outside the EU struggled to get a work permit?

About twice a fucking summer on my FM15 save. :mad:

[Jimmy Floyd]

They probably have some kind of unofficial exemption as it is, although if you were Mansfield and tried to bring in someone from Brazil you'd probably struggle.

The only thing that could really change would be the possibility of the Bosman ruling no longer applying, but I don't really know enough to be able to judge the implications of that.

[John Arne]

Liverpool: Adrian; Milner, Gomez, Phillips, Williams; Lallana, Chirivella, Jones, Elliott; Minamino, Origi.
Subs: Kelleher, Mane, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Brewster, Hoever, Larouci.
Everton: Pickford; Mina, Holgate, Coleman, Digne; Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Sidibe, Walcott; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Stekelenberg, Baines, Keane, Delph, Bernard, Davies, Kean.

[Giggles]

Liverpool: Adrian; Milner, Gomez, Phillips, Williams; Lallana, Chirivella, Jones, Elliott; Minamino, Origi.
Subs: Kelleher, Mane, Henderson, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Brewster, Hoever, Larouci.
Everton: Pickford; Mina, Holgate, Coleman, Digne; Sigurdsson, Schneiderlin, Sidibe, Walcott; Richarlison, Calvert-Lewin.
Subs: Stekelenberg, Baines, Keane, Delph, Bernard, Davies, Kean.

Nope.

[John Arne]

Oops.

[niko_cee]

I was thinking about Bosman, but doesn't that now apply more widely than the EU context out of which it grew - ie isn't it the official FIFA position now that players who are no longer contracted to a club are no longer their property, so to speak?

[Giggles]

Employment law would trump a sports body though wouldn’t it?

[niko_cee]

No idea, I was more getting at that the bosman ruling itself is so much a part of the modern football landscape that simply no longer being bound by the legal constructs it grew out of won't make it go away.

What happens when a non-EU football contract expires (ie for a player in South America)? Can they leave their club without bother? Or are they pre-bosman?

[Giggles]

Then again, if the law was more important than sports bodies then we probably wouldn’t have transfer fees at all.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'm sure I've read of cases whereby clubs in the likes of China, Qatar and other questionable regimes have held people against their will after contract expiry and confiscated passports etc, though I honestly can't remember names or details.

[SincereTheRebel]

Teams usually go full strength once they reach the semi-final. Cups still matter. Just not until the final 4

[Lofty]

I'm sure I've read of cases whereby clubs in the likes of China, Qatar and other questionable regimes have held people against their will after contract expiry and confiscated passports etc, though I honestly can't remember names or details.

FSG when Arsenal activated Suarez's release clause.

[phonics]

I'm sure I've read of cases whereby clubs in the likes of China, Qatar and other questionable regimes have held people against their will after contract expiry and confiscated passports etc, though I honestly can't remember names or details.

You're thinking of Zahir Belounis.



He was in a dispute over unpaid wages from 2010 but because in Qatar, the employer has control over exit visas under the Kafala system, he was unable to leave the country. Belounis threatened to go on hunger strike to draw attention to his cause and in 2013, he wrote an open letter to 2022 World Cup ambassadors Zinedine Zidane and Pep Guardiola to garner support.FIFA declined to take up his case as Belounis had appealed via the Qatari authorities and not through FIFA.


After 19 months he was granted an exit visa and left Qatar to return to France Belounis admitted that during his time awaiting an exit visa he had planned to leave Qatar illegally, considered suicide and had turned to alcohol to help him cope with his situation

[niko_cee]

I was thinking more along the lines of what happens when player x at club y outside of the EU runs down his contract, not what happens when Mesut Ozil tries to sign for someone in China.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If FM two or three years ago is right then he sits there in paid purgatory until the club decides to sell or release him. However it may not be right.

[phonics]

I was thinking more along the lines of what happens when player x at club y outside of the EU runs down his contract, not what happens when Mesut Ozil tries to sign for someone in China.

It's whatever local contract law is. English teams would be under UEFA law however so it would still apply.

[Mellberg]

If they offer £75m then Villa are taking it all day long.

What's a sustainable return to the Prem worth? If we sell him we're 90% down. Zero chance and he wouldn't push for it either.

[bruhnaldo]

After 19 months he was granted an exit visa and left Qatar to return to France Belounis admitted that during his time awaiting an exit visa he had planned to leave Qatar illegally, considered suicide and had turned to alcohol to help him cope with his situation

I thought there was no alcohol in Qatar?

[Kikó]

Incorrect.

[Ian]

Expats with a license for personal consumption or bars/ hotels / whatever can do it.

And obviously the FAN ZONES at the World Cup will be all over it.

[John Arne]

https://gyazo.com/e2260145e10c70058cc4b2f69615c89f.jpeg
:drool:

[Giggles]

https://gyazo.com/e2260145e10c70058cc4b2f69615c89f.jpeg
:drool:

Has the little paedo left his club there?

[Andy]

What's a sustainable return to the Prem worth? If we sell him we're 90% down. Zero chance and he wouldn't push for it either.

Cant see it happening in January, always going to be cheaper in the summer especially if he cant keep Villa in the league. Going to be tough with McGinn, Heaton and Wesley injured, really cruel run of luck.

I think most seasons even with those injuries Villa would be fine but this season seems far more competitive at the bottom.

[John Arne]

Has the little paedo left his club there?

Excuse me?

[Giggles]

Excuse me?

I’d read somewhere the other week that Akinades club were replacing him with a different import. Is it that they can only have one or something?

[niko_cee]

Brewster has gone on loan to Swansea for the rest of the season. Will be interesting to see if he's capable of staying fit for 6 months and/or if he's any good.

[Mellberg]

Cant see it happening in January, always going to be cheaper in the summer especially if he cant keep Villa in the league. Going to be tough with McGinn, Heaton and Wesley injured, really cruel run of luck.

I think most seasons even with those injuries Villa would be fine but this season seems far more competitive at the bottom.

It's a tough ask, but at least all these injuries have happened in December, meaning there's scope to replace them in January. Drinkwater has come in today on loan, which is pretty uninspiring, but could work. We're okay in goal imo, but we definitely need at least one centre forward. Benteke needs to come on loan and let's see if we can get him playing again.

[John Arne]

I’d read somewhere the other week that Akinades club were replacing him with a different import. Is it that they can only have one or something?

Ah, I'd almost forgotten about him. Yeah, we released him end of the season. He's had s few trials with other V. League teams. I think he's gonna sign with Thanh Hoa.

[randomlegend]

Rumours Young might leave in January. I mean he's shit but we've barely got a squad as it is.

[Ian]

I'm sure there's a downside to Young leaving but it doesn't immediately spring to mind.

[Baz]

To Inter? :saywhat:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was surprised to see Inter are top of the league. Kudos to Sarri if he manages to break the streak.

[SincereTheRebel]

Hopefully, they do. Napoli has been fighting for a few years, but always seemed to run out of energy at the final hurdle. Juventus have like 7 league titles in a row.

[Mellberg]

Sorry to piss on your chips, but it's eight. Milan the last team not called Juventus to win it, which was in 2011.

[SincereTheRebel]

Damm. There has never been a team so dominant in Italy. Same in Germany with b.munich who have 7

[Spikey M]

That's a 0:7 ratio on the Rashfordometer.

[randomlegend]

Young confirmed off to Inter, could be summer or could be now if It's agree.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Fuck off, that's glorious.

[Shindig]

He might do well there. Imagine that.

[bruhnaldo]

Young confirmed off to Inter, could be summer or could be now if It's agree.

link?


edit:

fuck it's on BBC Sport twitter now.

:cry:

[Raoul Duke]

Young to Inter is bonkers. Our squad is going to be threadbare and Big Ed couldn't sign a piss-up in a brewery (or something).

[randomlegend]

We've had an offer accepted for Saul according to the ITKs

[bruhnaldo]

Is Saul actually any good? I never watch La Liga. After reading about his issues with his kidney I have to say he seems to have a great attitude.

[randomlegend]

I can't pretend to watch him either but he's meant to be very good. He did sign a NINE year contract recently though, so who knows what chance there is of convincing him to swim out to our sinking burning ship.

[Lewis]

Presumably none if they have put an offer in for him.

[Raoul Duke]

According to Wikipedia, he's already signed. I can see no error of logic in this statement.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Is Saul actually any good? I never watch La Liga. After reading about his issues with his kidney I have to say he seems to have a great attitude.

He's coming over in the same plane as De Ligt, Bruno Fernandes and Haaland.

[Raoul Duke]

Hopefully not going via Iran

[randomlegend]

United, Arsenal, Chelsea and the Madrid clubs interested in Lille midfielder Soumare as per Bouhafsi who's very reliable for French clubs. Lille open to selling in January.

[SincereTheRebel]

Man Utd have offered young a one year contract extension.

[Ian]

Of course we fucking have.

[SincereTheRebel]

Crucial to the machine at manchester red is Ashley Young. At 34. Club captain. Club legend. Due a testimonial. He stays.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's rejected it and said he doesn't want to play for us again, apparently :drool:

[Byron]

We've put in a loan offer for Gedson Fernandes, 18 month loan.

I know nothing about him but he is rated 76 on FIFA so I declare that he'll be shit.

We're also resigning Darren Randolph because of course we fucking are.

[Ian]

He's rejected it and said he doesn't want to play for us again, apparently :drool:

:rave:

[John Arne]

Miami FC have just selected Robbie Robinson as the #1 pick in the SuperDraft.

[Ian]

Is that significant for any reason other than his name?

Which I'm afraid to say isn't even that good by American sporting draft standards.

[Shindig]

Unless he used to post here, I'm not interested.

[Baz]

He’s valued at £23k on transfermarkt.

[Manc]

The Black Prince aka Mr Lifestyle.

[Lewis]

I'm not surprised he's off, and he's well down on the hate list, but it's pretty pathetic that the club has scrabbled around trying to keep him.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

It's amazing that the board/Ole seem to think he's an integral part of the squad and that we look small time if our club captain walks away on a free.

This last minute scramble to try and keep him is small time.

[Lewis]

You can see the case for keeping him as a senior squad member during the REBUILD, but if that was the case then they should have had it extended last month instead of being caught out again.

[Spikey M]

Isn't he about 57?

[Andy]

This Young situation is hardly a surprise, United have bounced from one poor decision to another. Still no DoF in place and still Ed Woodward making all the decisions.

He has shown himself as incompetent several times recently.

Feel sorry for OGS, no surprise he wants to keep hold of players when he knows they're so unlikely to be replaced properly.

[Ian]

He has shown himself as incompetent several times recently.

He's been at it since his first summer with Moyes. He's clearly very good at conning comapanies into being the official pedalo of Manchester United and paying for the privilege but he hasn't a clue about football.

[mugbull]

Krzysztof Piatek to Spurs. He's a classic half-season wonder. I'm sure he'll love it here though :cab:

[randomlegend]

Load of Bruno Fernandes to Utd noise again. Looks like that plane just got delayed after all.

[Lewis]

He must have really improved his pass completion over the past few months.

[randomlegend]

1215726261395431424

Bruno's agent liked this tweet. Tier 1.

[phonics]

I love how the solution to Uniteds problem of having an invisible midfield is to buy the Portuguese Frank Lampard.

Great player but you can't get the ball from Defence to Attack without Scot McTominay, a player who makes Matthieu Flamini look like Pirlo.

[Spikey M]

Utd in their current form are beyond fixing. It's comical how badly run they are.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The fact that Woodward still has sway over football matters after all these years shows you what their central problem is - the ownership doesn't give a damn about football matters.

[Lewis]

These are all valid points, but if it means not having to watch Juan Mata run backwards through time for another six months then break out the Ed Woodward memes.

[Ian]

These are all valid points, but if it means not having to watch Juan Mata run backwards through time for another six months then break out the Ed Woodward memes.

:D

[Mike]

Utd in their current form are beyond fixing. It's comical how badly run they are.

It’s brilliant to see! The football group chat with my mates has three United fans in who spend their days moaning and fantasy signing players. Long may it continue.

[phonics]

It’s brilliant to see! The football group chat with my mates has three United fans in who spend their days moaning and fantasy signing players. Long may it continue.

Didn't know you knew RL.

[Pepe]

Guido Rodriguez to Betis is basically done. I bet he flops in Europe and is back playing in Mexico within three years.

[Lofty]

https://twitter.com/achtzehn99_en/status/1216766859132928005?s=19

[phonics]

It seems that Barcelona have sacked Valverde. Fine, sack the guy who's lost like single digit league games in 3 years but whatever.

However, they've apparently turned down Pochetino for a Xavi/Iniesta ticket. Fucking idiots.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I read that Xavi had turned them down to continue taking the blood dollars in Qatar.

[Spikey M]

Pochettino has said multiple times that he'd never manage Barcelona because of his love for Espanyol and I reckon he's one of the few you could take at his word.

[phonics]

Pochettino has said multiple times that he'd never manage Barcelona because of his love for Espanyol and I reckon he's one of the few you could take at his word.

Considering he said he was up for taking the Arsenal job, I'm going to take that similarly to the integrity of Robbie Keane's boyhood club.

[niko_cee]

Valverde is a hopeless manager, but whoever goes in next, or next after that, is going to be worse as they are a team in decline. It's going to take a time to come to terms with not having Messi.

I read Xavi is holding fire until the new president comes in, on the assumption the new president wins on a the get Xavi as manager ticket.