The Jude Bellingham Summer 2023 Transfer Thread

[Dark Soldier]

Gonna be glorious when we shift him onto Brentford in three years for 10mil

[Gray Fox]

#Mbappe2023 is back on the menu boys.

[randomlegend]

He's the bald Moroccan that donned the world cup, right?

Yeah

[Don]

It's an indicator that all who have seen the kid thing he's the real deal and all who don't cling on to lazy opinions like "ooo he's a risk".

Obviously backed up with the likes of Antony and Rashford he's in for the shit but I suspect a competent manager may be appointed within the next 12 months who will be able to bring his potential to the fore.

[Mike]

#Mbappe2023 is back on the menu boys.

:lol:

Here we go!

[Gray Fox]

I suppose he could rotate with Diaz on the left for the year.

[Manc]

What's holding the Lavia deal up?

[Gray Fox]

Southampton want 50m. Liverpool haven't given them 50m.

[Manc]

£50m. :harold:

[Shindig]

Ah, the Livramento conundrum.

[Gray Fox]

£50m. :harold:

They have a £40m buyback clause with City that activates next year and a 20% sell on fee with them too. He won't be going anywhere else unless they get their £40m. For that they want a deal for 50m.

[phonics]

Kanes joined Bayern.

[Luca]

It's an indicator that all who have seen the kid thing he's the real deal and all who don't cling on to lazy opinions like "ooo he's a risk".

Obviously backed up with the likes of Antony and Rashford he's in for the shit but I suspect a competent manager may be appointed within the next 12 months who will be able to bring his potential to the fore.

Honestly, the fact that Taz is saying something positive about a United signing worries me more than the price tag.

[Lewis]

I read that Harry Kane is only ('only') on two-hundred grand a week at Tottenham, so, not only has he wasted the last few years there, but he massively undersold himself whilst doing so lol. That six year contract was a disaster for him.

[randomlegend]

I read that Harry Kane is only ('only') on two-hundred grand a week at Tottenham, so, not only has he wasted the last few years there, but he massively undersold himself whilst doing so lol. That six year contract was a disaster for him.

Apparently that's his basic wage but he has loads of incredibly easily achievable bonuses, meaning he earns more like 400 grand a week in reality.

[randomlegend]

1685683033054076929

Chelsea are absolutely laughable.

[Yevrah]

Harry Kane being loyal to Spurs for all these years and then ending up at Bayern is not how I imagine he saw things unfolding.

[Spikey M]

He wasn't loyal, he got torpedoed by his brother/agent not including any release fees in his previous deal, so his hands were tied.

Mass pile on for Dortmund winning the domestic treble next year.

[Waffdon]

1685683033054076929

Chelsea are absolutely laughable.

What? Silva is the only right sided centre half and he’s fallen off a cliff. Great signing since Fofana is out for the season.

[niko_cee]

How many hundreds of millions have Chelsea spent on defenders in the last 12 months?

[randomlegend]

What? Silva is the only right sided centre half and he’s fallen off a cliff. Great signing since Fofana is out for the season.

He's slower than Maguire.

[Waffdon]

You’ve never watched him play in your life :lol:

[randomlegend]

We'll see.

[Waffdon]

If there’s one position I’d trust Chelsea it’s in defence. Attacking players not so much.

Just trying to get Mbappe settled for when he joins anyway.

[niko_cee]

Koulibaly, Fofana, Cucurella, wall to wall bangers.

[Lewis]

The Chelsea squad still looks a bit crap. Equally massive, but worse than last year. Unless every one of these younger signings works out (in three years) then they are in for a ropey few years.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's endless spreadsheet signings and no appreciation for what a top (top) player actually is. We'll be hopeless in perpetuity.

[Waffdon]

Koulibaly, Fofana, Cucurella, wall to wall bangers.

There’s an * over last summer purely because of the hectic ownership change and Thomas fucking Tuchel getting to decide what players to bring in. Every single signing last summer was a mess. Since actual recruitment people have come in, most have been fine so far. It’s only pre season but they actually look like a functioning side going forward.

The big signing is still whether or not Caicedo gets brought in. That will change everything. Allows Fernandez to play slightly higher up and he’ll have a field day with Nkunku playing near him. Keeper is still an issue but unfortunately it seems like Poch likes small Spaniards.

[-james-]

It's endless spreadsheet signings and no appreciation for what a top (top) player actually is. We'll be hopeless in perpetuity.

They're wannabe spreadsheet signings, just like United. Just whack-a-mole on any top 5 league player who has anything close to a "breakout season".

[Jimmy Floyd]

Well yeah, that's what I mean. Actual spreadsheet signings would be done at a lower level. You can't game top 6 Prem football, hence why we won't be featuring there. If Poch does good work we MIGHT get top 10. Maybe.

[Raoul Duke]

Why are Arsenal trying to buy Raya? Ramsdale is shit, sure, but I thought they thought he was good?

[Don]

Top class keeper available and must be sold this window. Would be astute af and probably half the price of Utd's BLM :happycry:

[randomlegend]

They're wannabe spreadsheet signings, just like United. Just whack-a-mole on any top 5 league player who has anything close to a "breakout season".

The only spreadsheet United's signings have anything to do with is the one on Ten Hag's laptop called "The players wot I want".

[Spikey M]

3 of the traditional top 6 trying and failing to emulate Brightons recruitment method is going to be good fun.

[Lofty]

Why are Arsenal trying to buy Raya? Ramsdale is shit, sure, but I thought they thought he was good?

Arsenal were after Raya before Brentford got promoted, the goalkeeper coach and him go way back apparently.

[-james-]

Well yeah, that's what I mean. Actual spreadsheet signings would be done at a lower level. You can't game top 6 Prem football, hence why we won't be featuring there. If Poch does good work we MIGHT get top 10. Maybe.

Arsenal are doing alright at it. I think in this context it means building your squad with more than 6 months advanced planning. Rather than "err shit we need a CB" *goes on FM and filters the french league for under 22 years olds*.

[-james-]

The only spreadsheet United's signings have anything to do with is the one on Ten Hag's laptop called "The players wot I want".

What's the (reddit) take on Ten Hag at the moment?

[randomlegend]

Well we're 4th on squad value on transfermarkt so make of that what you will.

[Lofty]

You have a load of high earners you can't shift?

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/31/crystal-palace-to-sign-matheus-franca-flamengo-forward

They sound like they're in the shit. Dougie Fucking Freedman scouting out a 19 year-old favela fuck to replace Zaha :D

[Spikey M]

How else would you replace a speedy winger with no end product for £5 million?

[Don]

The Ballon D'or bonus is superb.

[Spikey M]

Just seen he's linked with Spurs. Walk away lads. He's not worth it.

[Baz]

Palace should just get Akpom from Boro.

[Jimmy Floyd]

The fact they've stayed up for this long, mostly very comfortably - ten years now - is an underrated achievement. That said, they operate at the centre of possibly the leading 10 square mile area for talent production in world football, so maybe less miraculous.

[Don]

Chelsea in for Robert Sanchez? :lol:

[niko_cee]

Saw a Range Rover with a PSG4 plate heading towards the Amex today so can only assume Kylian is on his way to the South Coast.

[Waffdon]

And Colwill signs a new 6 year deal with Chelsea. Brighton and Liverpool Twitter in shambles

[Jimmy Floyd]

Only six? Coward.

[Gray Fox]

If they valued Mount at 60m, there's no way Liverpool would be able to afford him anyway. The Fofana injury pretty much confirmed he wouldn't move too.

Given its clear we wish to continue with this 3-2-2-3 business, I would love to know where it goes next.

Sounds like Lavia will be over the line tomorrow, so I suspect one more after he comes in will be it done.

[Baz]

Mbappe when?

[randomlegend]

Never.

[niko_cee]

Fabinho and his dogs have gone Saudi.

[Manc]

Good riddance.

[Baz]

Hopefully they’ve bought last seasons version and not the good one, wherever he went.

[Don]

He was fine towards the end of the season when we started functioning as a team again. He was never some Kante energy bunny, his brilliance was fully reliant on everyone around him keeping gaps tight. Hopefully we replace him with an equally tall mofo.

[Gray Fox]

Sounds like Lavia will be over the line tomorrow, so I suspect one more after he comes in will be it done.

Maybe not. The last bid was £37m in total, the one submitted today was £42m in total. Given Southampton want £50m and everyone including Liverpool knows this, I have no idea in the wisdom of dragging it out more.

[-james-]

Doesn't the whole release clause thing rely on City actually wanting to spend £50m on him next summer? What if Southampton come 7th in the Championship?

[niko_cee]

City aren't going to be buying him back, so it's all a bit of a daft situation.

Be far more sensible [although still not at all sensible] to chuck whatever Saudi transfer boon they've had into a £90m bid for Caicedo [which is what Brighton want I reckon] although FSG are clearly still running a 'prudent' transfer policy so not much chance of that happening.

[Gray Fox]

I think it's a case of Liverpool saying this is how we value him and we'll bid accordingly, which is as they've done under FSG. I remember not signing Sturridge until 6 months later because of a quibble over 2-3m. Southampton are likely remembering we ultimately caved in to what they wanted over Van Dijk and so will stand firm.

If all Liverpool were going to do was buy one more midfielder I could see them doing a big bid for one player, but it sounds like they want another CB too.

[Gray Fox]

Bid for Lavia rejected and Liverpool again told they want £50m or he isn't moving. As such reports of some Brazilian youth called Andre have immediately appeared.

[Andy]

Doesn't the whole release clause thing rely on City actually wanting to spend £50m on him next summer? What if Southampton come 7th in the Championship?

It all relies on us wanting 40m for our best young player. Any less than that and we have decided we might as well keep him in our promotion push.

We don't really need the money to strengthen and aren't in debt so there's no pressing issues to sell him, Livramento, Ward-Prowse, Walker-Peters etc.

[Don]

Hopefully we swerve it. Can't be relying on some street footballer like that to provide the defensive foundations of a top side (as we'll find out with Jones there to start the season).

[niko_cee]

Not sure 'defensive foundations' are part of the plan.

Carney and Lesley running the Chelsea midfield this year?

[Baz]

Bid for Lavia rejected and Liverpool again told they want £50m or he isn't moving. As such reports of some Brazilian youth called Andre have immediately appeared.

6 yellows in 14 games :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66378341

Lesley Ugochukwu to Chelsea on a 7 year contract.

Likely to go out on loan this season.

[Lewis]

This is like the club version of those 'England's 2010 World Cup winners' pieces imagined after we battered Germany.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I don't even know what to say.

[niko_cee]

The most exciting times in Strasbourg since all those photocopiers got nicked from the European Parliament.

[Jimmy Floyd]

When was the last top class footballer called Lesley? 1925? There's got to be another one soon.

[Danny]

Sir Les :cool:

[Lofty]

Arsenal seriously in for Raya then.

[John Arne]

1686434090143100928

[Manc]

Who was the last player to leave Liverpool and not wind up in the mud?

[SincereTheRebel]

Who was the last player to leave Liverpool and not wind up in the mud?

Saurez

[niko_cee]

£25m for Sanchez? :happycry:

[niko_cee]

Also, word on the south coast is that Liverpool are in for Caicedo.

[Waffdon]

£25m for Sanchez? :happycry:

Livramento has just signed for £35m to Newcastle so that basically pays for it. Hopefully it’s just a sweetener ahead of caicedo finally being let go.

Two Spanish mongs in goals. At least Sanchez isn’t a midget I guess

[Baz]

Has he declared for Scotland yet?

[Waffdon]

He hasn’t but Aaron Hickey and Nathan Patterson have that spot nailed down. He can fight it out with Cancelo at Portugal

[niko_cee]

Livramento has just signed for £35m to Newcastle so that basically pays for it. Hopefully it’s just a sweetener ahead of caicedo finally being let go.

Two Spanish mongs in goals. At least Sanchez isn’t a midget I guess

How does this work, or do you exist purely in the world of FFP chicanery where whatever sell on percentage they get offsets this year's amortised cost for a 25m transfer?

They should look to get De Gea in for nothing to complete the set.

[Waffdon]

Well, it’s £15m from Livramento going to Newcastle and Sanchez is only £20m up front and I’m not sure they were expecting anyone to be signing someone after playing about 2 games in 2 years for a bonkers amount.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66399225

The briefs are out. Expect caicedo to join Chelsea soon.

[niko_cee]

Initial £25m, add ons to follow.

Think that might be a more ridiculous deal than the Cucurella one. At least Brighton wanted to keep him/he was their player of the year.

[Ben]

£25m for someone who got ousted by Jason Steele is certainly something.

[Andy]

Shame to only really get one season out of Livramento, if he can get back to his pre injury form he'll be first choice for Newcastle for years.

[Giggles]

Andy Hard to follow because of shit championship coverage over here, but is Bazunu likely to start or backup or be loaned?

[Andy]

Andy Hard to follow because of shit championship coverage over here, but is Bazunu likely to start or backup or be loaned?

He'll be starting again. Hopefully his confidence isn't shot to pieces after last season.

[Giggles]

He'll be starting again. Hopefully his confidence isn't shot to pieces after last season.

He's always been very good for us and was class at a lower level for Portsmouth. Hopefully there's a good keeper in there but, like you say, he can't feel good about last season. I hope a good championship season does him good. Could hardly be 20 yet too.

[Don]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/aug/03/willian-agrees-terms-with-al-shabab-two-weeks-after-signing-fulham-extension

Ahahahha hope he has to stay, the useless fuck.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66403293

Six year deal for Disasi.

[-james-]

Kudus :drool:

[Baz]

Does that mean less play time for Enciso?

[wullie]

We've spent over £7m on Haji Wright, a USA World Cup international who had interest from proper European clubs, which is bewildering as a year ago we had to ask Blackburn what they could offer us for Dom Hyam just to pay for our unfit pitch to be replaced. Our previous record signing was Craig Bellamy in 2000 so he's not got a high bar to beat

[Don]

1 of Ferguson/Welbeck/Pedro
3 of Mitoma/Kudus/Pedro/Lallana/Adingra/Enciso

Ridiculous. It's the closest IRL thing to when an accomplished player plays FM.

Coventry seem to be the Champ version with those 2 striker signings too.

Statistical efficiencies all over the gaff :drool:

[randomlegend]

All I ever hear about Kudus is that he's incredibly talented but borderline retarded.

[Don]

That's "question marks over his attitude" if he was Caucasian.

[randomlegend]

Not really that, more absolutely zero decision making skills or (urgh) "football IQ".

The Ajax lot couldn't care less that he's leaving.

I've never seen him play I don't think.

[Yevrah]

I watched him running rings around Rangers and scoring a very nice goal in last season's CL group stages, but not a huge amount you can deduce from that, obviously.

[Ian]

We've spent over £7m on Haji Wright, a USA World Cup international who had interest from proper European clubs, which is bewildering as a year ago we had to ask Blackburn what they could offer us for Dom Hyam just to pay for our unfit pitch to be replaced. Our previous record signing was Craig Bellamy in 2000 so he's not got a high bar to beat

His record might be in joke leagues but even so I reckon he looks a decent punt for Coventry. In that he has at least scored goals in those leagues which is more than you can say for some of these signings.

Also his name is nearly Hadji. :cool:

[Don]

1687878283952889856

Proper City player.

[niko_cee]

Seems Kudus might be an advanced replacement for Mitoma going to City . . .

Tony Bloom must be absolutely pissing himself.

[randomlegend]

The meme potential of signing a player with the word Scam in their name is just too high for anyone expecting to be a serious club.


And he's off back to Italy. Atalanta to replace Hojlund, specifically.

[Don]

If this Salah move is happening this summer, hello Kylian :drool:

[niko_cee]

£50m for Salah is a laughable fee, he's still one of the best players in the league.

[John Arne]

There's not a chance in hell that Salah leaves for £50m, in fact, I reckon there's a less than 1% chance he leaves this summer.

[Lofty]

It's not a laughable fee based on his salary and his age, no-one will be paying a large fee plus meeting his wage demands except Saudi.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, but he's still really good, it's not like he needs shifting off the books and so in that context he is worth a lot more than that fee for Liverpool. Just like 32 year Kevin de Bruyne is worth more than whatever fee would be dreamed up for him.

Maybe in a year or two if it looks like legs may have gone.

[Waffdon]

Sheffield United seem to be just selling all their decent players for some reason

[Ben]

They're going to be awful.

[randomlegend]

VDB (Sociedad), Fred (various), Maguire and McTominay (both West Ham) all looking genuinely likely to leave.

Amrabat and Todibo would come in if so.

If all those come off then this is our best transfer window in a very, very long time.

[Gray Fox]

3rd bid in for Lavia, £46m. Rejected again.

[Waffdon]

He should refuse to play and train like Caicedo is doing to push through the transfer.

[Baz]

Just sack him off and get Palhinha.

[Mike]

We should bid what they want or move on, they’re clearly not going to sell for less than they’d like.

[randomlegend]

West Ham have offered United £60m for Maguire and McTominay. We should bite their hand off but I've got a horrible feeling we'll reject it.

[Lewis]

I think Maguire is objectively worth more than thirty million to somebody like West Ham (where as McTominay isn't, but they would probably pay more if pressed), but his name is in the toilet, so it's hard to see who other than them is going to pay any more than that.

[randomlegend]

I think Maguire is objectively worth more than thirty million to somebody like West Ham

The amount they'll have to pay in wages will drag down the transfer fee

[Waffdon]

Chelsea having an Only Fans equivalent as a shirt sponsor but not being allowed Paramount + would be hilarious

[randomlegend]

We've countered by asking £35m for Maguire and £40-45m for McTominay.

Hopefully we'll compromise on 70 for the pair.

[Dark Soldier]

West Ham absolutely spunking the Rice money on players that'll make the team objectively worse :drool:

[niko_cee]

You'd think Moyes would be more embittered about United than to set them up another client club.

[Waffdon]

McTominay should do bits under Moysie

[John Arne]

Liverpool really fucking up this Lavia deal. Southampton clearly want £50m, either pay or don't. He could have been with us all preseason, but we fucked it up for the sake of trying (and failing) to save a couple of months of Salah's salary on the fee.

[Kikó]

How long has Ed Woodward had a job at Liverpool?

Plus Maguire and McTomninay are clearly good players for West Ham

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's classic accountant stuff (sorry Yev), I can imagine Klopp tearing his fake teeth out in rage.

[niko_cee]

It's a bit odd though as they tend to be quite decisive in the transfer market. I can't recall many Gareth Barry style sagas under the current owners. This Lavia character is clearly not worth £50m, but he's also clearly not worth £46m so you wonder why they are bothering with the dance.

[Mike]

Yeah, we should bid what they want or walk away and come back after a year in the championship and see how it goes then, especially if they don’t come back up.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's a bit odd though as they tend to be quite decisive in the transfer market. I can't recall many Gareth Barry style sagas under the current owners. This Lavia character is clearly not worth £50m, but he's also clearly not worth £46m so you wonder why they are bothering with the dance.

Take away the CL revenue from the balance sheet and I'm sure a £4 million quibble becomes more attractive to the bean counting community.

[niko_cee]

The Champions League money is definitely an interesting field, although I don't know how relevant in that context. As I'm no longer a seasoned FM player I don't really understand the ins and outs of quite how iniquitous the division of those monies are, but am I right in thinking that low European pedigree clubs like Arsenal [28th=, same as West Ham] and Newcastle [77th=] instead of Liverpool and Chelsea [5th and 4th respectively] qualifying for the Champions League ends up meaning more of the money goes to the two Manchesters?

[Jimmy Floyd]

From a quick search it looks like you get about £80-120 million all in, depending on the above and how well you do. So it's like selling a big name player every year if you make it. But yeah, Newcastle would take a biggish hit on the coefficient money so would be right at the lower end of that band.

[Yevrah]

Take away the CL revenue from the balance sheet and I'm sure a £4 million quibble becomes more attractive to the bean counting community.

Jim, if you're going to continue this tirade against accountants at least get it right. Revenue sits on the P&L (or SOCI). It's retained earnings (revenue after all expenses) that sits on the balance sheet.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If you think the content of that post is going to turn back my armies then you will have to think again.

[Yevrah]

:D I don't, but the idea that accountants are running the show in football is a bit bizarre given the decisions (and how little the vast majority of) clubs make. Hollywood? Absolutely. Football? I just don't see it enough.

Even in this Lavia case, it'll be an edict on high from the owners, which has been apparent from Liverpool's transfer dealings since they took over.

[Gray Fox]

FSG will very much quibble over £4m and have before. I've mentioned it before but they refused to sign Daniel Sturridge when Chelsea quoted £15m, because their valuation was £12m.

Sounds like it's going to be done one way or the other today. Lavia isn't in the Southampton squad for their cup game tonight as he and his agent want it done today.

[Yevrah]

Yeah, that's what I'm getting at. They've a history of doing it, as well as binning off players before they get to the twilight of their careers to maximise revenue - which will be an ethos of FGS, not the decision of a man in a cupboard.

[Gray Fox]

The latter part of that they've stopped doing well recently(depending on your opinion of Fabinho/Henderson).

They'd also been great at seemingly appearing from nowhere to gazump. See Diaz, Szoboszlai and Gakpo. The penny pinching is quite them of old, however the drawn out saga we haven't seen in a while.

[Adramelch]

FSG will very much quibble over £4m and have before. I've mentioned it before but they refused to sign Daniel Sturridge when Chelsea quoted £15m, because their valuation was £12m.

Sounds like it's going to be done one way or the other today. Lavia isn't in the Southampton squad for their cup game tonight as he and his agent want it done today.

I know it's similar amounts and all but 12 to 15 is in a way a much bigger difference than 46 to 50.

[Yevrah]

The latter part of that they've stopped doing well recently(depending on your opinion of Fabinho/Henderson).

They'd also been great at seemingly appearing from nowhere to gazump. See Diaz, Szoboszlai and Gakpo. The penny pinching is quite them of old, however the drawn out saga we haven't seen in a while.

Yeah, they're just looking for value from their business dealings. Which is also what Man Utd are doing with Maguire and McSauce. In the case of the latter an accountant could well argue that Man Utd should let them go to West Ham for buttons. Both will likely have little to no value on the balance sheet, they're absolute dogs when it comes to playing for Man Utd under Ten Hag (so are essentially worthless in that regard) and they're hitting the P&L every year for what? £20m-£30m between the two.

West Ham will also definitely be looking at it like that from their perspective and it's only the Rice money that has complicated things. Again though, I doubt it's accountants driving any of this, just the wheeler dealers who runs clubs that like a bargain and hate being perceived to have been ripped off.

[Yevrah]

Compare that to Hollywood, for example, where I suspect even die hard Marvel fans would agree there are far too fucking many of these films, but they kept being churned out because they make a shit load of money, money that'll be segmented and identified by accountants.

[Gray Fox]

Wolves manager apparently on his way to a meeting to leave. Not happy that his players are all being sold and nothing is coming in.

[Baz]

My Sheff Utd (selling all their players) Wolves (good manager leaving) and West Ham (not bought anyone) relegation bet that returns £12.5K is looking pretty shrewd, and we’ve not even seen a ball kicked yet. :drool:

[Don]

Another one bites the FFP dust. Geezers really went and spent all that money on dross (Nunes aside obvs) and thought they could get away with it.

[Gray Fox]

Gary O'Neil the replacement apparently.

[niko_cee]

FSG will very much quibble over £4m and have before. I've mentioned it before but they refused to sign Daniel Sturridge when Chelsea quoted £15m, because their valuation was £12m.

Sounds like it's going to be done one way or the other today. Lavia isn't in the Southampton squad for their cup game tonight as he and his agent want it done today.

The experience of buying Keita a year early for loads more than his release fee has probably scarred them for life.

[-james-]

lol Wolves

[randomlegend]

1688948928803115008

[Baz]

lol WolvesIt’s mad. I did an FPL thing on Reddit (https://www.reddit.com/r/FantasyPL/comments/15a2xjy/the_results_of_asking_fans_of_every_pl_club_which/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=ioscss&utm_content=1&utm_term=1) which involved posting in the subreddit for every team, and for some reason it’s resulted in me being suggested to look at a lot of topics in the Wolves and West Ham ones. The absolute pessimism and misery in the Hammers one is hilarious, and the change in mood from Wolves fans thinking “everyone is underestimating us” to “omg we’re going down” in the space of a few hours has been fun to witness.

[Gray Fox]

Seems Ward-Prowse to West 'am is happening.

[Baz]

And Edson Alvarez. Nice new midfield.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If it was Juaregi Oñel with a similar record at Cadiz to O'Neil's at Bournemouth, they'd be bang up for it. Fans can't deal with knowns.

[Baz]

If it was Juaregi Oñel with a similar record at Cadiz to O'Neil's at Bournemouth, they'd be bang up for it. Fans can't deal with knowns.Similar record as in most goals conceded, most shots faced, fewest shots taken, fewest “key” passes, lowest possession, etc? Cos that’s Bournemouth’s record under O’Neil.

[Jimmy Floyd]

And Bournemouth had the worst squad in the division by a fucking mile (hence most of those) but survived easily.

[Don]

Poor Jimmy is gonna have to take the most Basque sausage since bingeing on Bilbao's tapas scene this season.

The myth that you have to be a top 50 player in the world to be taught to pass and play your way out of trouble is dead and the gammonati of British managers are SHOOK because they know all these fancy foreigners who can provide aesthetically pleasing football to fans are waiting to retire their useless asses.

[Don]

And just on time, Paqueta gets linked to City after Moyes' shit-on-a-stick football leaves one of their greatest talents disillusioned and wanting more from life than having to do doggies and look to play brexitball with Mctominay/Maguire/Ward-Prowse/David Cameron.

[Baz]

:lol:

[Lofty]

I mean, aren't all players not previously affiliated with their current club always looking to move on to bigger and better things where salaries improve?

[Gray Fox]

Maguire going for £30m. End of an era.

[Mike]

Overpaying there.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I can't believe the day has finally come :drool:

[Alex]

I think Leeds have signed Joe Rodon on loan from Spurs. Which seems like a decent option at centre back at this level.

There is also some out of the blue talk of us being at an "advanced stage" in talks with Max Aarons. I can't claim to be up do date on this but isn't he, like, good? Good to the point of "why would Norwich sell him"? Or am I just forming my opinion (as I so often do) on potentially out of date Football Manager insight and he's actually turned to shit in real life? :D

[Mazuuurk]

What are the odds Maguire turns up proper for West Ham now?

[randomlegend]

I think Leeds have signed Joe Rodon on loan from Spurs. Which seems like a decent option at centre back at this level.

There is also some out of the blue talk of us being at an "advanced stage" in talks with Max Aarons. I can't claim to be up do date on this but isn't he, like, good? Good to the point of "why would Norwich sell him"? Or am I just forming my opinion (as I so often do) on potentially out of date Football Manager insight and he's actually turned to shit in real life? :D

He always looks like he should be in the Premiership every time I watch Norwich.

[randomlegend]

What are the odds Maguire turns up proper for West Ham now?

He will definitely look a lot better, but that's because what's asked of a centre back at West Ham is a lot more limited than what was being asked if him at United.

[Mazuuurk]

You mean Defend?

[Spikey M]

He is and always has been a quality traditional centre back. He's just not the versatile marauding ballplaying kind that Man United want him to be. Often hilariously so.

[Giggles]

He will definitely look a lot better, but that's because what's asked of a centre back at West Ham is a lot more limited than what was being asked if him at United.

Moving without falling over?

[Waffdon]

He is and always has been a quality traditional centre back. He's just not the versatile marauding ballplaying kind that Man United want him to be. Often hilariously so.

Wydm. His dribbling technique is quite sensational

[randomlegend]

You mean Defend?

Yes. Defend and not really much else. He'll also be playing in a deeper line which will benefit him.

If you have any pretentions of challenging the likes of City, you can't have centre backs who are of the meat-pie-and-two-boiled-veg, "if in doot kick it oot" persuasion.

[Yevrah]

£30m for Maguire to go and play Moyes ball is a fair price I'd say.

[Spikey M]

He will be very good there and the muppets on Twitter will be mystified by it.

[randomlegend]

Todibo, Tapsoba and Pavard seem to be the options for United to replace Maguire with.

[Baz]

Have you all lost your minds? Maguire is terrible.

[Spikey M]

"If you judge an elephant by its ability to climb a tree"

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Have you all lost your minds? Maguire is terrible.

He isn't, he's just very limited.

It's why he's decent for England but horseshit for United. We wanted him to do more than he ever could.

He's not World Class but he'll do well for West Ham as an old school defender.

[Kikó]

His treatment was piss poor by Twitter and some boos in stadiums. Good luck to him, he's a decent defender but not good enough for a team with aspirations to win the league.

[-james-]

1689277506698792960

Did an audible lol at this coming up on my feed

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

That's them safe.

[Spikey M]

He probably has the same chance of not getting relegated as he would have at Chelsea or Everton to be fair.

[Shindig]

Imagine going from Lille to Luton.

[phonics]

Raya to Arsenal is a loan deal. Bizarre.

[Waffdon]

Good for Arsenal. Odd from Brentford. Though he has signed a new contract with them in case Arsenal don’t trigger the option to buy

[Lewis]

Jose Mourinho posing with an imaginary signing is up there with his greatest hits. Lump on him being gone by Christmas again.

[Gray Fox]

Juventus fans really don't want them singing Lukaku.

[Lewis]

Somebody tell them it isn't 2001 and they aren't getting anybody better.

[Don]

It might be a hangover from when he gave it back to them last season just cause they gave him some monkey chants.

[randomlegend]

1689391238473003008

Lol

[Waffdon]

Class if that’s alongside Caicedo. Depression if not.

[Gray Fox]

Oh boy. Get the popcorn.

[Don]

That really is a serious bullet taken. Now give me Caicedo too and I'm not sure the lols would be quantifiable.

[Clunge]

Liverpool should let Chelsea take Lavia and then go in with a switcheroo for Caicedo for ultimate Boehly ignominy.

[Gray Fox]

Our 'arry is off to Bayern it seems.

[Baz]

FPL in pieces right now.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

He's finally going to win something.

[Mike]

The joy if he goes and Dortmund win the league

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool should let Chelsea take Lavia and then go in with a switcheroo for Caicedo for ultimate Boehly ignominy.

Does sound like Chelsea still expect to get both. If these deals pan out for them, they'll have spent more since June 2022, than Klopp has in his entire Liverpool stint.

[Luke Emia]

Does sound like Chelsea still expect to get both. If these deals pan out for them, they'll have spent more since June 2022, than Klopp has in his entire Liverpool stint.

This whole midfield situation is absolutely fucking mindless. It appears that they have learnt nothing from last year in that the season could be pretty much over after 3 games again. If you start poorly and are six/seven points off the top that's it done.

Since last season they must have shaved the best part of £750,000 a week off the wage bill you would imagine? Keita, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Henderson & Firminio must all have been earning north of £150,000 a week and I doubt they will be paying Macallister and the other one that much.

As well as only having spent what £35 million net on transfer fees this summer. I'm not asking for them to spend Chelsea levels every window but the fact is that as long as you have these constraints in place you have to realise that you aren't going to compete anywhere near the top end of the table. It's obvious we need at least two central midfielders and a centre-half but it looks like at best we might end up with one more midfielder.

[Jimmy Floyd]

We've also just activated the release clause of Tyler Adams.

Not scattergun at all, no sir.

[Yevrah]

It's absolute insanity, isn't it?

[Waffdon]

I don’t think they will actually sign Lavia otherwise they’d have just bid the £50m. Tyler Adams isn’t fit until September minimum though so who knows.

Gallagher gotta be leaving regardless.

[Waffdon]

And now liverpool have out bid Chelsea for Caicedo :lol:

[Baz]

Caicedo is so many levels above Lavia. What are we even doing at this point?

[Waffdon]

Yep. Idk if it’s both teams playing mind games but if Liverpool can afford Caicedo they should be going all out for him

[Gray Fox]

This whole midfield situation is absolutely fucking mindless. It appears that they have learnt nothing from last year in that the season could be pretty much over after 3 games again. If you start poorly and are six/seven points off the top that's it done.

Since last season they must have shaved the best part of £750,000 a week off the wage bill you would imagine? Keita, Fabinho, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Milner, Henderson & Firminio must all have been earning north of £150,000 a week and I doubt they will be paying Macallister and the other one that much.

As well as only having spent what £35 million net on transfer fees this summer. I'm not asking for them to spend Chelsea levels every window but the fact is that as long as you have these constraints in place you have to realise that you aren't going to compete anywhere near the top end of the table. It's obvious we need at least two central midfielders and a centre-half but it looks like at best we might end up with one more midfielder.

If you're annoyed at it now, just you wait for Klopp to be trotted out with "Well actually, we have Bajcetic and Morton and they're just like new signings"

I've made peace with what they are. After all it could be worse.

This Lavia/Caicedo nonsense should see the people making these bids fired. Childish nonsense.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool would be ridiculous with caicedo in midfield and someone instead of Van Dijk at the back

[Waffdon]

Winner on Sunday gets Caicedo, loser gets Lavia.

[Luke Emia]

Yeah the other side of this is if you had told me at the end of last season we would have the two we have bought and Caicedo I would have been pretty pleased even with the outgoings, but why have they waited until the last minute to try and tie things up when it was obvious that Henderson and Fabinho were going nearly a month ago now.

On the owners it could be much worse don't get me wrong. I think from a supporters viewpoint you just wish they would have backed Klopp with signings that needed to be made 18 months/2 years ago. If they had done so they would have been cheaper than what is being banded around now and we would be in a better position. Everyone could see we were short in midfield last summer but they decided to go in with three midfielders who you know you aren't going to get a full season out of as well as an ageing Milner & Henderson and there were surprised when we had no midfielders in October and the ones we did have were all shagged.

[Don]

I swear the ones who love to comment on FSG/owners/Klopp politics/etc would find a way to complain about us signing Mbappe.

No bedding in with Macdaddy next to him too, the Nazi cunt is building his greatest ever side ffs and this lot are gonna be made to drink their ethnically diverse gender inclusive tears https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66434067

[niko_cee]

Liverpool and Chelsea are just being mugged off to drive up the price for Caicedo and Lavia respectively, and they appear to be obliging victims of this south coast chicanery.

[Don]

21 year old lungs crafted in the Andes. This is basically about securing the next decade of the club's rightful place at the very top.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I swear the ones who love to comment on FSG/owners/Klopp politics/etc would find a way to complain about us signing Mbappe.

No bedding in with Macdaddy next to him too, the Nazi cunt is building his greatest ever side ffs and this lot are gonna be made to drink their ethnically diverse gender inclusive tears https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66434067

Ellen is on some strong gear.

[randomlegend]

Liverpool's journalists saying they haven't actually bid for Caicedo.

[Gray Fox]

And Saudi are in for Thiago too.

Chaos everywhere.

[Lofty]

Jim White will need new underpants.

[randomlegend]

Fenerbahce have bid 15m for Fred.

[phonics]

Meanwhile Arsenal can't seem to get 4 quid for a 21 year old that scored 20+ goals in Ligue 1 last season :moop:

[Lofty]

Turned down €30m from Inter haven't they?

[phonics]

A loan with an option for 30 million euros lol. Absolute scabs these Italian clubs.

[randomlegend]

Meanwhile Arsenal can't seem to get 4 quid for a 21 year old that scored 20+ goals in Ligue 1 last season :moop:

They are asking £50m, which is hardly 4 quid.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

And it was only Ligue 1.

[Waffdon]

I have no idea why Arsenal aren’t keeping him. He’s better than Jesus never mind Havertz lol

[-james-]

Is he aye

[randomlegend]

Scoring goals in France is basically the gold standard for predicting success from a striker to be fair.

Courtois has torn his ACL so Madrid are after a goalkeeper.

[Waffdon]

Is he aye

As a striker, yes.

Hopefully Madrid go after Kepa and start a bidding war with Bayern.

[Lofty]

Brentford made him look like Wout Weghorst two years ago so his performance against dogshit French teams means nothing.

[randomlegend]

Wasn't Kepa meant to be Chelsea's first choice this season?

[Gray Fox]

Scoring goals in France is basically the gold standard for predicting success from a striker to be fair.

Courtois has torn his ACL so Madrid are after a goalkeeper.

Buendia has done his too. A lot of it about at the minute.

Surely they just draft in De Gea?

[Waffdon]

Wasn't Kepa meant to be Chelsea's first choice this season?

His slightly taller but retarded brother I guess. Even more so now. No idea why they didn’t hold off and wait to see if anyone was interested in Kepa. Couldn’t have predicted Bayern and Madrid both having their keeper get injured though

[Jimmy Floyd]

Our next keepers are Bobby Sanchez and Eddie Beach. Sounds like a really bad gay porno.

[SincereTheRebel]

Emi Martinez to Madrid

[Waffdon]

£88m for Paqueta rejected :lol:

[Lewis]

These sort of lol numbers make Harry Kane a bit of a bargain.

[Raoul Duke]

Emi Martinez to Madrid

My theory is they'll get Dave Gayer

[Manc]

Silly season in full flow.

[Gray Fox]

Fraudster Romano reckons Brighton have given interested parties 24 hours to get their bids in(Liverpool bid expected tonight) and then they'll sell to the highest bidder as he's kicking up a fuss and they can get over £80m for him.

While I expect this is just some posturing and it will end in Caicedo to Chelsea and Lavia to Liverpool, it would be fun to see both selling clubs get annoyed in the long term suitors and sell to the new bidders.

Fully see a situation where both go to Chelsea though.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Man United sliding in there tonight :drool:

[randomlegend]

Man United sliding in there tonight :drool:

No chance, we don't have the money.

Fred to Fenerbahce, Kovar to Leverkusen, looking like De Gea is indeed off to Madrid.

United will go for Amrabat now I expect.

[Spikey M]

If Harry Kane actually decides to stay at Spurs it will be both wholesome and retarded in equal measure.

Get the fuck out of there lad.

1689645444014731265?t=5k7XSK_VRQwSIhjddf5RPw&s=19

[Dark Soldier]

Emulating Shearer in every way as the best English striker of his generation.

[Yevrah]

If I were him and I had a year left on my deal I wouldn't be going anywhere Bayern this summer.

[Spikey M]

If I were him and I had a year left on my deal I wouldn't be going anywhere Bayern this summer.

Well yeah. Obviously if he stays to leave on a free next summer on mega-wages then fair fucks, but I can imagine the soppy cunt getting Levy'd before then and signing another deal.

[Lewis]

City won't want him next year, Madrid will have Mbappe, and France and Italy are lol; so next year he can go to United probably, Chelsea maybe, and Barcelona if Robert Lewandowski is done and they can rustle the wages up. He might as well go to Bayern and win the next five leagues and maybe a Champions' League if those are his options.

Speaking of Mbappe, lol out loud at Paris convincing him to stay last year because he thought they were signing Bernardo Silva and Lewandowski. I could have told him that they definitely weren't, so how were professional advisors scammed into believing that?

[Gray Fox]

He still needs what, 2 decent seasons to break the record? Really is going to have to choose between the trophies and personal glory.

[SincereTheRebel]

Emulating Shearer in every way as the best English striker of his generation.

He had zero competition for his generation. It is already solidified.

[niko_cee]

Alex Scott to Bournemouth for £25m. Far better deal than double that for Romeo who the fuck Lavia. /not biased.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'd stay at Spurs if I were Kane. Not so much for the record (he can get that anyway) but to be loved for the rest of my days.

[Giggles]

A dry spell and they'll turn on him in two seconds flat. Forever love my arse, I wouldn't do a thing for fans.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, but going to Bayern Munich is such a nothing thing to do in modern football.

[Lofty]

But, to use the Romano bollocks term, 'it's a new experience for the player'.

[Gray Fox]

So if I have the situation right, Brighton want final bids on the table tomorrow, to have this sorted before the season starts. Liverpool are said to be sending theirs through in the morning, having sussed out about what Brighton want on Thursday. Liverpool are now ready to break their transfer record. Currently that stands at £75m for Van Dijk, though the add ons for Nunez could take him to £85m all-in. Given Brighton already said piss off to £80m, you'd think it's going close to £100m.

Brighton will then turn to Chelsea and say match/beat it or we're selling to Liverpool. No idea if Chelsea will stump up the cash. If they do, everything points to him choosing them as he's already cleared out his locker and is waiting in London to finish the deal.

I can't imagine Chelsea not wanting to pay up, but is there anything that would stop it FFP wise, considering their mental spend for the past year? To put it into perspective, Chelsea if they get Caicedo will be around the same spend level since June 2022 as Klopp has had in his entire Liverpool tenure.

[niko_cee]

If the choice is go to Muinich now or walk out for nothing next summer then it is probably a more difficult decision, seeing as the latter choice is full-on burning your bridges/legacy in ruins territory [and after an underwhelming year for Die Lederhosen who's to say Saudi isn't his final destination?]. He should just stick it out, get the record, and be remembered as a Spurs legend. A Bundesliga [or a German treble] and being bummed out of the Champions League in the quarter finals is hardly worth more than that. Jimmy Greaves never won a league title.