The Jude Bellingham Summer 2023 Transfer Thread

[niko_cee]

Chelsea's FFP position is just wild generally. Over the last however many years they've had mad years, and then years where they've 'made' mad money [sometimes through the force of embargo etc]. Pretty sure their mass clear out this summer will more than cover off the accountancy worries in fair play terms, with the real time bomb being in a few years when/if everyone they've bought turns out to be garbage.

[phonics]

I'm sorry I just do not see the Caiceido hype. Rice is overpriced to fuck but at least you get the ref letting you off for blatant fouls because 'ah yerr a good english lad aren't ya' bollocks.

[Lewis]

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.

This is a bit un-Liverpool. They would have had this wrapped up months ago if they were seriously contemplating that amount of money.

[Gray Fox]

The Lavia thing of dragging it out over several bids is un-liverpool.

The Caicedo thing is very on brand for recent Liverpool. Turn up, gazump and walk away with the player. Take Szoboszlai. Not a peep on him with Newcastle expected to sign. Liverpool suddenly come in on the Thursday, Friday the bid is in and accepted and he's flying over for a medical.

[Lewis]

Gary Neville thinks the Harry Kane camp (lol) is using Bayern to set the asking price for United to come in and do likewise. The man is a wally.

[Waffdon]

The Lavia thing of dragging it out over several bids is un-liverpool.

The Caicedo thing is very on brand for recent Liverpool. Turn up, gazump and walk away with the player. Take Szoboszlai. Not a peep on him with Newcastle expected to sign. Liverpool suddenly come in on the Thursday, Friday the bid is in and accepted and he's flying over for a medical.

I feel bad for Lavia. He’s just joining whoever Caicedo doesn’t at this point. If Chelsea somehow fumble the bag Boehly might need to takeover negotiations again. At least he got whoever he bid for :lol:

[Gray Fox]

I still think Caicedo ends up at Chelsea and Liverpool will do the deal for Lavia and maybe set up something in January for Andre.

[Shindig]

In a year's time Kane will have more interest as a freebie than as a £100m purchase.

[Gray Fox]

He's agreed to go to Bayern. Just needs Levy's final sign off and it's done.

Genuinely thought he'd stay.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool bid 110m for caicedo and sounds like they have their man. Fuck me

[Baz]

Hopefully.

It’s not my money. Spend £110m on David Alaba while you’re at it.

[Max Power]

Unconvinced anyone other than Brighton fans have seen this Caicedo play more than 2 games. Or maybe I’m more out of touch than I thought and he’s the best midfielder in the world

[Mike]

Be chuffed if he signs! An very pleasing midfield rebuild in the end. Hopefully our creaking defence can hold out another season.

[niko_cee]

Caicedo is a mega player [and has potential to be top, top] but £110m is mental. Then again, so is everything about modern football. I'd have him over Rice, and he should suit being asked to do a lot of running, which is surely likely if he goes to Liverpool.

£145m in Tony Bloom's back pocket for a midfield they'll probably seamlessly replace.

Any such deal will obviously have the internet mong brigade bleating on about Bellingham 'costing' less.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My Caicedo experience is limited to standing in a customer's premises in Babahoyo in Ecuador, banana leaves blowing in the tropical breeze, and having three delivery boys excitedly approach me to ask which club their hero would be transferring to, as if just by being English I obviously had the inside transfer knowledge of David Ornstein. I said probably Chelsea; they rejected my analysis and said 'Manchester, Manchester'. There are truly no winners in this game.

[niko_cee]

:D

The above also comes with the caveat that I would have said largely similar things about Yves Bissouma, although he's less dynamic. I suppose [hope?] Caicedo doesn't have any clouds hanging over him.

[Baz]

Has Taz finished wanking yet?

[Baz]

Caicedo is a mega player [and has potential to be top, top] but £110m is mental. Then again, so is everything about modern football.

Hopefully he links up well with Mac Allister. :henn0rz:

[thommo]

BBC saying it's a bid of £111m for Caicedo. Mental money.

[John Arne]

Levy apparently now trying to change the terms of the deal. Turn the plane around!

[Shindig]

Harry Kane has, "I couldn't settle in Germany, it was like a different country." written all over him.

[Waffdon]

The money means fuck all. Liverpool now have a proper midfield again and even more importantly a midfield full of runners which means Liverpool are back.

If they avoid this ‘Trent’ moving into midfield shite and don’t go with quite as high a line then they should go back to being 1 point off City in the league at the end of the year.

Chelsea on the other hand…yikes. Caicedo would have given them an incredibly good midfield duo with a very solid defence and fun attackers. That whole thing starts to go to shit with no Nkunku and Gallagher playing alongside Fernandez.

[Don]

Independiente del Valle and their 12k stadium in Quito is about to get a cheese room with that 20% sell-on clause. I need a skin graft on my girthy one but I'm not jizzing until it's done. What a scene though. Rice, Casemiro, Tyler Fucking Adams, we're built different lads. Thank you my Saudi brothers.

[Lofty]

The funniest and most desired outcome for me personally is Kane stays, breaks the all time goalscorer record only for Haaland to break it again shortly afterwards. Meanwhile Spurs manage another Audi cup before he retires.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Chelsea on the other hand…yikes. Caicedo would have given them an incredibly good midfield duo with a very solid defence and fun attackers. That whole thing starts to go to shit with no Nkunku and Gallagher playing alongside Fernandez.

Good to see you're finally coming around to the truth.

[Gray Fox]

So £111m deal in total and a sell on clause for Brighton too.

Liverpool really did just rock up on Thursday, ask what Brighton wanted, get told and gone 'yeah okay.'

[Baz]

I think more than anything it just proves how good Brighton and especially Bloom are. Got the whole league on the spin.

100m profit for a bloke thats played 45 games!

[Waffdon]

Good to see you're finally coming around to the truth.

Ha. That narrative changes if Caicedo is in the team though. Him and Fernandez would have been one of the biggest upgrades in recent times over 'Jovacic'. Properly dumb though - if Chelsea bid what they did last night around two/three weeks ago he'd have been training with them all week and starting on Sunday.

[niko_cee]

I guess it could still be an elaborate trolling exercise to force the fee up for Boehly's Boyz if his heart is set on West London, like that 'bid' City apparently made for Rice. :happycry:


However, the price they are prepared to pay for Caicedo comes as a surprise, as in In April, the club said they would not make a move for England midfielder Jude Bellingham because of the money involved.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66470820

Wasn't even the Internet, it was the fucking BBC. :face:

[Waffdon]

The Chelsea sources are claiming they have reassured Caicedo they will get an agreement with Brighton. Trying to save face if nothing else.

Watch the Sponsor get announced today and maybe some mad links to Mbappe/Neymar to try distract from what's happened. Everton release news about their stadium anytime they get bad press.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Why would you want to go to Chelsea at the moment anyway if Liverpool are in for you? Other than not wanting to have your house burgled every other week.

[randomlegend]

Looks like Chelsea are genuinely going back in with an even bigger bid lmao.

[Max Power]

Boehly does it again - he’s cracked the transfer market!

[Lofty]

Why would you want to go to Chelsea at the moment anyway if Liverpool are in for you? Other than not wanting to have your house burgled every other week.

Although things have moved on a bit in the last few decades I know a lot of foriegn players, especially non european players, prefer London as it is a lot more multicultural.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Boehly does it again - he’s cracked the transfer market!

People talk about 4D chess, but this is 5D Jenga.

[Max Power]

“Congratulations on saying the biggest number you fucking morons”

[Waffdon]

1689944401613606912

That’ll be him in Liverpool as we speak then

[Waffdon]

Brighton need to sign Lavia now for the epic lolz

[Gray Fox]

Klopp doesn't usually speak out unless something is pretty much over the line.

Plenty of twists left in this yet.

[Lofty]

“Congratulations on saying the biggest number you fucking morons”

Sounds a bit like Barca pre money troubles where they went to buy someone, apparently the conversation before hand was 'we aren't paying more than £50m, agreed?' Then they walk into the meeting, are quoted £70m and just agree it anyway :D

[Lofty]

Could be bollocks but supposedly Kane's move is off now.

[Gray Fox]

I could be wrong but I think the Caicedo stalling is because he doesn't want to be playing against the other team this weekend. I think the deadline for such is 12:30, so I expect a lot more certain reports not long after that.

[Waffdon]

If Chelsea were gonna bid, they'd have done it by now. He'll be a Liverpool player.

The Deadline was at 12pm, so he canna play regardless.

[Waffdon]

According to RL’s mate, Caicedo has told Liverpool he only wants to join Chelsea.

Chelsea are fackin massive mate

[Gray Fox]

Crawling back to Southampton with a £49m bid as we speak.

[Baz]

Say it ain’t so.

[niko_cee]

Why would you want to go to Chelsea at the moment anyway if Liverpool are in for you? Other than not wanting to have your house burgled every other week.

Wages. Chelsea will (or will have promised to) pay him a lot more, I would imagine.

Oh, and an 8 year deal, natch.

I've no idea if he has a family or anything, but he'd barely have to move if he went to Chelsea. At worst he could borrow Potter's old gaff.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool pay more in wages than Chelsea do. Especially after the amount of players Chelsea have offloaded. Mudryk and Fernandez are barley on 100k each.

Not that it means much but Caicedo is a Chelsea fan.

[Jimmy Floyd]

I'll look out for him in the Ecuadorean delis of Oxshott next week.

Maybe Liverpool knew this all along and the 'bid' was only to look like big spending legends in the knowledge it wouldn't actually happen.

[Gray Fox]

At this point for Liverpool to lose out would be disastrous. They've very publicly played their hand.

The only thing that may save Liverpool is they're the only ones who did as Brighton asked and we're passed their deadline now. Chelsea may have Caicedo convinced but they've yet to submit a bid that matches ours.

[Lofty]

Yeah signing a lad for £110m who doesnt want to be there will be good.

[niko_cee]

Liverpool pay more in wages than Chelsea do. Especially after the amount of players Chelsea have offloaded. Mudryk and Fernandez are barley on 100k each.

Not that it means much but Caicedo is a Chelsea fan.

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/chelsea-fc/payroll/

I've no idea how accurate that is, but it disagrees.

[niko_cee]

Thiago Silva needs to have a word with his agent if that is anyway accurate.

[Waffdon]

Lucas Gourna-Douath is meant to be Brighton’s replacement and if you believe some of the hipsters kicking about he will go for a similar fee

[Waffdon]

https://www.spotrac.com/epl/chelsea-fc/payroll/

I've no idea how accurate that is, but it disagrees.

£97k for Mudryk and not much more than that for Fernandez according to Athletic. Chelsea players all got wages slashed too because of no CL. Sterling the only huge earner (well and Lukaku but he’ll be gone eventually)

[randomlegend]

It's impressive how Liverpool still have zero pull even after being actually good for a brief period.

[Don]

We can't all be attracting the Wout Weghorsts of this world.

This is carnage. What a rush though, first time I've been excited by a signing for a very very long time.

[Gray Fox]

It seems Caicedo asked his "group" what he should do. They suggested as Chelsea have been after him for so long he should now wait and give them the chance to match the Liverpool bid. Though would join Liverpool if they don't.

Apparently Brighton consider the matter closed as it's passed their deadline and they've signed off on terms. In reality I'm not sure they'd care if Chelsea came in with the extra required, unless Chelsea have significantly pissed them off.

[Dark Soldier]

Lucas Gourna-Douath is meant to be Brighton’s replacement and if you believe some of the hipsters kicking about he will go for a similar fee

FM God :drool:

[randomlegend]

1690005071994515456

[Gray Fox]

Regardless of how this Caicedo thing shakes down it's all been quite odd.

Chelsea had Tyler Adams in London for his move and have now told him it's no longer happening. I'm assuming from here Caicedo goes to Chelsea, though I wonder if they are able to match the deal Liverpool made, or else surely they'd have an announcement of some kind on the go by now.

The last Chelsea bid was for £80m and Liverpool have gone in with £111m and a sell on %

Given Brighton supposedly wanted £100m, it could be that Liverpool went way above it in order to try and price Chelsea out.

[Manc]

Chelsea really fucked the market with that Enzo deal.

[Gray Fox]

£100m has become the going rate for a quality midfielder. The needle moves quickly.

I wonder what Liverpool will do with their £111m when Caicedo does join Chelsea.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, future transfer negotiations are going to be interesting.

[randomlegend]

I do think there's something to be said for Lewis' %of revenue model.

The transfer fees seem insane but as a proportion of the amount of money in football, they really aren't drastically different to what was being done 20 years ago. If anything some of those old transfers were probably more mental.

Buffon in 2001 looks like he cost about a third of Juve's revenue that year (from a quick Google). That'd be like United dropping £200m on a goalkeeper.

[randomlegend]

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/moises-caicedo-liverpool-transfer-fee-chelsea-g2hk2pdh5

I don't think Liverpool could've come out of this looking any worse if they were actively trying.

[Gray Fox]

Seeing as Chelsea are having to pull out of other deals to get this one through, I'd be tempted to chuck another £20m on top. See if you can outprice them.

Very much egg on face though. Very publicly played their hand and showed the world how much they have. Very much feels like we've only just realised we're playing a game of musical chairs, we're empty handed and the music is about to stop.

[Waffdon]

I still dunno if Chelsea can match the bid though otherwise they’d have done it by now. They’ll try offer a player as well or something.

They can obviously afford it but they are still looking to bring a couple others in and spending 15/20m more than you wanted to probably explains why Adams has been told to bolt

[randomlegend]

Offering £130m for a player who has made it public you're firmly their second choice would be laughable.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If I were Chelsea I'd be trying to leverage the player's (inexplicable) wishes in order to get the fee down.

[niko_cee]

Good luck 'leveraging' Tony Bloom and co.

[Waffdon]

I’ve always liked Tony Bloom. Was disappointed to find out he’s 5ft3 so he’s probably a bit of a beast.

[randomlegend]

If I were Chelsea I'd be trying to leverage the player's (inexplicable) wishes in order to get the fee down.

They'd just keep him.

[Giggles]

Is this national Jim White day, or is there just a lot of shit going on?

[Gray Fox]

Brighton made it clear it was a bidding war and it was to be done before the new season.

As Waff says I think Chelsea don't have the cash, or need to do some wheeling/dealing to get the cash quickly, or else this would be tied up by now. He's going to be a Chelsea player unless either they can't stump up the cash tonight, or Brighton have got so annoyed with the situation they stick with the deal they've already got.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

I’ve always liked Tony Bloom. Was disappointed to find out he’s 5ft3 so he’s probably a bit of a beast.

Massive knob on the lad though.

[niko_cee]

Does anyone know if any of this is more than idle paper talk anyway? I have no idea how modern football transfers work, but had come to the understanding that the 'old way' of agreeing the deal with the club first was very much not how it is done, but rather everything but that is agreed behind closed doors/contrary to what I understood were the rules, with the club to club deal being the last thing ever agreed. Why have Liverpool bid for a player they had no indication that wanted to join them? Surely they would have had 'contact' in the background. Is this just Brighton massively mugging everyone off to get a deal done? Has James Milner been sent in as a Trojan Horse or something? Are Brighton owed a favour over the MacAllister deal?

[Gray Fox]

Talking to the player directly is not allowed, but talking to his agent is fine. Almost all transfers start with the club finding out if the player is interested. Then comes contact with the club.

In this case, the medical was already booked in for Friday, which shows the player must have agreed terms too. What's happened here is Chelsea have got in touch with him and offered him better wages than Liverpool have and his agent has instructed him to camp in London to get it. So he was fine to move this morning, but then after that call he's had a better offer so he isn't.

[niko_cee]

Having just seen that Ken Bates is somehow still alive I'm now holding out for his glorious return to ownership when the Boehly Bus departs the auto route.

[Manc]

City moving for Doku. Shame for Rennes as they were building a serious team.

[Waffdon]

Talking to the player directly is not allowed, but talking to his agent is fine. Almost all transfers start with the club finding out if the player is interested. Then comes contact with the club.

In this case, the medical was already booked in for Friday, which shows the player must have agreed terms too. What's happened here is Chelsea have got in touch with him and offered him better wages than Liverpool have and his agent has instructed him to camp in London to get it. So he was fine to move this morning, but then after that call he's had a better offer so he isn't.

Or he just prefers Chelsea and doesn’t want to move to Liverpool.

But who knows because Lavia is close to getting agreed with Southampton so either Chelsea are taking the piss and getting both or Liverpool are getting their man.

[Gray Fox]

Or he just prefers Chelsea

This is true, but Chelsea dont seem to have stumped up the cash for the deal yet.

Chelsea getting both would be all kinds of lol. Meltdowns everywhere.

[Lewis]

Offering £130m for a player who has made it public you're firmly their second choice would be laughable.

The United 2013-16(?) model.

[Ian]

That first glorious summer of Woowar, where he spent 4 months being told to fuck off by Fabregas before finally getting the message and signing Fellaini.

[randomlegend]

That first glorious summer of Woowar, where he spent 4 months being told to fuck off by Fabregas before finally getting the message and signing Fellaini.

You forget the best part of that story, which was that he paid £28m for Fellaini when he'd had a £24m release clause which expired whilst he was dicking about after Fabregas.

[Alex]

In a surprising, sudden heel turn Willy Gnonto has downed tools at Leeds to try and force a move to (of all places) Everton.

The board have released an official statement effectively telling him to go fuck himself and that it's now a disciplinary matter.

Fun times.

[Lewis]

That first glorious summer of Woowar, where he spent 4 months being told to fuck off by Fabregas before finally getting the message and signing Fellaini.


You forget the best part of that story, which was that he paid £28m for Fellaini when he'd had a £24m release clause which expired whilst he was dicking about after Fabregas.

I was thinking more the last-ditch attempt at pinching Bareth Gale off Madrid, but the whole thing was a farce. Wasn't Thiago effectively done as well but Moyes didn't fancy him?

[Dark Soldier]

Wasn't it Kroos? Fergie had lined it up as a 'present' and Moyes fancied the Belgian bollock instead? So Kroos went Real and we had many years of glory.

[Lewis]

Moyes had Kroos signed for 2014 by then 'LvG' canned it.

[Dark Soldier]

Ah class. Hell of a club.

[wullie]

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

Fuck

[Jimmy Floyd]

Who will the hotspurs get to replace Kane? So few good goalscorers now.

[Spikey M]

Ivan Toney is the obvious choice, albeit to sit in the stands watching for most of the season.

I imagine they'll try to get a tune out of Richarlison first though. Which I can't see going well.

[Shindig]

"Oh, a bit of miscommunication between Son and Richarlison." for the whole season. :drool:

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Kane official.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66485074

Ousmane Dembele to PSG done.

What a loss made by Barca.

[Waffdon]

Sounds like Kepa is joining Madrid on a permanent transfer and not a loan. Christ, what an agent.

[Foe]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/66485074

Ousmane Dembele to PSG done.

What a loss made by Barca.

Pretty good business in the end, he was a free agent last summer no? And they managed to get him to sign a new contract.

[Gray Fox]

A bit of a lol situation with Caicedo/Lavia.

Chelsea got the agent to put the Liverpool move on hold and told Brighton he prefers Chelsea. Chelsea hoped this would cause Liverpool to withdraw their offer so they could negotiate a lower deal with Brighton unopposed. This hasn't happened as Liverpool still believe the player would be happy to join and also don't want to let Chelsea have him for cheaper. Because of the sell on clause Liverpool put in, unless Chelsea are happy to match that, they'd likely have to actually beat the monetary value and their offer would need to be up around £120m.

Given that Chelsea have still to agree anything with Brighton, Liverpool are starting to believe they actually might not be able to(at least not without a few more sales), which may explain the sudden Chelsea bid for Lavia. He finds himself in the reverse situation. He prefers Liverpool but the best offer on the table for his club is to Chelsea.

So we now have an incredible game of brinksmanship where I genuinely feel whichever club gets one, could likely get both.

[Waffdon]

He wants Chelsea hence why he’s not signed for Liverpool (yet). If Chelsea don’t pay the money I’m sure he’ll join Liverpool but if he actually preferred Liverpool he’d have been signed yesterday morning.

[Don]

He was in the favelas munching on guinea pigs about a year ago. He's probably still discovering colour television, the lad has no fucking preference between 2 random gammon clubs.

[randomlegend]

Chelsea loaning Kepa to Madrid with no buy obligation or even option is an incredibly strange decision.

[Waffdon]

Anything to finally not concede 40% of goals outside of the box

[John Arne]

Have Chelsea got another keeper? That decent young yank was already loaned out. De Gea?

[Gray Fox]

More so a cash injection from selling him would surely cover some or all of the extra needed for Caicedo.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Have Chelsea got another keeper? That decent young yank was already loaned out. De Gea?

Roberto Sanchez.

They still have Bettinelli on the books too.

[Gray Fox]

Quite surprised nobody tried to get Mitoma off Brighton as well. Always seems to cause trouble whenever I watch him.

[randomlegend]

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2023/08/12/chelsea-set-sign-moises-caicedo-record-115m-deal-liverpool/

£115m :D

[Gray Fox]

Cap in hand to Southampton it is. £49m bid incoming.

[Danny]

£49m and £1

[Baz]

Piss take.

I’d have rather have had Fred for £15m at this point.

[Gray Fox]

There's going to be a Liverpool Twitter meltdown over this.

Biggest question for me is what now? To go back for Lavia now very much feels like being sent home with a Bendy Bully and your BFH, when Jims just shown you what you could have won.

[Spikey M]

Between this geezer and Abramovich, whose the real war criminal?

[Waffdon]

Blame Arsenal and Man Utd for funding it by signing mid players for over £50m each

Still got that £60m bid from Saudi for Lukaku to come in September :drool:

[Waffdon]

Caicedo pretty much done.

Can already see Sky cameras panning to Caicedo in the stands as Liverpool go 3 up

[phonics]

Chelsea overspending caused by other clubs overspending might be the biggest copium ever huffed on this forum.

[randomlegend]

1690491522083430400

[Don]

They've gone from muzzy OAPs to slowly buying me round to their vision. Leave the gammons to spend £100m on shit kickers and players who spice up their chicken with Nando's medium sauce and instead, sign every proper entertainer out there. Elasticos > Deep Progressions

[Spikey M]

Get that Sunni arsehole off your tongue, lad.

[Don]

Bringing Ronaldo and Neymar to Tehran, ACL is gonna hit different this year.

[niko_cee]

9 year contract (8+1) for Caicedo?

:happycry:

They're also after Lavia for £55m as well?

Mind bottling.

[niko_cee]

Quite surprised nobody tried to get Mitoma off Brighton as well. Always seems to cause trouble whenever I watch him.

City were linked.

Anyone after Mitoma is going to get robbed blind.

One thing he does bring is the Japanese fans though. Thousands of them at the Amex yesterday.

[Waffdon]

9 year contract (8+1) for Caicedo?

:happycry:

They're also after Lavia for £55m as well?

Mind bottling.

2025/26 treble incoming

[SincereTheRebel]

PSG held talks with Mbappe and he is back training with the first team squad.

[randomlegend]

It's looking like Mbappe is going to sign another new contract. :D

[Yevrah]

He's a moron, isn't he?

[Gray Fox]

Same agent as Harry Kane?

I imagine this will be a 1 year extension with something like a £140m release clause.

[Shindig]

'I'm going to try to learn German and embrace the culture'

Can't wait for his deaf voice to give that language a shot.

[Lewis]

He's a moron, isn't he?

I suppose milking more and more money our of PSG is clever from a pure earning perspective. If he ends up the richest forty year old in France after wasting his life there then maybe not.

[Manc]

He's a moron, isn't he?

More U-turns than Boris.

[Gray Fox]

PSGs problem was never that Mbappe was leaving, just that he was leaving for free after they'd sank 200m+ into him.

This will be a deal with release clause to make everyone happy.

[niko_cee]

Apart from Florentino Perez and that Tebas knobhead.

[SincereTheRebel]

PSGs problem was never that Mbappe was leaving, just that he was leaving for free after they'd sank 200m+ into him.

This will be a deal with release clause to make everyone happy.

That is PSG fault for giving a contract in 2022 meaning he can leave for free in 2024. Silly Baguettes.

[Spikey M]

Same agent as Harry Kane?



Different agent, same problem. Having a family member as your agent is a terrible idea all round.

[Lofty]

Neymar agreed a move to Saudi apparently.

[Gray Fox]

Despite rumours of a verbal agreement, still no Chelsea bid. There's talk they can do the fee, but the structure of the deal is not to Brightons satisfaction as they have better on the table from Liverpool.

Liverpool still refusing to walk away from it because they believe Chelsea are struggling to meet the fee. The player wants to give Chelsea time to get it done, but we're already 3 days on from Liverpools accepted bid.

[niko_cee]

All to play for today then.

Winner takes the insane transfer hit.

[Gray Fox]

If it were easy enough for Chelsea, you'd think they'd have trotted him out now to give that extra fuck you to Liverpool.

[randomlegend]

Osimhen's agreed a new contract with a €150m release clause (presumably active from next summer).

If he performs well again this year you'd imagine there'll be a bit of a scramble of clubs activating that.

[niko_cee]

Not really.

It'll be all about Evan Ferguson next summer in the striker market.

And whichever hitherto completely unknown players have had a good year for Benfica/Atalanta/Leipzig.

[Don]

Sesko and Ferguson. Arsenal guaranteed to land one no doubt.

[Giggles]

The worst thing that could ever happen now is fucking Spurs spunking their wedge on Ferguson.

[Gray Fox]

The worst thing that could ever happen now is fucking Spurs spunking their wedge on Ferguson.

You may be in luck. They seem to be looking at Lukaku for whatever reason.

[randomlegend]

You may be in luck. They seem to be looking at Lukaku for whatever reason.

1690820691052867584

[niko_cee]

Ferguson isn't going to Spurs, it'd be madness on all fronts, and Brighton simply won't let him go. Didn't he sign a new long term deal earlier in the year?

[randomlegend]

1690834448105840641

[Waffdon]

Never in doubt. :cool:

Fernandez must be creaming himself

[niko_cee]

Paul Barber must be smoking some good shit to think it's worth including a sell-on clause.

[Shindig]

He looks thrilled.

[niko_cee]

Biggest news week for Ecuador in, well, ever. That presidential candidate guy got shot, some gang guy gets moved by half the population of the country in riot gear and now this. Like London buses.

[Waffdon]

According to Sami Mokbel, Lavia is set to join Chelsea too. That would be utterly hilarious. F F P :(

[Lewis]

If I was Chelsea I would have bought more good players with all that money.

[randomlegend]

1687112010654470145

:d

[niko_cee]

Since the White transfer Brighton must be something like £300m up in the transfer market, with many thanks to M. Boehly for that.

[Waffdon]

The Potter and Cucurella hits absolutely worth it for Caicedo. Generational player as the kids say.

[Waffdon]

Also, sounds like Chelsea have got round the new ‘amortisation’ rules set by UEFA to 5 years. They’ll be able to spread the money over the 8 years as they’re not playing in Europe this season.

[Luke Emia]

Also, sounds like Chelsea have got round the new ‘amortisation’ rules set by UEFA to 5 years. They’ll be able to spread the money over the 8 years as they’re not playing in Europe this season.

What about next season? Or are they just planning on not playing in Europe anymore?

[niko_cee]

What about next season? Or are they just planning on not playing in Europe anymore?

I think the accountancy worries will be more on the "what do we do with all these players on long contracts if they're not all great?" front than FFP which, as is clear, is entirely meaningless if you have [apparently] unlimited money. That said, this looks like a gamble aimed at some sort of significant change in the future structure of the game, and even if that doesn't happen, when do the new Champions League qualification rules kick in? I read somewhere the Premier League could get an extra place for the league this year [if they are the top performing league in Europe this season], and you'd have to think there's a decent chance Liverpool will be there or thereabouts in the UEFA Cup so could that be 6 places for the Premier League next season potentially?

These techniques are clearly lifted straight from baseball so it'll be interesting to see if their application is as successful as 'Moneyball' was [if it was/is], or if they end up like those teams forever doomed because they're still paying some chump's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bonilla) contract off from 20 years ago.

[Mike]

1691011007953371136

:lol:

[niko_cee]

:face:

It would be better if he were to 'choose' Chelsea at this point to try to escape this mad price inflation loop they both seem to have committed to.

Both are going to end up paying significantly more than they were apparently prepared to pay for their TOP TARGETS a week ago.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Didn't they want £50m?

Either they've added some instalments or Southampton got pissed off.

[niko_cee]

Chelsea have just responded in kind after Liverpool drove the price of Caicedo through the roof.

[Waffdon]

Wouldn’t mind if he went to liverpool. Chelsea already have young players in that position with incredible potential. He will be v good in the future but if Liverpool are signing him to play the lone sitting midfielder then they’ll have some major glaring issues still.

[John Arne]

Bajcetic > Lavia.

Actually, no idea. Don't recall ever seeing Lavia play. Surely there is some shit kicker in Germany or Netherlands we can pick up for $25m... Ibrahim Sangare, for example.

[Baz]

Ibrahim Sangare has a £32m release clause apparently. Get him in before Bayern grab him.

[-james-]

Neymar is off to Al Hilal. :harold:

[randomlegend]

Sangare can't pass.

[Gray Fox]

We have enough players that can pass. We need a player that can snap people.

[Waffdon]

Not getting that with Lavia :lol:

[Gray Fox]

Exactly why I've never been overly keen on this. But I'm sure Klopp knows better than I.

[John Arne]

Is Paul Ince available?

[Baz]

Sangare can't pass.
Mac and Sboz do the passing.

[Don]

https://www.westhamzone.com/static/uploads/7/2023/07/James-Ward-Prowse-14920361921200x824-1.jpeg

https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/07/15/13/SEI161124073.jpg

https://assets.goal.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt994477989f21582f/64a5414a51149e6851e4d299/GOAL_-_Blank_WEB_-_Facebook_-_2023-07-05T110858.569.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60

https://i2-prod.football.london/incoming/article26579077.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200c/0_GettyImages-1473005158jp.jpg

https://i2-prod.football.london/incoming/article27454402.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200c/0_Caicedo-2.jpg

2 of the above are classed as hideously overpriced by the majority of gammons who also have been sporting short back and sides since the age of 8. PM me who you think they are, competition entries close at 6pm tonight.

Clue: it's also the 2 that can receive on the half-turn and generally not shit themselves at the idea of having the ball.

[Waffdon]

The wallpaper is back :cool:

[randomlegend]

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https://static.independent.co.uk/2023/07/15/13/SEI161124073.jpg

https://assets.goal.com/v3/assets/bltcc7a7ffd2fbf71f5/blt994477989f21582f/64a5414a51149e6851e4d299/GOAL_-_Blank_WEB_-_Facebook_-_2023-07-05T110858.569.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=3840&quality=60

https://i.ibb.co/CK0pLX2/IMG-20230219-WA0006.jpg

https://i2-prod.football.london/incoming/article27454402.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200c/0_Caicedo-2.jpg

2 of the above are classed as hideously overpriced by the majority of gammons who also have been sporting short back and sides since the age of 8. PM me who you think they are, competition entries close at 6pm tonight.

Clue: it's also the 2 that can receive on the half-turn and generally not shit themselves at the idea of having the ball.

Everyone thought Mount and Rice were overpriced. Stop having arguments with yourself.

[Lewis]

Neymar is off to Al Hilal. :harold:

He should act as a cautionary tale to whatever Mbappe is trying to achieve.

[Don]

These reports of Lavia preferring Chelsea are giving me a hard-on. C. Doucoure pls.

[Lofty]

I think the accountancy worries will be more on the "what do we do with all these players on long contracts if they're not all great?" front than FFP which, as is clear, is entirely meaningless if you have [apparently] unlimited money. That said, this looks like a gamble aimed at some sort of significant change in the future structure of the game, and even if that doesn't happen, when do the new Champions League qualification rules kick in? I read somewhere the Premier League could get an extra place for the league this year [if they are the top performing league in Europe this season], and you'd have to think there's a decent chance Liverpool will be there or thereabouts in the UEFA Cup so could that be 6 places for the Premier League next season potentially?

These techniques are clearly lifted straight from baseball so it'll be interesting to see if their application is as successful as 'Moneyball' was [if it was/is], or if they end up like those teams forever doomed because they're still paying some chump's (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobby_Bonilla) contract off from 20 years ago.

Teams have already tried Moneyball in football and it doesnt work, mainly because Moneyball was basically 'this guy's stats are good but he bats weird so people don't want him'. Stats aren't straight forward in football (see: passing) like they are in baseball.

[niko_cee]

In football I guess moneyball more translates to the use of/reliance on analytics in assessing players. It's obviously more complicated but it definitely exists.

[Spikey M]

I've always thought that must be the case. Baseball is kind of an individual sport. You either hit the ball and run well or you don't. With Football, you can be a shit hot passer, but if you have a Donkey up top you're not going to get many assists. Similarly, you could play me behind Haaland and I'd probably get a few assists a season.

[Manc]

You wouldn't.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Your knees would explode in seconds.

[Don]

Brighton and Brentford's relentless success is largely founded on their recognition and early adoption of the power of analytics. The others are playing catchup and making it more and more difficult for them to retain their edge but rest assured, it works in football, it's just about the quality of statistics you use.

There's still enough gammons in the sport to employ David Moyes and sign James Ward-Prowse as there's still enough luddite fans who are too thick to understand xG, which should give enough time for Bloom to complete his FM game and bring a CL to Brighton.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool enquiring about Tchouameni and Valverde. Hopefully it’s the latter they get as the former would be incredible.

[Don]

Fuck arfff :D

[niko_cee]

Liverpool have been enquiring about those two all summer (and for years) if you believe Marca.

[Lofty]

Brighton and Brentford's relentless success is largely founded on their recognition and early adoption of the power of analytics. The others are playing catchup and making it more and more difficult for them to retain their edge but rest assured, it works in football, it's just about the quality of statistics you use.

There's still enough gammons in the sport to employ David Moyes and sign James Ward-Prowse as there's still enough luddite fans who are too thick to understand xG, which should give enough time for Bloom to complete his FM game and bring a CL to Brighton.

Arsenal had that sports DNA thing completely devoted to wanking over the same data and somehow came up with Kolasinac and Lucas Perez.

[Mike]

Liverpool enquiring about Tchouameni and Valverde. Hopefully it’s the latter they get as the former would be incredible.

Sadly I imagine it was simply
‘Want to play for Liverpool’
‘No thanks’

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool enquiring about Tchouameni and Valverde. Hopefully it’s the latter they get as the former would be incredible.

After yesterday I expect they enquire for everyone that plays the position.

[Waffdon]

Liverpool have been enquiring about those two all summer (and for years) if you believe Marca.

If they didn’t show face by getting lolled at by Caicedo, they’d have got either of them for cheaper. Madrid need the cash, especially if Mbappe is signing a contract with a release clause

[niko_cee]

It's easy to forget the level of shit Brighton have had to wade through to hit a few nuggets. Developing a style of play is probably more important in the catch and release transfer model.

[Waffdon]

Onana would be an excellent signing for Man Utd - no idea why Liverpool aren’t after him either. Exactly who and what they need

[Baz]

The Everton midfielder? Absolutely.

[Manc]

Chelsea spending north of £800m in three windows is properly mental.

[randomlegend]

Liverpool enquiring about Tchouameni and Valverde. Hopefully it’s the latter they get as the former would be incredible.

1691088714171035649

[Lewis]

Why do Madrid 'need the cash'? They broke even the past couple of years thanks to United, and if they can't spend £150 million a year without selling then nobody can. Maybe they have something lined up for Mbappe this summer, but they can level it up over the coming seasons.

As for Brentford and Brighton, weren't Southampton doing this years ago? It only takes a couple of off years - like failing to adequately replace the really good midfielders they have lost this summer - and the whole model falls apart.

[-james-]

Why do Madrid 'need the cash'? They broke even the past couple of years thanks to United, and if they can't spend £150 million a year without selling then nobody can. Maybe they have something lined up for Mbappe this summer, but they can level it up over the coming seasons.

As for Brentford and Brighton, weren't Southampton doing this years ago? It only takes a couple of off years - like failing to adequately replace the really good midfielders they have lost this summer - and the whole model falls apart.

Any side that isn't in the top 7 or 8 clubs is vulnerable, it's just the nature of the game having a handful of mega-rich clubs that can get anyone they want from the riff-raff en masse.

I'm not sure any other viable model of running a club really exists, and Brighton are way better at it than Southampton ever were (felt like about 1 in 10 of their transfers post 2017 really worked out).

[Lofty]

The flip side is those clubs that have had success with it can do it because it's not the end of the world if the player takes a while to come good or is simply average, and will pay less money than a top team for the signing.

If a 'top' team (reputation rather than results) buys one of them the pressure is on for them to hit the ground running or they have to be dropped because they can't affoed to carry a development project in their starting XI, when minutes is exactly what they need.

[Gray Fox]

Chelsea sending in Agent Cucurella to the Toon to disrupt.

[Gray Fox]

Liverpool knocking around doors asking for midfielders seems to be from the club now believing Lavia will sign for Chelsea.

[Lewis]

How are Liverpool Football Club losing out on consecutive transfers to little rinky-dink Chelsea? The Wage Structure must be working its magic and putting them right off.

[Baz]

We ought to be a laughing stock over this.

[Waffdon]

How are Liverpool Football Club losing out on consecutive transfers to little rinky-dink Chelsea? The Wage Structure must be working its magic and putting them right off.

2nd biggest ‘pull’ in the league after Man Utd. Even Olise has agreed personal terms with Chelsea over Man City.

[Don]

Brighton in for Baleba. He's 19, black as the night, built like a bull and with a season of Ligue 1 in him. Stop pissing about and double their pathetic bid.

[Lewis]

2nd biggest ‘pull’ in the league after Man Utd. Even Olise has agreed personal terms with Chelsea over Man City.

In his case he's more likely to get a game. What a central midfielder is doing turning down Liverpool is anybody's guess.

[phonics]

How are Liverpool Football Club losing out on consecutive transfers to little rinky-dink Chelsea? The Wage Structure must be working its magic and putting them right off.

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/onesport/cps/624/cpsprodpb/139D0/production/_107663308_capture.png

[randomlegend]

How are Liverpool Football Club losing out on consecutive transfers to little rinky-dink Chelsea? The Wage Structure must be working its magic and putting them right off.

Because they are on their way back to mediocrity and everyone can see it.

[Manc]

The bright lights of London working wonders.

[Gray Fox]

The Caicedo thing falling through I don't mind as much. It was opportunistic and very nearly came off.

The Lavia one is full on disgrace. The second I see Tyler Adams pulling up to the AXA I'm done.

[Don]

1691127396534046736

:rasta:

[Gray Fox]

You've been done by a fake account there Taz.

[Don]

Don does not get 'done'. It's a top tweet.

[Waffdon]

The Caicedo thing falling through I don't mind as much. It was opportunistic and very nearly came off.

The Lavia one is full on disgrace. The second I see Tyler Adams pulling up to the AXA I'm done.

I don’t think Caicedo was ever on. You’ve just been played to get Chelsea to coff up the money.

[randomlegend]

The Caicedo thing falling through I don't mind as much. It was opportunistic and very nearly came off.

The Lavia one is full on disgrace. The second I see Tyler Adams pulling up to the AXA I'm done.

I'd say I'm sure we'd let you have McTominay but I doubt he'd want to take such a downwards step.

[niko_cee]

Such a tragedy that soccer am got canned with this level of pure banter still in circulation. In another life you could have been tubbs.

[Jimmy Floyd]

https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/cant-believe-moises-caicedo-chosen-27519341

If anyone wants to be party to a magnificent scouse seethe.

[Shindig]

Nothing screams bigger club like spending £115m as an immediate response to Nkunku getting crocked.

[niko_cee]

Imagine being John Aldridge's ghost writer.

Although at least that story isn't the usual impenetrable formatting disaster that most links to the echo are.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

:harold:

You can taste the tears.

[Gray Fox]

Soon as I saw it was Aldo I knew it'd be a SEETHE.

[Lofty]

Where's RAWK meltdown these days? Al0n will be pissing blood.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Dead people can't piss, mate.

[Adramelch]

From the comments:

"I disagree about Bellingham, as LFC declared by klopp himself that we wouldn't be going for him and left Bellingham no choice but to pick Madrid. If LFC went for him we would have got him definitely."

Poor Bellingham, having to settle for Real.

[Spikey M]

:D What a club. What a city.

[wullie]

Aldo doesn't seem sound as a pound these days.

[Waffdon]

Sounds like Olise’s release clause is only £35m after all. Surprised more teams haven’t bid for him

[randomlegend]

Chelsea almost starting to look like they've got a half-decent 11 after spending only £850m in 3 windows.

It's bizarre they haven't gone all out for a striker with part of that "budget", though. £150m on Osimhen surely would've made more difference than the various "forwards" they've totted that much up on.

[Waffdon]

Because buying expensive strikers is a curse. Jackson will be pretty great. Think Toney will sign in January if nobody is brought in this month

[Gray Fox]

Lavia fee agreed for Chelsea. He's expected to join them.

They also seem to have triggered to clause for Olise and also are trying to buy a lad from Frankfurt for £30m.

[Waffdon]

Think you’re mistaken on the last one. Elye Wahi is meant to be costing around £30m. Chelsea and Frankfurt were the teams apparently most keen on him (he’d be getting loaned to Strasbourg) but think he’s more likely to go to Frankfurt

[Gray Fox]

That's what I get for skim reading.

Was keen on Chelsea but with so many joining he's unsure where he'd fit.

[Lewis]

I really like that eighty grand win bonus on top of Neymar's basic two million a week. That should make all the difference. The same goes for the free housekeeping that he might have struggled to afford.

[Waffdon]

That's what I get for skim reading.

Was keen on Chelsea but with so many joining he's unsure where he'd fit.

Sounds like he’s joining West Ham. He’s meant to be shit hot but his ‘controversies’ tab on wiki is nearly as long as his ‘club career’ so maybe best to avoid

[Baz]

Sounds like Olise’s release clause is only £35m after all. Surprised more teams haven’t bid for him

That’s his career down the swanny then, Steve Sidwell style.

[niko_cee]

On the ever deepening defensive midfielder search whatever happened to Ndidi? Did he just go to shite?

Attempting to sign a player off another Premier League club at this point would be absolute madness on Liverpool's part, they're going to get fleeced and get something bang average in return. If they have any sort of wider scouting network then they need to be looking to take a chance on someone [probably young or inexperienced] on that radar from further afield. There must be dozens of Brazilians who could do a job if they're easier to get visa for in the sunlit uplands of brexitball.

[Gray Fox]

On the ever deepening defensive midfielder search whatever happened to Ndidi? Did he just go to shite?

Attempting to sign a player off another Premier League club at this point would be absolute madness on Liverpool's part, they're going to get fleeced and get something bang average in return. If they have any sort of wider scouting network then they need to be looking to take a chance on someone [probably young or inexperienced] on that radar from further afield. There must be dozens of Brazilians who could do a job if they're easier to get visa for in the sunlit uplands of brexitball.

Yes and he's still at Leicester.

And good news! The next player down on the list appears to be Doucouré from Palace. He's I think much more the type we need over a more progressive ball carrier. There's also talk of André the lad from Fluminense.

The former is likely to cost 50-70m so long as Chelsea don't bid.

The latter is a bit more complicated. Fluminense are coming to the run in on their season and don't want to do any deals because they're in with a shot at the Copa Libertadores. He does have a release clause at £35m or so, but it's expected they'd be much more in favour of a deal that allows them to keep him til January and would offer a "discount" for it, with that scenario potentially allowing him to go closer to £20m. Given how FSG operate I think we could all see how that one will play out.

[Manc]

Doucoure would be solid business.

[Gray Fox]

Wataru Endo. Someone talk to me.

[randomlegend]

Lol someone's already changed his current team to Chelsea on Wikipedia.

[Waffdon]

Wataru Endo. Someone talk to me.

At 30 years old I’m sure he will offer some great experience.

[Gray Fox]

I'm told he's a utility man who can play CB, CDM and CM. He may be Japan's captain but he's also 30...

I hope this all means sub £20m or else this is very underwhelming.

[niko_cee]

That's the sort of Aryan ITK shit I'm talking about [nothwithstanding that guy will probably be completely hopeless].

[Baz]

3 yellows in 33 league games doesn’t sound like the shitkicker we’re lacking.

[Waffdon]

Apparently Ziyech has failed his medical again after failing it in Saudi earlier in the summer. Based off of Transfermarket’s injury history, longest he’s been out for is 6 weeks through an injury.

Seems a bit odd

[Don]

I have no idea wtf this 5ft 10in sushi chef is about and for that fee it's probably likely nothing but we better have a Doucoure coming in very soon (will also accept a Niang/Sidibe/Amin/Tutu).

[Gray Fox]

Seems the fee is £16m.

If the Caicedo money was literally all we had that's still a cool £95m left to spend. I wonder if it will go all on one player or if they'll try to squeeze a centre back out of it as well.

[Waffdon]

1691929106143649845

Would be another terrific signing for Newcastle. Properly grim from Chelsea though. That Cucurella signing will set Chelsea back years, not a chance anyone will take him off their hands. Tuchel committed war crimes with that summer transfer window

[phonics]

I'm sure the 25 people Chelsea signed this year willl all work out though.

[Waffdon]

Probably. #3 can’t be too far away

[Don]

We should have been all over Hall/Maatsen like Colwill before the relationships soured between the clubs.