We're all going on a Summer Transfer Thread

[Shindig]

If you had an ex-Ajax manager, Henderson would be back in no time.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Looks like a straight fight between City and West Ham now.

[niko_cee]

Another (good grief) league winners medal scant consolation for poor Kurt Zouma.

[Baz]

Danilo is right there FFS.

[phonics]

:D

They're all absolute chancers. Or, if not all, there are the same number who are genuinely great as there are of any other football role, managers, players, etc.

I think players have to have a level of arrogance and self confidence to get to the level they're at, I think managers have to project a level of arrogance and self confidence to keep the group inline. I think these off-field people need to be in a constant state of fear that any wrong decision will lose them their job. The moment any of these lot believe their own hype it's the end of them. Patarici, Sannelhi, Commoli, that Leicester Scout Paul whatever his name was.

Billy Beane and Moneyball have been quoted as this great messiah. The guy was in charge for 18 years, only had a winning percentage over 50% in 10 of them, and got to the final playoff for his division, not even the world series, once, where he lost. This is the mahdi?

[Manc]

Malcolm Elias
De Visser
Graham Carr
Steve Walsh

The Mount Rushmore of PL scouts.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's all classic revenge of the nerds stuff. That's basically what Moneyball (the book) is - an argument against macho gatekeeping. It's not really about stats at all.

Private equity goons all wanted to be shortstops.

[Yevrah]

That top 100 administrators in football list is coming. :drool:

[Luke Emia]

As much as winning the transfer market isn't the most important thing in the world. If this is true that Liverpool only have one player as a target for a position and if it's not him there is no one else they are willing to go for then the transfer nerds have sold Slot up the river a bit. Seems very Moyes at United to not have anything in place with 2 weeks of the window to go. Especially when this position seems to be very important.

Not only that but the wages going out of the building over the last two summers must be astronomical Matip & Thiago this year as well as Klopp and his backroom staff. Milner, Oxlade Chamberlain, Keita, Fabinho, Firminio and Henderson last year. That has got to be a saving of pushing a couple of million a week and you can't think what has come in is taking up half of that. Where the fuck is the new contract for Alexander Arnold?

[SincereTheRebel]

Just put Trent into the No. 6 position , give him the captains armband, offer him a new deal with all the money saved on wages above and hope for the best. If not, Trent is off to Real Madrid for free next summer lad.

[randomlegend]

Yes please put Trent in the number 6.

[-james-]

Those Times extracts from the book about how great Michael Edwards is amazing somehow manage to paint a picture of ‘ Klopp said I want this guy and we thought it was a bad idea and all our research pointed to it being a bad idea but we did it anyway and it turned out it was great and that shows just how smart Michael ‘Eddy’ Edwards is.’

Proper bizarre stuff.

Who are they talking about? Can you quote it?

[Jimmy Floyd]

As part of team spreadsheet I will be getting that book (somewhat irritatingly entitled 'How to win the Premier League', literally every non-fiction book these days seems to be 'How to do xxx'), I also liked Rory Smith's two years ago.

[Waffdon]

Luis Diaz to Man City?

:lol:

[phonics]

Who are they talking about? Can you quote it?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Win-Premier-League-Revolution/dp/152993463X
I just heard the piece quoted on a podcast, don't have a Times sub.

[niko_cee]

Luis Diaz to Man City?

:lol:

20 back post tap ins per season.

[niko_cee]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Win-Premier-League-Revolution/dp/152993463X
I just heard the piece quoted on a podcast, don't have a Times sub.

Presumably the contents of that book are exclusively pictures of Jurgen Klopp grinning.

[Luke Emia]

In isolation Diaz if you get decent money for him then I don't think it's the worst thing in the world to sell him. But, when you haven't signed anyone all summer and are then potentially selling one of your better players as well it's not a good look.

My only assumption would be that based on that they must be going for Gordon. But, if they liked him that much why didn't they get it done when he was cheaper weeks ago?

[SvN]

It's bollocks.

[Lofty]

Who are they talking about? Can you quote it?

They go through it a bit on Second Captains, it could be Matip.

[Waffdon]

Cole Palmer extends his contract until 2033. Scenes.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Akin to the Astors bagging a season ticket on the Titanic whilst the cellos get tuned up.

[Luke Emia]

Again on this contract situation it's all lovey dovey at the minute when they are guaranteeing someone £100k a week for the next 8 years while they are young. But, what happens when someone especially without sounding like a xenophobe but perhaps a South American gets their head turned by Real Madrid, PSG or someone similar whilst Chelsea are pissing around in the Conference League and just downs tools because they are offering him £250k a week for 5 years instead? What's the plan then? Because Chelsea will hold all the cards with regards to the negotiation as the contract is so long but are you going to want a player at your club who's pissing and moaning about not getting their dream move?

[Manc]

With the addition of Joe Hart, MOTD have now made one more signing than Liverpool.

[Dan]

Bournemouth have signed Julian Araujo from Barca 👀

[randomlegend]

De Ligt to United OFFICIAL. Out of nowhere.

[John Arne]

Lukaku (still) being a Chelsea completely passed me by. Do they know there is something 25 squad limit (which needs to include x number of homegrown or youth)?

[niko_cee]

Again on this contract situation it's all lovey dovey at the minute when they are guaranteeing someone £100k a week for the next 8 years while they are young. But, what happens when someone especially without sounding like a xenophobe but perhaps a South American gets their head turned by Real Madrid, PSG or someone similar whilst Chelsea are pissing around in the Conference League and just downs tools because they are offering him £250k a week for 5 years instead? What's the plan then? Because Chelsea will hold all the cards with regards to the negotiation as the contract is so long but are you going to want a player at your club who's pissing and moaning about not getting their dream move?

Whilst this isn't ideal, isn't the larger problem what happens when the guy you have contracted for 10 years on a whopping wage turns out to be a bit shit? At least in a situation where you are losing a player they must presumably have done something decent and be able to command some sort of fee. Mudryk on the other hand, he's going to see out that deal like Winston Bogarde on steroids. And then there's the rest, cf Lukaku still being their highest earner, although that's not at Todd's feet.

[Gray Fox]

Stop the presses. Mamardashvili to Liverpool(and then back out on loan) is on!

What a way to win the transfer window.

[Waffdon]

Lukaku (still) being a Chelsea completely passed me by. Do they know there is something 25 squad limit (which needs to include x number of homegrown or youth)?

Chelsea are the last team that would struggle with a 25 man squad. A huge amount of their players don’t even need to be registered

[Luke Emia]

Stop the presses. Mamardashvili to Liverpool(and then back out on loan) is on!

What a way to win the transfer window.

Excellent so that basically means Alisson will be on his way at some point in the not to distant future then.

[John Arne]

Stop the presses. Mamardashvili to Liverpool(and then back out on loan) is on!

What a way to win the transfer window.

Strange one, that. Goalie arguably one position where we look ok with Alisson, Kelleher and Jaros looking decent.

[SincereTheRebel]

The Lukaku one is weird. He has cost chelsea probably about £150m on transfers and wages and played 40 games for them. Yes, they have receiveda percentage of it back from loan fees and other clubs paying him salary. Lad is 31 now, scored goals everywhere he has gone except for chelsea.

[randomlegend]

Stop the presses. Mamardashvili to Liverpool(and then back out on loan) is on!

What a way to win the transfer window.

He looks really, really good to be fair.

[Baz]

Seems a bizarre deal. Bournemouth are loaning him (soz Neto) and then Liverpool get him next Summer, cos premier league teams aren’t allowed to immediately loan new players to another premier league club.

[Ben]

It wasn't that long ago (maybe it was, but not in my timeline) that Premier League clubs couldn't loan from other Premier League clubs at all.

[Gray Fox]

Bobby Clark off to RB Salzburg. £10m and 17.5% sell on fee.

I do not like this deal.

[phonics]

I'm sorry but these Liverpool numbers are absolutely disgraceful. I don't understand how years on from Jordan Ibe and Ryan Brewster for 25 million quid they're still consistently getting suckers to pay these amounts and we're having to beg teams to pay similar amounts for Englands u21 Record Goalscorer.

[-james-]

I think him being 25 and that being the record goalscorer for England u21 is still his primary accolade pretty much covers it.

[phonics]

Fair and that was an open goal well tapped in. But like, Solanke scored 1 goal in 2 years and moved on for a profit. Fabio Carvalho can't great a game for them and moves on for 3 times the price. He went for the same amount as Emile Smith Rowe. How do they do it.

[Baz]

Just wait til Joe Gomez fetches more than Marc Guehi.

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's because the market is biased against The Arsenal FC.

[niko_cee]

Fair and that was an open goal well tapped in. But like, Solanke scored 1 goal in 2 years and moved on for a profit. Fabio Carvalho can't great a game for them and moves on for 3 times the price. He went for the same amount as Emile Smith Rowe. How do they do it.

Emile Smith Rowe has also done absolutely fuck all, but yes, the transfer system is completely fucked/nonsensical.

[niko_cee]

Brighton back on it in the transfer market signing some German for £25m [no idea] and now triggering a £40m release clause for some Leeds guy I have also never heard of. It's a mad world.

[thommo]

Emile Smith Rowe has also done absolutely fuck all, but yes, the transfer system is completely fucked/nonsensical.

Obviously I'm now biased in ESR's favour.... But compared to Carvalho, he has done a whole lot more. 100+ Arsenal appearances (including 80 in the Prem), multiple England caps. I think Carvalho definitely has the potential but he only played 20 games for Liverpool and is getting this move basically off of his YPOTY season with us in the Championship, and his pretty good loan spell at Hull (in the Championship also) at the end of last season.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Brighton back on it in the transfer market signing some German for £25m [no idea] and now triggering a £40m release clause for some Leeds guy I have also never heard of. It's a mad world.

7 in 57 at Leeds, after signing for a club record fee, and then release clause triggered by Brighton suggests that Mr Rutter must be an analyst's favourite. Really runs those channels.

[Manc]

Rutter is the second coming of Firmino.

[Gray Fox]

Smallpockets to USMNT is basically him giving up isn't it.

[niko_cee]

2 years of friendlies followed by a home tournament. Money for nothing.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Must be the easiest job in sport. Unless you're Jurgen Klinsmann.

[Pepe]

I thought that they were supposed to get Southgate.

[Alex]

Brighton back on it in the transfer market signing some German for £25m [no idea] and now triggering a £40m release clause for some Leeds guy I have also never heard of. It's a mad world.


7 in 57 at Leeds, after signing for a club record fee, and then release clause triggered by Brighton suggests that Mr Rutter must be an analyst's favourite. Really runs those channels.

He's a good, albeit occasionally very frustrating, player. None of us where happy when we spunked a club record fee on him halfway through our relegation season, he looked lost when he did play but that absolutely wasn't the time or place for him to be introduced. He settled in and went on to make the Championship look like playing FIFA on easy at times last season.

I'm not sure he's £40 million worth of player, though. I think we were banking on everyone else thinking the same and not activating his release clause. We're fucked now.

1824051544016179591

That sounds too ridiculous to be correct but I can't be arsed fact checking it.

But we've sold our three arguable best players now (I say arguable as you could make a case for Ampadu as one of those three who, thankfully, is still here) and all we have got back the other way is Joe Rothwell on loan and Jayden Bogle. Well, we made Joe Rodon permanent too. But we had him last season anyway, it's not adding anything.

Bad times.

[Shindig]

Mikel Merino coming back to the Premier League. :cool:

[Baz]

Bournemouth replacing Solanke with Evanilson. :drool:

[Gray Fox]

I'm guessing these Leeds sales are necessary after failing to get back up at the first attempt? Might be a case of settle the finances back down again before another PL push.

[Luke Emia]

Sancho to Chelsea?

Surely they are just taking the piss at this point?

[Jimmy Floyd]

It's important to keep signing players right until the end of the transfer window. You can't sign any in September, October or November so got to make the most of the time available - and the more expensive the better.

[Gray Fox]

They're just making a signing to cover Neto while he is injured.

The signing to cover Sancho while he has mental health leave will come next.

[Waffdon]

Sancho turning into prime Hazard for his boyhood club. Never happening though, wages too high. Journalists just through any name into the hat any given day.

Shame Joao Felix rumours won’t go away. Utterly pointless when you have Nkunku and Palmer

[niko_cee]

Wasn't Sancho a Watford youth?

[John Arne]

Chelsea still haven't got a shirt sponsor for this season??

[niko_cee]

I dunno if I mentioned it at the time but I saw a whole family decked out in their new kit the other week and fucking hell is it awful. Particularly on a massive gut.

[niko_cee]

How have Villa bought and sold that Archer kid in the same transfer window? Didn't there used to be rules about the number of clubs you could be registered with in a given period?

Sounds like a right good scam depending on how much they had to pay to buy him back. Just a PSR washing mechanism.

[John Arne]

I was thinking about this today. What if Chelsea sold Player x (youth grad), took 100% for PSR, then just bought him back for the same amount, and amortize it over 5yrs?

[niko_cee]

Would probably fail the good faith element of the rules that were cited during the June 30th player swapping spree. But give it a year a la Archer and maybe you're on to something.

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd1r7n3n41do

£9m, potentially £11m, for Szmodics seems decent.

[Giggles]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cd1r7n3n41do

£9m, potentially £11m, for Szmodics seems decent.

He’s still eligible for Hungary :uhoh:

[Jimmy Floyd]

I was thinking about this today. What if Chelsea sold Player x (youth grad), took 100% for PSR, then just bought him back for the same amount, and amortize it over 5yrs?

Then Jules Rimet's dream will finally have been realised.

[Giggles]

Andrew Moran gone to the doldrums. Had high hopes but if he’s not ready now then he’ll probably never be.

[Waffdon]

Wasn't Sancho a Watford youth?

Chelsea fan though

[Shindig]

Looks like the Geuhi deal was never really on. £65m not enough to bring him in so we've walked away. At least we've held on to Gordon.

[randomlegend]

55m for Felix, Jesus wept.

[Jimmy Floyd]

£25 million once you delete Conor Gallagher's youth and childhood from the books.

[Waffdon]

It’s £34-38m plus add ons from performance targets if you believe Romano. So £10m max by that logic.

£30m too much though. Utterly pointless signing

[niko_cee]

That pick your Chelsea XI thing on the BBC website is wild.

7 goalkeeper choices straight off the bat.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Even the best possible XI is nonsense mid table shite.

[Waffdon]

That pick your Chelsea XI thing on the BBC website is wild.

7 goalkeeper choices straight off the bat.

That and all the journalists reporting about Chelsea having 40+ first team players is the most lazy journalism I’ve seen. Including youth team players and folk that aren’t even at the club. Brighton have a bigger squad ffs

Just had a skim through the bbc one. At least 5 players are not even at the club. They’ve multiple academy players as well as Estevao who joins in 2025

[niko_cee]

Yeah, some of the padding is ridiculous.

[Waffdon]

Leicester signing Oliver Skipp. Him and Winks in midfield :sick:

[Manc]

Industrial.

[Gray Fox]

Transfers are a mugs game. You just need to hire performance coaches and sell your youth off for well above value.

[Waffdon]

Felix all but signed. :sick:

Liverpool really should be signing Gundogan since Barcelona aren’t keeping him

[niko_cee]

Not sure he fits the FSG model and would probably just end up another Thiago.

[Spikey M]

Leicester signing Oliver Skipp. Him and Winks in midfield :sick:

They're basically the same player, albeit Skipp a little more defensive and Winks a little more attacking. Neither of them are capable of creating anything or providing a proper defensive shield though, so it'll be interesting to see if they;

A) supplement them with an attacking midfielder, ship a load of goals every game and get relegated.

B) Supplement them with a defensive midfielder, concede less, score none and get relegated.

Or

C) Just play them together in central midfield and go down with less points than Southampton managed.

[Max Power]

They're basically the same player, albeit Skipp a little more defensive and Winks a little more attacking. Neither of them are capable of creating anything or providing a proper defensive shield though, so it'll be interesting to see if they;

A) supplement them with an attacking midfielder, ship a load of goals every game and get relegated.

B) Supplement them with a defensive midfielder, concede less, score none and get relegated.

Or

C) Just play them together in central midfield and go down with less points than Southampton managed.

We will risk war crime charges and play both with Ndidi and still achieve C) even without the points deduction incoming.

Why even leave the pub right now and walk to the ground?

[niko_cee]

Not sure I can understand the planet where it makes sense for Chelsea to be parting with £50m+ for 'Felix' just to get Gallagher out the door for circa £15/20m less. Particularly not as their midfield, which you would say is the on paper strongest part of their team, looked pretty bobbins against City.

Ah, ok only £42m, makes sense.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Think of Gallacher as £60 million - £30 million that they get for him, and £30 million that they didn't spend on acquiring him.

[Baz]

Brighton have announced Rutter. Leeds have been picked apart this summer.

[SvN]

Pellistri gone for £5million. If that doesn't get Taz out of the woodwork, nothing will.

[randomlegend]

Mamardashvilli to Liverpool looks to be happening. He looks seriously good so that's an annoying signing.

[-james-]

1825893127426625758

Alright yeah maybe Phonics has a point

[niko_cee]

Stuttgart paid £30m for Undav. All bets are off when it comes to loaned players who have apparently done well in Germany.

[John Arne]

Can we go in for Kante?

[-james-]

Undav's career history is a thing of beauty. Plucked out of the German third division on a free by Tony Bloom B when they were in the Belgian second division. 43 in 63 for Saint-Gilloise, a modest 5 in 22 for Brighton, then off to Stuttgart for 30 mil. Bosh.

[SincereTheRebel]

Wolves are trying to sign ramsdale on loan with obligation to buy. No idea why. Need a center back more than anything.

[Baz]

Wolves are trying to sign ramsdale on loan with obligation to buy. No idea why. Need a center back more than anything.

Presumably to sit on their bench and watch Sa every week?

Mosquera seems fun to watch - hope he plays every week (except the ones where he's inevitably suspended from all the yellows)

[SincereTheRebel]

He seems like a nutter. Dont trust him.

[Waffdon]

Crystal Palace losing Andersen to Fulham is slightly surprising. Great signing for the latter though

surely they can’t sell Guehi now

[niko_cee]

It's alright, they've got Joe Gomez lined up for a ludicrous fee.

[Gray Fox]

Mamardashvilli to Liverpool looks to be happening. He looks seriously good so that's an annoying signing.

I can only imagine Alisson has told them he doesn't intend to sign a new deal or something because he's only just hit the wrong side of 30. Because this makes no sense otherwise. He should still have a solid 5 years of his prime and I don't think there is a better keeper around.

New lad would have to be loaned back for years surely?

[Baz]

It’s bizarre that our only signing is literally our strongest position.

[niko_cee]

Former Bournemouth sporting director spending all summer trying to wangle some sort of transfer to massively strengthen Bournemouth.

[Gray Fox]

He seems to be doing well on the sales to be fair to him, but yeah. We've spent 3/4 windows looking at a No.6 type and each time we don't get one we just stop looking again.

[Waffdon]

That Caicedo ‘bid’ was definitely fake to help Brighton lol Chelsea out of more money. Have you even spent anything since then?

[Gray Fox]

We are the only professional team in the country to not sign a player in 2024.

[Waffdon]

Salah leaving on a free, Trent and Allison leaving and Van Dijk in his mid 30s next year. The Liverpool equivalent of the post Ferguson era is coming

[Jimmy Floyd]

They already had that in the mid 90s. This will be more like post-Wenger Arsenal.

[John Arne]

Losing TAA and Salah for nothing next summer is going to sting. At least Alisson still has a couple of years on his deal.

[Ben]

Salah is an obvious one but will Alexander-Arnold really leave?

[SincereTheRebel]

Salah is an obvious one but will Alexander-Arnold really leave?

Unless they throw the captains armband at the lad and give him a big deal, real madrid will take him. Mixed race drones usually stick together. Him and bellingham already have some silly handshake.

[niko_cee]

I'b be somewhat surprised if Trent walked away for nothing, but at the same time it would be quite lol given the whole Operation Jude Bestie thing.

I reckon it's more likely they'll all get new deals than they all leave for nothing.

You can understand the 30+ brigade wanting to have a bit of the Saudi dollar though. Those gift horses don't always last forever, so may as well bank your £100m ASAP.

[Gray Fox]

I expect Trent will get handed whatever he wants. If he doesnt want Madrid that is. They have a perfect spot waiting for him too. Virgil likely gets a 2 year extension unless he has silly wage demands.

Salah I could see getting 1 extra year tacked on, but then surely the desert will be calling him.

[randomlegend]

Gundogan back to City on a free.

Released by Barca to free up wages so they can actually register Olmo lmao.

[Gray Fox]

Mes Que Un Club

[niko_cee]

Is this just going to happen to them every year forever now? Bet he was on disgusting wages, mind.

I see Brighton are after this Matt O'Riley character now.

[Gray Fox]

Well they sold off future TV rights payments for lump sums up front a couple of years ago. So if anything this should get worse if they still insist on spending big every summer.

[Gray Fox]

1826181610846195981

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Uncanny.

[-james-]

City looking at Kyogo apparently. First thought is that it's nonsense. I am quite intrigued by how he'd do for them though.

[Gray Fox]

I see Sterling has now been exiled and his shirt number given to Neto. A bit of a brave stance to take when he could just sit and collect his billionty pounds a week.

[Waffdon]

Mudryk next pls

[Jimmy Floyd]

I see Sterling has now been exiled and his shirt number given to Neto. A bit of a brave stance to take when he could just sit and collect his billionty pounds a week.

He must have an offer from Saudi to be making this much noise. Either that or the club want to con some absolute mugs into taking him off their hands. Probably the latter.

[Baz]

Sterling is 29. He could rip it up in the Premier League for another few years yet

Sign him up, Slot.

[Luke Emia]

Mudryk next pls

Mudryk is surely where the amortisation issues come in. Who the fuck is going to give them more than about £10 million for him? He’s fucking junk.

[Lofty]

He must have an offer from Saudi to be making this much noise. Either that or the club want to con some absolute mugs into taking him off their hands. Probably the latter.

Arteta reunion being mooted :uhoh:

[Spikey M]

Sterling is 29. He could rip it up in the Premier League for another few years yet

Sign him up, Slot.

Legit thought he was early 30's and that was why he's losing his legs. Must be Rooney syndrome instead.

[Gray Fox]

Definitely is. Odd to think it but he was in that Rodgers team that threw the title away against Chelsea. He's played 30+ PL games a season since.

[Manc]

Fulham moving for Cherki. Should rip it up in the Championship.

[Waffdon]

Lyon must be absolutely skint. €15m is literal pocket change these days. He might be the laziest player I’ve seen Ndombele (maybe a Lyon thing) though.

[Giggles]

Andre Wisdom has rocked up at Derry City.

[niko_cee]

Bobby Clark has gone to Salzburg for c.£10m plus sell-on.

Madness.

Van Den Berg also off for c.£25m.

This sort of shit makes you realise why ne'er-do-wells were so keen on third party ownership as a concept.

[Luke Emia]

With Van Den Berg will be 70 million in. Still no money spent.

[Gray Fox]

Obviously the only money we need to spend is on a keeper we wont see for 3 years.

[Manc]

Some seriously out of pocket wages on the Liverpool pay roll. Curtis Jones earning a measly £15k. Luis Diaz taking home less than Nathaniel Phillips. Gravenberch the fourth highest earner. Madness.

[Ben]

With Van Den Berg will be 70 million in. Still no money spent.

Not even the best van den Berg. We will get big money for Rav when the time comes.

[John Arne]

We could do a lot worse than farming Nunez to Real Hispania on loan and being in Ivan Toney.

[niko_cee]

How on earth is Nat Phillips on £65k a week?

:cab:

He must have a good agent.

The Irish/NIrish contingent getting absolutely mugged off on £10k

[Manc]

I'd encourage everyone to have a browse across the clubs. Werner on £165k at Spurs. :happycry:

[niko_cee]

Yeah, sportrac (https://www.spotrac.com/epl/payroll/_/year/2024/sort/cap_total) is an interesting rabbithole to go down. No idea how accurate it all is.

Matt Targett is on a hundred grand a week. What. The. Fuck?

The entire Ipswich squad earns less than most of the City squad earn individually. De Bruyne earns three times more than them on his own. And actually a massive chunk of that Ipswich payroll is Kalvin Phillips. :happycry:

[Gray Fox]

Hearing that Tsimikas could be shipped out to Turkey/Greece on a loan-to-buy in order to make room for Ait Nouri coming in. He's a good player and all but again paying out for a back up again, when there are greater needs to address seems so strange.

[-james-]

Phillips and Werner you can somewhat justify as one year loan deals.

Pick of the lot might be Casemiro on 350k for another two years after costing 60 million.

[Gray Fox]

Gundogan back to City on a free.

Released by Barca to free up wages so they can actually register Olmo lmao.

With this and telling Vitor Roque to do one, it's still not enough to register Olmo.

[Luke Emia]

It appears Brentford are the new Bournemouth as well by the looks of it. Would have been better if we could have had this a couple of years ago when we were trying to flog Nat Phillips and Rhys Williams for silly money.

[Gray Fox]

And that's van Den Berg gone for £20m with 5m in add ons and another 17.5% next sale fee. Maybe they left it locked on, on the negotiating screen.

[phonics]

I’m so out of touch now when it comes to any of this stuff. My Twitter feed is full of ‘we paid 5 million too much for Mikel Merino’ and the strongest opinion I can muster about any of it is ‘I read he played for Newcastle when they weren’t very good a decade ago’

I’m so right about this Liverpool/Arsenal being constantly disrespected on outgoings stuff though. It’s absurd. Southampton pay Man City 8 billion pounds for James Trafford who can’t get ahead of Scott Carson in the pecking order, even when he’s unavailable because he has to queue up to renew his Senior Bus Pass, and then say ‘We’ll take England international with over 100 premier league appearances and clearly pretty decent goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale on loan if you subsidise his wages I guess’

[niko_cee]

Difference is Ramsdale is on massive wages and is very clearly not wanted, so predatory clubs know they are in a stronger position than they would be if they were trying to prize, say Kelleher from Liverpool, who is paid one twelfth as much. Same with all the other kids they are shifting for daft money, it's not a case of needing rid of them, so they don't have to bend over.

[phonics]

Difference is Ramsdale is on massive wages and is very clearly not wanted, so predatory clubs know they are in a stronger position than they would be if they were trying to prize, say Kelleher from Liverpool, who is paid one twelfth as much. Same with all the other kids they are shifting for daft money, it's not a case of needing rid of them, so they don't have to bend over.

Even if he's on 125 grand a week that is 4.5 million pounds over the next 3 years. You just sold a man I have never heard of to Brentford for 25 million pounds and if he's any good you get 20% of that too.

[niko_cee]

He played well in Germany, apparently.

Newcastle sold that Minteh kid for £30m after a half decent season in Holland.

It's all fucked.

[phonics]

Also I will need to retract the above math as I multiplied Aaron Ramsdale a weekly wage by 12 not 52. I went to art school for a reason.

[Gray Fox]

I think what Niko is trying to say is our shop window presentation is much more refined. About two weeks ago either of the two lads we've shifted to Brentford could easily have been in our squad for the coming season with no issue. There weren't really noises about either being very unhappy or wanting out. Both probably good enough to play at least a squad role.

In this situation, people are much more likely to pay market value, or even a bit more to get them in.

Now take either Nkethia or Ramsdale. Everyone and their dog knows they want out and aren't really wanted. This weakens Arsenals position somewhat and you're likely getting a much more patient/lowball approach from clubs who think they can get you down to what they want. Both still good enough to be in at least a squad role, but there's the big difference.

[Shindig]

Newcastle sold that Minteh kid for £30m after a half decent season in Holland.

It's all fucked.

And Brighton will consider that a bargain once the season is out.

[niko_cee]

Maybe, but then someone will pay a fortune for him and he'll be shit.

[Baz]

Probably Slot.

[Gray Fox]

McSauce is off to Naples.

[randomlegend]

Thank god.

[Shindig]

Maradominay.

[niko_cee]

Manchester City are considering a move for 19-year-old Iceland striker Orri Oskarsson from FC Copenhagen. (Athletic - subscription required)

:uhoh:

Son of?

[Shindig]

Son of this man https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%93skar_Hrafn_%C3%9Eorvaldsson

Doesn't ring any bells.

[niko_cee]

I was thinking more FM legend Orri Freyr Oskarsson.

[Gray Fox]

Sounds like the massive goalkeeper is having his medical today and is back to Valencia on loan for a year. £30m all in. I look forward to seeing him play in 2028.

[niko_cee]

O'Riley to Brighton for £25m+ and some Turkish kid also en route apparently for another £30m-odd. Big spenders.

Gilmour may be on the way out to join whatever shitfest is being built in Naples.

[Manc]

Cancelo to Al Hilal. What an odd career.

[Mike]

Federico Chiesa to Liverpool is all over Twitter £10-£12mil

[niko_cee]

:sick:

Even if it is "good value".

[Gray Fox]

Federico Chiesa to Liverpool is all over Twitter £10-£12mil

If it's that cheap I'm fine with it. Can be a good player but is likely going to Thiago up the place.

[Manc]

Don't mind that.

[Waffdon]

If you were going to sign a cripple you should have just bought Neto. At least he’s not past it when he plays

[Gray Fox]

Yeah but that isn't how FSG want it to work.

Chiesa for that much is risk free. Neto for £50m or whatever it was is a much bigger issue if he stays a cripple.

Given that Doak, Bajcetic, Morton etc are all being loaned out, we're down to about 19 outfield players. A couple more bodies in wont hurt.

[niko_cee]

Yeah, the last loan from Juve turned out to be an absolute belter.

[niko_cee]

What's the deal with Ugarte? I thought he was meant to be the shit [source: Waff] last summer when PSG signed him, why are the letting him go for less/the same a year on?

[randomlegend]

What's the deal with Ugarte? I thought he was meant to be the shit [source: Waff] last summer when PSG signed him, why are the letting him go for less/the same a year on?

Because Luis Enrique only wants pass them to death midfielders, which Ugarte isn't.

[Manc]

Chelsea have signed another goalkeeper.

[Raoul Duke]

There seems to be rumours of Sancho/Sterling swap, which would be fairly terrible for everyone (albeit staying in the same place is also bad). Watch Utd spend over the top for Sterling even though he's clearly busted/in the bomb squad.

[Gray Fox]

Chelsea have signed another goalkeeper.

Thank god. I was worried about their lack of depth there.

[Waffdon]

What's the deal with Ugarte? I thought he was meant to be the shit [source: Waff] last summer when PSG signed him, why are the letting him go for less/the same a year on?

He’d probably be fine in Ten Haag’s grim set up but a midfield of him and Mainoo will part like the seas on the turnover

[Manc]

Nketiah to Palace makes so much sense.

[Waffdon]

As much sense as Ivan Toney to Chelsea?

[Danny]

Szczęsny packing it in.

[Manc]

Football or the cigarettes?

[Danny]

Former to dive deeper into the latter.

There is no way this Sterling/Sancho thing in real :sick:

[randomlegend]

If we sign fucking Sterling then all my goodwill towards INEOS will be thrown in the bin.

[Baz]

He’d be your best player.

[Kikó]

In what way?

[Danny]

Put down the paint Baz, the fumes are having an impact.

[Lewis]

It's nice to have depth, but I'm not sure what midfield United play now. Is he going to do the running to Casemiro can be the more controlling player?

[Manc]

Mangala to Everton. Impressed at the Euros.

[randomlegend]

It's nice to have depth, but I'm not sure what midfield United play now. Is he going to do the running to Casemiro can be the more controlling player?

Casemiro seems absolutely washed. It's not just his legs, he's inexplicably lost the ability to pass the ball five yards.

It'll be Ugarte, Mainoo, Fernandes I'd imagine.

[Baz]

In what way?In that he’s very good and I don’t get why he’s not starting every week for Chelsea.

[Waffdon]

Chelsea get top 5 last year if Sterling wasn’t on the pitch at all last year

[Luke Emia]

What do Chelsea get out of this deal? I get it from United you get rid of one winger on massive wages who the manager hates for another earning similar money who at least the manager doesn’t hate.

But Chelsea are supposedly getting rid of Sterling as their squad is too big. How does replacing him with another player work?

[Waffdon]

If sancho joins he’ll be on near enough half of sterling’s wage. But it’s not worth it unless you somehow get rid of Mudryk too

[Magic]

Is MANOR any good then?

[Luke Emia]

If sancho joins he’ll be on near enough half of sterling’s wage. But it’s not worth it unless you somehow get rid of Mudryk too

But why would Sancho take half the money when he’s got 3 years left earning 300k a week? Why would anyone be that fucking stupid?

[Waffdon]

He’s proper Chels

[niko_cee]

He'll be "exploring a settlement" with United, in the same way McTominay was/still is?

[Luke Emia]

He'll be "exploring a settlement" with United, in the same way McTominay was/still is?

So if he is then what’s in it for United. Swapping a 29 year old with 3 years left at 300k and paying off a 24 year old half his pay packet to leave?

Seems like a terrible deal all round unless they both suddenly turn into world beaters.

[randomlegend]

He'll be "exploring a settlement" with United, in the same way McTominay was/still is?

Don't think McTominay has had any payout beyond a bog standard loyalty bonus, which wouldn't have been reported on if it were any other club.

[Baz]

Put down the paint Baz, the fumes are having an impact.

I see Troy Deeney has been saying the same as me on Sky Sports. :cool:

[randomlegend]

Troy Deeney is essentially an Orc.

[Waffdon]

Speaking of him, I was genuinely shocked by his insight on MOTD2 the other day. Far better than anything I’ve seen from anyone on their shows

[Danny]

I see Troy Deeney has been saying the same as me on Sky Sports. :cool:

If I found myself agreeing with him I would be worried

[Lofty]

Speaking of him, I was genuinely shocked by his insight on MOTD2 the other day. Far better than anything I’ve seen from anyone on their shows

Better than his team of the week Salah analysis: 'looks double hard with his haircut, scored a billion opening day goals'?

[Danny]

Juve seem to have "upped their offer" for Sancho. Anything to avoid Sterling.

[niko_cee]

Seems Chiesa is happening. Could be a bit of a steal if he isn't an absolute wreck. Has he been blighted by injuries at Juve? Something must be off.

[randomlegend]

Seems Chiesa is happening. Could be a bit of a steal if he isn't an absolute wreck. Has he been blighted by injuries at Juve? Something must be off.

https://i.imgur.com/ySijCve.jpeg

[Danny]

Over 50% of that being the ACL injury at the back end of 21/22 season.

[niko_cee]

Sounds like he's either been permanently booked by the ACL injury, which happens, there's some financial chicanery at play, a given with Juve, or the new manager is being indulged in putting him in their own bomb squad. Probably all three. At least it won't be a loan, which are always completely doomed arrangements.

[Luke Emia]

I don’t hate the Chiesa deal. At that price if he can be a bit like Shaqiri was a few years ago he’s a decent enough signing.

[Shindig]

Aye, it might as well be free.

[Waffdon]

Ramsdale must really like getting relegated

[Manc]

Wolves closing in on Andre for £20m. Deal of the window if it goes through.

[John Arne]

If Guehi goes to Newcastle, does that mean Gomez to Palace? We only have 4 CB's so I would have though Slot would want to keep him, but signs are that he has happy for him to leave.

[phonics]

Nketiah to Palace and Ramsdale to Southampton. Rumours abound that we're trying to get Coman in but I'll believe it when I see it. The fact that he was off to Saudi before we came in is a worry for his mentality.

[Gray Fox]

I can't believe Arsenal selling these overrated players for so much.

[SincereTheRebel]

I can't believe Arsenal selling these overrated players for so much.

Its all contract lengths and algorithms and all that stuff.

[Gray Fox]

I was more poking fun tbf.

[Gray Fox]

This Sterling to Arsenal stuff is nonsense, right?

[Lofty]

I'd hope so but apparently his best form at City was down to his best mate Arteta.

[phonics]

This Sterling to Arsenal stuff is nonsense, right?

If the nonsense includes the ‘no fee and he’ll take a paycut’ then I’ll take it. We have a grand total of 3 players for 2 positions there.

[Lofty]

1829110516242849965

[Shindig]

River of shit confirmed.

[niko_cee]

:lol:

[Spikey M]

Fuck me :D

[Ben]

Tremendous.

[John Arne]

Osimhen off to Al-Ahli.

[SincereTheRebel]

Thinking about it, i see more players now signing for clubs who they had shirts for when they were young. See that Arsenal and Merino move. That being said, ive got pictures of me, before turning 16 in shirts from

Galatasaray
Malaga
Espanyol
Bari

Dream moves :lol:

[Luke Emia]

Where's Mark Kerr off to then?

[Sir Andy Mahowry]

Osimhen off to Al-Ahli.

Toney going too for £40m.

lol.

[randomlegend]

Toney going too for £40m.

lol.

Has to be one or the other because they don't have space for both, unless they can sell one of their non-domestic players to make space.

[Jimmy Floyd]

My guess would be Toney is absolutely desperate to join them but they only want him as a last resort if they can't get Victor.

[SincereTheRebel]

They will allow him to bet on games, he is actually featured in.

[Spikey M]

Toney is a don, I can't understand why he isn't being snapped up by a proper club.

[Jimmy Floyd]

They would all have him but he will prefer the easy money.

[Lofty]

Toney is a don, I can't understand why he isn't being snapped up by a proper club.

Brentford want £65m from a PL team, he has high wage demands given his age, he is rumoured to be a difficult character.

[phonics]

Toney is a don, I can't understand why he isn't being snapped up by a proper club.

He's a massively poisonous twat so no-one wants to go near him.

[Manc]

A roadman in muslim country. I'll give it six months.

[Bam]

A roadman in muslim country. I'll give it six months.

Wannabe roadman.

[Jimmy Floyd]

Ipswich have pulled out of the Broja deal and no news on Sterling, so that's a big disappointment for the accounts payable lads at Stamford Bridge, but on the positive side we have managed to obtain a £5m profit on David Washington from the independently-minded French outfit Strasbourg, who have also taken Djordje Petrovic on loan. Neat dealings and transparent too.

[Giggles]

I smell the foul stench of Evan Ferguson to Chelsea rumours today.

[niko_cee]

:drool:

Someone's going to get so mugged off buying him.

[Giggles]

:drool:

Someone's going to get so mugged off buying him.
All parties concerned except Brighton.

[randomlegend]

Sancho to Chelsea on loan with obligation to buy seems to be happening.

[Waffdon]

Such a pointless signing. :D

I suppose it pushes Mudryk further away from starting. Positives.

[Kikó]

:drool:

Someone's going to get so mugged off buying him.

He's got a drinking problem hasn't he?

[niko_cee]

I've no idea [casting no nationality based aspersions here] but he's looked absolute wank for ages. If anyone forks out big money for year old potential then they're absolutely mad. Maybe I'll look a fool in a year or so.

What sort of absolute wrong 'un is Sancho anyway? Does he just need to be indulged as some sort of Berti Big Bollocks and if anyone doesn't fancy that, as Southgate and now Ten Hag seem not to, then he's a huffy waster?

If Chelsea sign Osimhen and Sancho on loans with future obligations a lot of heads are going to go I feel.

[Giggles]

I've no idea [casting no nationality based aspersions here] but he's looked absolute wank for ages. If anyone forks out big money for year old potential then they're absolutely mad. Maybe I'll look a fool in a year or so.

What sort of absolute wrong 'un is Sancho anyway? Does he just need to be indulged as some sort of Berti Big Bollocks and if anyone doesn't fancy that, as Southgate and now Ten Hag seem not to, then he's a huffy waster?

If Chelsea sign Osimhen and Sancho on loans with future obligations a lot of heads are going to go I feel.

The story here is that it's a long term injury from about Christmas, but I heard that about Connolly and many others back in the day too. If he had a problem with the gargle this is probably the only place I'd hear it, because you daren't say a word about anyone to the Irish player soccer blogger heads and you wouldn't hear reality off them. Every Irish player is top tits just hard done by with chances :rolleyes:

[Giggles]

Though, speaking of us stinking paddies, Kelleher really does need to get away today. He's far from the finished article but he never will be without regularly starting.

[Jimmy Floyd]

If we signed a centre-forward who's already a useless alchy, they'll be in a coffin by October. The Operation is the most powerful force in the universe.

[Giggles]

If we signed a centre-forward who's already a useless alchy, they'll be in a coffin by October. The Operation is the most powerful force in the universe.

It would matter if they lived on heroin, anyone is getting lost in that melee.

[Waffdon]

If we signed a centre-forward who's already a useless alchy, they'll be in a coffin by October. The Operation is the most powerful force in the universe.

We still pretending Jackson isn’t absolutely quality?

Chelsea are throwing out the FFP card in the media now so I doubt Oshimen happens. Refusing to budge on his wages. I’m sure signing sancho is helping with that though. Jeeeeez