I am deeply unenthusiastic about the prospect of this move.
View: https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1749862176175571083
View: https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1749862176175571083
Wild Winter Fun- January 2024 Transfer Window
- Thread starter rguilmar
- Start date
USMNT. I'd prefer not to see an attacking player with health issues like Reyna go to a relegation-bait EPL team.
And to a club that has brought in 15 players in the last 18 months and is currently also negotiating for Carlos (Borges) Forbs from Ajax - a left footed winger from Portugal. Forest has strong chaos energy and I’m wary that this is where Gio can get the opportunities, coaching, and fitness training he needs to get his career back on track.
Borja Iglesias to Bayer Leverkusen, here we go! Loan deal now agreed and paperwork being prepared.
The agreement includes €8m buy option clause — not mandatory.
Iglesias will replace Boniface who’s gonna be out until April.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1750185421592477878?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
I’m not sure entirely what Betis are doing. The team looked significantly better with him on the field against Barcelona last weekend. Willian Jose doesn’t offer nearly as much as Borja if neither are scoring imo.
The agreement includes €8m buy option clause — not mandatory.
Iglesias will replace Boniface who’s gonna be out until April.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1750185421592477878?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
I’m not sure entirely what Betis are doing. The team looked significantly better with him on the field against Barcelona last weekend. Willian Jose doesn’t offer nearly as much as Borja if neither are scoring imo.
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I’m going to regret this post, aren’t I?
https://x.com/usmntotaku/status/1750193583053774915?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Sevilla are trying to beat Nottingham Forest to the signing of Gio Reyna. Forest began talks with Dortmund over a loan deal for Reyna yesterday but they face strong competition from Sevilla, who need reinforcements after a dreadful run of form in La Liga. Other clubs are monitoring the situation.
There are worse USMNT-related move ideas out there I guess
View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1750300025903624482?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1750300025903624482?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
A Hammer friend has been complaint for a year now that Soucek is cooked. I don’t know if he’s fully done, but his FBref page shows declines in tackles and progressive actions from last seasons with Moyes. That could be due to Moyes shifting Soucek’s role a bit, but if Phillips is still the guy we saw at Leeds, he could play a more robust role than Soucek currently runs.
Makes sense if the decline of Soucek is a real thing. Otherwise I look at it and say "they have Soucek." We'll see.
Luiz Henrique to Botafogo, here we go! Agreement reached tonight with Textor Group Eagle.
More details to explain the deal
Botafogo will buy Luiz as record signing for €20m from Betis.
Move to Olympique Lyon, considered potential part of process for future.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1750645785962643480?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Another sale of an attacking player for Betis. Either they have plans for a purchase or are scaling back in case there are no European nights next season. They do tend to be scrambling to register players every summer.
More details to explain the deal
Botafogo will buy Luiz as record signing for €20m from Betis.Move to Olympique Lyon, considered potential part of process for future.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1750645785962643480?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Another sale of an attacking player for Betis. Either they have plans for a purchase or are scaling back in case there are no European nights next season. They do tend to be scrambling to register players every summer.
I didn't realize Kalvin Phillips is already 28. He's not really much younger than Soucek, although he's probably get fewer miles on him since he's hardly played in 18 months.
Some matchups are really bad for Soucek. Phillips makes sense as a rotation option for Alvarez/Soucek to prevent playing JWP or Fornals deep.
Official, confirmed. Atlético Madrid sign Arthur Vermeeren from Royal Antwerp.
Contract until June 2030, signed today.
Final, real fee: €18m guaranteed, €2m in easy add-ons, €3m difficult add-ons.
Royal Antwerp will have 10% sell-on clause.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1750937053305430249?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Good get for Atleti at a decent price for January. He’s probably worth double the amount.
Contract until June 2030, signed today.
Final, real fee: €18m guaranteed, €2m in easy add-ons, €3m difficult add-ons.
Royal Antwerp will have 10% sell-on clause.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1750937053305430249?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Good get for Atleti at a decent price for January. He’s probably worth double the amount.
RDZ might be getting a new midfielder to utilize
https://x.com/BBCSport/status/1751028421910814994?s=20
https://x.com/BBCSport/status/1751028421910814994?s=20
Goodbye Rakitic, hello Gio???
Ivan Rakitić has informed Sevilla, club and his teammates that he’s set to leave.
Rakitić has accepted to join Al Shabab in Saudi.
It’s just time for formal steps now.
Medical booked this weekend.
Travel to Saudi expected on Monday.
Here we go, coming soon
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1751278317276201296?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Ivan Rakitić has informed Sevilla, club and his teammates that he’s set to leave.
Rakitić has accepted to join Al Shabab in Saudi.
It’s just time for formal steps now.
Medical booked this weekend.
Travel to Saudi expected on Monday.Here we go, coming soon
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1751278317276201296?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Not a transfer, but relieved to just have read that Fredrik Rønnow just re-upped with Union Berlin.
In a season where the goals just aren’t going in the opposing goal, he’s still doing a great job keeping them out of ours.
I really think he was the MVP during last year’s magical season.
In a season where the goals just aren’t going in the opposing goal, he’s still doing a great job keeping them out of ours.
I really think he was the MVP during last year’s magical season.
Is this the slowest January transfer window in recent history? Usually I feel like there's 1 or 2 big moves happening. Feels like just a bunch of small fish this year.
Welp, Gio to Nottingham Forest on loan…
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1752619354712105350?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Gio Reyna to Nottingham Forest, here we go! Agreement sealed with Borussia Dortmund on loan deal.
#NFFC to cover Reyna’s salary until June.
Nuno was pushing to sign him and deal now in place also with his agent Jorge Mendes.
Medical tests also booked.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1752619354712105350?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Gio Reyna to Nottingham Forest, here we go! Agreement sealed with Borussia Dortmund on loan deal.
#NFFC to cover Reyna’s salary until June.
Nuno was pushing to sign him and deal now in place also with his agent Jorge Mendes.
Medical tests also booked.
This season just keeps getting worse. The Joker is heading to Wolfsburg.
https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/app/universal/news/professional/20998
https://www.fc-union-berlin.de/app/universal/news/professional/20998
Paxten Aaronson out on loan.
View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1753081008835174877?s=46&t=GfuLFvTYcOxcFiCZjyIYZw
View: https://twitter.com/tombogert/status/1753081008835174877?s=46&t=GfuLFvTYcOxcFiCZjyIYZw
have they really not released / dispatched Ethan Horvath?
They've got him begging them for mercy...
There’s talk of him being off (not sure if loaned or permanent) to Cardiff, I guess we’ll find out one way or another today.
I love that Sky Sports coverage start on Peacock is about Lewis Hamilton's transfer to Ferrari and then they move to Fury-Usyk. Wonder how many people will complain that we are not getting football transfer coverage.
Also love that the boxing analyst is in a t-shirt and beanie. Chris Mannix would never do that in the US
Also love that the boxing analyst is in a t-shirt and beanie. Chris Mannix would never do that in the US
Betis making moves.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1753121274635710671?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Real Betis are prepared to close three deals in the final hours.
◉ Chimy Avila for fee around €4m.
◉ Pablo Fornals for €6m plus add-ons.
◉ Cedric Bakambu until the end of the season.
I am a huge Chimy fan as long as he’s somewhat under control. He’s good for a golazo or a red card almost every time he’s in the field. Fornals was very good at Villarreal, sold for a metric ton years ago to West Ham, but I’ve lost track of him in the Prem. Bakambu replaces Borja till the summer when the Panda may or may not return. Luiz Henrique has already been sold for a huge profit and more than pays for these deals alone. Betis continue to do good business which is not how they’ve historically operated until recently.
https://x.com/fabrizioromano/status/1753121274635710671?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Real Betis are prepared to close three deals in the final hours.
◉ Chimy Avila for fee around €4m.
◉ Pablo Fornals for €6m plus add-ons.
◉ Cedric Bakambu until the end of the season.
I am a huge Chimy fan as long as he’s somewhat under control. He’s good for a golazo or a red card almost every time he’s in the field. Fornals was very good at Villarreal, sold for a metric ton years ago to West Ham, but I’ve lost track of him in the Prem. Bakambu replaces Borja till the summer when the Panda may or may not return. Luiz Henrique has already been sold for a huge profit and more than pays for these deals alone. Betis continue to do good business which is not how they’ve historically operated until recently.
The women’s window also ends today.
Man City have pivoted to a youth tragedy. They recently lost their striker, Roord (who had a killer World Cup) to an ACL tear. But they’ve reinforced with 3 teenagers with huge upside. This is a real forward thinking move and shows how the WSL is evolving - we have big clubs playing the long game now.
Man City have pivoted to a youth tragedy. They recently lost their striker, Roord (who had a killer World Cup) to an ACL tear. But they’ve reinforced with 3 teenagers with huge upside. This is a real forward thinking move and shows how the WSL is evolving - we have big clubs playing the long game now.
Gabriel Paulista was “sold” to Atletico Madrid by Valencia earlier this week. The reason was because Valencia’s owner, Peter Lim, did not want Paulista’s contract extension to kick in. He’s one of the worst owners in Spain. He was considering sacking his popular manager and club legend Ruben Baraja for playing the Brazilian. Valencia are playing surprisingly well and sit a deserved 8th in the league. Atleti will pay Valencia nothing.
https://x.com/laligaextra/status/1753138466378940861?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Valencia’s owner Peter Lim was considering sacking their coach Ruben Baraja because he continued to play Gabriel Paulista despite the club's disapproval.
It was due to fact that Lim didn’t want to pay €5 million for Paulista’s automatic contract renewal.
https://x.com/laligaextra/status/1753138466378940861?s=46&t=XvGOrrWIyL-5CHVVL_0JYQ
Valencia’s owner Peter Lim was considering sacking their coach Ruben Baraja because he continued to play Gabriel Paulista despite the club's disapproval.
It was due to fact that Lim didn’t want to pay €5 million for Paulista’s automatic contract renewal.
A "youth tragedy"?
The big news of the women's world today was Barcelona Femeni striker Asisat Oshoala getting sold for EUR 150k, and heading to... Bay FC, the new NWSL expansion team. Yes, a team that hasn't even kicked a ball in anger yet just bought one of the world's best strikers from probably the best team in the world, because hey, 150k is 150k. There's some serious dark marketing sorcery going on at that club, even just to persuade her to consider it instead of Europe. That, and/or a contract for Mal Swanson-level money.(which is $500k/yr).
LOL. In my opinion, signing with City is a tragedy.
These new NWSL salaries are exciting. Like you laid out in your long read, the underlying economics suggest that this is sustainable. If Chicago, with one of the worst attendance records in the league, can afford Mal’s new deal, than the Bay should manage this easily with a likely swell of fans the first year.
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Le Parisien and ESPN are reporting that Kylian Mbappe will be joining Real Madrid this summer. Of course, there’s plenty of time for Macron to call another meeting with the player and try to convince him to stay again.
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39451576/kylian-mbappe-join-real-madrid-psg-summer
https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/39451576/kylian-mbappe-join-real-madrid-psg-summer
At this point I am resolved to pay zero attention to dramatic Mbappe bullshit until he’s holding a jersey up.
I'm not so tired of it that I can't be amused by him rubbing PSG's nose in it, as they try to treat him like property and he shows them who really has the upper hand in that dynamic.
I will join everyone else in complaining that he ended up at Real Madrid in the end.
I am enjoying the idea that all the sheik’s money and all the political pressure couldn’t keep him at PSG. I’ll be thrilled if Real Madrid and PSG face off in the Champions League this season as would several newspaper editors. This is a legacy move for him, and given that Madrid likely won’t win the Champions League this season, any future accomplishments will be viewed as by his team. Assuming Mbappe does move, Madrid upgrade in the attack, both CBs, and GK simply by getting healthy. They can easily move some of the bigger contracts and upgrade LB (Davies anyone) and be in business for the next decade. As a fan of literally any other team in Spain, I’m unenthusiastic about this. But Florentino Perez would deserve a statue in front of the Bernabéu.
Mbappe is a top 5 player in the world, but how does Carlo/Madrid make this work? Mbappe through the middle? That's never been his jam. Move either him or Vini to the right? OK, but still, who's playing CF?
The one thing that makes some sense to me is maybe have them both play striker and let more of their crowded MF play. But, I dunno.
The one thing that makes some sense to me is maybe have them both play striker and let more of their crowded MF play. But, I dunno.
They’ve moved Vini more inside this season and Mbappe himself has been playing more through the middle too. It’ll be along the lines of a 4-4-2 with Bellingham as the 10. Both of the attackers will naturally drift left which is fine because Valverde essentially plays “right” (as in the entire length of the field on the right hand side). Camavinga and Tchouameni will be more defensive.
The genius of Carlo Ancelloti is that he’s given talented players room to adapt into space as they see fit. He doesn’t try to fit them into a system. He lets them create their own system during each game. They usually take about 15 minutes to figure out their opponents then take over.
In short, Carlo will let them figure it out.