2020 Summer Transfer Window

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,854
Did Spurs just sign Joe Hart or is my Arsenal buddy just trying to make a meme out of me?
He's taking a physical from what I hear. Not sure why we need to spend any cash on a 3rd keeper that will hardly ever play when we have 2 English kids (Whiteman and Austin) in the system.
 

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,673
Philadelphia
If that happens it's Man City or PSG and that's about it right?

Unless he wants to follow Ronaldo to Italy...
Messi will be playing this year as a 33-year-old. Given his talent, I assume that he'll be at or close to the level of play we expect from him for another two seasons. But I wonder how much a team values Messi given his age. Would ManCity take him for three or four years? Would PSG be willing to take on this level of investment?
 

DJnVa

Dorito Dawg
SoSH Member
Dec 16, 2010
53,854
Messi will be playing this year as a 33-year-old. Given his talent, I assume that he'll at or close to the level of play we expect from him for another two seasons. But I wonder how much a team values Messi given his age. Would ManCity take him for three or four years? Would PSG be willing to take on this level of investment?
I read one article and it said PSG may appeal to him in the sense that the league is a foregone conclusion, so he would be free to concentrate on CL. That may appeal to PSG.
 

tmracht

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 19, 2009
3,070
Did Spurs just sign Joe Hart or is my Arsenal buddy just trying to make a meme out of me?
Sky is saying he's taking a Medical for Spurs.

From Sky:
Joe Hart: Tottenham set to sign former England, Man City and Burnley goalkeeper
Hart has been a free agent following his departure from Burnley at the end of the 2019/20 season

Hart will compete with Paulo Gazzaniga for Hugo Lloris' No 1 spot as goalkeeper in Jose Mourinho's squad.
 

scott bankheadcase

I'm adequate!!
SoSH Member
Nov 1, 2006
3,057
hoboken
He's taking a physical from what I hear. Not sure why we need to spend any cash on a 3rd keeper that will hardly ever play when we have 2 English kids (Whiteman and Austin) in the system.
Because those kids need loans somewhere, they have no chance of playing. And cash is just wages, he's a free transfer.

I'm not a fan, but he's going to be a 3rd choice keeper and adds a homegrown spot to the roster for free. He's a name I guess, but overall it's a nothing signing.
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,733
The Guardian reporting that it’s Koeman in at Barca. He’s leaving the Netherlands job.

Poch may have been the better long term investment, but everyone involved here has to be seeing this as a 1 year arrangement (until the club elections next summer). So getting a guy who connects back to Cruyff and the glory days probably has the best chance of retaining Messi and getting things somewhat reorganized, which is absolute minimum if Bartomeu wants to get re-elected.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
The Guardian reporting that it’s Koeman in at Barca. He’s leaving the Netherlands job.

Poch may have been the better long term investment, but everyone involved here has to be seeing this as a 1 year arrangement (until the club elections next summer). So getting a guy who connects back to Cruyff and the glory days probably has the best chance of retaining Messi and getting things somewhat reorganized, which is absolute minimum if Bartomeu wants to get re-elected.
Paging @OCST, but I don't recall Koeman playing a Cruyffian-style expansive attacking/pressing 4-3-3 at either Southampton or Everton.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Because those kids need loans somewhere, they have no chance of playing. And cash is just wages, he's a free transfer.

I'm not a fan, but he's going to be a 3rd choice keeper and adds a homegrown spot to the roster for free. He's a name I guess, but overall it's a nothing signing.
I think this might be the critical point. Spurs are pressed for homegrown players and so maybe they decided that it makes little sense to use one of their 17 non-homegrown spots on a backup keeper like Gazzaniga.
 

teddykgb

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
11,025
Chelmsford, MA
I’m still a big fan of Hart but he’s had a miserable career post City. I would assume he’s 3rd choice and useful as a HG with Lloris having injury issues from time to time. I wouldn’t expect him ahead of Gazzaniga
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
The Guardian reporting that it’s Koeman in at Barca. He’s leaving the Netherlands job.

Poch may have been the better long term investment, but everyone involved here has to be seeing this as a 1 year arrangement (until the club elections next summer). So getting a guy who connects back to Cruyff and the glory days probably has the best chance of retaining Messi and getting things somewhat reorganized, which is absolute minimum if Bartomeu wants to get re-elected.
Barto has already had 2 terms and cannot be a candidate. The fact he hasn't already called for immediate elections is all about the fact that Barca has bylaws that state that if the club is in debt at the end of a Board's term, the Board has to pay that directly out of pocket individually. Barto's said that he'll call for early elections in March (cutting off an entire 3 months of his term [/s]), which should give him enough time to offload anyone and everyone for pennies on the dollar but leave the balance sheet in shape such that he won't be personally liable for it.

It's truly disgusting. Mes que un Club is dead when the President doesn't even believe in it one iota.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Barto has already had 2 terms and cannot be a candidate. The fact he hasn't already called for immediate elections is all about the fact that Barca has bylaws that state that if the club is in debt at the end of a Board's term, the Board has to pay that directly out of pocket individually. Barto's said that he'll call for early elections in March (cutting off an entire 3 months of his term [/s]), which should give him enough time to offload anyone and everyone for pennies on the dollar but leave the balance sheet in shape such that he won't be personally liable for it.

It's truly disgusting. Mes que un Club is dead when the President doesn't even believe in it one iota.
Is that really true? Most big football clubs carry plenty of debt. And it seems crazy to make the board personally liable for increased debt from revenue decreases due to Covid-19.
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,733
Barto has already had 2 terms and cannot be a candidate. The fact he hasn't already called for immediate elections is all about the fact that Barca has bylaws that state that if the club is in debt at the end of a Board's term, the Board has to pay that directly out of pocket individually. Barto's said that he'll call for early elections in March (cutting off an entire 3 months of his term [/s]), which should give him enough time to offload anyone and everyone for pennies on the dollar but leave the balance sheet in shape such that he won't be personally liable for it.

It's truly disgusting. Mes que un Club is dead when the President doesn't even believe in it one iota.
Thanks for the details. I didn’t realize he couldn’t run again. In that case, I have a hard time understanding any of his maneuvers for the past couple years. They’ve run up such huge bills that even winning the UCL wouldn’t cover it.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
Is that really true? Most big football clubs carry plenty of debt. And it seems crazy to make the board personally liable for increased debt from revenue decreases due to Covid-19.
Even as a corporate lawyer, unpacking this clause (and the article where it appears) would take some work due to all the references/citations. But you can see generally what I'm talking about here:

The partial cessation of members of the Board before the end of the term of office will not free them from any liabilities that the Board might have contracted until the moment of cessation, or from any commitments acquired with respect to the bank guarantee that may have arisen, unless the remaining members of the Board of Directors, or those that substitute them, internally agree to substitute the responsibilities of the members that have left and replace them in the bank guarantee. This circumstance will also be noted in the Minutes of the Board, which will be communicated, by certified correspondence, to the custodian institution holding the guarantee.
https://media2.fcbarcelona.com/media/asset_publics/resources/000/001/993/original/ESTATUS_ANGLES_2009_COMPLETS_baixa.1312911494.pdf
N.B. These statutes are from 2009 and have been amended numerous times since then, most recently in 2018. But I can't track down the laws currently in effect in English:

https://www.fcbarcelona.com/en/club/organisation-and-strategic-plan/commissions-and-bodies/statutes
Edit: And while the socis could 'no-confidence' this Board's dumb asses, there's almost certainly some non-club related considerations here.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
Paging @OCST, but I don't recall Koeman playing a Cruyffian-style expansive attacking/pressing 4-3-3 at either Southampton or Everton.
Some 4-3-3, but also a 3-4-3 with Baines and Coleman as wingbacks.

Everton's big problem of too many midfielders and none of them good enough really started under Koeman. The terrible 2017 window, where they brought in Sigurdsson AND Davy Klassen (now at Werder Bremen) AND Rooney, who was not really a striker anymore and was kinda-sorta a 10 , AND Nikola Vlasic (now doing very well at CSKA Moscow) and were starting to give major minutes to Tom Davies- feh.

With this mess, and with two DMs in Scheiderlin and Gueye who he insisted on playing both of, it was just a blob, tactically.
 

bosox4283

Well-Known Member
Gold Supporter
SoSH Member
Mar 2, 2004
4,673
Philadelphia
Sociedad and Silva are a really nice fit for each other. Sociedad is a very easy club to root for, and they will need some creative spark with Odegaard going back to the Capital.
Agreed. Great move. Silva gets to play for a top 4-10 club (assuming Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico are top 3) that qualified for the Europa League for next season -- so he gets to contribute at a competitive club without the demand to be elite. Plus, San Sebastian might be the best place on Earth.
 

dirtynine

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 17, 2002
8,394
Philly
Lewis Dunk stays at Brighton! Nice new contract for him.

This makes the Ben White situation interesting - I guess they could try to squeeze them into the same lineup, and if it worked the defense could be outstanding. Or, there's a big payday waiting for everybody. Not bad options either way.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
Not sure where the appropriate place to make fun of him is, so I figure I’ll toss the Maguire thing here.

This, to me, is the first glimpse of his true ability. It would take a staggering effort to be as stupid as he looks, but he’s pulled it off.
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
A few outlets are reporting that his sister was stabbed and he was defending her. Also that he asked what the penalty amount is that he needs to pay, which is the procedure in England.


It may be bullshit, but I don't ever remember a blemish on his personal life and he was a model citizen at United last year.
 

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,634
Somers, CT
I didn’t see a story with his sister. If that’s the case, I am (as always) the asshole and I apologize.
 

Zomp

Moderator
Moderator
SoSH Member
Aug 28, 2006
13,942
The Slums of Shaolin
To be clear, it says stabbed in the arm with a sharp object. I don't think her life was endangered or anything. And I was about to say it still doesn't excuse beating police officers but now I'm reading that they were undercover in street clothes? Strange.
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,733
To be clear, it says stabbed in the arm with a sharp object. I don't think her life was endangered or anything. And I was about to say it still doesn't excuse beating police officers but now I'm reading that they were undercover in street clothes? Strange.
I was going to post a joke about Maguire the other day, but I kept reading and found that none of the reporting makes sense. My best interpretation is that someone cut his sister, so Maguire flew into a rage, and then a bunch of plainclothes rushed in break it up...which just added to the confusion?
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
If Maguire is getting in fights in Mykonos, it means that there are a lot of footballers there - they party in packs, right - and there will 100% be COVID cases. I was impressed that the PL was able to get through the restart period without major COVID incidents, I have no confidence that will happen now. There will be outbreaks within squads and games will have to be suspended.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
They're probably all over Ibiza, Dubai, Miami, all the hotspots, in packs, infecting each other.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Lewis Dunk stays at Brighton! Nice new contract for him.

This makes the Ben White situation interesting - I guess they could try to squeeze them into the same lineup, and if it worked the defense could be outstanding. Or, there's a big payday waiting for everybody. Not bad options either way.
I was going to say you definitely want White in the lineup- he was one of the best players in the championship last season. But looking at the relative strength of your CB, you should hold him ransom to Leeds (who would kill to have him back) and maybe try to get some goals.
 

Zososoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 30, 2009
9,209
South of North
Rumors going around that Barca are entering into negotiations to terminate Luisito's contract, and similar plans are ahead for Vidal, Rakitic, and Umtiti.

While Luisito and Rakitic deserve lots of respect from the club for their careers, this is likely the right move if they can get a good deal (e.g. paying 30% of their guaranteed wages). It seems like a fait accompli for Rakitic to return to Sevilla, but I wonder if Barca kick in a little extra money to keep Luis out of La Liga. I can't imagine anything worse than him rejuvenating himself and scoring a winner for Atleti against Barca next April.
 

Mighty Joe Young

The North remembers
SoSH Member
Sep 14, 2002
8,402
Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
Rumors going around that Barca are entering into negotiations to terminate Luisito's contract, and similar plans are ahead for Vidal, Rakitic, and Umtiti.

While Luisito and Rakitic deserve lots of respect from the club for their careers, this is likely the right move if they can get a good deal (e.g. paying 30% of their guaranteed wages). It seems like a fait accompli for Rakitic to return to Sevilla, but I wonder if Barca kick in a little extra money to keep Luis out of La Liga. I can't imagine anything worse than him rejuvenating himself and scoring a winner for Atleti against Barca next April.
The Suarez buyout certainly has set social media alight on Merseyside. Lots of pros and cons for sure. If he’d accept a backup roll and the contract was reasonable I’d have him back. But he may have burned a few too many bridges last year.
 

Kliq

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 31, 2013
22,674
similarly, this would be huge:

View: https://twitter.com/JackPittBrooke/status/1298688106862915584?s=20


Spurs in on Matt Doherty from Wolves.

Wolves are tight. That core has played together for a few years and they're more than the sum of their parts. Losing Doherty woudl hurt them badly. Spurs weaken a rival (they were level on points last year).
I saw a report that said Wolves have already targeted Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles as Doherty's replacement, so depending on how well he fits in they might not be seeing a big downgrade at wing back.

As someone that HATES Serge Aurier, I am excited about Doherty who at least should be productive going forward, something Aurier rarely was.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 2, 2006
22,345
Philadelphia
Doherty is definitely a Mourinho player - a big bruising fullback/wingback who charges up and down the field with gusto. From what I've seen, he has played almost exclusively as a RWB these last few years so it'll be interesting to see whether he can be effective in a four man defense, especially defensively. As a right back in the premier league you have to deal with some lightning quick left wingers.
 

coremiller

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
5,846
Doherty's also 28, which fits Mourinho's penchant for vets over younger players but is not especially a value-driven transfer strategy. I'd rather they go after someone with more upside, but whether I like this deal as a Spurs fan will depend on the price. If Doherty's not too expensive, he certainly fills a need.
 

OCST

Sunny von Bulow
SoSH Member
Jan 10, 2004
24,483
The 718
Doherty is definitely a Mourinho player - a big bruising fullback/wingback who charges up and down the field with gusto. From what I've seen, he has played almost exclusively as a RWB these last few years so it'll be interesting to see whether he can be effective in a four man defense, especially defensively. As a right back in the premier league you have to deal with some lightning quick left wingers.
He may be a "system player" at Wolves, which sounds like I'm dumping on him. I'm not. For my money Wolves is as tightly drilled and cohesive a unit as there is in the PL.* Doherty's been one of the leaders. I don't know if he can go to Spurs and have the same impact there.

*FWIW I think getting through the promotion fight in the Championship will foster that level of teamwork and my off-topic hot-take is that sides that make fewer changes when they come up are better off.
 

wonderland

New Member
Jul 20, 2005
526
Well, the Wolves also added one of the top keepers in the world when they came up. That definitely helped and is not an option most teams coming up can afford or even entertain as a possibility.
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,733
He may be a "system player" at Wolves, which sounds like I'm dumping on him. I'm not. For my money Wolves is as tightly drilled and cohesive a unit as there is in the PL.* Doherty's been one of the leaders. I don't know if he can go to Spurs and have the same impact there.

*FWIW I think getting through the promotion fight in the Championship will foster that level of teamwork and my off-topic hot-take is that sides that make fewer changes when they come up are better off.
Well, Nuno runs his team like a drill sergeant. His hardass demeanor is one of the reasons bigger clubs haven’t made an play for him. That and Mendes doesn’t want to let him go.
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,733
Klopp on Liverpool signing Messi - "The numbers are not for us. We don’t have to start thinking about it. No chance, but, good player to be honest!”
 

67YAZ

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 1, 2000
8,733
Convince him it’s the World Cup, and you just got the best player on earth.
 

Cellar-Door

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2006
34,467
What the fuck? How?

How the mighty have fallen...
He's 29 made only 14 appearances last year (1 goal 1 assist), 28 appearances the year before (7 goals 6 assists Haller by comparison had 20/12 in 40 in the same league) and his wages are immense. He's had a bunch of knee injuries and doesn't look the same player anymore.

Here's an interesting question.... would you rather have James Rodriguez or Felipe Anderson next year? (Gotta be close, and Anderson might not even start for West Ham).