Surf's Up: Summer 2015 Transfer Rumors

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

https://twitter.com/RafaelH117/status/616700279715594242
 
https://twitter.com/RafaelH117/status/616700434833510404
 
https://twitter.com/RafaelH117/status/616700593529184256
 
https://twitter.com/RafaelH117/status/616703569878618114
 
 
So Bartomeu says they tried to sign Pogba and failed and that the manager doesn't even want him, while LaPorta says "If you elect me, I'll sign Pogba!!!!!"
 
My guess is that Barca is out and that whichever sheikh at City or PSG ponies up more barrels of oil will win.

 

[AgentOrange]

lol boo hoo.  Because obviously Pogba isn't forcing a move to Barcelona because he lacks maturity, only possible reason right there.  It never made sense for Pogba to move to Barca before summer 2016, anyway.  
 
 I hope now that Juve sells Pogba to PSG for 120m euros (80m cash plus Verratti, while I'm fantasizing), so I can enjoy more butthurt Catalans.  Madrid would work nicely too, now that I think of it.  Pogba just needs to score a couple of nice goals at Euro 2016 and Florentino will open the bank vaults for him.  Send Isco please.

 

[Bailey10]

Reports out today that Manchester United are demanding a world record transfer fee from Real Madrid for De Gea.
 
The current fee remains the 32.6 million pounds Juventus paid Parma in 2001 for Gigi Buffon.
 
Real Madrid's initial offer was reportedly around 13 million pounds, which is less than what United purchased De Gea for from Atleti (18 million pounds).
 
This is a pretty obvious negotiating tactic to drive up De Gea's asking price closer to Real Madrid's valuation Sergio Ramos in hopes of some sort of exchange.
 
However, if Real Madrid refuse to meet the valuation, I have no problem keeping De Gea for another year and likely losing him on a free at the end of the season (especially since the person tipped to replace De Gea if he were to be sold is Lloris and Levy reportedly wants more for him than the 13 million pounds Real were offering for De Gea).

 

[Bailey10]

The Guardian is reporting that RVP has agreed to personal terms with Fenerbahce.

 

[Luis Taint]

That has to be a put on, RVP still has something in the tank. I get if he can't hack it in the BPL, but there has to be someother team, then one in fucking Turkey.

 

[Bailey10]

A lot of older players have gone to Turkey for a big pay day (Sneijder, Drogba), and Nani has also heavily linked with Fenerbahce, so I don't see it as totally infeasible.
 
However, RVP would definitely be taking a pay cut from his 12.2 million pound salary, seeing as Diego (who is probably Fenerbahce's most high profile player) only earns 3.5 millions euros.
 
EDIT: Misspelled Sneijder's name

 

[Zomp]

That has to be a put on, RVP still has something in the tank. I get if he can't hack it in the BPL, but their has to be someother team, then one in fucking Turkey.

 
He looked pretty cooked last year but I think the World Cup took it out of him. I think Fenerbache is a good fit for him personally.  Good (not great) team that can play in the Champions League.
 
 
Bailey, I completely agree about De Gea.  Even if we don't get Ramos (which I still don't think its likely), its good to see the club showing a bit of backbone to Madrid.  If we aren't getting a player in return, then just let De Gea move for free next summer.

 

[Conigliaro's Potential]

In retrospect, do you think Wenger's decision to sell RVP to Man Utd in the first place was correct? I mean, he really helped Man Utd win the title in year one, but his stock has fallen alarmingly far incredibly quickly, and it's not like Arsenal would have won the title or the Champions League in each of the past two seasons with him (right?), even if the RVP of just a few years ago is exactly what Arsenal needs right now.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Nani to Fenerbahce seems plausible. RVP I just don't believe, unless United is paying his wages. The player has very little incentive to agree to a massive wage cut, especially just to go play for Fenerbahce.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

AS and now seemingly the Twitterverse reporting Casillas to Porto

 

[Zomp]

I don't believe it (they can't afford him can they?) but if true it could be the first domino to fall in a couple landscape changing moves.

 

[teddykgb]

Just got a notification that Pirlo to NYCFC is going to happen.  Most of the footballing world is logjammed on a different Juve midfielder but the entire window has been so quiet and maybe this kicks some things off.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

I don't believe it (they can't afford him can they?) but if true it could be the first domino to fall in a couple landscape changing moves.

 
Everything probably depends on how much of Casillas' salary Real is willing to pick up.  There is no way Porto will pay his full wages or close.
 
I don't see why Real would agree to this kind of deal unless they get De Gea though.  If they're not going to get De Gea, then they might as well pay Casillas to sit on their own bench behind Navas rather than to play for Porto.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Arda Turan's move to Barca confirmed by the club, 34m euro plus 7m euro add ons.  He can't play until January.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

Arda Turan's move to Barca confirmed by the club, 34m euro plus 7m euro add ons.  He can't play until January.

 
That's a ton of money for a player who will be 29 when he finally starts playing for them. I feel this is more about taking from a direct rival vs adding to the club.

 

[mikeford]

Pirlo getting 8m a year to play for NYC2

 

[teddykgb]

Barcelona getting around their transfer ban is completely nuts to me.  I know they're the "good guys" so nobody bats an eyelash, but it's kind of crazy that they're signing players in the midst of a transfer ban

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 
That's a ton of money for a player who will be 29 when he finally starts playing for them. I feel this is more about taking from a direct rival vs adding to the club.

 
I agree about it being an overpay.  I think it might be mostly just about Bartomeu trying to make a splash before the Barca elections though, rather than trying to weaken a rival.  I don't know how much Barca is worried about Atleti in general and their transfer business has been so good lately that giving them an additional 35-40m euro to play with this summer could help them in the end.
 
I like the deal a lot from Atletico's perspective.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Barcelona getting around their transfer ban is completely nuts to me.  I know they're the "good guys" so nobody bats an eyelash, but it's kind of crazy that they're signing players in the midst of a transfer ban

 
"Good guys" who broke all the rules on youth transfers and ended up paying Neymar's dad some ungodly amount of money under the table to make that deal happen...
 
To be fair, though, I think the issue is really that the term "transfer ban" has been a misnomer from the beginning.  It was never a ban on transfers, just on registering new players.

 

[wonderland]

 
Everything probably depends on how much of Casillas' salary Real is willing to pick up.  There is no way Porto will pay his full wages or close.
 
I don't see why Real would agree to this kind of deal unless they get De Gea though.  If they're not going to get De Gea, then they might as well pay Casillas to sit on their own bench behind Navas rather than to play for Porto.

Given his status with the club, I can't imagine having Casillas on the bench is healthy for the club. Just move on.

 

[DLew On Roids]

Bailey, I completely agree about De Gea.  Even if we don't get Ramos (which I still don't think its likely), its good to see the club showing a bit of backbone to Madrid.  If we aren't getting a player in return, then just let De Gea move for free next summer.

 
 
You'd really pay an extra 25M to have De Gea for a single season?  Because that's what you're effectively doing by letting him walk next year on a free transfer.

 

[AgentOrange]

Juventus declares summer transfer campaign closed.
 
 
Doubt it curbs the Pogba rumors much, as tabloids are gonna tabloid.  But I wouldn't pay attention to any rumors of a move before 2016.  

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 
 
You'd really pay an extra 25M to have De Gea for a single season?  Because that's what you're effectively doing by letting him walk next year on a free transfer.

 

Is that better or worse than paying 20M to have Falcao for a single season?

 

[bosox4283]

 
I agree about it being an overpay.  I think it might be mostly just about Bartomeu trying to make a splash before the Barca elections though, rather than trying to weaken a rival.  I don't know how much Barca is worried about Atleti in general and their transfer business has been so good lately that giving them an additional 35-40m euro to play with this summer could help them in the end.
 
I like the deal a lot from Atletico's perspective.

 
I'm really torn on the sale of Turan. My emotional reaction is mixed: Arda was one of my favorite players, and he helped Atletico regain its magic. I'm sad to see him go, and I'm mad at him for effectively breaking up with us for the better looking girl. 
 
For the next year, it's going to be hard to replace Turan. A bunch of talented players have been linked with Atletico but Arda is a unique talent. Then again, as someone pointed out, he's almost 29, and Simeone really requires a demanding style of play. Maybe Turan had one more great year and one more very good year. 

 

[Zomp]

 
 
You'd really pay an extra 25M to have De Gea for a single season?  Because that's what you're effectively doing by letting him walk next year on a free transfer.

 
I can't work out how your getting to 25M.  I'm not doubting it but I can't connect the dots.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 
I'm really torn on the sale of Turan. My emotional reaction is mixed: Arda was one of my favorite players, and he helped Atletico regain its magic. I'm sad to see him go, and I'm mad at him for effectively breaking up with us for the better looking girl. 
 
For the next year, it's going to be hard to replace Turan. A bunch of talented players have been linked with Atletico but Arda is a unique talent. Then again, as someone pointed out, he's almost 29, and Simeone really requires a demanding style of play. Maybe Turan had one more great year and one more very good year. 

 
I think there's an argument to be made that Atleti really needs to find more goals - they scored 10 fewer last year than the previous year, and more than 40 fewer than Barca/Real -  and that Turan and Koke, while both great all around players, don't provide quite enough end product on the wings when played together.  Simeone has made his mark with a certain style but I wouldn't be surprised if he plans to open things up a bit more.  Selling Arda while adding Vietto and bringing back Oliver from loan all seem like moves to add a bit more creativity, flair, and firepower.

 

[Zomp]

Will Turan start in Barca's best 11?  Busquets Rakitic and Iniesta will right?  Thats a lot of cash for a substitute.

 

[Zososoxfan]

Will Turan start in Barca's best 11?  Busquets Rakitic and Iniesta will right?  Thats a lot of cash for a substitute.

 
I look at this as Iniesta insurance (he's 31 going into the season) and pushing Andres and Rafinha for playing time. One thing that Barca did last year, which I think helped lead to the hugely successful campaign was competition up and down the squad. No one got to rest in training because there's a solid player behind you chomping at the bit to get in. Furthermore, Lucho used a lot of rotation in the first half of the season, although Turan won't be available until January and some of that may have been just tinkering finding his best XI. Nevertheless, this provides Lucho with 4 players for the 2 midfield spots, so someone (or sometwo) is bound to be unhappy.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

 
I look at this as Iniesta insurance (he's 31 going into the season) and pushing Andres and Rafinha for playing time. One thing that Barca did last year, which I think helped lead to the hugely successful campaign was competition up and down the squad. No one got to rest in training because there's a solid player behind you chomping at the bit to get in. Furthermore, Lucho used a lot of rotation in the first half of the season, although Turan won't be available until January and some of that may have been just tinkering finding his best XI. Nevertheless, this provides Lucho with 4 players for the 2 midfield spots, so someone (or sometwo) is bound to be unhappy.

 
Turan can also play on the wing so he adds cover there too.

 

[DLew On Roids]

 
I can't work out how your getting to 25M.  I'm not doubting it but I can't connect the dots.

I'm assuming that's what Madrid would eventually get to, especially if they sell Casillas.

 

[DLew On Roids]

 
Is that better or worse than paying 20M to have Falcao for a single season?

Ha! Though if we're going to judge all deals by the club's worst choices, Liverpool should be willing to pay up to £35M for Danny Ings.

 

[Zomp]

I'm assuming that's what Madrid would eventually get to, especially if they sell Casillas.

 
I guess my answer is yes because if they sell for 25M and want a high quality keeper like Lloris (who Levy would want just as much for, if not more than De Gea) or Cillessen (15M?) then I see it as losing out on at most 10M for which I would keep him and tell Madrid to stick it.  It would be nice if they showed backbone.
 
Unless they want to run with Valdes...who could be decent or terrible...

 

[Zomp]

MARCA has a quote from Casillas' agent saying that there is indeed an offer from Porto and Casillas is very excited by it, but the ball is in Madrid's court.  If this happens I'd have to think Madrid are confident of landing DDG this window.  Though giving Navas the reigns this year wouldn't be the worse scenario in the world for all parties involved.
 
Koeman's presser today indicated that Schneiderlin is close to moving to United but we'll see.
 
In the out of nowhere department, Torino's club president said that Torino have received 3 offers from Champions League clubs for Matteo Darmian.  I won't pretend to have seen him and only know what I do from Wikipedia.  He's a 25 year old right back from Italy.

 

[AgentOrange]

He's been very good for Torino and the Italian National Team of late. Can play on both flanks. I've wanted Juve to sign him for a long time. Excellent signing for Utd IMO.

 

[bosox4283]

 
I think there's an argument to be made that Atleti really needs to find more goals - they scored 10 fewer last year than the previous year, and more than 40 fewer than Barca/Real -  and that Turan and Koke, while both great all around players, don't provide quite enough end product on the wings when played together.  Simeone has made his mark with a certain style but I wouldn't be surprised if he plans to open things up a bit more.  Selling Arda while adding Vietto and bringing back Oliver from loan all seem like moves to add a bit more creativity, flair, and firepower.

 
You make a good point, one that has helped me take a step away from the edge.
 
Cholo has indicated that he plans to play Koke in a more DM/CM role (admittedly, I don't know the difference -- Koke will play in place of Gabi/Tiago). In this formation, you end up with:
 
Vietto-Koke-Gabi/Tiago-Oliver
Griezmann-Jackson Martinez
 
Bench: Torres, Raul Garcia, Saul, Correa
 
I suspect that Atletico will use some of the money to sign another midfielder, someone to compete with Oliver.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

He's been very good for Torino and the Italian National Team of late. Can play on both flanks. I've wanted Juve to sign him for a long time. Excellent signing for Utd IMO.

 
I remember him torching England down the right flank in the World Cup last summer, playing in a very advanced wing-back type role.  He was probably Italy's liveliest offensive player, although he didn't do much defending.  I've never seen him at club level but the Internet tells me that Torino also play a 3-5-2 with wingbacks.  Is that how you've generally seen him play?

 

[AgentOrange]

 
I remember him torching England down the right flank in the World Cup last summer, playing in a very advanced wing-back type role.  He was probably Italy's liveliest offensive player, although he didn't do much defending.  I've never seen him at club level but the Internet tells me that Torino also play a 3-5-2 with wingbacks.  Is that how you've generally seen him play?

 
Yes, exclusively.  His defending is strong though, so I don't think it would be a problem playing fullback versus wingback.  

 

[Billy R Ford]

Bit of trivia I saw: the last player Manchester United bought from Torino was Denis Law. If this works out half as well as that it'd be a great signing.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Sterling reportedly refusing to join LFC on their Asia tour. Sky says he wants to leave as he doesn't want to play for Rodgers, and he missed training today.

If it helps someone reach the £50m valuation, great - it's becoming more tiring than the Suarez saga

 

[bosox4283]

Sterling reportedly refusing to join LFC on their Asia tour. Sky says he wants to leave as he doesn't want to play for Rodgers, and he missed training today.

If it helps someone reach the £50m valuation, great - it's becoming more tiring than the Suarez saga

 
Has anyone expressed interest in signing him? To me, it seems that both Real Madrid and Barcelona are not interested. I don't think Bayern is interested. I doubt Sterling wants to go to Italy. Does PSG make a move? If not, that really just leaves Chelsea, City, ManU, and Arsenal, but would Liverpool sell to a rival and do any of those rivals want him?

 

[sachmoney]

City is the club that has been most linked to him. I don't think Arsenal would shell out the cash, but I also don't want Arsenal to shell out the cash.

 

[teddykgb]

From the City side, it seems to be very much what City are trying to do.  It's a ton of money, but Sterling seems like exactly the kind of player City have needed for quite some time.  The Liverpool smear campaign has been hilarious to watch, I'm not sure why these people think they are helping.

 

[Zomp]

Given the owners the smear campaign was a given...

 

[JayMags71]

I thought this deadspin piece had an interesting thesis

The... far more troubling factor is how his pushing for a move has caused the English punditry class, especially those with a connection to the Liverpool front office, to lose their goddamned minds. For months now, a parade of ex-Liverpool players and newspaper writers have excoriated Sterling. Openly, publicly, in as ugly a fashion as they can without crossing the line into something too much even for the ravenous English appetite for tabloids and shit talk.

...

There’s always been a whiff of disdain when the media talks about Sterling. They were all too happy to bite on rumors that he had at least three children by numerous women. Photos of him partaking in low-grade, legal recreational drugs became evidence of his sloth. When Brendan Rodgers gave him a midseason break in Jamaica, it wasn’t a way of keeping the young star from burning out, as Rodgers insisted, but further proof that he was lazy and pampered.

I can’t comment on systemic British racism, but I do know my lying eyes. When they’re making t-shirts for Luis Suárez to let him know that he’s supported after getting suspended for using a racial slur while doing everything short of calling Sterling uppity for years, well, one starts to wonder about some of the most visibly apparent differences between the two men. Hell, Suárez was halfway out the door to Arsenal and they begged him to come back. Sterling’s not gone anywhere yet, with only the buzz of £40 million City bids around him, and Anfield is booing him while he’s not even on the pitch.

 

[Vinho Tinto]

MARCA has a quote from Casillas' agent saying that there is indeed an offer from Porto and Casillas is very excited by it, but the ball is in Madrid's court.  

 
Reportedly the deal is done. Haven't seen any details
 
Bryan Ruiz has moved from Fulham to Sporting.

 

[Morgan's Magic Snowplow]

Liverpool has clearly mishandled this whole affair terribly but to imply that the team's treatment of Sterling is indicative of British racism is a bridge too far.

 

[Spacemans Bong]

Yeah, anybody asked John Barnes about that? He's still adored in Liverpool and the English press, despite having the exact same background and even being kinda disappointing in an England shirt (except when rapping in New Order songs).
 
The English media hates Stirling because he's a teenager who has had about a dozen good games and wants a massive contract, plus there are a ton of Liverpool fans in all branches of the media. It's pretty simple.
 
Ashley Cole had a similarly messy exit from Arsenal but didn't get the same kind of hate because he was unequivocally really fucking good.

 

[cjdmadcow]

From the City side, it seems to be very much what City are trying to do.  It's a ton of money, but Sterling seems like exactly the kind of player City have needed for quite some time.  The Liverpool smear campaign has been hilarious to watch, I'm not sure why these people think they are helping.

 
 

Given the owners the smear campaign was a given...

 
Have I missed something here? What smear campaign has been waged by FSG or any employee of the club? Rodgers has done nothing but praise him over the last 12 months or so - at one point calling him the best youth player in Europe - and he's continually said to the media that he trains well and gets on with his team mates.
 
Privately behind the scenes he may be ripping him to pieces but he's not uttered a word of criticism publicly since Sterling made the ill-advised decision to give an exclusive interview with the BBC that spectacularly back-fired on him. And neither has anyone else from FSG, come to that.
 
As for taking football comment from Deadspin seriously...really?

 

[cjdmadcow]

Yeah, anybody asked John Barnes about that? He's still adored in Liverpool and the English press, despite having the exact same background and even being kinda disappointing in an England shirt (except when rapping in New Order songs).
 
The English media hates Stirling because he's a teenager who has had about a dozen good games and wants a massive contract, plus there are a ton of Liverpool fans in all branches of the media. It's pretty simple.
 
Ashley Cole had a similarly messy exit from Arsenal but didn't get the same kind of hate because he was unequivocally really fucking good.

 
Pretty much spot on with this. John Barnes is only marginally behind Kenny as my favourite player ever at LFC. Go back and look at his YT clips from his time at Liverpool and you'll see why he is so beloved there.
 
The Suarez situation COULD have been similar but wasn't because he realised the club weren't going to sell him to another English club and he wasn't going anywhere. He responded by acting as a professional should and produced a season for the ages, nearly leading us the the title. He then got the reward he wanted.
 
When a player throws his toys out of the pram - that is under contract - it's no wonder the fans respond the way they do and for Deadspin to suggest there may be a racial element to all this is outrageous.

 

[teddykgb]

 
 
 
Have I missed something here? What smear campaign has been waged by FSG or any employee of the club? Rodgers has done nothing but praise him over the last 12 months or so - at one point calling him the best youth player in Europe - and he's continually said to the media that he trains well and gets on with his team mates.
 
Privately behind the scenes he may be ripping him to pieces but he's not uttered a word of criticism publicly since Sterling made the ill-advised decision to give an exclusive interview with the BBC that spectacularly back-fired on him. And neither has anyone else from FSG, come to that.
 
As for taking football comment from Deadspin seriously...really?

 
Do all the former Liverpool players who are in the media and constantly commenting on this player count as team employees or no? Because they sure as fuck stay on message, and I presume I know where that message comes from.  So no, I don't think that your manager has said much publicly, but the Liverpool outrage machine has whipped your supporter base into a complete frenzy about this player.  I think racism is way too far, but for whatever reason the entire Liverpool cult has decided that Sterling hasn't earned the right to want to leave Liverpool.  But as an example, when Lovren decided to force a move from Southampton, he was just a proper player who appreciated the tremendous history at Anfield.  As an example, here's Carragher, everyone's favorite impartial reporter from the Kop:
 
 
 

Reports today suggest Raheem Sterling has told Brendan Rodgers he doesn't want to go away on the pre season tour. This at times comes from the club who are chasing the player, in this case Man City, who ask a player to try and force the move after having two bids that were unsuccessful, all clubs at times have asked a player to push a move through but even so it's still a story that doesn't reflect well on Raheem. He's starting to get a reputation that could be hard to rid himself of in the future,I think this situation will only make Liverpool more determined to get the fee they feel Raheem is worth rather than caving in to Raheem's & Man City's wishes.