There was an absurd rumour last week that Barca were buying Alexander-Arnold for 35m or some such. In Silva’s case at least there’s a little smoke .. agreed the fee seems a tad light.
The Arms (Errr, Legs) Race: 2022 Summer Transfer Window
- Thread starter Morgan's Magic Snowplow
- Start date
The Liverpool Echo is reporting that Michael Edwards turned down the Chelsea SD gig. The rest of the league just dodged a huge bullet.
no reason was given. Speculation would seem to include Edwards just wants the time off, he doesn’t like London, he wasn’t getting the authority he wanted with the Chelsea offer.
I‘m voting for All of the Above
no reason was given. Speculation would seem to include Edwards just wants the time off, he doesn’t like London, he wasn’t getting the authority he wanted with the Chelsea offer.
I‘m voting for All of the Above
In transfer news, GLC to Villarreal on loan is confirmed. No details on money yet, although there appears to be an interesting break option for Spurs if they can find a permanent buyer for GLC in the January window.
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2022/8/14/23303271/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-giovani-lo-celso-villarreal-loan-done-deal
Still need to find homes for Tanguy, Winks, Reggie, and maybe a couple of others out of the Gil, Japh, Dav, Sarr group.
https://cartilagefreecaptain.sbnation.com/2022/8/14/23303271/tottenham-hotspur-transfer-news-rumors-giovani-lo-celso-villarreal-loan-done-deal
Still need to find homes for Tanguy, Winks, Reggie, and maybe a couple of others out of the Gil, Japh, Dav, Sarr group.
View: https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1558910891147632640?s=20&t=1cySj6k6JbaaKlYlskf4ew
Supposedly Everton asked for 50M and Chelsea said no.
Gordon has been poor in the first two games but he is being asked to essentially play striker which is not his game. He also has developed a nasty diving habit, which may have to do with his not having the strength and weight to go shoulder to shoulder with defenders, stay up, and win the ball, <socrmaniac> or he's just a miserable wretch </socrmaniac>. At his best, even when he, with a couple of others, was dragging us across the finish line in the spring, he doesn't have great end product.
So that's a lot of money, which since he's an academy product and it would be 100% profit would instantly get Everton in great shape re: FFP. I don't think the club would spend $40M on him if he were playing elsewhere so I think the offer is above his market value by definition. Newcastle supposedly bid $30-35 earlier in the windowj.
He hasn't yet realized his potential, which is considerable. But he is on the Scouser Evertonian career knife edge, which since Rooney came out of the academy as a generational talent has been precarious. Barkley had a promising start to his career, but poor judgment on and off the pitch and injuries consigned him to the "coulda wouda shoulda" bin. Tom Davies also had a en-fuego start to his first club career but has failed to stick in a role since and many fans think he's not even PL quality. The Everton crowd loves them a scouser but the weight of expectations is crushing and it can go south very quickly (which should be seen as an indictment of the fans - they build these young players up and turn on them).
Practical questions about whether they could spend that money fast enough during the window, but it could turn into a striker and another good midfielder with some left over. We'd still have Gray, McNeil, and Townsend as wide players which is not great.
I can see the argument of not selling your good young talent too soon. I understand the emotional appeal of the local boy. I'd grab the $40M with both hands and run away before they changed their mind, and I really like Gordon (diving notwithstanding).
Supposedly Everton asked for 50M and Chelsea said no.
Gordon has been poor in the first two games but he is being asked to essentially play striker which is not his game. He also has developed a nasty diving habit, which may have to do with his not having the strength and weight to go shoulder to shoulder with defenders, stay up, and win the ball, <socrmaniac> or he's just a miserable wretch </socrmaniac>. At his best, even when he, with a couple of others, was dragging us across the finish line in the spring, he doesn't have great end product.
So that's a lot of money, which since he's an academy product and it would be 100% profit would instantly get Everton in great shape re: FFP. I don't think the club would spend $40M on him if he were playing elsewhere so I think the offer is above his market value by definition. Newcastle supposedly bid $30-35 earlier in the windowj.
He hasn't yet realized his potential, which is considerable. But he is on the Scouser Evertonian career knife edge, which since Rooney came out of the academy as a generational talent has been precarious. Barkley had a promising start to his career, but poor judgment on and off the pitch and injuries consigned him to the "coulda wouda shoulda" bin. Tom Davies also had a en-fuego start to his first club career but has failed to stick in a role since and many fans think he's not even PL quality. The Everton crowd loves them a scouser but the weight of expectations is crushing and it can go south very quickly (which should be seen as an indictment of the fans - they build these young players up and turn on them).
Practical questions about whether they could spend that money fast enough during the window, but it could turn into a striker and another good midfielder with some left over. We'd still have Gray, McNeil, and Townsend as wide players which is not great.
I can see the argument of not selling your good young talent too soon. I understand the emotional appeal of the local boy. I'd grab the $40M with both hands and run away before they changed their mind, and I really like Gordon (diving notwithstanding).
How many of their top offensive players can they sell though? They desperately need more firepower not less and given their questionable transfer history I think the bird in hand to bird in bush value ratio is substantially greater than two.
Has anybody been able to sniff out Chelsea’s transfer strategy? Paying that much for Gordon feels like throwing darts at player name and player value boards. What need does he fill? Gordon seems essentially similar in potential and play to Gallagher, who doesn’t look like he’ll start regularly.
If I’m Everton I pay for the train ticket and include a thank you note.
If I’m Everton I pay for the train ticket and include a thank you note.
Gordon fits pretty snugly into the Chelsea strategy, if you assume it's "pay tons of money for attackers other than a striker who could knit things together and reliably finish moves, then buy more attackers because they're underperforming for some reason".
What do we have to do to get Pulisic out of Chelsea? He’s stagnated and they’re buying replacements for him left and right. He needs to play this entire Chelsea move has been a minor disaster. Could he go back to Germany or move down table in Prem? Has anyone been linked with him?
And that's the other side of it.
40-50M could be converted into a good second striker and a central attacking midfielder. The business is being handled more professionally so I'm more confident that this could be done without the disasters of the past.
The striker is a need regardless. Everton's choices, since they (foolishly) let two academy strikers go out on loan, were to play wide men up top in McNeil Gray and Gordon, which was starting formation, or play Rondon, who is old and evidently not match fit, he came on late. They looked better when Rondon came on because although he's barely PL-quality at this point in his career, he's at least a like for like replacement - you can use him as a focal point for long balls, he will hold the ball up, he will look to get on the end of crosses. Gordon can't do that, he's not going to win aerial duels with CBs or even FBs, he was 0/4 yesterday. Somebody has to do that and there's no one else other than DCL and Rondon.
It's Brewster's Millions but Todd Boehly needs to spend 300m before September 1st on players he had never heard of three months ago.
IIRC doesn't Gallagher play more centrally?
There has been some talk of Gallagher and/or Broja being involved in a Gordon deal. I might do Gordon for Gallagher and Broja straight up if you asked me.
FWIW I don't think Gordon is their answer. He's got pace but his end product just is not there yet.
What striker is Everton buying with 50m? That’s a really risky move for anyone as Everton have relegation fight all over them right now. It’d have to be someone foreign as prem to prem is so expensive these days but most everyone good has moved. Could Everton afford to take Depay on loan?
At this point, it has to be a subsidized loan. No club that could match his £150k/week wages has room for a player with his record of form and health. But plenty of mid-table EPL clubs or UCL aspirants from elsewhere would take the risk at the right price (£75k?) and it's Chelsea's best path towards recovering Pulisic's form and value.
I'm not seeing any substantive rumors. There seems to be a Newcastle bit wafting around, but what they really need is Gallagher.
I haven't seen any rumors to this effect but a semi-subsidized loan to Napoli would make a ton of sense. They are short in attack after losing both Insigne and Mertens, Spalletti is a good manager, and Serie A might be a good league for CP in the long term.
Looking likely that Brighton will bring in the delightfully-named Pervis Estupiñán from Villarreal as a Cucurella replacement. Under €20m.
View: https://twitter.com/CParkerTurner/status/1559172550692839424
View: https://twitter.com/CParkerTurner/status/1559172550692839424
There was lots of buzz about David early in the window but it’s been crickets ever since. I kind of expected a move to Germany but nothing has happened.
Newcastle would take loans on essentially any of the newly surplus Chelsea guys--the depth up front isn't great at any position. Gallagher in MF, would work, yes, but so would Pulisic or Hudson-Odoi out wide as upgrades on Almiron/Fraser.
Kante suffering what looked like a hamstring injury yesterday probably makes any Gallagher deal unlikely this window, I’d guess.
Everton should really loan Pepe or buy him for a very small fee. I know that Everton fans are tired of big six rejects but he would actually be a great fit for them. He can't work within a disciplined possession setup at all but for a counter-attacking team that badly needs a little individual flair and some goal scoring from the wing he would be perfect.
Yeah, there was nobody more depressed about that injury yesterday than Palace fans.
@SocrManiac I think Palace would really like to have Gallagher permanently, but I’m not sure they’ll pay what Chelsea want. Maybe, maybe if they sold Zaha they’d pay it, but I think as the post above alludes to, it’s probably academic at this point.
Talksport sources have been reliable over the past few windows and because of the results we’re officially panicking and throwing shit against the wall so yes I think it’s true.
I suppose I could be convinced otherwise, but it seems to me that 40 million for Gordon -- if it's really an offer they have in hand -- is something that Everton absolutely shouldn't say no to. My initial reaction, was that I thought that the Blues could not afford to shed any more talent in attack. But on second thought, I don't put much stock in that argument. They can ask for a bit more, or try to structure things for a player in return, but they absolutely should be sellers if they can get that kind of value for Gordon.
Maybe I'm more bearish on Gordon than most; I recognize the role he played in avoiding relegation this past season, but I cannot wrap my head around a scenario in which he's once again the difference between staying up and going down. I'd hope the money could be reinvested into an actual striker, but even if not, I think you do it anyway. In that scenario, I suppose you bolster the midfield (is a move for Gueye still a real possibility?), and make do with what you've got up front. Start Alli in a false nine, and hope that he can get some form back by the time DCL returns.
All that's predicated, I suppose, on a very modest short term ambition for the season (staying up will do), combined with a less modest longer-term ambition (an actual plan going forward, one that doesn't change with the weather) that would set the club in the right direction after years at sea.
(You can avoid relegation without scoring goals as long as you're not conceding them either in today's Premier League, right?)
Maybe I'm more bearish on Gordon than most; I recognize the role he played in avoiding relegation this past season, but I cannot wrap my head around a scenario in which he's once again the difference between staying up and going down. I'd hope the money could be reinvested into an actual striker, but even if not, I think you do it anyway. In that scenario, I suppose you bolster the midfield (is a move for Gueye still a real possibility?), and make do with what you've got up front. Start Alli in a false nine, and hope that he can get some form back by the time DCL returns.
All that's predicated, I suppose, on a very modest short term ambition for the season (staying up will do), combined with a less modest longer-term ambition (an actual plan going forward, one that doesn't change with the weather) that would set the club in the right direction after years at sea.
(You can avoid relegation without scoring goals as long as you're not conceding them either in today's Premier League, right?)
Everton also considering selling Dele to Besiktas it appears. I think you take just about any offer here, he hasn't worked out and Lampard doesn't seem to trust him.
Selling all your attackers when you lack both quantity and quality in attack seems pretty risky but it could be the galaxy brained way to actually get better, with the major major proviso that you need an actual plan for how to reinvest the money in some other forwards or creative midfielders.
View: https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1559564515062292481
Selling all your attackers when you lack both quantity and quality in attack seems pretty risky but it could be the galaxy brained way to actually get better, with the major major proviso that you need an actual plan for how to reinvest the money in some other forwards or creative midfielders.
View: https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1559564515062292481
Seeing him slide from "So when does Madrid put in The Godfather offer?" to "Deluxe Ross Barkley" to "Deluxe Ravel Morrison" is heartbreaking as a guy who started watching Spurs after the 2014 World Cup.
Conte and Patrici were both really impressed with Udogie when they were both in Italy and have wanted to bring him into the fold for a while.
Seems like we have an army of fullbacks now; especially if players like Perisic and Moura are going to mainly play there.
Seems like we have an army of fullbacks now; especially if players like Perisic and Moura are going to mainly play there.
Pretty robust mix of battle tested vets, young guys with promise, positionally flexible guys who can be useful up front as well.
I agree. I think if Chelsea or City want to pay 40 for Gordon you grab it with both hands, even if the sale of Dele leaves it very thin up top.
I disagree that Everton are looking at the drop. The defense is tighter. Chelsea got very little from open play and a rookie mistake aside Villa didn’t either. Iwobi has become a monster in the middle of the park. He hasnt had much help yet but a back 3 of Tark, Holgate, Coady (I’ll take any Mina games as a bonus since he cannot stay healthy), with Patterson and Mykolenko as young but very promising and mobile wingbacks to go with Coleman and Vinagre as veterans, and a midfield of Onana, Gueye, and Iwobi forward is going to be hard to get through. That’s a 5-3-2 or 3-5-2 and it means DCL with someone up top, not sure where Gordon or Gray fits, maybe it’s a back 4 and a 4-2-3-1. But that’s a much more solid base. We may not threaten for Europe but we’re not going to ship 5 goals in a game to Watford either.
Very slightly smokier smoke regarding Pulisic; this story from a Newcastle-area paper says that Chelsea are now open to letting him go. NBC had a similar story, but I think they were just aggregating this one.
It’s hard to believe since we’re 2 weeks into the EPL season, but there’s still 2 more week left in the window. That’s enough time for a deal to come together, but all parties need to start shaking their tail feathers. An untimely injury, another team sniffing around with a vague “better offer,” the fee structure and clauses, broken fax machines…in general, in seems like moves within the EPL are getting more and more complicated and fewer and fewer get done get done last minute.
View: https://twitter.com/WestHam/status/1559880219875426304
West Ham gets Kehrer from PSG, so they will actually be able to play 2 CBs now.
West Ham gets Kehrer from PSG, so they will actually be able to play 2 CBs now.
View: https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/1559887601015857152?s=20&t=z1YfFkZl_DD6Mbhfy994uw
Everton is leaving the choice up to Dele.
It was clear from the start that Lampard never rated him. He had his moments- the three-goal comeback vs. Palace doesn't happen without him coming on for Andre Gomes at the half - but he did not get much game time and he failed to make an impact when he did.
The deal with Spurs was structured to pay Spurs more if he reached a threshold of games with Everton. If this goes through he won't. Spurs will get a cut of the money from Betsikas and Everton will make a little too.
That they're leaving it up to him seems the unkindest cut of all - "go, stay, who cares." This, when Everton are desperately short of attacking players.
It's shocking how far he's fallen. Something is not right, mentally/emotionally. It's sad.
Everton is leaving the choice up to Dele.
It was clear from the start that Lampard never rated him. He had his moments- the three-goal comeback vs. Palace doesn't happen without him coming on for Andre Gomes at the half - but he did not get much game time and he failed to make an impact when he did.
The deal with Spurs was structured to pay Spurs more if he reached a threshold of games with Everton. If this goes through he won't. Spurs will get a cut of the money from Betsikas and Everton will make a little too.
That they're leaving it up to him seems the unkindest cut of all - "go, stay, who cares." This, when Everton are desperately short of attacking players.
It's shocking how far he's fallen. Something is not right, mentally/emotionally. It's sad.
Dele had 18 goals and 7 assists as a 20 year old for a second place Spurs side that finished with 86 points and +60 goal differential. He could play almost anywhere on the pitch--it's really sad to see his career having gone down this path without any real explanation.
Dele began declining well before Jose arrived. Mourinho knew what was up and tried to save him from himself.
View: https://twitter.com/MourinhoPics/status/1559565693623959552
View: https://twitter.com/MourinhoPics/status/1559565693623959552
Back then he played with a very aggressive edge that sometimes boiled over - he's just lost that completely. A bunch of those goals were scrappy goals in the box (mixed in with some worldies of course). His first ever goal for Tottenham to get a draw on the road against Leicester comes to mind. I can't even imagine him getting into a position like that now without falling over.
United have totally lost their minds if these reports are true. 80m and massive wages on a five year deal for a 30-year-old defensive midfielder who has won everything elsewhere and is only coming for the fat stacks. Amazing to think that Woodward left and they somehow got worse in the transfer market.
View: https://twitter.com/theMadridZone/status/1559885792717295621
View: https://twitter.com/MadridXtra/status/1559952272410411009
View: https://twitter.com/theMadridZone/status/1559885792717295621
View: https://twitter.com/MadridXtra/status/1559952272410411009
Saw this yesterday and I think it’s an incredible move for this season. Casemiro is so good and does so much work for Madrid, which is often obscured by the wealth of attacking talent he supports. He is truly the midfield destroyer United have struggled to find. Casemiro would make everyone else better.
But €80m and mind boggling wages for 5 years? They better be 100% sure about his attitude and training regime. It’s a massive risk, but as someone who watches a lot of EPL, it would be real fun to see Casemiro ply his trade there.
But €80m and mind boggling wages for 5 years? They better be 100% sure about his attitude and training regime. It’s a massive risk, but as someone who watches a lot of EPL, it would be real fun to see Casemiro ply his trade there.
If the goal is to return to CL footy at all costs, it makes sense. Especially the “all costs” part.
If it was a functional team that was just missing a DM - a la Arsenal circa 2014 or something - then I could totally see this. But it's a completely dysfunctional team that has all sorts of problems, most of which Casemiro won't really help to solve. Ten Hag didn't pursue a DM the entire summer so clearly he didn't think that this was the one critical piece of the puzzle (FDJ may be great, but he isn't a DM).
United need an actual strategy for rebuilding that is centered on scouting, buying good young players who are on the up, and letting Ten Hag develop them.
View: https://twitter.com/GazBFrance/status/1559245305681436673?s=20&t=VOnbqUfORYCrTE3CT6NH3A
This is pretty brutal, and Im saying that as supporter of a club that is legendary for its poor business.
This is pretty brutal, and Im saying that as supporter of a club that is legendary for its poor business.
As you can tell, I’m a big Casemiro fan, while this certainly is a desperation play ManU (I doubt he actually moves…), I do think he’ll make everyone else’s job so much simpler.
Like Rodri and Fabinho, you can put Casemiro on an island in the middle of pitch and he’ll own all of that terrain. He’ll shield the CBs from a lot of 1v1 duels plus he’s so strong in the air he can compensate for Midget Martinez.
Casemiro also allows your other mids to press higher and harder knowing they’ve got cover behind them (as opposed to a miscast Eriksen).
Casemiro also rates out as a very strong progressive passer. He’s not world class at spraying the ball round from deep, but he can consistently break a line and accelerate counters after winning the ball back.
He’s also been very reliable, with only 2 injuries costing him significant lost - a broken leg in 2016 and an ankle sprain in 2017 (plus COVID in 2020 alas).
All said, I’ll be really surprised if he does move. He’s been at Madrid for a decade now (minus a loan season at Porto). All appearances are that he loves the club and wants to be a lifer. Of course, an €80m offer is probably too much for Perez to turn down, especially since Madrid had recruited several outstanding young mids already. Then it becomes about the wages….
Edit: the Twitterati are saying ManU would double his wages, which would be north of £400k/week. Casemiro’s heart might be all Madrid, but he’d have to be breaks dead to turn down those wages for ages 30-35. But silly season and all that.
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I disagree with some of that list (Maguire should be as red as the shirt he wears for his fee and wages), but I think it generally gets the point across that ManU is a fucking dumpster fire in the transfer market. Their best move was sabotaging the fax machine.
Why has Varane been such a bust? I’ve long wondered why we didn’t see more of him.
Is Jadon Sancho officially a full bust? If given some actual time on the pitch is it unreasonable to think he’d find his feet again?
Why has Varane been such a bust? I’ve long wondered why we didn’t see more of him.
Is Jadon Sancho officially a full bust? If given some actual time on the pitch is it unreasonable to think he’d find his feet again?
The list overall shows how pathetic we’ve been but there are ratings I disagree with.
Sancho has been far from a bust and I think part of the reason people lable him a failure is because they don’t realize what kind of player he is. He’s not a pact swashbuckling winger. His intelligence is his best gesture and he’ll be a success if/when United ever find themselves again.
Sancho has been far from a bust and I think part of the reason people lable him a failure is because they don’t realize what kind of player he is. He’s not a pact swashbuckling winger. His intelligence is his best gesture and he’ll be a success if/when United ever find themselves again.