The generic transfer thread

[Hendo]

I'm surprised Tottenham didn't go in for Mendy, they desperately need a keeper.

Seen they're after Reya? Or has that fallen through?

Personal terms agreed but no agreement on fee yet

Also after Mamardashvili

I never quite get how they can agree on personal terms before the fee between clubs is agreed? I might be being thick, but I thought clubs had to agree before the new club could speak to the player.

[Winston Biscuit]

Havertz to Arsenal for big money really baffles me.

[NathStPaul]

Havertz to Arsenal for big money really baffles me.

I don't think it is that bad of a move tbh. Still young and I feel Arsenal will play him in his actual position rather than as a striker. One of the biggest criticisms of Arsenal last season was that their squad wasn't big enough/didn't have enough quality. I think Havertz certainly improves their squad.

[Hendo]

Havertz to Arsenal for big money really baffles me.

I don't think it is that bad of a move tbh. Still young and I feel Arsenal will play him in his actual position rather than as a striker. One of the biggest criticisms of Arsenal last season was that their squad wasn't big enough/didn't have enough quality. I think Havertz certainly improves their squad.

Would tend to agree with this as well. Wasted as a striker at Chelsea, could get a new lease of life at Arsenal.

Although the big money baffles me a bit, quite how Chelsea can demand so much is beyond me, he must be on a mega wage.

[Sanguine]

Ronaldo, Benzema, Koulibaly, Ziyech, Mendy, Kante, Neves. Lesser names like Musa and Amrabat. Potentially Bernardo Silva as well, and maybe Thomas Partey.

Saudi Arabia is becoming a thing in football, isn't it?

[Sanguine]

City to land a formal bid today for Declan Rice, per David Ornstein.

Will someone just please join an Arsenal/United/Liverpool/Newcastle? I'm beginning to think a Super League wouldn't be a bad idea.

[Winston Biscuit]

Ronaldo, Benzema, Koulibaly, Ziyech, Mendy, Kante, Neves. Lesser names like Musa and Amrabat. Potentially Bernardo Silva as well, and maybe Thomas Partey.

Saudi Arabia is becoming a thing in football, isn't it?

I am not convinced at all it is.

Vast majority of players going there are ones on the way down looking for a nice final payday. Small handful of others who just want the spondoolies. Because Saudi money is the shiny new exciting thing, rubbish journalists are going to link anyone and everyone to a move there, which will make it feel a bigger thing than it is, when after the dust (sand) settles it will just be older players looking for that payday who are taking the overseas players spots in Saudi teams. Also the weather, (lack of) football culture, and non access to the European Champions League is going to be quite off-putting to many players and will stop the league growing into anything we here take seriously

Only areas of concern to me would be:

1. if the Saudi clubs end up with financial links to English clubs which can then directly impact our own league by distorting the markets and removing any idea of a level playing field
2. if UEFA, being attracted to anyone with money as they are, decide to start offering guest spots to clubs/leagues outside of Europe into European competitions

[Winston Biscuit]

Tonali reportedly on his way to Newcastle. Serie C side Brescia will take around €14M of that!

[genome]

Spurs likely in for Maddison as Newcastle cool their interest (they have FFP restrictions)

Finally a creative midfielder

[Hendo]

Yep, no-brainer signing for Spurs.

[NathStPaul]

Good move all around.

I know we are very early days but I predict Big Ange will be a big hit at Spurs. Got to sign a competent goalkeeper though.

[genome]

Good move all around.

I know we are very early days but I predict Big Ange will be a big hit at Spurs. Got to sign a competent goalkeeper though.

Done deal apparently for Gugliermo Vicario

(Me either)

[NathStPaul]

Good move all around.

I know we are very early days but I predict Big Ange will be a big hit at Spurs. Got to sign a competent goalkeeper though.

Done deal apparently for Gugliermo Vicario

(Me either)

See, it is transfer moves like that which make me worry about Spurs. They really needed a keeper who knows the league imo. Pickford would be perfect for them, Raya would have been fine too. They have gone for the cheaper option again and it might come back to haunt them.

[Hendo]

Certainly one from left field. 7 clean sheets in 31 games and conceding 39 goals last season, isn't horrific and certainly an improvement on the season before 7 clean sheets in 38 games but conceded 70! But yeah, I probably would've gone for Reya as well, even if it cost a bit more. Bit more of a known quantity.

[Clyde1998]

Ronaldo, Benzema, Koulibaly, Ziyech, Mendy, Kante, Neves. Lesser names like Musa and Amrabat. Potentially Bernardo Silva as well, and maybe Thomas Partey.

Saudi Arabia is becoming a thing in football, isn't it?

I am not convinced at all it is.

Vast majority of players going there are ones on the way down looking for a nice final payday. Small handful of others who just want the spondoolies. Because Saudi money is the shiny new exciting thing, rubbish journalists are going to link anyone and everyone to a move there, which will make it feel a bigger thing than it is, when after the dust (sand) settles it will just be older players looking for that payday who are taking the overseas players spots in Saudi teams. Also the weather, (lack of) football culture, and non access to the European Champions League is going to be quite off-putting to many players and will stop the league growing into anything we here take seriously

Only areas of concern to me would be:

1. if the Saudi clubs end up with financial links to English clubs which can then directly impact our own league by distorting the markets and removing any idea of a level playing field
2. if UEFA, being attracted to anyone with money as they are, decide to start offering guest spots to clubs/leagues outside of Europe into European competitions

This feels a lot like China five/ten years ago. Chucking loads of money on players, without any long term idea as to how to sustain a league. China had one of the strongest Asian leagues prior to spending loads of money and now their clubs struggle to compete in the Asian Champions League following the bubble bursting. It completely halted player development for Chinese players and the Chinese national team is probably as weak as its ever been.

Each time a group of high profile players move to a non-major top flight, there's no sustained challenge to the top leagues - we've seen Japan, the United States and China in the past. As you say, the players going are those looking for a big final payday before the end of their career and those who care more about money than playing at the highest level.

In the case of the US (in the 1970s and 80s) and China, it imploded on itself; Japan saw a rapid decline in interest which took decades to recover from. I can see Saudi Arabia going the same way, especially if the Saudi state get bored. We've seen top European players towards the end of their career go play in the US for fifteen years now - but it hasn't lead to the MLS competing with the top European leagues. In fact, Seattle's CONCACAF Champions League win last year was the first MLS side to win the competition since the year 2000; MLS sides are only starting to compete with Mexican sides in the competition (albeit the MLS's egalitarian rules will have a major impact on this).

The Champions League is the biggest thing which will prevent any non-European league from becoming a major league. I doubt the Brazilian league would become the strongest league in the world if it had the money of Saudi Arabia, due to their clubs not playing in the Champions League. Enough players want to compete at the highest level and, in club football, that's the Champions League. I think the new 32-team Club World Cup is the biggest thing which could help Saudi Arabia (and other non-European leagues), especially if it started to be held more regularly than once every four years.

[Winston Biscuit]

Leipzig sign Chrisph Baumgartner from Hamburg in the German 2nd div for €24M. Heard him be hugely talked up and I guess that price tag reflects it.

one to look out for in next seasons Champions League maybe

[Sutekh]

Leipzig sign Chrisph Baumgartner from Hamburg in the German 2nd div for €24M. Heard him be hugely talked up and I guess that price tag reflects it.

one to look out for in next seasons Champions League maybe

Leipzig also getting Carvalho for a season on loan, could be worth watching them next season.

[Winston Biscuit]

Jack Taylor, Posh to Ipswich for £1.5m

Seems to be highly rated

[Sutekh]

Jack Taylor, Posh to Ipswich for £1.5m

Seems to be highly rated

He must be getting on a bit though, I remember watching him in the '74 world cup final.

[Clyde1998]

Jack Taylor, Posh to Ipswich for £1.5m

Seems to be highly rated

He must be getting on a bit though, I remember watching him in the '74 world cup final.

I think he died about ten years ago.