Summer Transfer Superthread

Bounty Hunter

Don't most of the big money moves to China not last anywhere near the planned length of their contracts anyway?

Drogba - On 19 June 2012 - It was reported that he signed a two-and-a-half-year deal where he will earn £200,000 a week.
On 28 January 2013, Drogba agreed to a one-and-a-half-year deal with Süper Lig team Galatasaray. (6 months total)


Tevez - On 29 December 2016, Tevez signed for Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua,[135] on a reported annual salary of $41 million, which would make him the world's highest-paid football player.
On 5 January 2018, Boca Juniors announced on their social media that Tevez had rejoined the club (1 year total)

He could still move back to Spurs or somewhere similar in a years time

raze_them_all_

With regards bale people need to realise his bills ain't a couple of hundred a month, **** knows what he has invested in, what his liquid net worth is.

I'm in my job purely for money. If someone came along to me and said work for us for 3x your salary you're ****ing right I'd do it

klose

Three times the money for easier work too, easiest decision he could ever make.

Muahahaha

On the Chinese league, just where is the money coming from? Is there a Sky Sports over there selling millions of subs? Or is it just Chinese billionaires trying to outdo each other by throwing money down a black hole with no chance of a return?

Cantona's Collars

https://twitter.com/SkySportsNews/status/1155200710604132353

IncognitoMan

klose wrote: »

Three times the money for easier work too, easiest decision he could ever make.

As a last move of your career.. maybe, but if you have anything left in the tank as an elite level player you should be playing in Europe.

Mossy Keane no way is he italian.

gimli2112

What the hell is there to do in China? There'll be nothing on tv, there's noway he's learning the language, I bet he won't even be able to play fortnite. He'll be back in a Drogba.

Jurgen The German

gimli2112 wrote: »

What the hell is there to do in China? There'll be nothing on tv, there's noway he's learning the language, I bet he won't even be able to play fortnite. He'll be back in a Drogba.

An oul 4 in 1 is hard to bate every now and again tbf gim, might as well get it from the source.

LiamoSail

gimli2112 wrote: »

What the hell is there to do in China? There'll be nothing on tv, there's noway he's learning the language, I bet he won't even be able to play fortnite. He'll be back in a Drogba.

A real man of culture here

~Rebel~

gimli2112 wrote: »

What the hell is there to do in China? There'll be nothing on tv, there's noway he's learning the language, I bet he won't even be able to play fortnite. He'll be back in a Drogba.

As long as there's golf he'll be grand. He's made it clear enough that that's the sport he does for fun anyway, and I'm sure they have plenty of very exclusive, very expensive courses out there.

PARlance

~Rebel~ wrote: »

As long as there's golf he'll be grand. He's made it clear enough that that's the sport he does for fun anyway, and I'm sure they have plenty of very exclusive, very expensive courses out there.

Plenty of great golf for him in Beijing, he'll probably be the least wealthy of his fourball..

Oat23

Muahahaha wrote: »

On the Chinese league, just where is the money coming from? Is there a Sky Sports over there selling millions of subs? Or is it just Chinese billionaires trying to outdo each other by throwing money down a black hole with no chance of a return?

It's because Xi Jinping loves football and included it in some list a few years ago of important areas the country needs to improve.


All these companies are buying teams and importing players as an investment in their company. They want to be seen as a group who are backing the party and the president and doing all they can to help the country achieve their goals.



They're basically trying to buy the communist party's love, ironically.

Irish_rat

gimli2112 wrote: »

What the hell is there to do in China? There'll be nothing on tv, there's noway he's learning the language, I bet he won't even be able to play fortnite. He'll be back in a Drogba.

I'm sure there is plenty to do as a multi-millionare.

thebaz

Jurgen The German wrote: »

Fair fcuks to Bale.

It makes me laugh seeing people pontificate about what him and what he should do, make a name for himself again, only driven by money, disappointing end to his career etc.

There is not a single person here working that if they were offered an obscene amount of money to take a job with a less "glamorous" company that they would refuse it. He has won arguably the biggest prize in world football on 4 separate occasions and was instrumental in a couple of those, he has nothing left to prove to anyone.

Why should Bale or any footballer / athlete for that matter be held to some kind of higher standard than everyone else on the planet.

Thankfully the world is not just full of such people - ther are actually many people who are not purely driven by monetary greed - Bale going to China and snubbing Europes biigger clubs for the tail end of his career , is a poor fooballl move , yes he will make more money doing so, but money that he really doesnt need.

~Rebel~

thebaz wrote: »

Thankfully the world is not just full of such people - ther are actually many people who are not purely driven by monetary greed - Bale going to China and snubbing Europes biigger clubs for the tail end of his career , is a poor fooballl move , yes he will make more money doing so, but money that he really doesnt need.

I mean, how much money do any of us need? It's sort of an arbitrary comment.

He's 30, injury prone, has won tonnes, lead his country through its best ever international period, and has an opportunity that will set up his family for generations.

Jurgen The German

thebaz wrote: »

Thankfully the world is not just full of such people - ther are actually many people who are not purely driven by monetary greed - Bale going to China and snubbing Europes biigger clubs for the tail end of his career , is a poor fooballl move , yes he will make more money doing so, but money that he really doesnt need.

Not trying to be funny but why would it bother you as a poor football move and more to the point why should he or any other athlete care?

None of us know what it's like to be a pro athlete at even a semi professional level never mind the elite level he has been at for much of his career yet people can wax lyrical about him and his motivations?

LuckyLloyd

Muahahaha wrote: »

On the Chinese league, just where is the money coming from? Is there a Sky Sports over there selling millions of subs? Or is it just Chinese billionaires trying to outdo each other by throwing money down a black hole with no chance of a return?

China is a strange place in many respects, but no stranger than the obscenely wealthy class that has developed over the last 30 years as they moved away from a centrally planned economy. The top 1% in the country now hold a third of all wealth.

The team that won seven league titles in a row there (Guangzhou) is owned by a company that focusses on selling apartments to the super rich in China and has become the world’s largest real estate company value wise in the process. So at root the money behind the whole thing is coming from the owners, mostly super rich and looking for things to spend money on.

To be a success long term it only needs to properly catch on in its own domestic market. It’s already topping a Billion dollars of revenue each year - the CL makes a little over double that, for reference.

Bounty Hunter

Reading all the Bale to China stuff makes me wonder... Why are we not seeing Ozil to china links? Arsenal would be happy to shift his wage and with Nicolas Pepe, Lacazette & Auba all expecting to start, he might not be playing every game. He is a luxury player and the clubs who would want him can't afford him. He could probably get a move if he was willing to take a paycut but he seems happy enough as is and Chinese clubs would be one of the only places where he could get the same if not better. He has retired from International football already too which would be a positive in terms of such a move.

If they could move him on and bring in a defender with the money saved as well as Tierney they could actually have a really strong summer, but talk of Ozil going anywhere has been quiet.

Cantona's Collars

Liverpool seem to have signed some fella who looks like he's been squatting in an empty building.

https://twitter.com/LFC/status/1155387234641731584

thebaz

Jurgen The German wrote: »

Not trying to be funny but why would it bother you as a poor football move and more to the point why should he or any other athlete care?

None of us know what it's like to be a pro athlete at even a semi professional level never mind the elite level he has been at for much of his career yet people can wax lyrical about him and his motivations?

I guess cause I have an opinion cause he is /was a top class footballer, in public domain , so I can have an opinion, same as if he joined a team in Iceland, hardly the most challenging football move - Personally I have little interest in the China league - Really top class players like Messi/Ronaldo who are older are still challenging them selves at the very top level , and they are older than Bale - thats it

RasTa

Liverpool not improving their first 11 has has already dented their push for a title challenge. Strange summer from them, can't understand the logic.

Utopia Parkway

RasTa wrote: »

Liverpool not improving their first 11 has has already dented their push for a title challenge. Strange summer from them, can't understand the logic.

Not that easy to improve that first 11 unless you spend serious money on a top player. It's more quality depth in a couple positions they need.

Agent Coulson

How has Ferdinand been getting on as DOF at Man U?

eagle eye

RasTa wrote:

Liverpool not improving their first 11 has has already dented their push for a title challenge. Strange summer from them, can't understand the logic.

Where do you improve that first eleven?
You have Gomez, Lovren and Matip all contending for one spot at centre back which is the only position in defense that you could improve and in Gomez is as good as you'll get.
You have Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita, the Ox, Henderson, Milner and Chirivella for three midfield spots. You have Firmino and Origi for the centre forward role and lots of depth behind Mane and Salah too.
So who do you bring in for the first eleven?

pjohnson

Agent Coulson wrote: »

How has Ferdinand been getting on as DOF at Man U?

Are you getting a FIFA or FM save confused with reality?

You can do better than this its only pre-season but cmon.

Drumpot

RasTa wrote: »

Liverpool not improving their first 11 has has already dented their push for a title challenge. Strange summer from them, can't understand the logic.

I was talking to a friend who’s a Liverpool fan. He thinks it’s the squad (fixture list - extra games) and Copa/African players (fatigue) that could really hit Pool this year.

They are in a superb spot where they can be very choosy as to who they add to a very settled squad.

Been a funny transfer summer. Chelsea can’t sign players but still signed as more first team players then other teams!!!:pac:

RasTa

eagle eye wrote: »

Where do you improve that first eleven?
You have Gomez, Lovren and Matip all contending for one spot at centre back which is the only position in defense that you could improve and in Gomez is as good as you'll get.
You have Wijnaldum, Fabinho, Keita, the Ox, Henderson, Milner and Chirivella for three midfield spots. You have Firmino and Origi for the centre forward role and lots of depth behind Mane and Salah too.
So who do you bring in for the first eleven?

Who is the depth you speak of? Never heard of Chirivella, wiki says he has been at the club since 2015 and played once in the PL.

That is not a title winning midfield partnership, again behind Mane and Salah nobody bar Shaquri

I'm not fussed but did think they would go on another £150m spree this year to push for the title.

Still think they will finish 2nd but not as close.

rossie1977

Matip and Lovren aren't very good as we saw before VVD came in. Gomez is a fine centreback but has missed 565 days via 5 separate long term injuries since 2015 so can't be trusted to stay fit.

Henderson is 30 next summer, decent player but clearly there are better options out there than having him start most games.

Liverpool should have invested in a top class forward. Between burnout, lack of form or injuries Liverpool alternatives up front are a kid who has never played a second of premier league football and origi.

Iused2likebusts

RasTa wrote: »

Who is the depth you speak of? Never heard of Chirivella, wiki says he has been at the club since 2015 and played once in the PL.

That is not a title winning midfield partnership, again behind Mane and Salah nobody bar Shaquri

I'm not fussed but did think they would go on another £150m spree this year to push for the title.

Still think they will finish 2nd but not as close.

Liverpool dont have the money that the Manchester clubs have to spend that type of money every summer.

eh i dunno

Everton have bid 55m for Zaha

Agent Coulson

I'd be surprised to see Zaha leave for a team without Champions League football.

Isn't that the reason he wants to leave Palace in the first place to play Champions League football.

IncognitoMan

It's a risky strategy from Liverpool alright but I'd imagine they'll be comfortably closest to City again this year. But City do need a center back, without Kompany they wouldn't have won the title last season so he needed replacing.

If Liverpool got Bruno Fernandes and City let that CB slip I think Liverpool will win it this year

NIMAN

So the Bale move is off.

He's staying at Madrid.

Mess of a club.
I'd any perez stepped in and told ZZ he had to use Bale after that shocking defeat last night.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49144872

Agent Coulson

He might out last Zidane if Madrid get off to a bad start Zidane could be gone by Christmas.

NIMAN

Yeah, already predicted that.

Doesn't matter who you are at Madrid, or how many trophies you've won, if you spend £300mill+ you better play good football and be winning most games.

ZZ out by Xmas

TitianGerm

NIMAN wrote: »

So the Bale move is off.

He's staying at Madrid.

Mess of a club.
I'd any perez stepped in and told ZZ he had to use Bale after that shocking defeat last night.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49144872

Jovic got injured in that game as well. After the other injuries during preseason maybe they feel they are short of players now?

the whole year inn

Iused2likebusts wrote: »

Liverpool dont have the money that the Manchester clubs have to spend that type of money every summer.

Liverpool have loads of money to spend , have they even got one signing of note? I think when you put Orgi as a backup your in trouble .The bench is the problem and will be there death of them again this season.

TitianGerm

the whole year inn wrote: »

Liverpool have loads of money to spend , have they even got one signing of note? I think when you put Orgi as a backup your in trouble .The bench is the problem and will be there death of them again this season.

He didn't say they have no money to spend, he clearly said they don't have as much as the Manchester clubs which is true.

the whole year inn

TitianGerm wrote: »

He didn't say they have no money to spend, he clearly said they don't have as much as the Manchester clubs which is true.

Yes but still have enough money to out spend most clubs. They could buy most players bar Mbappe or Neymar types.
Liverpool not buying and strengthen their bench is going to back fire.

is_that_so

Bale saga seems more complicated, according to Marca, with his family intervening. Zidane still apparently hasn't changed his view.

https://www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2019/07/28/5d3d9db7e2704e02208b4603.html

NIMAN

Funny how posters on here were saying it would set his family up for generations, yet it now looks like it's his family who are asking him not to go.

So even the family don't care about all this extra money.

I'd say this China move was agent driven. His family would be minted out of it.

I think if Bale stayed we will see Zidane upset and maybe he'll walk sooner rather than later.

I wonder what the beef is between the 2 of them? You'd think most managers would like to have a Gareth Bale in their squad

eagle eye

RasTa wrote:

That is not a title winning midfield partnership, again behind Mane and Salah nobody bar Shaquri

Who in the midfield is not good enough? Fabinho is top notch, Wijnaldum does a job that not many can do at his level. The other spot should be Keita's.
So who is the player you say is not up to it?

NIMAN

I'm assuming 2nd spot would be seen as a successful season for Liverpool this season?

If so, I think they can do it with the same squad. The top 2 are too good for everyone else in the EPL.

pjohnson

They need to replace Sturridge imo. Granted he wasnt integral but he did get about 20 PL games last year even if most (all?) were off the bench. They need someone to be able to offer Firmino a rest for a few minutes. Milner I guess will be backup to Robertson in place of Moreno if required. Chamberlain is back to add depth to midfield again so only light a back up striker really.

RasTa

eagle eye wrote: »

Who in the midfield is not good enough? Fabinho is top notch, Wijnaldum does a job that not many can do at his level. The other spot should be Keita's.
So who is the player you say is not up to it?

The depth of the midfield and the whole squad like I said already.

Buddy97mm

RasTa wrote:

The depth of the midfield and the whole squad like I said already.

Depth of midfield??? Three places from:

Henderson
Wijnaldum
Milner
Fabinho
Keita
Lallana
Oxlade Chamberlain
Shaqiri

RasTa

Buddy97mm wrote: »

Depth of midfield??? Three places from:

Henderson
Wijnaldum
Milner
Fabinho
Keita
Lallana
Oxlade Chamberlain
Shaqiri

Aren't good enough

JPA

Fabinho is first name in midfield, Keita is still in the category of hoping he will go to the next level.

The rest while all very good, no doubt about that, could be improved upon.

There's talk of looking for a no 10 but that could upset the balance.

It's a difficult situation because that team can only improve by about 5% max.

marklazarcovic

Lofl at utd fans telling pool fans their team who got 97 points and won the biggest competition in club cup football worldwide last season,that the players they had during that spell aren't good enough.

Gtfo