Grimaldo on a free to Leverkusen. 4 year deal.
View: https://twitter.com/eurofootcom/status/1658037898334150656?s=20
View: https://twitter.com/eurofootcom/status/1658037898334150656?s=20
Where these guys actually in the same room or did someone just ask AI to generate this picture for Twitter.Grimaldo on a free to Leverkusen. 4 year deal.
View: https://twitter.com/eurofootcom/status/1658037898334150656?s=20
Thinking on it a bit more, being a 22yo starter for a Championship club might be a better spot for Aaronson than a rotation/super-sub role on an EPL squad. He really needs minutes at high level competition. Like any relegated club, Leeds has a lot to sort out quickly, but if Aaronson can get some guarantees about playing time, this might be a good place for the next year.I feel like Aaronson has some good value with five subs. He brings an energy that I think would be perfect as a super sub. But his frantic style of play isn’t as good to start matches.
Really depends on the manager as well. A Big Sam type who doesn't press that much is not a great fit for his game.Thinking on it a bit more, being a 22yo starter for a Championship club might be a better spot for Aaronson than a rotation/super-sub role on an EPL squad. He really needs minutes at high level competition. Like any relegated club, Leeds has a lot to sort out quickly, but if Aaronson can get some guarantees about playing time, this might be a good place for the next year.
or Leeds may decide to blow it all up and start fresh, who knows.
Between Ndidi and Adams, interesting time for a good EPL club looking to poach a 6 from the relegated guys. Ndidi is younger than I thought he was as well, I would have guessed late prime but he is actually just getting there.There's a lot of talent on Leeds, Leicester, and Southampton that will be attractive.
Obviously, Maddison will be the major attraction, but I'm really interested in seeing where Ward-Prowse ends up. He's in his prime at 28 and may be the best dead-ball specialist in the league. JWP is also just a wonderfully rounded 8 - high percentage passes, key passes & assists, tackles, interceptions...he's a real all-action midfielder. The list of suitors should be very long.
I'm also a Ndidi fan and think he could be the midfield destroyer that many clubs across the Big 5 need. Ndidi's performances nosedived last season along with so many of his teammates, but I think that defensive monster is still in there. Could be a huge bargain.
I do think that Kovacic's technique is of MANC's standard, but I don't recall him being nearly as much of a threat to arrive late in the box as Gundogan. Kova can definitely hit them from the outside, but I'd guess his shooting output is a lot lower than Gundogan's.Lots of BS rumors out there but the ones with the most legs I've seen are probably:
Bellingham --> Real Madrid. This seems all but done by many accounts.
Kovacic --> City. My guess is this would mean Gundogan is leaving, most likely to Barcelona. Kovacic is about as good as it gets in terms of stepping right in to fill that role for the next couple years.
Mount --> United. I don't really understand this one from United's perspective as it seems like they really need a deeper lying midfielder, not a final third player since they already have Bruno. But there is lots and lots of smoke.
Rice --> Arsenal. Bayern also in the mix but they rarely pay massive money for players and English players rarely leave the PL when they have other good options.
Mac Allister --> Liverpool. Lots and lots of smoke on this one as well.
Lots of midfielders on the move!
I love JWP but I think you're overrating him quite a bit. I think the question most EPL clubs have about him is can he cope well enough in open play to keep him on for his world class setpieces. My guess is some stable top half club picks him up as a specialty player to bring on a sub. I could see Liverpool doing that in a vaccuum, but it feels like their set piece takers are pretty solid already, even if not quite at JWP's level.There's a lot of talent on Leeds, Leicester, and Southampton that will be attractive.
Obviously, Maddison will be the major attraction, but I'm really interested in seeing where Ward-Prowse ends up. He's in his prime at 28 and may be the best dead-ball specialist in the league. JWP is also just a wonderfully rounded 8 - high percentage passes, key passes & assists, tackles, interceptions...he's a real all-action midfielder. The list of suitors should be very long.
I'm also a Ndidi fan and think he could be the midfield destroyer that many clubs across the Big 5 need. Ndidi's performances nosedived last season along with so many of his teammates, but I think that defensive monster is still in there. Could be a huge bargain.
I rate Gundogan really highly and think Kovacic is probably a downgrade in general. But it’s hard to say if he can be influential in the final third because so much is just about the role not the player. Gundogan was never a final third producer until Pep gave him this role which demands those selective runs into the box and more interplay at the top of the box. All of a sudden he pots 13 goals in a season.I do think that Kovacic's technique is of MANC's standard, but I don't recall him being nearly as much of a threat to arrive late in the box as Gundogan. Kova can definitely hit them from the outside, but I'd guess his shooting output is a lot lower than Gundogan's.
Werent Utd using Bruno in a deeper lying role with some success late in the season?Lots of BS rumors out there but the ones with the most legs I've seen are probably:
Bellingham --> Real Madrid. This seems all but done by many accounts.
Kovacic --> City. My guess is this would mean Gundogan is leaving, most likely to Barcelona. Kovacic is about as good as it gets in terms of stepping right in to fill that role for the next couple years.
Mount --> United. I don't really understand this one from United's perspective as it seems like they really need a deeper lying midfielder, not a final third player since they already have Bruno. But there is lots and lots of smoke.
Rice --> Arsenal. Bayern also in the mix but they rarely pay massive money for players and English players rarely leave the PL when they have other good options.
Mac Allister --> Liverpool. Lots and lots of smoke on this one as well.
Lots of midfielders on the move!
I don't watch them frequently enough to say. You may be right on that.Werent Utd using Bruno in a deeper lying role with some success late in the season?
This will never happen, but I would like to see a single club (Forest?) pick up all the best players from the relegating teams, and see how far they can go playing together.There's a lot of talent on Leeds, Leicester, and Southampton that will be attractive.
Obviously, Maddison will be the major attraction, but I'm really interested in seeing where Ward-Prowse ends up. He's in his prime at 28 and may be the best dead-ball specialist in the league. JWP is also just a wonderfully rounded 8 - high percentage passes, key passes & assists, tackles, interceptions...he's a real all-action midfielder. The list of suitors should be very long.
I'm also a Ndidi fan and think he could be the midfield destroyer that many clubs across the Big 5 need. Ndidi's performances nosedived last season along with so many of his teammates, but I think that defensive monster is still in there. Could be a huge bargain.
true, but I want this experiment to be the best from last season's relegated teams. How high can the Relegated All Stars go? What if they all went to Wrexham?That's not too far off from what Forest actually did in 22-23.
I’ve read that City has a buyback clause in Lavia ag £40m that kicks in next summer. That will make for interesting negotiations for all interested parties.Romeo Lavia, from Southampton will also be an interesting prospect. He wasn't great this year, but is only 19 had showed a lot of potential to be a very good deep-lying midfielder.
Also they had horrific goalkeeping. FBRef had them at -21.7 Post-Shot Expected Goals - Goals Allowed, by far the worst in the league, and the worst any PL side has had in several seasons by a big margin. Even an average goalkeeper would have given them a good shot to stay up.If you kept Southampton intact under a good manager and added a few complementary pieces they'd be a viable PL side in 2-3 years. They were just too raw and not very well led.
Wait, aren't the Spurs rumored to sign Bazunu as Lloris' replacement?Also they had horrific goalkeeping. FBRef had them at -21.7 Post-Shot Expected Goals - Goals Allowed, by far the worst in the league, and the worst any PL side has had in several seasons by a big margin. Even an average goalkeeper would have given them a good shot to stay up.
There have been rumors at one time or another of both that and Meslier, who also got his team relegated. Both are likely bunk.Wait, aren't the Spurs rumored to sign Bazunu as Lloris' replacement?
Interesting summer coming up at the Bernabéu. The team essentially prepaid the Eden Hazard (remember him????) contract this season to get him off the books for next season in preparation for this. Kroos and Modric will re-sign for one year at reduced wages. Ascensio is off to PSG, and both Nacho and Ceballos remain unsigned. I am guessing Ancelloti will be off to manage Brazil too.Benzema officially leaving Real Madrid and by many reports they will push for Kane.
I think this will happen. As much as he might want Shearer’s record, Kane just can’t turn that move down. For Levy and the club, beyond Kane signing a new contract this is a second best scenario assuming they can extract a huge fee, much preferable to selling him within the league.
Why would Kane want to go to a "transition" season Real?Interesting summer coming up at the Bernabéu. The team essentially prepaid the Eden Hazard (remember him????) contract this season to get him off the books for next season in preparation for this. Kroos and Modric will re-sign for one year at reduced wages. Ascensio is off to PSG, and both Nacho and Ceballos remain unsigned. I am guessing Ancelloti will be off to manage Brazil too.
With Bellingham all but signed, they’ll need a Benz replacement too and still need a backup to this replacement until Endrick arrives after next season. They would ideally get a backup RB who is young and can replace Carvajal. Oh, and a new manager.
Real we’re always due for a “transitional” season too, as much as a team like Madrid would allow for a transition. I think the expectation was that this would take place last season, but the club won La Liga and the Champions League, and probably felt compelled to run it back again. The club have been remarkably and annoyingly good at long term planning lately so I imagine they have contingencies in place for Benzema leaving.
At this point, just recreate those great Real Madrid and Barcelona squads from a decade plus in the past in KSA. Only Xavi is really busy, and maybe Pique. What’s Victor Valdés up to these days?
Transition is only in terms of players and roles at a club like Real Madrid. Not expectations. Not results.Why would Kane want to go to a "transition" season Real?
And then presumably going hard for Mbappe (and perhaps another defender or two) next summer to complete the jigsaw.Transition is only in terms of players and roles at a club like Real Madrid. Not expectations. Not results.
Players like Modric and Kroos will take a step back, others will step forward like Valverde and Camavinga (and presumably Bellingham). Benzema out, Kane in. So on and so forth.
That team will still go for trophies.
Benzema officially leaving Real Madrid and by many reports they will push for Kane.
I think this will happen. As much as he might want Shearer’s record, Kane just can’t turn that move down. For Levy and the club, beyond Kane signing a new contract this is a second best scenario assuming they can extract a huge fee, much preferable to selling him within the league.
Doubt Kane leaves EPL this summer. Maaaaybe he goes to United, otherwise he'll finish out his contract and move wherever the hell he wants next summer.Interesting summer coming up at the Bernabéu. The team essentially prepaid the Eden Hazard (remember him????) contract this season to get him off the books for next season in preparation for this. Kroos and Modric will re-sign for one year at reduced wages. Ascensio is off to PSG, and both Nacho and Ceballos remain unsigned. I am guessing Ancelloti will be off to manage Brazil too.
With Bellingham all but signed, they’ll need a Benz replacement too and still need a backup to this replacement until Endrick arrives after next season. They would ideally get a backup RB who is young and can replace Carvajal. Oh, and a new manager.
Real we’re always due for a “transitional” season too, as much as a team like Madrid would allow for a transition. I think the expectation was that this would take place last season, but the club won La Liga and the Champions League, and probably felt compelled to run it back again. The club have been remarkably and annoyingly good at long term planning lately so I imagine they have contingencies in place for Benzema leaving.
At this point, just recreate those great Real Madrid and Barcelona squads from a decade plus in the past in KSA. Only Xavi is really busy, and maybe Pique. What’s Victor Valdés up to these days?
The Guardian is saying medical in the next 48 hours, and they don’t usually pedal information unless it’s rock solid. Also mentioned that Mac has a release clause below £60m. Could be excellent business if they get this over the line. And very curious who the next international star Brighton will identify to plug in.Rumors that Mac Allister to Liverpool is close.
Can I push back on this? Do English soccer players and fans really buy into the fiction that top flight football was invented only 30 years ago? If I were to pick an American parallel, it feels a lot like celebrating Aaron Judge setting a new American League home run record: somewhat meaningful, but an afterthought to most fans.I'd be pretty surprised if Kane left the EPL. I don't know if he wants to play in Spain, but I think Shearer's record is hugely important to him, and I think if he wants to leave Spurs, Chelsea and Man U will both put in competitive bids.
Well, maybe he wants to beat Jimmy Greaves' record for most career top flight goals in England? I know Greaves' Tottenham record was extremely important to him, as was Teddy Sheringham's EPL record for Spurs which he passed years ago. I think it's all a factor that may keep him in England; along with other things such as top English players rarely going abroad in their primes, the idea of the EPL being the best league, etc.Can I push back on this? Do English soccer players and fans really buy into the fiction that top flight football was invented only 30 years ago? If I were to pick an American parallel, it feels a lot like celebrating Aaron Judge setting a new American League home run record: somewhat meaningful, but an afterthought to most fans.
I believe that they kinda do. Or more charitably, with the way the sport has evolved, players and the fans view 50s/60s achievements less like baseball where we tend to be like "it's all the same stats, fair enough!" and treat the records as if they matter per se and more like basketball where that era of the game was so different that comparisons at the statistical level are almost pointless.Can I push back on this? Do English soccer players and fans really buy into the fiction that top flight football was invented only 30 years ago? If I were to pick an American parallel, it feels a lot like celebrating Aaron Judge setting a new American League home run record: somewhat meaningful, but an afterthought to most fans.
I don't think its about going abroad so much as about winning trophies. For players and fans in Europe, trophies are everything in terms of legacy. Statistical records just aren't that big of a deal. Who can name how many goals Messi scored for Barcelona off the top of their head? If he scored 50 more or 50 less would anybody care? No. His Barcelona legacy is all about being part of 4 CL winners and 10 La Liga winners, leading the way for almost all of those. Probably the most comparable thing is NFL QBs and Super Bowls or best NBA players and championships. But because football has always been about big clubs and all the biggest players end up at those clubs eventually, not winning anything for a big player is an even blacker mark against you in terms of legacy. The best player never to win a trophy in the modern game is probably Matt Le Tissier or Antonio Di Natale, two players who really aren't even comparable to Kane in terms of talent or impact, which sort of says it all.Well, maybe he wants to beat Jimmy Greaves' record for most career top flight goals in England? I know Greaves' Tottenham record was extremely important to him, as was Teddy Sheringham's EPL record for Spurs which he passed years ago. I think it's all a factor that may keep him in England; along with other things such as top English players rarely going abroad in their primes, the idea of the EPL being the best league, etc.
The conversation around Kane going abroad has always befuddled me. The argument largely centers around the idea that Kane needs to win something in his career and so he needs to go to some club that faces almost no domestic competition, like Bayern, or competition from only two clubs, like Real Madrid, and being a part of one of those club's 90th title winning squads would be a massive form of validation for him, which is hard for my American brain to comprehend.
I can definitely see him staying this summer, either for his reasons or Levy's, and waiting to pick his spot next year. But I don't think he'll have a better opportunity than Real Madrid. This would also be the way of best protecting his Spurs legacy in a way, in that he wouldn't have to play against them or help a rival to success. For Arsenal fans at least there is definitely a much greater willingness to look kindly on players who eventually left to go abroad (Cesc, Henry, Vieira) than players who left to strengthen a PL rival (RVP, Adebayor)I think a lot of options are on the table for Kane, I'd be surprised if he ended up in a club abroad. I think Man U and Chelsea make competitive bids for him this summer. I think if Levy proves too tough, he runs his contract down and picks his destination next summer. If Spurs somehow end up being very competitive this upcoming season, he signs a new deal and stays at Spurs.
The Robbies were talking about this a few months ago, and they mentioned that Shearer is more famous for the goal scoring record than he is for leading Blackburn to a title. I can't quantify how important the scoring record is to Kane, but I think it's of sizable significance.I don't think its about going abroad so much as about winning trophies. For players and fans in Europe, trophies are everything in terms of legacy. Statistical records just aren't that big of a deal. Who can name how many goals Messi scored for Barcelona off the top of their head? If he scored 50 more or 50 less would anybody care? No. His Barcelona legacy is all about being part of 4 CL winners and 10 La Liga winners, leading the way for almost all of those. Probably the most comparable thing is NFL QBs and Super Bowls or best NBA players and championships. But because football has always been about big clubs and all the biggest players end up at those clubs eventually, not winning anything for a big player is an even blacker mark against you in terms of legacy. The best player never to win a trophy in the modern game is probably Matt Le Tissier or Antonio Di Natale, two players who really aren't even comparable to Kane in terms of talent or impact, which sort of says it all.
I can definitely see him staying this summer, either for his reasons or Levy's, and waiting to pick his spot next year. But I don't think he'll have a better opportunity than Real Madrid. This would also be the way of best protecting his Spurs legacy in a way, in that he wouldn't have to play against them or help a rival to success. For Arsenal fans at least there is definitely a much greater willingness to look kindly on players who eventually left to go abroad (Cesc, Henry, Vieira) than players who left to strengthen a PL rival (RVP, Adebayor)
I don't think its about going abroad so much as about winning trophies. For players and fans in Europe, trophies are everything in terms of legacy. Statistical records just aren't that big of a deal. Who can name how many goals Messi scored for Barcelona off the top of their head? If he scored 50 more or 50 less would anybody care? No. His Barcelona legacy is all about being part of 4 CL winners and 10 La Liga winners, leading the way for almost all of those. Probably the most comparable thing is NFL QBs and Super Bowls or best NBA players and championships. But because football has always been about big clubs and all the biggest players end up at those clubs eventually, not winning anything for a big player is an even blacker mark against you in terms of legacy. The best player never to win a trophy in the modern game is probably Matt Le Tissier or Antonio Di Natale, two players who really aren't even comparable to Kane in terms of talent or impact, which sort of says it all.
I can definitely see him staying this summer, either for his reasons or Levy's, and waiting to pick his spot next year. But I don't think he'll have a better opportunity than Real Madrid. This would also be the way of best protecting his Spurs legacy in a way, in that he wouldn't have to play against them or help a rival to success. For Arsenal fans at least there is definitely a much greater willingness to look kindly on players who eventually left to go abroad (Cesc, Henry, Vieira) than players who left to strengthen a PL rival (RVP, Adebayor)
Yeah, I'm with Kliq on this one. People remember goalscorers and players whose style is indelible.The Robbies were talking about this a few months ago, and they mentioned that Shearer is more famous for the goal scoring record than he is for leading Blackburn to a title. I can't quantify how important the scoring record is to Kane, but I think it's of sizable significance.
Shearer is certainly more famous for holding the PL goal scoring record than for winning a title with Blackburn, but which is more important to him? I would wager very strongly that it is the latter.Yeah, I'm with Kliq on this one. People remember goalscorers and players whose style is indelible.
The thing with Kane is that he seems like an England homebody and I do think the EPL record matters to him. I could see United trying to swing a deal for him, but for this summer I think it's more likely he ends up in Madrid because Spurs control his rights. If he plays for Spurs next season and runs down his contract, then United, Chelsea (gag), and Arsenal (double gag) are in play. Maybe Newcastle or Liverpool as well?