Levy's Lament: The 2019 Summer Transfer Window Thread

Zososoxfan

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I debated whether to wait for the UEL and UCL to wrap up before starting this thread, but the news mill is starting to crank up so I think it's appropriate to start this now. I think Manager/Director news can also go in here, but it may make sense to split that off later. Some quick hits:
  • Hazard to Madrid is everything but official.
  • Godin to Inter has been confirmed (I think?).
  • De Rossi leaving Roma after getting trashed by the Board. This club cannot handle their stars' departures well. At all.
  • List of key transfers that have been completed and become effective 1/7/19 (using global date conventions for a global sport):
    • Lucas Hernandez from Atleti to Bayern (80M)
    • de Jong from Ajax to Barca (75M)
    • Militao from Porto to Real (50M)
    • Raul Jimenez from Benfica to Wolves (becoming permanent I believe) (38M)
    • Pavard from Stuttgart to Bayern (35M)
    • Lo Celso from PSG to Betis (I guess this transfer is permanent as GLC has been there on loan this season and did fairly well) (22M)
    • Alcacer making the move from Barca to Dortmund permanent after an excellent season (21M) - N.B. that perhaps Barca should have tried to give him more minutes last season.
  • Griezmann just announced he plans to leave this summer. Once again, Barca are the presumed destination but we saw how that worked out last summer.
  • De Ligt from Ajax still available and almost certain to move. Barca a likely destination but not a done deal at all.
  • Jovic is a promising young striker from Stuttgart that has been getting interest from every mega club.
  • Rabiot, Herrera, Giroud, Wellbeck, Sturridge, Milner, Monreal, Kompany, Moreno, and Valencia headline the list of players on expiring contracts. Some may have already signed with new clubs or indicated their intention to do so, but none that I know of offhand.
  • Players on relegated EPL sides that should or already are drawing interest:
    • Sessegnon and Mitrovic from Fulham, maybe Mooy from Huddersfield?
  • Wilson (Bournemouth), Murray (BHA), Mililojevic (Palace), Perez (Newcastle), Barnes (Burnley), and King (Bournemouth) all had good goalscoring years. Rondon (Newcastle), Wood (Burnley), and Zaha (Palace) also stand out because they are on clubs with multiple 10+ goalscorers. Ryan Fraser from Bournemouth should also get a look from bigger clubs.
  • La Liga's top scorers were dominated by the old guys. Have to think Iglesias (Espanyol, age 26), Tomas (Rayo (who got relegated), 24), Maxi Gomez (Celta, 22), and Portu (Girona (relegated), 24) are on bigger clubs' radars. Tomas and Portu in particular can probably be had for a good price. Oyarzabal (Sociedad, 22 (!)) is another one to keep an eye on. Jony (Alaves, 27) is another. Perhaps Campana (Levante, 25).
  • In Serie A, Milik (Napoli, 25), Belotti (Torino, 25), and Petagna (SPAL, 23) are the headliners with the latter two more likely to move considering Napoli's bigger status. Defrel (Sampdoria, 27) and Zapata (Atalanta, 28) also had outstanding years but are slightly older.
  • I'll try and get to potential big club targets from the Bundesliga and Ligue 1 later if no one jumps on those.
  • From Barca, there are rumblings about Rakitic and Umtiti perhaps being unloaded.
 

candylandriots

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Small nit - Milivojevic did have a lot of goals, and may be interesting for a lot of teams (I hope not!), but all but 2 or three were penalties. He's a defensive midfielder.
 

rguilmar

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I believe Tomas is Real Madrid property. If not, he’s a really talented player and someone will snatch him up. Much older, but you would think someone would want Christhian Stuani from Girona as well. 40 goals in 65 games in Spain over the last two years is nothing to sneeze at.
 

67YAZ

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Another small nit - I don’t believe Milner’s contract is expiring ..
There's some places listing Milner's deal as expiring this summer and other outlets have been saying 2020. I have to think Liverpool would love to keep him and would push for a 2-year extension. There's buzz that Milner may want to go back to Leeds if they get promoted.

Edit: I guess not Leeds next season...
 
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Zomp

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I think Griezmann goes to Barca, Coutinho goes to Chelsea, and Hazard goes to Real.

For United, I just hope they go young and fully accept the rebuilding process.
 

SoxFanInCali

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I think FIFA rejected the appeal. They can further appeal to the CAS, but FIFA said they couldn't delay the punishment until the further appeal is heard. Obviously, rulings on things like this seem to get made up as they go along, but for the moment it doesn't look great.

Guess they will just have to recall some of the 5,000 players they have out on loan everywhere.
 

Mugsy's Jock

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Also Spurs' Toby Alderweireld has a £25m release clause that would seem to be affordable by a big club to pick up an experienced high-end back this summer. Man U have been previously connected.

But I know you knew that.
 

bosox4283

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There's a lot of talk that Man City wants to sign Rodrigo, the 22-year-old Atletico midfielder. My guess is that it's going to happen for about 70M euros, which is nothing for City and a great investment in a young player with tremendous potential. In just one year with Simeone, he's become great and will continue to get better.
 

teddykgb

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There's a lot of talk that Man City wants to sign Rodrigo, the 22-year-old Atletico midfielder. My guess is that it's going to happen for about 70M euros, which is nothing for City and a great investment in a young player with tremendous potential. In just one year with Simeone, he's become great and will continue to get better.
Can he hit that long diagonal pass that is such an important part of Pep's system. Youtube highlights are what they are but to me Busquets (who Rodri is compared to) was always just so mercilessly good at recycling the ball side to side quickly with accuracy to keep Barca on the front foot. He would just sit there and quickly spray it side to side and it's such an important way to deal with the very deep defenses and still get 1 v 1 opportunities on the wings. It's clear there's talent there, but does he have that super accurate passing range?
 

SocrManiac

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So who replaces Allegri? @SocrManiac
The Italian media is insane. I’ve seen everything from Conte, Sarri, and even Pep.

Conte makes some sense, as I think his relationship with Marotta led to his departure. Marotta’s move opens that door, though I don’t think Conte would have the freedom he wants in the market as Juve always have a director.

I think the Ronaldo signing did a lot of damage to the team’s chemistry and may have hamstrung Allegri to some level. There are hints of many departures this summer with thinner rumors of talent coming in. I hated the signing when it happened and I’m not hugely fond of it now for the long-term health of the side.
 

67YAZ

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Kompany to leave City, become Anderlecht’s player-manager. Always excited to see the player-manager role. How will he run training? How will he make adjustments in-match? Call for subs? This would make for a great series.
 

67YAZ

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Dortmund move quickly, snatch up Thorgan Hazard for €25.5m. That's a proven Bundesliga player just entering his prime for about 35% of Pulisic's fee. Also rumors that Dortmund are in the driver's seat for Julian Brandt. That would be quite a double swoop.

Edit: Brandt confirmed now, too. Impressive early business.
 
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blueline

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Dortmund move quickly, snatch up Thorgan Hazard for €25.5m. That's a proven Bundesliga player just entering his prime for about 35% of Pulisic's fee. Also rumors that Dortmund are in the driver's seat for Julian Brandt. That would be quite a double swoop.
They just made the Brandt signing official about 30 minutes ago. Also signed Nico Schulz from Hoffenheim. Such an impressively run club. Will hopefully be enough to keep pace with whatever Bayern does this summer as it was a great title race this season.
 

DJnVa

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Report that Atletico Madrid will reportedly make a €25m bid on Kieran Trippier from Spurs. Napoli was previously rumored to be interested.
 

67YAZ

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They just made the Brandt signing official about 30 minutes ago. Also signed Nico Schulz from Hoffenheim. Such an impressively run club. Will hopefully be enough to keep pace with whatever Bayern does this summer as it was a great title race this season.
So Brandt had a €25m release clause, and Schulz reportedly cost €27m. So that's three proven quantities for €77.5m, just €13.5m more than what they got for Pulisic. That's great business all done before June 1.
 

67YAZ

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Jovic to Madrid official, rumored at €70m. Once in a life time bit of business for Frankfurt.

Edit: A few other places saying €65m plus add ons. Even at that, it's an 800% profit for Frankfurt in just 3 months. Spend it well!

 
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PedroSpecialK

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James Rodriguez has left Bayern - still Real Madrid's property but it's assumed that he will be sold. PSG and Manchester United are the most heavily rumored destinations

 

PedroSpecialK

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United have signed Daniel James from Swansea for £18m


Also, it appears Džeko will be going to Inter but a fee isn't yet agreed. Rumors of a potential swap deal involving Džeko and Icardi, with Roma potentially adding cash to secure Icardi.
 

Zomp

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I don't know much about James but from what I've read he's one of the fastest players alive and performed well in the FA Cup against premier league teams last year.
 

Cellar-Door

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Fairly reputable sources in Europe reporting that West Ham have agreed on a fee with Villareal for Pablo Fornals of about £24M and are now discussing personal terms. Interesting to see if he's intended as the solution in CM or if they are planning to move Lanzini and this is his replacement.
 

Zososoxfan

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Alexander Isak has been loaned by Dortmund to Sociedad for EU 6.5M. Isak was on loan from Dortmund to Willem in the Netherlands. Dude had 13 goals and 7 assists in 13 (!) Eredivisie appearances. Dortmund supporters are relieved there is apparently a buy-back clause. Isak is a big man at 1.90M tall and is only 19 years old. Seems like a nice piece of business from Sociedad.
 

Zososoxfan

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Tim Weah also appears likely to be loaned from PSG to Lille for approx. EU 10M. I'd rather Weah be competing in EPL, La Liga, or Budesliga, but getting minutes is the most important thing. No guarantee of that at Lille, but they're also qualified for UCL and for that amount of money, have to think he'll get opportunities.
 

Kliq

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Alexander Isak has been loaned by Dortmund to Sociedad for EU 6.5M. Isak was on loan from Dortmund to Willem in the Netherlands. Dude had 13 goals and 7 assists in 13 (!) Eredivisie appearances. Dortmund supporters are relieved there is apparently a buy-back clause. Isak is a big man at 1.90M tall and is only 19 years old. Seems like a nice piece of business from Sociedad.
Isak is my boy and I was sad he didn't make Sweden's WC squad since that team didn't have any real talent at forward and their top scorer ended up being their CB. The Zlatan comparisons are inevitable, beginning when as a 16 year old he scored 13 goals for the Swedish side AIK. He never really got any time to play for Dortmund, which was strange considering how committed they are to youth development, but he finally got to show his stuff this year in the Netherlands. He's not going to be Zlatan BUT he does play with a kind of technical flair that is unusual for a guy that size.
 

Zososoxfan

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Isak is my boy and I was sad he didn't make Sweden's WC squad since that team didn't have any real talent at forward and their top scorer ended up being their CB. The Zlatan comparisons are inevitable, beginning when as a 16 year old he scored 13 goals for the Swedish side AIK. He never really got any time to play for Dortmund, which was strange considering how committed they are to youth development, but he finally got to show his stuff this year in the Netherlands. He's not going to be Zlatan BUT he does play with a kind of technical flair that is unusual for a guy that size.
Image result for peter crouch hilarious
 

SoxFanInCali

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California. Duh.
Haha, after the board upgrade I couldn't find my Crouch avatar to re-upload at first, so I came close to using that shot.
 

Zososoxfan

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Ferland Mendy from Lyon to Madrid official for EU 50M. He's a very solid LB, but that seems obscenely high. Then again, there are few game changers in the world at FB (LB - Robertson, Alba, Alaba, Alonso (?); RB TAA, Kimmich, Walker (?)) that paying a premium there makes some sense I guess?

Gaya from Valencia is likely to get moved this summer and certainly not later than next summer, unless the La Liga money really starts to make a difference.
 

Zososoxfan

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This may be tongue in cheek, but I think Levy is smart to be holding out. With Poch's tactical versatility, Spurs can be shrewd and pickup two more limited players (a DMF and CMF) to fill out the MF corps along with Sissoko, Winksy, Eriksen, and anyone else if they stick around (Dier?). I would love to see if they can pry Thomas from Atleti (since they would still have Rodri) or Pjanic from Juve (they'd still have Can) on the high end, but more realistically it's someone like Zubeldia, Roca, or Pereira at DMF.

At CMF, Napoli has a glut of players in Allan, Ruiz, and Zielinski (the auto parts king). If Barca are seriously ready to move on from Rakitic, a 1-2 year stint from him would be welcome. Lo Celso would be an outstanding get and maybe Levy is just throwing names out there to create some unrest from his targeted sellers.
 

candylandriots

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I love Aaron Wan-Bissaka, but if United is really offering £60MM, I will buy him a first class bus ticket to Manchester.
 

coremiller

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Kyle Walker at age 27 went for 50m two years ago. Walker was a better player, but was also 6 years older and pace-dependent, and the league keeps getting richer. 60m for a guy with AWB's performance record at age 21 isn't that crazy -- you can hand him the keys to RB for a decade.
 

candylandriots

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For a team like Palace, I think they could improve their team with 60 million well-spent pounds (“well-spent” being the key words) rather than holding a young, elite RB.

If transfermarkt.de is a good measure (which it probably isn’t) , I’d prefer Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Michu Batshuayi in exchange for AWB. Who knows whether that is feasible or not, but seems a good trade.
 

Morgan's Magic Snowplow

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Kyle Walker at age 27 went for 50m two years ago. Walker was a better player, but was also 6 years older and pace-dependent, and the league keeps getting richer. 60m for a guy with AWB's performance record at age 21 isn't that crazy -- you can hand him the keys to RB for a decade.
From what I've seen, AWB is a monster defensive player - good positioning and truly special quickness and tackling ability to shut down good wing players in space. But I'm not convinced that he's all that good going forward. Maybe I just haven't seen him enough.