Levy's Lament: The 2019 Summer Transfer Window Thread

teddykgb

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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.
Which basically describes Walker if you swap quickness for speed.

AWB has only the one season but he seems to be a heck of a player. I doubt anyone who signs him at that price will regret it.

In my view Palace should be holding out for more, again, at the top level there are precious few homegrown players who can actually play on a really good top 4/CL contender team. The roster restrictions can get tight, which is why a complete mediocrity like Fabian Delph has been able to stay at City.
 

rguilmar

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Sarri from Chelsea to Juve. Not sure it’s as desirable of a job for me, but others probably have better insight. To me, it’s UCL title or bust at Juve right now, and the squad probably will be due for a bit of a transition. On the surface, they’re pretty stacked, but they have several older and/or divisive players.

Marco Giampaolo looks set to manage Milan. Simpler task to me- qualify for UCL, and they’ve added some nice pieces in January (Paqueta and Piatek). With the future rocks of Italian football in place at Milan in Donnarumma and Romagnoli, it could be a nice place to build something.
 

bosox4283

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Rumors are heating up that Joao Felix will be joining Atletico from Benfica for 120 million euros.

Any insights or reactions?
 

Zososoxfan

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Sarri from Chelsea to Juve. Not sure it’s as desirable of a job for me, but others probably have better insight. To me, it’s UCL title or bust at Juve right now, and the squad probably will be due for a bit of a transition. On the surface, they’re pretty stacked, but they have several older and/or divisive players.

Marco Giampaolo looks set to manage Milan. Simpler task to me- qualify for UCL, and they’ve added some nice pieces in January (Paqueta and Piatek). With the future rocks of Italian football in place at Milan in Donnarumma and Romagnoli, it could be a nice place to build something.
I'd say it's a top 5 job. Best comparable ATM is probably Bayern. Playing in a world class league and clearly the richest and most powerful club with some others (finally) starting to show signs of life. The squad may be getting older, but it's also got some of the best young talent in the world in Kean, Betancour, Rugani, Cancelo, Bernadeschi, and Can (can't believe he's only 25). They have plenty of other talented players in their prime like Douglas, Szczczeny, De Sciglio, and Sandro. So while I agree they have a tall order to turn over the older legends, they also have a rock solid board and management in place to keep that place super stable.
 

coremiller

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I'd say it's a top 5 job. Best comparable ATM is probably Bayern. Playing in a world class league and clearly the richest and most powerful club with some others (finally) starting to show signs of life. The squad may be getting older, but it's also got some of the best young talent in the world in Kean, Betancour, Rugani, Cancelo, Bernadeschi, and Can (can't believe he's only 25). They have plenty of other talented players in their prime like Douglas, Szczczeny, De Sciglio, and Sandro. So while I agree they have a tall order to turn over the older legends, they also have a rock solid board and management in place to keep that place super stable.
The problem with the Juve job is that there's no real upside unless you win the Champions League. Failing to win the league would be a disaster, you're a failure if you don't make at least the CL semis, and it's a tricky squad to manage.
 

DJnVa

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I'd say it's a top 5 job. Best comparable ATM is probably Bayern. Playing in a world class league and clearly the richest and most powerful club with some others (finally) starting to show signs of life. The squad may be getting older, but it's also got some of the best young talent in the world in Kean, Betancour, Rugani, Cancelo, Bernadeschi, and Can (can't believe he's only 25). They have plenty of other talented players in their prime like Douglas, Szczczeny, De Sciglio, and Sandro. So while I agree they have a tall order to turn over the older legends, they also have a rock solid board and management in place to keep that place super stable.

Juventus plot £30m raid for Tottenham star Kieran Trippier
 

Zososoxfan

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The problem with the Juve job is that there's no real upside unless you win the Champions League. Failing to win the league would be a disaster, you're a failure if you don't make at least the CL semis, and it's a tricky squad to manage.
As I alluded to earlier, The domestic expectations of the job should change over the next few years. The Milans seem to finally be getting their houses in order, and Roma seems to be spending, and Napoli are well run. Atalanta should also get noted for their outstanding domestic campaign.

And while you are right that the club will be measured based on European success, this is a squad that is the envy of every club with a handful of exceptions. The squad strength and the stable board make it a top 5 manager job IMO.
 

teddykgb

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He's not the next CR7, but he may be the next Kaka.
I think it’s a lousy move for him in the sense that Atletico isn’t the most attacking team and he will be under immense pressure to produce in a team where chances aren’t as free flowing. But if his alternative is City then there’s obviously a much better path to the first team and I could see the appeal. I don’t think either club is a great fit right now, it’s a big step up and there’s a lot of risk involved. A player like Andre Silva had a tremendous season in the Liga Nos and struggled to make an impact in Italy and Spain. Felix has far more natural talent but leading the line in a title chase will be a really big ask.

Kaka is often the comparison. He also reminds me a lot of Jovetic when he was at fiorentina. Ridiculous skill and ball control. Open question for me is whether the relative lack of top end speed holds him back as a striker.
 

SocrManiac

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As I alluded to earlier, The domestic expectations of the job should change over the next few years. The Milans seem to finally be getting their houses in order, and Roma seems to be spending, and Napoli are well run. Atalanta should also get noted for their outstanding domestic campaign.

And while you are right that the club will be measured based on European success, this is a squad that is the envy of every club with a handful of exceptions. The squad strength and the stable board make it a top 5 manager job IMO.
Not having Roman Abramovich in the owner's box (wherever he watches the games from in his exile) is probably reason enough to make the switch.
 

bosox4283

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I think it’s a lousy move for him in the sense that Atletico isn’t the most attacking team and he will be under immense pressure to produce in a team where chances aren’t as free flowing. But if his alternative is City then there’s obviously a much better path to the first team and I could see the appeal. I don’t think either club is a great fit right now, it’s a big step up and there’s a lot of risk involved. A player like Andre Silva had a tremendous season in the Liga Nos and struggled to make an impact in Italy and Spain. Felix has far more natural talent but leading the line in a title chase will be a really big ask.

Kaka is often the comparison. He also reminds me a lot of Jovetic when he was at fiorentina. Ridiculous skill and ball control. Open question for me is whether the relative lack of top end speed holds him back as a striker.
I both understand and don't understand why Joao -- or does he go by Felix? -- is making this move. In terms of upside, he gets paid more money, plays for a team that will be in Champions League and competes with Real Madrid and Barcelona, and spends time with a club (and coach) that has made players into stars. Plus, as a kid, he stays relatively close to home.

On the downside, Simeone will insist on Joao playing both sides of the ball. Some players have really bought into this mentality with great success - Arda Turan was bought by Barca (then collapsed...), Griezmann became a top-5 or top-10 world player, Rodrigo has interest from ManCity, and Koke and Saul are (usually) playing for the national team. Others, like Carrasco or Gaitan or Gelson Martins just didn't fit at all and it was almost obvious from the beginning.

Simeone has, at times, flipped the switch to a more offensive scheme, so maybe this move will force Simeone on that direction but I doubt it.
 

rguilmar

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I'd say it's a top 5 job. Best comparable ATM is probably Bayern. Playing in a world class league and clearly the richest and most powerful club with some others (finally) starting to show signs of life. The squad may be getting older, but it's also got some of the best young talent in the world in Kean, Betancour, Rugani, Cancelo, Bernadeschi, and Can (can't believe he's only 25). They have plenty of other talented players in their prime like Douglas, Szczczeny, De Sciglio, and Sandro. So while I agree they have a tall order to turn over the older legends, they also have a rock solid board and management in place to keep that place super stable.
I don’t disagree with any of this. Tons of talent, lots of stability. For me, unless you win the Champions League, you’re a bust and that’s a lot of pressure. Couple that with (as you mentioned) improving domestic competition and the phasing out of veterans, and there could be a lot of additional pressure, if that’s even possible. The job wouldn’t be as desirable as it appears on the surface, just my opinion and certainly anyone can rightly disagree.

Of course, I’m the “glass is half empty” guy imagining what it would be like not winning the Champions League, not winning Serie A for a year (gasp!) three years down the road, dealing with a declining CR7, and it doesn’t interest me.

Glass half full- win UCL and never pay for a meal again in Turin.
 

Zososoxfan

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I don’t disagree with any of this. Tons of talent, lots of stability. For me, unless you win the Champions League, you’re a bust and that’s a lot of pressure. Couple that with (as you mentioned) improving domestic competition and the phasing out of veterans, and there could be a lot of additional pressure, if that’s even possible. The job wouldn’t be as desirable as it appears on the surface, just my opinion and certainly anyone can rightly disagree.

Of course, I’m the “glass is half empty” guy imagining what it would be like not winning the Champions League, not winning Serie A for a year (gasp!) three years down the road, dealing with a declining CR7, and it doesn’t interest me.

Glass half full- win UCL and never pay for a meal again in Turin.
I'm not a Juve fan, but I have to think that making the semis is seen as a success, even for Juve. Even for the greatest clubs in the world, knockout football involves a great deal of luck. It's the philosophy of the John Henry Sox - build a team to make the UCL semis every year because at that point, the teams are good and the sample sizes are small. MANC, Real, Bayern, etc. didn't make the semis this year FFS.

Juve went to the finals in 16-17 and 14-15. Before that, Juve hadn't been to the semis since 02-03 (when they made the finals and lost to Milan).

Looking at the data, Real and Bayern have totally hogged the semis over the past decade. Real made the semis every year from 2011-2018 (!) and Bayern every year from 2010-2018 except for '11 and '17. Even Barca didn't make it from 16-18 (TBF, Barca had a stretch from 06-15 with only '07 and '14 missing). Milan, MAN U, and Inter have no semis appearances this decade! Stats like this make me appreciate just how good Atleti's teams from '14-'17 were.

All of this is to say that stringing together 4-5 years of making the semis is incredibly difficult and only done by the biggest clubs. Juve did it in the late 90s and I understand that fans want a return to that. But even as a spoiled Barca fan, I'd say having a club capable of making the semis consistently is a bigger sign of health than a club that wins one year, but can't return to the semis consistently.
 

rguilmar

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I'm not a Juve fan, but I have to think that making the semis is seen as a success, even for Juve. Even for the greatest clubs in the world, knockout football involves a great deal of luck. It's the philosophy of the John Henry Sox - build a team to make the UCL semis every year because at that point, the teams are good and the sample sizes are small. MANC, Real, Bayern, etc. didn't make the semis this year FFS.

Juve went to the finals in 16-17 and 14-15. Before that, Juve hadn't been to the semis since 02-03 (when they made the finals and lost to Milan).

Looking at the data, Real and Bayern have totally hogged the semis over the past decade. Real made the semis every year from 2011-2018 (!) and Bayern every year from 2010-2018 except for '11 and '17. Even Barca didn't make it from 16-18 (TBF, Barca had a stretch from 06-15 with only '07 and '14 missing). Milan, MAN U, and Inter have no semis appearances this decade! Stats like this make me appreciate just how good Atleti's teams from '14-'17 were.

All of this is to say that stringing together 4-5 years of making the semis is incredibly difficult and only done by the biggest clubs. Juve did it in the late 90s and I understand that fans want a return to that. But even as a spoiled Barca fan, I'd say having a club capable of making the semis consistently is a bigger sign of health than a club that wins one year, but can't return to the semis consistently.
As a similarly spoiled Barca fan, I totally agree. My line of thinking is more along real life (or what I assume to be real life) pressures of that particular job. Juve haven’t been European Champions since the mid-90s if I remember correctly. My assumption is, since they’ve basically been Serie A champs before a ball is even kicked the last few years, that the fans are desperate for only one thing. @SocrManiac feel free to correct me here.

Add to that the real possibility that Juve might take a slight step back domestically as other teams improve, and fans might lump blame on the manager in charge if he doesn’t get that elusive UCL title. I think the Bayern comparison is apt, except that they have won the Champions League relatively recently.

Thinking back on my favorite Barca team (08-09), most of the memories are in the Champions League. Stamford Bridge, the Messi header in the final, the blowout of Bayern. I’d go so far as to say that season would feel incomplete without winning the Champions League. I could be projecting, but Juve fans could feel that this era of teams is incomplete without a UCL title, and that Sarri will feel real pressure from the fans to deliver what they feel is missing. This is just me explaining why I personally wouldn’t covet this job as much as others would.
 

rguilmar

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Rumor has it Raul de Tomas to Benfica for 20 million euros from Real Madrid. I thought he did well last year at Rayo and could be a good bit of business for Benfica.
 

67YAZ

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Speaking of players on the fringes at Madrid, Dani Ceballos blasted a beautiful long distance goal yesterday. He turns 23 in August and has been a total nonentity under Zidane. He’s a great buy low candidate.
 

bosox4283

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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?
The Spanish press is saying that Rodrigo to City is going to happen.

To answer your question, I don't think Rodrigo has yet developed the ability to hit the Busquets-style long diagonal pass. Rodrigo was very effective with the ball this year, often finishing matches with a very impressive pass-success rate. But I think Guardiola has some work to do to get him to that level. The talent is there, and he's young, so it's a strong signing.

In turn, Atletico seem likely to sign Marcos Llorente from Real Madrid.
 

Cellar-Door

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So United looks in for a rough summer, want to splash cash but can't get anything done.

Allegedly offerred 45M plus Phil Jones (honestly probably hurts rather than helps) to West Ham for Issa Diop, and were countered with either 40M and Martial or a minimum of 75M cash.
Allegedly got quoted 80M for Harry Maguire and 100M for Kalidou Koulibaly, who might turn down any contract offer because of no UCL.

Woof.
 

Vinho Tinto

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Rumor has it Raul de Tomas to Benfica for 20 million euros from Real Madrid. I thought he did well last year at Rayo and could be a good bit of business for Benfica.
I wonder if this will lead to Seferovic being shopped around. He's a stiff, but had a strong season. The highlight was the hat trick at Belgium in the Nations League that landed Switzerland in the final four.
 

DJnVa

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Cellar-Door

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So not precisely a transfer rumor, but since there is no Chelsea thread.... how insane is this possible Lampard manager signing? He has 1 year of Championship experience where he performed slightly worse than his predecessor, and the highlight of the season was getting upset with Bielsa who passive-agressively shredded his tactics via powerpoint presentation in defending himself.

I mean honestly, you go from chasing the top managers in Europe to hiring Lampard?
 

DJnVa

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So not precisely a transfer rumor, but since there is no Chelsea thread.... how insane is this possible Lampard manager signing? He has 1 year of Championship experience where he performed slightly worse than his predecessor, and the highlight of the season was getting upset with Bielsa who passive-agressively shredded his tactics via powerpoint presentation in defending himself.

I mean honestly, you go from chasing the top managers in Europe to hiring Lampard?
Is there a story somewhere about the Bielsa power-point that does more than mention it?
 

SocrManiac

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So not precisely a transfer rumor, but since there is no Chelsea thread.... how insane is this possible Lampard manager signing? He has 1 year of Championship experience where he performed slightly worse than his predecessor, and the highlight of the season was getting upset with Bielsa who passive-agressively shredded his tactics via powerpoint presentation in defending himself.

I mean honestly, you go from chasing the top managers in Europe to hiring Lampard?
And what does Lampard get for it? Will the fans turn on a club legend? Will it tarnish his legacy?
 

Cellar-Door

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Is there a story somewhere about the Bielsa power-point that does more than mention it?
Just google Bielsa powerpoint, it was about how they prepare the players, but he used Lampard's team as an example, showing all the tactical prep for Derby.
 

OCST

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Everton purchases from Barca last year's loanee Andre Gomes, whose quality in midfield is exceeded only by his movie-star good looks. 22M transfer fee.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/48764807
Excellent business for the Toffees.



Transfer partially funded by sale of Nikola Vlasic to CKSA Moscow, where he was loaned last year and excelled, including a goal against RM in the Champions League. Vlasic was one of many redundant pieces brought in by Koeman & co. in the disastrous summer window of 2017, and never got serious time for Everton.
 

candylandriots

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Looks like Aaron Wan Bissaka to United is a done deal. Can't wait for Ashley Young to outplay him lol
I was about to post this too. The FYP folks from the Palace side are saying it looks like a done deal.

Hopefully Palace can buy him back in two years for £5 million like last time :)

Seriously, sad to lose such a promising young player, but that kind of money for a RB is the sort of deal Palace need to make. Hopefully they can invest it wisely.
 

67YAZ

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I was about to post this too. The FYP folks from the Palace side are saying it looks like a done deal.

Hopefully Palace can buy him back in two years for £5 million like last time :)

Seriously, sad to lose such a promising young player, but that kind of money for a RB is the sort of deal Palace need to make. Hopefully they can invest it wisely.
And it looks like Palace pushed hard enough to get £45m up front, so that can be reinvested quickly (on or off the pitch, natch).

Monaco's Benjamin Henrichs has a £17.5m release clause. He's only 22, very strong defensively, developing his game moving forward, capped by Germany 3 times already. Monaco played him on left a bunch this season, but he had come up as a right fullback. I'm just saying...
 

Vinho Tinto

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Chelsea’s potential transfer ban limits their managerial options. There is work to be done and you could be limited in the changes you can make. It’s not like Roman is unwilling to shitcan a manager due to circumstance. Lampard being a good company man makes sense as a steward until they get clarity on what they can do. Plus, he will have a healthy budget to build out his staff. So it’s not like he has to be on a tactical island. Who knows, maybe he grows into the role and is the right fit.
 

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Chelsea’s potential transfer ban limits their managerial options. There is work to be done and you could be limited in the changes you can make. It’s not like Roman is unwilling to shitcan a manager due to circumstance. Lampard being a good company man makes sense as a steward until they get clarity on what they can do. Plus, he will have a healthy budget to build out his staff. So it’s not like he has to be on a tactical island. Who knows, maybe he grows into the role and is the right fit.

Enough of that. Is Bruno really the Portuguese De Bruyne?
 

OCST

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If anything
Chelsea’s potential transfer ban limits their managerial options. There is work to be done and you could be limited in the changes you can make. It’s not like Roman is unwilling to shitcan a manager due to circumstance. Lampard being a good company man makes sense as a steward until they get clarity on what they can do. Plus, he will have a healthy budget to build out his staff. So it’s not like he has to be on a tactical island. Who knows, maybe he grows into the role and is the right fit.
The knock on effect is that the League of Perpetual Chelsea Loanees, pop. 4677304, are not for sale til Chelsea find out who the manager is and whether their appeal is granted.
 

rguilmar

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Barca also flip Cilleson for Neto. Between that move and selling Gomes, that clears about 60 milion euro (plus a small sale of Cardona to Osasuna). That should balance the accounts for 18-19 and open the door for more spending this summer. The Neto deal won’t be official until July in order to keep the aforementioned books balanced for the past season.
 

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I've been watching the daily AFTV Transfer videos. A couple of days ago the gossip was that Zaha spoke to the high heid yins at Palace, sayin he really wanted to go to Arsenal, the team he supports. At the time the rumoured asking price was £80M which is steep. And now the goss is the asking price is £100M so clearly that heart to heart with the top brass didnae go well. Man U get 25% of the fee...but I don't know how the add ons factor in (to any moneys going to Man U) and/or if that's a significant factor in holding up the deal. Will Zaha throw his toys out the pram to force a move? Who can Arsenal move on to get some cash back?

Looks like Celtic till he dies Tierney is gonne be wearing the Gooners new red and white adidas kit this season. £20M plus around £5M in add ons may well get it done. I do like Celtic, but i'm more keen to see Scottish players getting higher level footie. Tierney is a very good player, shame him and Robbo have the same postion.

Notorious penny pinchers Celtic are gonna splash the KT cash on some duffers from East Stirlingshire, but that might just be rumour.
 

candylandriots

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I know that the Zaha sell-on fee to United was a big piece of the Wan-Bissaka negotiations, but I didn’t think it would be needed so soon. I hope not. Palace without Zaha is a perfect recipe to return to the Championship.

What could Palace even do with £150 million? How do you recruit players when there isn’t anyone like Zaha or AWB on the team?

I sure hope this doesn’t happen and especially not to Arsenal.
 

Zososoxfan

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Denis Suarez to Celta (from Barca, back from Arsenal 1/2 season loan) for 13M. Nice bit of business from Celta and Barca, as Celta get an excellent player to feed Aspas and Barca somehow turn this shitshow of player management into a 10M profit. Should've been for 20-30M more, but this should offset a portion of the inevitable Coutinho loss.
 

SocrManiac

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I think Pogba’s had his bags packed for awhile. Between the weighty expectations demanded of his transfer fee and the Mourinho stench he can’t seem to wash off, I think his time in Manchester is over.

I’m finding Neymar’s ever-increasing toxicity to be remarkable. Clubs have proven they’ll put up with some serious shit from their star players, but Neymar is taking dumps his body can’t cash. Even Brazilian fans are turning on him in the wake of the side’s success without him. I wonder where he’ll play next year. PSG don’t want him, I haven’t heard a peep about his return to Barca in over a week, Real Madrid won’t have him, and his wages aren’t tenable for many other clubs. This could get really interesting.