Dybala has said that he wants to stay at Juve, Sarri has said that he sees Dybala as a key player who he can fit into the side in multiple roles, and Paratici is one of the best sporting directors in the business and no doubt aware that Dybala is supremely talented and 25 while Cristiano is 34, Mandzukic is 33, and Higuain is 31.
But otherwise it seems plausible.
Oh yeah. This is where player agency in world football truly beats the US sports framework. Both sides are free to trash each other at will. Both have enough money to do so. And Bale is disinterested enough in the sport to go golfing and blow off steam. Did you see Zizou's comments after Bale's good preseason performance? Paraphrasing: He wanted to play today, so I let him and he did well. This changes nothing. Delicioso!Is anyone else really enjoying this Real Madrid/Bale saga? I think it's great. Zidane has no interest in Bale. Bale's agent keeps trashing Zidane and the club. Bale seems to have no interest in being in Madrid, except for the big paycheck he receives. China wants him but Bale's family doesn't want China.
And now Bale is not traveling with the team to Munich for the Audi Cup...Oh yeah. This is where player agency in world football truly beats the US sports framework. Both sides are free to trash each other at will. Both have enough money to do so. And Bale is disinterested enough in the sport to go golfing and blow off steam. Did you see Zizou's comments after Bale's good preseason performance? Paraphrasing: He wanted to play today, so I let him and he did well. This changes nothing. Delicioso!
This definitely seems to have more legs than I gave it credit for as Nedved has come out and said they’ve received offers and will figure out the future with Dybala, which isn’t exactly a “for sale” sign but isn’t a “thanks but he’s not available” either. United seem to be in for him too.I mean, I get you---but it was reported everywhere so we linked it. Juve has talked to Spurs about him, didn't just say "no". No one thinks it's a done deal or anything. One rumor had Eriksen going back to Juve.
This looks like a real coup for Everton. If he was refusing to sign a new contract, then I guess Juve didn't have much choice. But for a club that can't go toe-to-toe with bigger competitors in the market and also has really struggled at the striker spot since Lukaku left, its pretty amazing to sign such a highly rated young striker for under 30M.Looks like Everton got Moise Kean from Juventus. The kid ended the season very well for club and country. He could be the real deal.
It looks like the transfer agreement contains either a buyback or right of first refusal for Juventus. I hate to see the kid go but he wasn't going to see much time this year and his contract is expiring.
Impressive move by Everton. The Marcel Brands-Mino Raiola relationship is as strong as ever. I thought Everton would bring in Chucky Lozano, but Kean is definitely a cut above.This looks like a real coup for Everton. If he was refusing to sign a new contract, then I guess Juve didn't have much choice. But for a club that can't go toe-to-toe with bigger competitors in the market and also has really struggled at the striker spot since Lukaku left, its pretty amazing to sign such a highly rated young striker for under 30M.
Kean and Richarlison should be a pretty interesting duo.
Agreed on this. Everton (along with LCFC) is the leader of the second tier EPL clubs outside the top 6. For them to get such a well known and hot prospect is a big coup. Hell, if Barca weren't so busy chasing Ney I'd say he would be an awesome fit to split time with Luisito.This looks like a real coup for Everton. If he was refusing to sign a new contract, then I guess Juve didn't have much choice. But for a club that can't go toe-to-toe with bigger competitors in the market and also has really struggled at the striker spot since Lukaku left, its pretty amazing to sign such a highly rated young striker for under 30M.
Kean and Richarlison should be a pretty interesting duo.
I can’t figure out where Dybala fits in Sari’s scheme.I can’t fathom why Juventus would be entertaining this. Dybala was given the #10, he seems to love Turin. He didn’t mesh well with Ronaldo last year and had a down season compared to the previous, but all indications were he was key to Sarri’s plan.
There were times he looked like a left-footed Del Piero, hitting unstoppable curlers into the opposite corner. He’s great with free kicks, too.
I would hate this move.
I think this is the problem with Dybala. A bit like Griezmann and Muller, he’s a fantastic player but purely as a second striker. There’s no place for him in a 4-3-3 because he’s not a winger (he was pretty awful when tried on the wing last year at Juve), he isn’t a lone striker (he has never played that role), and he isn’t a center midfielder. You basically have to play a two striker formation with him (you can call it a 4-2-3-1 but he’s really a second striker when played as a 10 because he’s not dropping deeper into midfield).I can’t figure out where Dybala fits in Sari’s scheme.
More later but trust me that I may have to consult my doctor due to my erection lasting longer than 4 hours.....Agreed on this. Everton (along with LCFC) is the leader of the second tier EPL clubs outside the top 6. For them to get such a well known and hot prospect is a big coup. Hell, if Barca weren't so busy chasing Ney I'd say he would be an awesome fit to split time with Luisito.
Dries Mertens was the lone striker for Sarri during Napoli's prime, and he'd been a winger/10 before that. Dybala seems like the closest thing Juve has to that, I don't think it's a crazy fit. Of course, before Mertens it was Higuain, who's a different type of player, so who knows.I can’t figure out where Dybala fits in Sari’s scheme.
I’m familiar with Sari’s setup at Napoli. I know Mertens and Insigne and what they bring. I think by and large those two are different players than Dybala. Nevermind where Ramsey fits in.Dries Mertens was the lone striker for Sarri during Napoli's prime, and he'd been a winger/10 before that. Dybala seems like the closest thing Juve has to that, I don't think it's a crazy fit. Of course, before Mertens it was Higuain, who's a different type of player, so who knows.
You're not concerned that Idrissa Gueye is leaving for PSG and he was Everton's only competent defensive midfielder?More later but trust me that I may have to consult my doctor due to my erection lasting longer than 4 hours.....
Yes. I'm worried about the defense. Over the last third of the season, it was among the best in the PL. The keeper + back four unit of Pickford, Digne, Zouma, Keane, and Coleman could have walked into any PL side except Liverpool on form over the last two months of the CL season. And of course Gueye was IMO the best DM in the PL.You're not concerned that Idrissa Gueye is leaving for PSG and he was Everton's only competent defensive midfielder?
And the new stadium plans look awesome. Quite a summer.Yes. I'm worried about the defense. Over the last third of the season, it was among the best in the PL. The keeper + back four unit of Pickford, Digne, Zouma, Keane, and Coleman could have walked into any PL side except Liverpool on form over the last two months of the CL season. And of course Gueye was IMO the best DM in the PL.
So two big worries: Zouma was only on loan from Chelsea, and it looks like they won't sell him back due to their transfer ban; and Gueye is gone.
Signing Delph was a good piece of business on short money, and he is good defensively as a CM, but he is not a true DM and not a like-for-like replacement for Gueye. Likewise, buying Andre Gomes from Barcelona following his successful loan is good, he's also a CM who helps add a bit of starch in the middle of the park, but it doesn't offset the loss of Gueye. Strong rumors that Everton will acquire Jean-Phillipe Gbamin from Mainz https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/1159723/Everton-transfer-news-Jean-Philippe-Gbamin-bid-agreement-Mainz-exclusive-latest-EFC-offer who is a classic No. 6. Now, an issue with Gueye was that as strong as he was in the tackling/intercepting passes/cleanup role, he offered little going forward. Gbamin (and Delph, and Tom Davies, and Morgan Schneiderlin, and most other transfer targets) would be weaker defensively, but a little better with the ball. So it's likely that Silva will change his shape a bit, although of course we'll have to see what the window brings.
As the season progressed, Keane and Zouma became an excellent CB pair. Yerry Mina, brought in on big money last year, was hurt for most of the year. Mina is a freak of nature - 6'5" and fast - and a big talent but also very raw. When he played he was often brilliant but also mistake-prone. I'd be fine with a starting CB pair of Keane and Mina, but 1) it's going to take time for them to gel so some of the solidity of last year will be lost, 2) Silva sometimes likes to play three at the back; 3) all that aside, only 2 good CBs is not enough, period. Jagielka went to his original club Sheffield Utd for the victory lap at the end of his career but he was cooked anyway. Mason Holgate had a good loan year at West Brom but has looked terrible in preseason; at best he's a fourth CB and backup at RB. Without Zouma, a good CB is a necessity.
So notwithstanding any help that might come in the window, yes, I'm concerned about the defense.
Still, I'm beyond thrilled with Moise Kean. Still raw and unproven, but the best Everton could do in the window and tremendous upside.
Seems like a staggering amount of money for him, but ManU has significantly upgraded their back line over the last few weeks.Harry Maguire to United for £80m.
What would you have done differently this summer?I hope Ed Woodward never leaves Manchester United.
I think Maguire improves United for sure but I think its a pretty poor use of resources and just doesn't reflect a good process to the market. Woodward reportedly refused Mourinho's request to go over £60M to sign him last summer but now he is one year older (and didn't really do anything special last season to show a higher level) he is willing to buy him for £85M. And in the last 18 months or so you have arguably better players like Laporte going for £57M, Van Dijk for £75M, Lucas Hernandez for £68M, De Ligt for £65M, etc. Maguire just doesn't seem like good value to me in that context.What would you have done differently this summer?
It's a lot of money no doubt but he's the best CB available who happens to be English and on a team that didn't need to sell. We've upgraded half of our back line and hopefully turned it into a strength.
Leicester are heavily rumored to be going after Lewis Dunk from Brighton to replace Maguire, probably at £30-35mweakens Leicester over the short term unless they can spend all that in this window on upgrades, which I doubt
Reported at 52 million euros + 8 million in potential add-ons; as typical, Levy refused to budge and Betis finally cracked. If Spurs add both Ndombele and Lo Celso this summer without selling Eriksen and Alderweireld, that's a major coup of a summer. Spurs will have turned their biggest weakness into a huge strength.Some decent journos in England are tweeting that the Spurs and Real Betis have FINALLY agreed to a fee for Lo Celso.
We'll see. Fingers crossed. And there's been conflicting reports on Sessegnon, but trend seems to be back to Spurs grabbing him.Reported at 52 million euros + 8 million in potential add-ons; as typical, Levy refused to budge and Betis finally cracked. If Spurs add both Ndombele and Lo Celso this summer without selling Eriksen and Alderweireld, that's a major coup of a summer. Spurs will have turned their biggest weakness into a huge strength.
I'm on the other end of this - Cancelo is world class IMO, and Danilo is mid-table quality for a top league. €30m seems like a small makeweight given their relative gulf in talent - Juventus looking to move Cancelo is puzzling in general though. I guess they are a bit cash-strapped after the signings of Romero, Pelligrini, and Demiral on top of Ramsey / Rabiot's sign-on feesGoal.com reporting Joao Cancelo to Man City for Danilo and 30 million EUR,. I like this move by Juve.
MLS clubs have been steadily turning their focus in the transfer market towards Latin America over a number of years. It's not really just Argentina, there are young guys coming from places like Uruguay, Ecuador, and Venezuela as well. Inter Miami just signed Venezuela's U20 captain today.In a different type of transfer, promising Boca youngster Pavon is moving to LA Galaxy on a loan with option to buy. There's been an influx of promising young Argentines (Martinez, Pellegrini, Carranza) into the MLS and this is a positive development for the MLS. If South American players are coming here before heading to Europe, I have to think that will improve MLS's standing in the world football pecking order. Not sure if promising young players from other Latino countries are also starting to see more transfers to MLS.