The Arms (Errr, Legs) Race: 2022 Summer Transfer Window
- Thread starter Morgan's Magic Snowplow
- Start date
Because we make more money than God?
We could spend 300 mil every year if the Glazers didn’t take money out.
We could spend 300 mil every year if the Glazers didn’t take money out.
Anytime you can get a guy who had 8 goals last season in the Eredivise for 100M, you’ve got to break all the rules and pull that trigger.
It’s an overpay for sure, but I’m glad the club is backing Ten Hag who clearly wants him.
If he’s gonna perform like the last Ajax player we got he’ll be fine.
If he’s gonna perform like the last Ajax player we got he’ll be fine.
Atleti's Lodi looks ready for a $5M loan with option to buy at $30M to Nott Forest. In a related move, Spurs are finalizing a loan, no option to buy, to send Reguilon to Atleti.
Meanwhile, Barca are now publicly blasting Dest to get him to move. Kounde looked very good yesterday at RB, and Araujo was playing RB before him. Sergi Roberto has even got some time at RB already this season. I get that Dest wants to play at Barca, but dude you gotta move. Barca once again treating a player like trash, but regardless Dest needs to move for the sake of his career.
Meanwhile, Barca are now publicly blasting Dest to get him to move. Kounde looked very good yesterday at RB, and Araujo was playing RB before him. Sergi Roberto has even got some time at RB already this season. I get that Dest wants to play at Barca, but dude you gotta move. Barca once again treating a player like trash, but regardless Dest needs to move for the sake of his career.
Somewhat surprising move to me as Valencia look to sell Carlos Soler to PSG. It seemed like they were financially ok after the Guedes sale, but apparently not. Makes Musah even more of a locked in starter, but sad to see Valencia sink even lower.
View: https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1564616542196744193?s=21&t=pvjAaR5BNaBBzHfR1VmVmg
View: https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/1564616542196744193?s=21&t=pvjAaR5BNaBBzHfR1VmVmg
Chelsea are reportedly going to buy Gvardiol for 90m euros and then loan him back to RBL for the year. Crazy shit.
They better hope that he doesn't do his ACL or get his leg broken. Or that a 20-year-old who has played one year outside of Croatia doesn't have a big downturn in form.
They better hope that he doesn't do his ACL or get his leg broken. Or that a 20-year-old who has played one year outside of Croatia doesn't have a big downturn in form.
I dug into Soler a bit when casting about for Liverpool midfield targets. He's in the last year of his contract and seems to have rebuffed every offer Valencia put on the table. Getting €18m+ for him now is good business if he was going to walk.
Now, do they have enough time to reinvest that?
Atleti Twitter hates this move -- Reguilon is a lifelong Real Madrid fan, is injured and will be out for a month, and is not viewed as an upgrade over Lodi. I get why Lodi wanted to move -- he wants more minutes in the lead up to the World Cup -- but I wish he had stayed. Lodi, despite his defensive liabilities, can be electric on the pitch and can add an offensive spark that the team often needs.
The Athletic confirms Fofana to Chelsea for an base £70m plus add ons. I hope Leicester have enough time to reinvest.
The Athletic also say Wolves have rejected Leeds’ approach for Hwang. I have a familial rooting interest South Korea, so I’d really like to see Hwang end up some place where he gets regular run before Qatar. Son needs an in-form running mate. Not sure Lage sees Hwang as anything more than depth right now.
The Athletic also say Wolves have rejected Leeds’ approach for Hwang. I have a familial rooting interest South Korea, so I’d really like to see Hwang end up some place where he gets regular run before Qatar. Son needs an in-form running mate. Not sure Lage sees Hwang as anything more than depth right now.
That may be the case, but Reggie is a legit FB and potentially one of the best in the world. Not in an electric kind of way, but rather as a solid all arounder who can be a real positive in a cohesive side. I can see why El Cholo is OK with this move.
Also, I'm surprised to see Chelsea go so hard after Fofana. I guess it makes sense to bring in a young CB with Kouli and Thiago both on the wrong side of 30, but just seems like an odd decision to take so late in the window.
View: https://twitter.com/lauriewhitwell/status/1565058408696451073?s=20&t=rbcO6SP8LQ2RkhPFnxcEYw
Everton gets James Garner (the box to box midfielder, not the dead Rockford Files star) from Utd, reported fee maxes out at 15M with add-ons. Garner had a good season on loan at Forest, 4 goals 8 assists all comps, started all three Championship playoff games, ranked a very respectable 16th overall in WhoScored's Championship rankings with a 7.09 for the season, excellent numbers for key passes, pass completion % (both in Championship top 10), and several defensive categories.
A Forest guy was on one of the Everton podcasts. Said Forest fans loved him and wanted him back, but Utd wanted to evaluate him. By the time ETH decided he wasn't in their plans, Forest had already bought like 80 guys. Utd fan reaction to the sale seems to be negative, ie they wanted to keep him.
So Toffees' window is shaping up as:
In
Tarkowski
Coady
Vinagre
McNeil
Onana
Maupay
Garner
Gana Gueye
??? - rumors: Ben Brereton Diaz, Blackburn Rovers/Chile; Samuel Chukwueze, Villareal/Nigeria; Joao Pedro, Watford
Out
Richarlison :{
Sigurdsson
Cenk Tosun
Dele (loan)
Fabian Delph
Jean-Phillipe Gbamin (loan)
Jonjoe Kenny
Joao Virginia (loan)
Jarrod Brathwaite (loan)
Niels Nkonkou (loan)
Informed they are no longer wanted
Rondon
Andre Gomes
Allan
Staying
Gordon
That's a pretty good window. Still a little thin in the striker area, but Maupay's numbers are believe it or not almost as good as Richarlison's at 1/4 the price (and you still get the snide). With the midfield strengthened there should be better supply, especially if Alex Iwobi continues his rise from expensive bust to useful piece to game-in-game-out MOTM and is given freedom to get forward with Gueye and Onana sitting in front of the defense. These fit a profile of high-character guys, leaders at their former clubs, who also don't have much of an injury history for the most part - Tarkowski's played 30+ games for several seasons, etc. Other than Onana, who's got huge upside, these are mostly modestly priced.
Also great to get rid of some deadwood. There's some pretty big contracts there coming off the books, and a few malcontents.
So after years of "winning the window" with expensive has-beens, Everton have gone small with a higher volume of useful players in areas of need... and I have to say.... this looks like a good job?1!!??
Everton gets James Garner (the box to box midfielder, not the dead Rockford Files star) from Utd, reported fee maxes out at 15M with add-ons. Garner had a good season on loan at Forest, 4 goals 8 assists all comps, started all three Championship playoff games, ranked a very respectable 16th overall in WhoScored's Championship rankings with a 7.09 for the season, excellent numbers for key passes, pass completion % (both in Championship top 10), and several defensive categories.
A Forest guy was on one of the Everton podcasts. Said Forest fans loved him and wanted him back, but Utd wanted to evaluate him. By the time ETH decided he wasn't in their plans, Forest had already bought like 80 guys. Utd fan reaction to the sale seems to be negative, ie they wanted to keep him.
So Toffees' window is shaping up as:
In
Tarkowski
Coady
Vinagre
McNeil
Onana
Maupay
Garner
Gana Gueye
??? - rumors: Ben Brereton Diaz, Blackburn Rovers/Chile; Samuel Chukwueze, Villareal/Nigeria; Joao Pedro, Watford
Out
Richarlison :{
Sigurdsson
Cenk Tosun
Dele (loan)
Fabian Delph
Jean-Phillipe Gbamin (loan)
Jonjoe Kenny
Joao Virginia (loan)
Jarrod Brathwaite (loan)
Niels Nkonkou (loan)
Informed they are no longer wanted
Rondon
Andre Gomes
Allan
Staying
Gordon
That's a pretty good window. Still a little thin in the striker area, but Maupay's numbers are believe it or not almost as good as Richarlison's at 1/4 the price (and you still get the snide). With the midfield strengthened there should be better supply, especially if Alex Iwobi continues his rise from expensive bust to useful piece to game-in-game-out MOTM and is given freedom to get forward with Gueye and Onana sitting in front of the defense. These fit a profile of high-character guys, leaders at their former clubs, who also don't have much of an injury history for the most part - Tarkowski's played 30+ games for several seasons, etc. Other than Onana, who's got huge upside, these are mostly modestly priced.
Also great to get rid of some deadwood. There's some pretty big contracts there coming off the books, and a few malcontents.
So after years of "winning the window" with expensive has-beens, Everton have gone small with a higher volume of useful players in areas of need... and I have to say.... this looks like a good job?1!!??
Can't link ATM, but it looks like Dest to AC Milan is done. Braithwaite to Espanyol--Barca REALLY wanted him gone. Auba-Alonso swap between Barca and Chelsea also gaining steam. Also saw something about Alba, but nothing close to concrete.
Arthur to Liverpool on loan! Great move if they can find his fire. But he's fallen far from being the next Xavi at Barca to being unremarkable in Turin.
Arthur to Liverpool on loan! Great move if they can find his fire. But he's fallen far from being the next Xavi at Barca to being unremarkable in Turin.
I think Auba being unimpressive at Chelsea is the easiest money you could lay down right now. That's not a setup where attackers are thriving recently.
Sure. But they could have just kept Abraham like everyone everywhere was suggesting. Sometimes the striker in hand really is worth 2 from the market.
This went down yesterday, but wow....
Justin Kluivert 'is refused a work permit and won't be joining Fulham' | Daily Mail Online
Justin Kluivert 'is refused a work permit and won't be joining Fulham' | Daily Mail Online
I believe they have an option where they can bring Abraham back to Chelsea at the end of this season for double what Roma paid for Abraham in the first place; which Chelsea should probably consider doing.
It's such an unforced era too; Abraham came up through the Chelsea academy, tore apart the Championship as a teenager on loan, had one full season with Chelsea where he scored 15 goals in 34 games (24 starts) and then Chelsea just abandoned him and sent him to Roma when they really needed a young striker, in favor of Timo Werner.
Chelsea has got to be the most wasteful team when it comes to players; even United isn't this bad. I saw a video yesterday of someone making a Best XI of Chelsea flops based on current form and it was:
Neil Etheridge
Livramento Guehi Tomori Ake
Rice De Bruyne Pasalic
Salah Abraham Werner
Wouldn't that side be a contender to win the league?
The Alba thing I mentioned earlier was a loan to Inter with the clubs in agreement, however Jordi turned it down. Hard to disagree with him--he'd rather stay comfortable in Spain then have to move abroad for one of his final seasons of pro ball. However, I'm not upset with him still on the Barca squad. Balde is terrific but young, and it's only a matter of time before he gets injured. Alba's been there and done that so as long as he doesn't play more than 30 minutes against Bayern I think this is actually good. Although now that I think about it, if Alonso is here too that's 3 LBs when you only really need 2. I wonder if any of them can play on the right.
Edit: Bellerin now considered just about done. Free transfer with Hector waiving all payment from Arsenal and lowering his wages to join the Blaugrana.
Also Paredes moving to Juve to join Angel Di Maria. This is a one-year loan transfer (not quite sure what that means other than he's free at the end of the loan).
Edit 2: Tweets
View: https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1565325112152412160?t=yV2i3cZzoDHnLBw-jVJR1w&s=19
View: https://twitter.com/juventusfc/status/1565339117919285248?s=21&t=JZyWhISBasHKtrkHepZ6kg
Finally, this is pretty jarring:
View: https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1565265178731716608?s=19
Edit: Bellerin now considered just about done. Free transfer with Hector waiving all payment from Arsenal and lowering his wages to join the Blaugrana.
Also Paredes moving to Juve to join Angel Di Maria. This is a one-year loan transfer (not quite sure what that means other than he's free at the end of the loan).
Edit 2: Tweets
View: https://twitter.com/David_Ornstein/status/1565325112152412160?t=yV2i3cZzoDHnLBw-jVJR1w&s=19
View: https://twitter.com/juventusfc/status/1565339117919285248?s=21&t=JZyWhISBasHKtrkHepZ6kg
Finally, this is pretty jarring:
View: https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1565265178731716608?s=19
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ESPN also reporting that Chelsea are asking about Depay. Like I've said before, Barca should hold onto him to give Lewa rest, but if Chelsea want to bowl them over with GBP I'm sure Barca will send him across.
Chelsea really are an unattended kid in a candy store.
Chelsea really are an unattended kid in a candy store.
Super League indeed. Are there any actual spending restrictions in the Premier League? I’m genuinely curious.
Don’t worry, some EPL fan will be sure to mock your Barca’s spending
Chelsea also reportedly had a 100m euro offer for Rafael Leao rejected - his release clause is 150m
I watched this video the other day and it highlights the spending power of EPL sides compared to everyone else in Europe, and how even the smallest clubs in the league have demonstrably more spending power than any other club with the exception of a few other continental giants:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fNgEslUsPQ&t=1457s
I’m here to mock any and all systems which tie spending to revenue earned. It was an incredibly dumb approach sought by the Spanish giants and entrenched PL clubs to lock their Cl revenues but now they’re reaping what they’ve sowed. The PL is printing money and these teams are spending what they earn so I guess Tebas and o are getting what they asked for?
I continue to think that the MLB luxury tax system is what should have been the pan European focus. With PL teams figuring out the revenue side we are now sort of locked in to PL as Super league.
Chelsea have been rinsed twice by Brighton this window, that is wild.
Chelsea out for Sangare as PSV won't sell him, now trying to get Zakaria on loan from Juve
Chelsea out for Sangare as PSV won't sell him, now trying to get Zakaria on loan from Juve
Would really like to see Pulisic moved after Chelsea added Auba. He's just going to get further and further buried on the bench. Seems extremely unlikely to happen, and I would imagine any positive feelings Chelsea had with American Soccer are going to be torched by the way they are handling him. #FreePulisic
The financial dominance of the PL really is getting out of hand, and I fear for the health of some of the other national leagues. There was a comment in The Guardian's live deadline day ticker that said this (and it wasn't from me haha):
Outside of a handful of clubs, the PL is the only place to get paid, and I fear that the already out-of-whack financial dominance of the PSGs, Real Madrids and Juventus' of the world will be even greater to their domestic competitions while somewhat paradoxically they continue to fall behind the richest of the PL teams. I don't know what can be done about it.
On the contrary, while PSG is an exception because their wealth comes from the interests of a sovereign state and not through sheer historical value, the growing gap in competitiveness in other domestic leagues is only leading to the strength of the EPL teams as a whole. A huge part of the EPL's value is that it is a much more competitive league than other domestic leagues, and thus helps create an environment where the EPL is more valuable across the globe than La Liga or Serie A. Being English speaking also helps a lot too.
The other domestic leagues, with their lack of revenue sharing relative to the EPL, are good for keeping the biggest clubs on top and in control and guaranteed UCL money coming in every year, but in the long run have been really bad for the leagues when it comes to overall financial strength.
Zakaria on loan to Chelsea looks done. Good get for them, his lack of pace should be manageable with 3 CBs behind him
View: https://twitter.com/MiguelDelaney/status/1565265178731716608?s=19
Miguel Delaney
@MiguelDelaney
Premier League's current net spend this window is almost €1.3bn. Next biggest net spend: La Liga on €55m.
Wolves send out Dendoncker to Villa for £13m and then loan in Boubacar Traore from Metz with an £11m option to buy.
I like Dendoncker and he adds string competition for Gerard’s midfield.
But the Traore move could be a steal for Wolves. Traore is a 21 year old Malian defensive mid with an endless motor and fearless approach. Not a finished product, but Lage has to be excited about getting to mold such a tenacious player.
I like Dendoncker and he adds string competition for Gerard’s midfield.
But the Traore move could be a steal for Wolves. Traore is a 21 year old Malian defensive mid with an endless motor and fearless approach. Not a finished product, but Lage has to be excited about getting to mold such a tenacious player.
Those are all good points. I’ve actually wondered too how much value there is with the language thing. It really shouldn’t matter, but it obviously does. It would be interesting to see some kind of quantification of that value.
It’s an interesting collective action problem. Ligue 1 and La Liga have massive populations around the world that could conceivably be more interested in those leagues than the EPL given shared language/culture/family connections, etc., but there is no incentive for PSG or RM to grow the size of the pie in their domestic leagues even though it could benefit them in the long run. I wonder at what point the lack of competition in their domestic leagues starts to hurt those clubs or if we’re already there. How much does a club like Real Madrid earn from Champions League games vs La Liga? Does the relative lack of domestic competition offset not being able to afford as deep a squad through the transfer market as an EPL team needs to make it through all their competitions?
Villa and Arsenal seem to be in a real standoff over Douglas Luiz.
Arsenal could really use him, which Villa surely know. But Villa would be morons not to sell him for a fee in the 25m range given that they have six CMs plus Buendia and Coutinho, Luiz hasn't even been starting, they aren't in Europe, and there is no way he is signing a new contract at this point. And Arsenal surely know all that too.
It feels like a situation that really should end in a win-win compromise but you never know on deadline day.
Arsenal could really use him, which Villa surely know. But Villa would be morons not to sell him for a fee in the 25m range given that they have six CMs plus Buendia and Coutinho, Luiz hasn't even been starting, they aren't in Europe, and there is no way he is signing a new contract at this point. And Arsenal surely know all that too.
It feels like a situation that really should end in a win-win compromise but you never know on deadline day.
And Villa just brought in Dendoncker from Wolves for about half of the rumored Luiz fee. This gets done I think.
For a long time, the thought/excuse for EPL teams not succeeding as well in the UCL was because the Spanish teams could coast through most of their league games and save their horses for the UCL.
I think these bigger European clubs have sealed their own fate. By existing in a system that tremendously favors 2-3 clubs, they have grown fat and powerful, but in the long term they've hurt themselves, while the EPL is reaping the rewards of having at least a relatively more balanced competitive domestic league, in that lifting up the entire league. When it comes to foreign television rights (rapidly becoming the biggest factor in club finances) the reality is that La Liga games hold almost no value if Barca or Real are not playing in them. There is not nearly the global interest in a game between Valencia and Mallorca as there is for Spurs vs Everton. This has become especially prevalent during the pandemic and the resulting fall-out of it; where clubs lost a ton of revenue by not having fans and thus the league that thrived the most during that time period was the league with the largest international TV contracts.
Yup, exactly. It really should get done.
The one source of doubt I have is that Villa have really made a point of trying to act like a big club since returning to the PL, throwing a lot of money around, making cheeky symbolic bids for players like Smith-Rowe, etc. There may be people within that organization that just don't want to swallow the idea of selling Luiz to Arsenal at a discounted price because of the message it sends about the two clubs' relative places in the footballing hierarchy. That sort of stuff is really dumb to care about. But it does happen sometimes in football.
Douglas Luiz deal now looking to be on life support.
I have no idea what Villa is doing. Maybe they just don't care about money (as evidenced by some of their other transfer business).
I have no idea what Villa is doing. Maybe they just don't care about money (as evidenced by some of their other transfer business).
Just nuts. Luiz is definitely walking on a free, so why not book £25m and get prepped for the winter window?
Old Spurs fiend Serge Aurier signs for Forrest. That’s their 22nd new player!!! A wild experiment.
Serge is most certainly a fiend to Spurs! I kid, but not really.
And Notts Forest has surpassed the turnover of Wrexham after the first half season of ownership by Rob Ryan Macreynolds.
Honestly - I think letting Luiz go would've increased the likelihood of relegation beyond the risk they were willing to take on. Far more favorable to guarantee survival and miss out on a nominal fee in contrast.
Oh fuck that. He’s the poster child for everything wrong on the pitch right now.