OhForAGreavsie

Dembele was not shopping around for the best deal he could get from the market last summer, as was speculated. Instead, he was using the speculation to help him secure the best deal he could get from Barcelona. He never really wanted to leave. I initially bit on the hope of getting a player I've always liked since first watching him when I was trying to check how Boga was progressing at Reims. It soon occurred to me however what Dembele was really doing.

Are you referring to the situation where Arsenal bid a certain amount + £1 because they believed that was the requirement of a buy out clause? I've never understood what it is they were supposed to have done wrong there. If they were told, presumably by the player's agent, that their bid would meet all the conditions to trigger the clause, then why on Earth would they bid more? It's not Arsenal's fault that the agent hadn't negotiated as solid a buy out as they thought. Although, since that situation, I'm sure clubs are less likely to just take an agent's word on such matters.

I am convinced that he was not.

I've read at least one report, perhaps posted by you 🙂, stating that Chelsea deny those claims. As for the value of the offer, it is reported not to be cash only. Clearly Chelsea's contention will be that the permanent transfer of Ziyech, plus two youngsters on loan, are of equivalent value to the shortfall. Indeed, Chelsea will likely be saying that the inclusion of those three players more than makes up the shortfall and so represents better value for Benfica. Of course, even if Benfica are attracted to the idea of taking one or more of the players offered, they are going to argue that they are worth a total of €5m between them. In other words, both sides will play they game. L:astly, I have also read reports claiming that negotiations are continuing which does not seem to me to be compatible with Benfica's reported stance. If Benfica are indignant, and if for them it has to be at least the full cash buyout, paid in a single upfront transaction, then what are they negotiating? I think my stance is consistent. I do not take media reports as fully factual until I believe there is reason to do so. My position on this is therefore to remain sceptical while waiting to see.

I've seen nothing which indicates beyond doubt that this is accurate, and I've seen some reports that outright state that it is false. Because of this I don't think we have enough information to form a strong opinion about how CFC negotiators have behaved.

So virtually never then.

Cucu is an issue for sure.

👏 Two things especially make me sit up and take notice of the reactions I am reading: - 1) Reactions which condemn 'the board' despite accepting that a clear picture of what is going on can't be pieced together. They seem to be saying we don't really know what's happening but we know Chelsea are wrong. 2) Continuation of demands that, when selling, Chelsea accept whatever offers are made and that, when buying, Chelsea should just 'pay the asking price'.

I don't think the instalments should be an issue if the two clubs agree that the deal will happen. The real impediment might be any potential difference in the tax treatment of the money received by Benfica if is regarded as a transfer fee, or a contract buy out. We're told Chelsea need to be able to account the fee in instalments for FFP purposes but that if the move is triggered by the payment of a release clause then, regardless of the actual payment schedule, the full amount counts against FFP in year one. This problem could be overcome by the clubs simply agreeing a transfer fee of €119,999,999.99 rather than by Enzo 'paying' his buy out figure. The missing €0.01 makes no difference to Benfica but it does allow Chelsea to treat the payment as a transfer fee which can be amortised for FFP over the length of Enzo's contract. The potential downside might be that Benfica end up with a bigger tax liability if the deal is conducted on a transfer fee basis, rather than a buy out. I don't know how that would come out but the clubs must.

I suggest; Fofana = defender, DDF = striker would help avoid confusion.

That one doesn't count. There was fraud proven in that case. His move to ManU was never real.

I do care because of the burdens and limitations they might place on the club.

I share your like for DDF's technical quality but I've taken the opposite view on his selfishness. This makes your take very interesting to me. I have always said that I don't want a striker with a propensity to shoot, and I don't want one with a propensity to pass. I want one with a propensity for choosing the best option. I have never regarded scoring goals as a consolation for selfishness. In the end though I suppose it comes down to how many goals.

Sure it wasn't the hairdo?

I was absolutely devastated after the Liverpool one. Didn't want to talk football, see football, or think football for a long time. No football match has ever hurt as much as that one did.

Came to see if @Vesperhas read today's link with Barella yet. Maybe not. The hope always feels good but it doesn't always kill. Not quite always anyway.

For me, this one didn't hurt as much as the ghost goal semi-final at Anfield. We were second best in Moscow until Ronaldo scored. After that we were the better team all the way. I can see how that might make the loss harder to take for some people, but I have always found that it makes the result more bearable.

I had heard, and have posted several times here to say, that, when we were in for Bellingham before he choose BVB, he was invited to visit the club but declined. I've just read that in fact he did visit Stamford Bridge. Not much consolation but at least he didn't just dismiss us out of hand. (Of course if he hadn't said no he'd be a European Champion by now. 🙂)

I haven't watched Enzo so I haven't caught the fever. If we don't get him I'll be fine. 🙂 The deals about which I'd most like to hear some updates are Arsen Zakharyan and a backup RB.

I didn't watch the world cup and, up to now, have avoided watching video of Enzo but, blimey, I better watch some now.

One hundred percent true, whether or not Reece can play again this season.

That's about the size of it.

Yep, though I wasn't a big Crespo fan, that list would encourage me to trust your instincts. 🙂

We might argue about whether Connor could reach the level of amazing, but I think your assessment about him needing consistent minutes is a good one. Unfortunately, as you suggest, it's a chicken and egg situation for him here. He needs more minutes to get better, but he'd have to be better to earn more minutes.

Ah, good, thanks for that. Because several people had stood up in front of me, I could not see clearly. I saw Connor's run and shot but could not see if he had an angle for a pass. I asked the lad next to me and was told no.