Vesper

Mamardashvili Vallés Jörgensen in that order my number one overall choice is, of course, Diogo Costa, who is, after Ederson, the best ball playing GKer I have seen out there atm BUT if Mamar or Costa cost so much it blocks us on buying an elite CB, then I go with Vallés Álvaro Vallés: The Modern Sweeper Keeper https://breakingthelines.com/player-analysis/alvaro-valles-the-modern-sweeper-keeper/ Club: Las Palmas Nationality: Spain Position: GK Preferred Foot: Right Height: 6’3”/191cm Age: 26 Strengths: reflexes, speed, line-breaking passes, composure, technical security, claiming crosses Areas for Development: top-flight experience It has been quite the arduous rise for Álvaro Vallés. After honing his trade at the academies of Real Madrid and Real Betis, Vallés plied his trade on loan at fourth-tier Gerena before making the move to Las Palmas in 2018. He would cut his teeth with their B team in the third division before eventually competing for a first-team place, solidifying a starting spot in goal in 2022/23 and leading the Canarian side back to the top-flight. Las Palmas have impressed in their first La Liga season in six years thanks in large part to Vallés, who has made the most of his first Primera season and emerged as one of the standout goalkeepers in the division. A 6’3″ shot-stopper with incredible reflexes, Vallés is a ball-playing goalkeeper who passes every test: the eye test, the data test, the mentality test and the price test. Whenever he has to make a quick decision, Vallés can react well and scan the scenario at a moment’s notice, boasting solid awareness and capable of anticipating where the shot is travelling. He’s skilled at altering his body orientation and reaching the optimal position to make the save. He boasts a save percentage of 74.2%, whilst he is also saving an astonishing 37.5% of the penalty saves that he has faced this season. Under the reign of García Pimienta, Las Palmas have adopted a fearless approach in their return to La Liga and have heavily prioritized having the ball — only Barcelona (64.6%) averaged more possession than Las Palmas (59.8%) this season. They tend to build in a hybrid of a 3-4-1-3 / 3-5-3, with Vallés pushing up and operating as an extra center back in order to create a numerical overload at the back and play through the opponent’s pressing structure. Vallés has the confidence and pausa to manipulate the press, waiting until the opponent rushes forward before playing a clever pass through the lines, remaining calm and composed and dictating the play with his passing like a press-resistant midfielder. Comfortable in possession, Vallés is a two-footed player who can receive the ball under pressure from either side and execute passes to perfection, and his teammates are always willing to give him the ball and entrust his technical security in dangerous situations. It should come as no surprise that Vallés ranks in the 99th percentile for touches (56.71) and defensive actions outside the penalty area (2.65) as well as the 96th for average distance of defensive actions, per FBRef.com. Moreover, he ranks in the 91st percentile amongst goalkeepers in Europe’s top five leagues over the past year when it comes to Post-Shot Expected Goals minus Goals Allowed (+0.21), perhaps the most reliable metric when it comes to determining a goalkeeper’s shot-stopping ability. The Las Palmas goalkeeper acts as a sweeper for the team and is often positioned higher up due to Las Palmas playing a higher defensive line. Similarly to Manuel Neuer, he’s somebody who always backs himself to take risks, come off his line, and make crucial interventions in order to prevent the opposing attack from getting into a dangerous goal-scoring scenario. Despite a dreadful run of form that saw them close out the campaign with one win, six draws, and 10 defeats, Las Palmas managed to finish 16th in the table, seven points clear of the drop. Now, it’s time for a major rebuild at the Estadio Gran Canaria. García Pimienta will depart his post and become Sevilla’s new manager, and it seems that quite a few key players like Alberto Moleiro and Saúl Coco will follow him out the exit door. With a contract until 2025, it seems a matter of time before Álvaro Vallés becomes the next player to depart Pío Pío. A 1v1 specialist who is quick off his line and skilled at maneuvering past the pressure, he has emerged as one of the finest goalkeepers in Spain this season, and he could very well end up surpassing Pedri (€23m) as Las Palmas’ club-record sale this summer.

My top 3, in order, in terms of best now would be Rüdiger (along with VVD one of the 2 best 31yo and older CBs on the planet, with Alaba 3rd, when recovered), Nico Schlotterbeck and probably Tah, but none are availabe, obviously in terms of buying, perhaps Malick Thiaw from AC Milan

I would wager around £10m to £15m, as, like you said, his contracr expires at the end of next June and his agent says he will not renew

Gotta get a little credit for pulling this one out of me bum, lolol https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/Chelsea-transfer-news-arsenal-goalkeeper-32938634 Chelsea are eyeing Las Palmas goalkeeper Alvaro Valles. Enzo Maresca wants a ball-playing shot-stopper between the sticks at Stamford Bridge next season as he looks to implement a possession-based style of play and the 26-year-old Spaniard may fit the bill. Leicester goalkeeper Mads Hermansen played a prominent role under Maresca at the King Power Stadium - not only keeping the opposition at bay but also clearing up in behind the Foxes' backline and building play from the back. snip

Chelsea close in on centre-back signing and have two wingers in their sights https://thedailybriefing.io/i/145216332/Chelsea-close-in-on-centre-back-signing-and-have-two-wingers-in-their-sights Chelsea are about to sign a new centre-back with the free transfer of Tosin Adarabioyo. A verbal agreement has been reached, and documents will be signed next week after his medical tests if everything goes to plan. Newcastle were close to signing the defender, who is a free agent after deciding to leave Fulham, but the deal was never done. They were one step away, but it was never a done deal in terms of things being signed, it was just advanced talks. Chelsea have been able to convince him on their long term project, the vision, and Enzo Maresca’s ideas were also shared during their conversations. So, Adarabioyo has accepted their proposal as deal will be completed next week. It looks like smart business by Chelsea, in my opinion, as they sign a proven Premier League player on a free, someone with experience but not old, so a good long-term option and a smart first signing for new manager Enzo Maresca. There was interest from a lot of other clubs, not just Newcastle - back in January AC Milan were also showing an interest, and also other clubs around Europe. Chelsea are also internally discussing the goalkeeper position, and also deciding if they maybe want another centre-back, as well as a central striker. I can also say that a new winger is a possibility, and it may be worth returning on the Michael Olise case in the next days, because he’s a player appreciated by Chelsea for sure. But I can also say that Chelsea have been closely monitoring Crysencio Summerville. Summerville has just had a fantastic season in the Championship, with Leeds unlucky in their race for promotion as they lost the playoff final to Southampton, and now Summerville is expected to change clubs this summer. Two clubs have been monitoring him more than others, and they are Chelsea and Liverpool. The interest is really concrete from these two clubs - let’s see what they decide to do in terms of negotiations because we are not yet at that stage, and let’s see if other clubs decide to join the race, but for sure Summerville looks like one to watch for Chelsea and Liverpool.

I will forever remember those 2 blown lead draws versus the two worst teams in the league plus the choke draw v Arse those 6 points dropped cost us CL and also the blown League Cup final v Pool and the blown semi final in the FA Cup v Citeh not good at all plus fucking WOLVES doing the double on us

Lookman could cost as much as £30m, which would mark a significant profit for the Serie A club, who paid £7m ($9m) to sign him from RB Leipzig. The winger has exploded in Italy and scored 15 goals in 2023-24, while also providing eight assists. https://www.goal.com/en/lists/ademola-lookman-price-tag-revealed-premier-league-clubs-europa-league-final-hat-trick-atalanta/blt4c1e831f15b55644#csc6f8eba7e298d6b0

what about Ferran Torres or Ademola Lookman? I have to be honest unless it is one of the Big 5 right footed remotely available LWers/AMFs (Leão, Wirtz, Kvaratskhelia, Musiala, and Xavi Simons) I am almost ready to accept another year of Sterling and Mudryk the drop off is that large once you go past those 5 the big problem is Sterling's insane wages

Fofana is likely perm wrecked fucking disasterclass buy that is helping to shiv us in the arse us badly atm with FFP

I contunue to be amazed, even after almsot 6 and half years here, how many times people used the old fall-back 'oh, there are so many cheap and/or better options out there' for basically every postion and yet they almost never list them why? because 90% of the time it is not the case these supposed numerous good and cheap options simply do not exist in most examples, especially for attackers and truly good left footed CBs and also fullbacks overall

If he was in the 30 to 35m euro range, then yes, worth a punt, but I am (after doing a deep dive the past month) not sold on him at 60m euros as for 'plenty around' there really, after the Big 5 I listed above, are not a lot of class right footed available left wingers Jonathan David (ambipedal, like Khvicha Kvaratskhelia) is a CF who maybe, maybe could play winger (and can play SS, but we have Nkunku there already), BUT he will cost as much or more than Nico I doubt Pool will sell Diogo Jota, especially as Luis Díaz may be leaving we missed out with Anthony Gordon hard pass on Grealish (who would cost a fortune anyway) Serge Gnabry is 29yo in a month, and is injured again, as he was most of the season Kingsley Coman is 28yo in 2 weeks and is in the exact same postion as Gnabry, injured and missed a big chunk of the season, plus he produced almost identical stats as Gnabry in 1000 more minutes (5 goals 3 assists v Gnabry 5 goals 2 assists) Kaoru Mitoma turns 28 at next season's end and regressed a lot, only had 3 goals all season, in 2100 minutes, and is injured now Mathys Tel would be great (and can play CF), BUT just renwed until 2029 Ferran Torres might be an option, and Barca would perhaps sell him Ademola Lookman? Not sure, but he is an option Yéremy Pino is damaged goods atm Jeremie Frimpong plays on the right, but can play on the left, downside is he will cost a fortune, and gain is not at all a true left winger zero chance I would gamble on Ansu Fati same for Sancho Crysencio Summerville would be a possibilty, but I am not sold on him at all Antonio Nusa has had injury issues and did not kick on as expected Désiré Doué is not exactly a goal machine, but he is very young (18yo) bottom line, there are not a lot of options out there who are both good and available and do not cost a fortune

ffs, we are a laughingstock

lol, they asked Mou about Chelsea he said I don't know, what can I say and all said 'No one knows' lololol

Rio's suit, lol and damn is Mou short

a long time Kendrick Lamar

Carlo Ancelotti Honours Player (12 topflight trophies) Roma Serie A: 1982–83 Coppa Italia: 1979–80, 1980–81, 1983–84, 1985–86 AC Milan Serie A: 1987–88, 1991–92 Supercoppa Italiana: 1988 European Cup: 1988–89, 1989–90 European Super Cup: 1990 Intercontinental Cup: 1989 Manager (29 toplight trophies, including 5 CLs, 4 (soon likely 5) UEFA Super Cups, and 3 World Club Cups (would be 4 if they played it this December) ) Juventus UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1999 AC Milan Serie A: 2003–04 Coppa Italia: 2002–03 Supercoppa Italiana: 2004 UEFA Champions League: 2002–03, 2006–07 UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007 FIFA Club World Cup: 2007 Chelsea Premier League: 2009–10 FA Cup: 2009–10 FA Community Shield: 2009 Paris Saint-Germain Ligue 1: 2012–13 Bayern Munich Bundesliga: 2016–17 DFL-Supercup: 2016, 2017 Real Madrid La Liga: 2021–22, 2023–24 Copa del Rey: 2013–14, 2022–23 Supercopa de España: 2021–22, 2023–24 UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2021–22, 2023–24 UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2022 (and probably 2024) FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2022 (no FCWC this December) Individual Serie A Coach of the Year: 2001, 2004 Panchina d'Oro: 2002–03, 2003–04 Ligue 1 Coach of the Year: 2012–13 IFFHS World's Best Club Coach: 2007, 2014, 2022 UEFA Men's Coach of the Year: 2021–22 Globe Soccer Awards Best Coach of the Year: 2014, 2022 Onze d'Or Coach of the Year: 2021–22 Premier League Manager of the Month: November 2009, August 2010, March 2011, April 2011, September 2020 La Liga Manager of the Month: October 2014, April 2015, August 2023, April 2024 Globe Soccer Awards Best Media Attraction in Football: 2014 Enzo Bearzot Award: 2014 Miguel Muñoz Trophy: 2014–15 AS Roma Hall of Fame: 2014 Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2015 AC Milan Hall of Fame Orders 5th Class / Knight: Cavaliere Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana: 1991 4th Class / Ufficiale: Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella d'Italia: 2014

thats the weak spot of Adeyemi's game, he lacks composure in the end all the speed in the world but absolutely not (so far) a ruthless finisher

that bad pass for the 2nd makes them buying him less likely he will be a big scapegoat will be remembered for it the rest of his career unfortunately and he is never going to win the CL to make up for it

their only truly shit buy in last 15 seasons was Eden (thanks!) and we get £5m from that sale for them winning the CL even though Eden is retired, lolol so we end up getting £141m for him in toto robbery!

Endrick and yes, he will