CHOULO19

Saw this on Twiter: Simeone: "For me, any price for Courtois would be cheap. To secure a GK of his quality would be a big coup. It depends what he wants." #CFC If true, it means that Athletico would really go all the way in trying to sign him permanently.

Was thinking the exact same actually. Rogers doesn't want him anyway.

I'm stealing that!

Third party just means through an agent who will get a commission once the deal is over,

This thread will self destruct in 3..2..1....

Guardian reporting that the only thing stalling the deal is that Chelsea want a pre-agreement about Rooney in the summer. A lot of reliable sources are saying that united are interested and that we are interested in selling as well.

Of course I could be wrong, I'm expressing an opinion But that's what happens when you actually provide a well presented opinion backed with logic instead of just shooting snide and cynical comments: you end up with an opinion that you can actually defend and discuss

Where's my statue?!

It was never about form. It has always been about styles. Some footballers cannot perform well in some systems and playing styles and Mata obviously can't come near his performances of last season in Jose's current system. Business wise, this is the ideal thing you'd want to happen: Getting A LOT of money without weakening your squad. Having 40m just sit on the bench makes no sense whatsoever. And of course 40m changes our transfer policy, it means we have 40m more to spend.

Or they could not finish top 4 with him, or they could finish top 4 without him. Or we could say no and they could use the 40m to buy a player or two who would help them finish top 4. Lots of possibilities and none of them more likely than the other. What is certain, though, is that if we do accept the bid, we would lose a player who is not really in the managers plans and would have 40m to strengthen our squad in the summer.

Yes, that changes everything...not! No one has ever sold his second choice RW and third choice #10 for anywhere near 40m. You cannot deny that business wise it is an incredible deal for us.

So you don't want to take 40m for the "3rd choice no.10 and 2nd choice right wing"?! Seriously, just look at the sentence again and try to think about it without emotions. 40m would be the third highest transfer in the history of the EPL after Torres and Ozil. The media can throw all the imaginary numbers about the "flavor of the day" players but 40m is a lot of money that will surely get any clubs attention. With FFP starting to take effect the numbers are only going to go down. 40m will completely change our transfer policy in the summer.

Juan leaving does not weaken our squad because he is our fifth choice AM unlike Oscar or Hazard. Of course we should not sell our star players, we are not a selling club. But selling a player who hasn't had a single minute on the pitch since new years day for 40m is an opportunity that is hard to turn down. The 40m will strengthen us because it allows us to heavily into the market in the summer and spend at least that amount; something we will need to do if we are to challenge next season.

Because we would be getting 40m for our 5th choice AM? But thing is, 40m is an astronomical figure and Juan leaving would not significantly weaken our squad. And we won't get that much after the world cup. Getting 40m now would help us carefully pick our targets in the summer and practically get whoever we want. We can spend the money on a top top player or 2-3 good players. Like I said, the 40m will strengthen us much more than Juan strengthens utd.

If it's not them, it's Tottenham, or Liverpool. Someone will get the CL spot and be a rival for us next season. Honestly, I would rather that be united because if Liverpool or Tottenham get CL and manage to attract top players, they scare me much more than united would because Spurs have an excellent squad with great potential and Liverpool have a great working system while United have neither.

I actually see your point, and I don't disagree with it. But your reasons are sentimental. Our board doesn't think like that. And probably that is the best way to run a football club nowadays.

Exactly. We can't do anything to stop them from strengthening because it is out of our hands. But since they are inevitable going to strengthen, why don't we take the 40m without significantly weakening our team? With 40m for Mata, they will be strengthening us with the signings we will like make with that money, much more than we will be strengthening them.

We need the 40m if we want to spend 40m in the market in the summer. We need to significantly reduce our dept than what it was this season to comply with FFP. That is a fact. I'd probably sell to PSG if they were offering 40m now too. But they aren't, so we have to consider the huge offer from united because it would be business stupidity not to. Personally, I'm fine with whatever the club decides on this because I can see the reasoning for both accepting and rejecting the bid.

A LOT can and will change before next season. United will spend and rebuild if they intend to whether we sell them Mata or not. If it isn't Mata it'll be Reus or Draxler or Robben or Di Maria..etc.

But it is about money. 40m is A LOT and it would allow us to go into the market for a top player (probably a striker) or a 2-3 good players. Juan might have been the star last season but he is 5th choice AM this season and likely to be 6th next as long as Jose is around. To get the third highest transfer record in the history of the EPL for him is incredible business however you spin it.

But that's the thing. United aren't our rivals this season. And we've already played them twice. They won't challenge for title, but they can take points off city Arsenal and liverpool.

No one in the world doesn't need 40m pounds! United will strengthen and spend whether we sell them Mata or not. Be it now or in the summer. But if we sell them Mata now, first we get the money instead of Dortmund of Schalke or whatever, and I'd rather see united make a panic 40m buy for Mata than see them spend the money on several players and strengthen their squad considerably in the summer. Spin it any way you like but 40m for your fifth choice AM is beyond great business.

To all the new guys. You can challenge teams to friendlies now since we are between seasons. If you have any questions, feel free to ask here or in the discussion thread. I would recommend you read the reals before you start playing. They're very helpful.

Frak L has taken over Fake Madrid. Which means we only need 3 more teams to reach 24. Come on people!