Jase

Well, can't blame the seller if they want to milk more money out of us. Either way, the potential transfer is gonna cost a lot of money. I feel like it's either we buy Haaland and no one else or don't buy Haaland and buy others. And by "no one else" and "others", I mean getting players in other positions.

I think it depends on the seller but paying transfers in installments is quite common for big money moves, I believe. United, for example, will be paying the Sancho transfer fee in installments. Different case though if they have a release clause. That I believe the buyer will have to pay the money upfront immediately.

TBF, don't think any potential price tag has been set. Everyone has been just throwing random numbers out there.

Zorc just came out and said it today. I did not keep track of their previous comments and am sure they have also said it some time this year. And the media, including the German, have also been reporting Dortmund have no intention to sell this summer. So am mostly just going by that. Under pressure to sell as in? If we actually put in the 175 million euros bid? Or just in general?

Bild mentioned 175 million euros (and no, that's not a currency typo). The fee difference may be bigger but you're talking about a club who have a history of holding onto a player for one more season and then either selling them at a cheaper price (e.g. Sancho) or letting them go for free (e.g. Lewandowski). Dortmund might be a selling side but they also still have interest in being competitive. If Dortmund are really concerned about getting less money next year, they would not have said all year that Haaland is not for sale this summer and they are also not under any financial pressure to sell. So, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion to just say they will accept our offer immediately. More importantly, we gotta actually table the bid in if we want to make it happen because right now, nothing seems to be actually happening and it's all just empty talk after empty talk after empty talk. And oh, there are also tons of recycled BS.

Don't forget that we could have a similar situation had we signed Reguilon instead of Chilwell last summer. Zidane really kinda F it up with Hakimi and Reguilon.

Even if he did say that, am sure you would have tried to spin it to something encouraging. lol In any case, that same Bild article claimed that Dortmund will stick to their stance and that Haaland is happy to stay, but they did wonder what will Dortmund do if we throw in a €175 million bid, supposedly the kind of crazy money required to maybe change their mind.

If Silva wins the Copa America tonight, are there gonna be any calls for him to win the Ballon d'Or? 😆

He's barely started at PSG. lol

That's also kinda optimistic but I'll say no more. 🤣

That's very optimistic considering the state of these Italian sides. Word is that Roma want Zouma on loan with an option to buy.

I can't remember. Is AS reliable?

Problem with 'chances created' is the same with your problem about 'assist' because it includes the latter, according to Opta definition. Like the example you gave, Player A can simply make a 5-yard pass to Player B, who then shoots at goal from 30 yards and that will be counted as a chance created. If we want to judge creativity, then I'd prefer to have at least the chances created broken down to chances created from open play and set pieces because creating from open play requires more than creating from set pieces. In Mount's case, not to devalue his number but it's no surprise that his chances created were high because he also took a lot of our set pieces. The others in that Top 5 also took set pieces for their team, which is why the 'chances created' stat can be misleading (that's the word!) to judge creativity.

https://romapress.net/mourinho-releases-preseason-call-ups-pastore-pedro-fazio-santon-nzonzi-and-kluivert-out/ Left out of Mourinho's pre-season squad. Ouch. Looks set to be sold.

Did you not argue once before about the loose definition or subjective-ness (can't think of the right word/phrase) of chances created?

Zouma out, Sule in?

https://www.chelseafc.com/en/news/2021/07/09/Chelsea-report-for-pre-season-training- Anjorin, CHO, Abraham, Alonso among the first few to return for pre-season. More will return over the coming days. Those involved at the Euros will of course return at a late date.

Abraham definitely staying now. 👀

True but he is even more unproven or not ready yet given he's still only 16 years old.

I haven't watched enough of Malen to know about him but it sounds like he's a versatile player of sorts. Even if that's not the case, am guessing Dortmund's plan is to have Malen as an understudy to Haaland for a season and then take over next year. Otherwise, seems risky to have an unproven, young player come in and be the main man immediately from a sporting perspective.