Non-Chelsea Transfer Pub

[Vesper 27,378]

[Vesper 27,378]

Man Utd, Arsenal converge on surprise midfield target with transfer fee closely mirroring clever Chelsea coup

https://www.teamtalk.com/manchester-united/man-utd-arsenal-converge-surprise-midfield-target-required-fee-closely-mirroring-clever-Chelsea-coup

Man Utd and Arsenal are both interested in acquiring a left-field midfield target who could cost a similar fee to that of a recent Chelsea signing, per a report.

The Blues will be boosted by the arrival of David Datro Fofana on January 1. The Ivory Coast international, 19, plies his trade for Norwegian side Molde and is representative of Todd Boehly’s plan to invest in the club’s future as much as the present.

Chelsea officially confirmed Fofana will arrive at Stamford Bridge when the January window opens on Sunday (via the BBC).

Given Armando Broja’s ACL injury, Fofana is expected to be immediately integrated into the first-team rather than loaned out.

In any case, today’s update centres around a player Fofana knows well – Molde teammate, Sivert Mannsverk.

The Norway Under-21 international is unlikely to be a familiar name to many at present. However, that’s a situation that could soon change.

Jeunes Footeux report Manchester United, Arsenal and Ajax are all suitably impressed with the central midfielder. As such, all three are mulling whether to make a move.

Exactly when they would lodge any bids isn’t stated, though given we’re on the eve of the winter window opening, a January move would make the most sense.

20-year-old Mannsverk operates primarily in the engine room, though has made his mark in front of goal in the recent past.

Indeed, he scored the winning goal from the penalty spot in Molde’s Norwegian FA Cup victory over Bodo Glimt back in May.

The report adds Molde would command around €10m (approx. £8.8m) for Mannsverk’s services. Anything less and bids will be categorically rejected.

A transfer fee of that size would closely mirror the fee Chelsea have agreed to pay Molde for Fofana. Clearly Norwegian football – and in particular at Molde – is proving a fertile proving ground for promising young players.

Molde is also the club Erling Haaland played for between 2017-19.

 

[Hamilton 2,118]

Another midfielder to watch for sure is Bilal El Khannous of KRC Genk. Ajax are huge admirers of the 18y old and are rumored preparing an offer of €20m.
 

Small chance probably that Genk will let him go for this fee cause it’s still his first full season plus he has a contract until 2026.

[NikkiCFC 7,601]

On 29/12/2022 at 06:06, Vesper said:

Just add Gvardiol, Davies (they are huge favourites for both) and Reece or Hakimi and that's full starting lineup of world class young players. And GK. 

[Vesper 27,378]

13 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Just add Gvardiol, Davies (they are huge favourites for both) and Reece or Hakimi and that's full starting lineup of world class young players. And GK. 

Mbappe and/or Håland eventually as well, and Bellingham is a target as well

[Vesper 27,378]

Why Brentford signed Kevin Schade from Freiburg – electric pace, flexibility and strong in the air

https://theathletic.com/4057435/2023/01/05/kevin-schade-brentford-bundesliga/

There is one simple statistic that explains why Brentford have signed Kevin Schade on loan and why they are prepared to make him their club-record signing.

When the forward was playing for Freiburg against Greuther Furth in the Bundesliga last season, he recorded a top speed of 22.6mph (36.4km/h), making him the seventh-fastest player in the league’s history.

Brentford’s plan is to refine Schade’s technical ability and combine it with his explosive pace to create a clinical forward capable of terrorising defences.

The 21-year-old is only on loan at Brentford for now but he will join permanently, on a contract until 2027, if certain performance-related criteria are met. Brentford have agreed to pay Freiburg €25million (£22.1m; $26.3m), including add-ons, which would represent the fourth time they have broken their transfer record since they were promoted to the top flight after Kristoffer Ajer (£13.5m), Aaron Hickey (£14m rising to £18m) and Keane Lewis-Potter (£16m rising to £20m).

The club’s interest in the Germany Under-21 international stretches back to last summer. There were six Premier League clubs monitoring Schade but Brentford got in contact with Freiburg first and presented the best vision and sporting fit as their playing style suits his strengths. Brentford pushed hard to complete a deal before the season, but the two sides failed to agree on a price while Schade was struggling with a persistent abdominal injury, which complicated the situation.

Brentford got back in contact with Freiburg in November and discussions progressed fairly smoothly throughout December. Schade completed his medical and flew to London on Tuesday evening to finalise the paperwork. He spoke to Brentford’s German midfielder Vitaly Janelt during the process.

It is an excellent start to the January transfer window for Brentford, who are ninth in the Premier League after an impressive 3-1 victory over Liverpool on Monday, and Schade’s arrival will reinforce the belief they can finish in the top half.

With so much uncertainty around Ivan Toney’s future (he has been charged by the Football Association for allegedly breaching betting rules and could be suspended from playing matches if he is found guilty), signing another forward should help to ease concern.

There is a lot of hype and excitement around Schade, but it would be unfair to place too much pressure on him. He only made his senior debut for Freiburg in August 2021, as a substitute in a 2-1 victory over Borussia Dortmund, and went on to make 36 appearances for them, scoring six goals. He played only eight times for Freiburg this season as he recovered from surgery on the abdominal issue that kept him out between March and September.

Brentford’s plan is to build up Schade’s fitness and strength and slowly integrate him into the starting XI. We have seen with Lewis-Potter and Mikkel Damsgaard that it can take time for new players to adjust to Thomas Frank’s demands and style of play.

“He is a young, promising talent that we see big potential in,” Frank told Brentford’s official website. “We have been following him for a while and we think he will suit our style of play.

“He can play anywhere across our front three positions. He could play for us on either wing or as the central striker. He has great pace and is very promising in the way he runs behind defences.”

You can find a great example of what Schade will offer Brentford in Freiburg’s 5-1 loss to Borussia Dortmund last season. He picks up the ball next to the touchline under pressure from Thomas Meunier.

He effortlessly spins away from Meunier, which prompts Manuel Akanji to confront him.

The forward skips past Akanji with ease and Dortmund’s defence has suddenly been carved wide open.

Schade has several options in front of him and decides to pick out Roland Sallai, but his pass is slightly under hit.

Sallai comes under pressure from Raphael Guerreiro and manages to get a shot away.

Gregor Kobel palms the ball straight into the path of Ermedin Demirovic who has an easy finish to make it 3-1. Freiburg had been given a brief injection of hope from Schade’s dynamism and bravery on the ball.

When Freiburg played RB Leipzig in November, Vincenzo Grifo’s through ball triggered a race between Schade and Amadou Haidara.

Schade breezes past Haidara to reach the ball first and drives towards the box.

Willi Orban comes over to block the winger’s path but he is determined to reach the byline.

Schade could have shown better awareness and picked out Maximilian Eggestein, who was free on the edge of the box. Brentford’s coaching staff will help to improve his decision-making.

However, Schade produces a stepover to trick Orban and whips a cross into the box, which Sallai fails to convert.

Schade is not a prolific goalscorer, but the quality of his strikes is impressive.

During Germany Under-21s’ match against Italy in November, the right side of the pitch is heavily congested, so Tom Krauss passes it towards Schade.

The pass is overhit so Schade eventually collects it around 30 yards from goal and spots an area of space opening up.

Nicolo Rovella and Lorenzo Pirola attempt to shut Schade out, but he cleverly chops the ball and wriggles between them.

The forward remains composed and fires a low effort past Italy goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi.

Schade is comfortable shooting with both feet, which makes him unpredictable and difficult to mark.

In this German Cup tie between Hoffenheim and Freiburg last January, Demirovic sweeps the ball out wide to his team-mate.

David Raum steps off Schade as he expects the winger will try to run past him towards the byline.

But Schade catches Raum off guard by shifting onto his left foot and firing a powerful strike past Oliver Baumann.

Frank believes Schade, in addition to his pace, “is very good aerially” and can develop “to be a real threat as an offensive option with his head”.

During the negotiations, Schade requested Brentford provide him with a header pendulum so he can consistently work on his heading and his stability when it comes to jumping and landing.

The 6ft (1.83m) man demonstrated his impressive ability in the air on his debut for Germany Under-21s against Israel in a qualifier for the Under-21 European Championship. In the 87th minute, Noah Katterbach picks up the ball on the left and floats a cross towards the back post.

Schade leaps above Doron Leidner and powers a header past Omer Ya’akov Niron to draw Germany level.

It is easy to imagine the forward rounding off similar moves for Brentford by latching onto a delivery from Rico Henry or Aaron Hickey.

For now, Schade will be mainly competing against Lewis-Potter, Bryan Mbeumo and Yoane Wissa for a place out wide in the starting line-up.

However, do not be surprised if Brentford transform him into a centre-forward who is equally comfortable at running defenders ragged with his speed or towering above them to score a header.

[nyikolajevics 2,436]

Besiktas want to end Alli loan deal | Return to Everton unlikely in January

Besiktas want to cancel Dele Alli's loan deal and send him back to Everton.

The former England midfielder has failed to make an impact at the Turkish club following his move in the summer having scored one goal in just seven appearances.

However, there is no early break clause in the deal and Everton will want full payment of the loan fee - thought to be around £1m - as well as the agreed amount of contribution of the player's wages.

Because of that, it is highly unlikely the 26-year-old former Tottenham player will return to England during the January transfer window.

 

Crazy how deep this guy fell.. I remember at the age of 20 when he scored 18 goals in the PL.. I was envy of Spurs.. Now still only 26 and even Besiktas want to terminate his loan, and Everton don't want him either.

[Vesper 27,378]

11 hours ago, nyikolajevics said:

Besiktas want to end Alli loan deal | Return to Everton unlikely in January

Besiktas want to cancel Dele Alli's loan deal and send him back to Everton.

The former England midfielder has failed to make an impact at the Turkish club following his move in the summer having scored one goal in just seven appearances.

However, there is no early break clause in the deal and Everton will want full payment of the loan fee - thought to be around £1m - as well as the agreed amount of contribution of the player's wages.

Because of that, it is highly unlikely the 26-year-old former Tottenham player will return to England during the January transfer window.

 

Crazy how deep this guy fell.. I remember at the age of 20 when he scored 18 goals in the PL.. I was envy of Spurs.. Now still only 26 and even Besiktas want to terminate his loan, and Everton don't want him either.

he put us to the sword a few times

so strange what happened to him

[Magic Lamps 11,460]

Leeds will sign giorginio Rutter from TSG for 35m. He is absolutely useless and not even a starter for Hoffenheim.  Things are going mad over here.

[milka 3,308]

 This guy will be the next big thing from Benfica in the  next few years .

 

 

[Vesper 27,378]

42 minutes ago, milka said:

 This guy will be the next big thing from Benfica in the  next few years .

 

 

had him on my list of best 18yos

[ZAPHOD2319 3,896]

Doh!! I hope they are in such dire straights on and off the pitch that Wrexham gets past them in the FA Cup.

 

[Laylabelle 9,305]

On 25/12/2022 at 04:00, NikkiCFC said:

What is Arsenal going to do to replace Jesus? They should really go for Felix since he is available for loan. 

Turns out so far..dont need to! Doing fine

Theyve signed Trossand from Brigjton 

[NikkiCFC 7,601]

Transfer market is indeed crazy. Not even born and already worth 7m.

[Vesper 27,378]

On 19/08/2022 at 15:24, Blues Forever said:

 

that turned out to be a stroke of genius

he has been immense all season

[Vesper 27,378]

STAR WHO BRUCE WANTED AT NEWCASTLE IS KILLING A MAJOR EURO LEAGUE RIGHT NOW

https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2023/01/29/star-who-bruce-wanted-at-newcastle-is-killing-a-major-euro-league-right-now/

Everyone knows Newcastle United are on the verge of signing Anthony Gordon from Everton.

He was spotted at St James’s Park on Saturday after reportedly completing a medical in the North East.

At 21, Gordon could be one hell of a winger for Newcastle.

But there’s another player who could’ve been a sensational winger for the Magpies, too.

Three years ago, Steve Bruce wanted Ademola Lookman at Newcastle and went as far as to confirm his interest in the former Everton attacker [Shields Gazette].

In the end, Bruce failed to get his man, but what a signing that could’ve been based on his current form.

Now with Atalanta in Serie A, Lookman is ripping Italian football to shreds this season. 

According to Transfermarkt, the Londoner has 13 goals and four assists across 19 games in all competitions this season.

In fact, the only player with more goals than him in Italian football this season is Victor Osimhen of Napoli.

It has taken a while for Lookman to fulfill his potential, but boy is the 25-year-old doing just that now.

Who knows if things would’ve been the same had he joined Newcastle, but at least we know Bruce was on the right track in wanting him on Tyneside.

 

[Jype 6,398]

Let's all laugh at Spurs.

[OneMoSalah 8,616]

1 hour ago, Jype said:

Let's all laugh at Spurs.

Apparently its the structure thats an issue with it as well. Same thing that may happen to us with Enzo 😂 I wonder if Benfica holding out for their clause in full has influenced Sporting.