Chelsea Transfers

[King Kante 1,643]

12 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

Why this Kante vs Rice discussion when it is clear that Jorginho will leave to open a place for Rice.

Probably because their is an arguement to cash in on Kante now as his value could drop significantly very shortly. 

[Vesper 30,085]

David Alaba and the protracted contract talks at Bayern that have turned ugly 

https://theathletic.com/2081945/2020/09/25/david-alaba-bayern-munich/

In March 2016, a champagne bottle was popped in the Bayern Munich boardroom at Saebener Strasse.

There were no games that day, but the club hierarchy had ample reason to celebrate with David Alaba’s father, George; the former music producer turned advisor had just agreed a new deal for his son until 2021 with the perennial German champions after lengthy negotiations.

In Munich, there’s still optimism that glasses of bubbly will clink once more this autumn. Hardly a day passes by without one of the Bayern grandees telling the media how much the Austrian defender is appreciated.

“We all want him to stay,” club president Herbert Hainer said of Alaba on Wednesday, echoing previous words to the same effect by his predecessor Uli Hoeness, executive chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and board member Oliver Kahn.

There’s no doubt Alaba was one of the most important players of the treble-winning 2019-20 season. Resuming the centre-back role he first played under Pep Guardiola four years ago, the former left-back has shone as the vocal organiser of the back four, and his excellent ball progression into the final third — the most incisive and consistent in the whole Bundesliga — have enabled Bayern to rebuild their possession game under Hansi Flick.

Rummenigge went as far as calling Alaba “the black Franz Beckenbauer” in a very clumsily-worded but heartfelt appreciation of his personality and elegant play out from the back.

But the ostentatious show of appreciation for the much-loved regular has been in stark contrast with the lack of negotiating progress behind the scenes. Two face-to-face meetings between Bayern, his dad and Israeli agent Pini Zahavi, who was hired by Alaba at the beginning the year, have failed to find common ground.

The problem, as always, is money. Bayern have offered to raise Alaba’s wages to just under £290,000 per week, bonuses included, in a new four-year-deal taking in the current season. The player’s camp are pushing for a salary closer to £400,000 a week for five years.

According to Hoeness — who called Zahavi “a money-greedy piranha” live on German television 10 days ago — the veteran agent has also asked for a double-figure (in millions) commission. “I can understand why (Bayern sporting director) Hasan (Salihamidzic) lost his cool over those demands,” former West Germany winger Hoeness said, adding that Alaba’s desired terms would put him above Robert Lewandowski and Manuel Neuer.

Zahavi and Alaba senior have publicly denied they are pushing for the player to get more than the squad’s best two earners are making. In a pointed riposte via Sky Sport Deutschland, Zahavi reminded Hoeness that he had negotiated Lewandowski’s latest deal and therefore knew the exact numbers involved. But whether Alaba would in fact earn more than the Poland striker and the Germany goalkeeper or merely a figure approximating their salaries is actually immaterial. Bayern are both unwilling and unable to go beyond their proposed increase, for a number of inter-related reasons.

For them, too, the biggest factor is money. It always is, but this year especially. Industry experts anticipate a coronavirus-related loss of revenue of €100 million to €150 million in the current calendar year, depending on the extent of stadium restrictions and knock-on effects on sponsorships. As a self-sustaining club whose football business is run as a public limited company, they have a legal duty to act prudently.

Bringing in Leroy Sane for a fee rising to €60 million made it impossible to target Kai Havertz or any other players in a similar price range, and the board’s ability to accommodate Alaba’s demands is similarly curtailed. Having given the board the green light for their initial offer, it’s very unlikely that Hoeness and other advisory board members would sign-off a contract for a total figure that’s roughly 50 per cent higher.

Rummenigge has reportedly made it his personal mission to secure an extension with the player but even he cannot force this issue on his own. The 64-year-old will leave his post in December next year, and successor Kahn will be loath to saddle the club with a long-running Alaba contract that would be bound to create problems further down the line.

As much as Bayern are keen to prolong the stay of one of the longest-serving and popular squad members, they are wary of the moral hazard involved in letting emotions distract from the bottom line. Putting Alaba in or near the Lewandowski/Neuer bracket would immediately result in strong inflationary pressure inside the dressing room, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Serge Gnabry demanding improved deals, too. Rapidly rising wages in a time of non-existent gate receipts and, at best, stagnating TV revenues make for a toxic cocktail; even in Bavaria, where being profitable and successful have always gone hand in hand in recent decades.

By making their grievances public, Bayern are attempting to drive a wedge between the player and his advisors. They have been at pains to point out their belief that the 28-year-old really wants to stay and has merely been led temporarily astray by those looking for a huge payday, in wanton disregard of the financial crisis.

It’s a risky strategy, due to the involvement of the player’s father. But the club feel they are in a strong enough position for such a gambit: unlike in the case of Thiago and Liverpool, there is no other club willing or able to meet Alaba’s demands and pay a transfer fee this summer.

It is not for want of trying.

Zahavi has offered the player to clubs in Spain, Alaba’s preferred destination if he cannot stay in Munich, but Barcelona or Real Madrid are both out as far big transfers are concerned. A number of Premier League sides, including Chelsea and Manchester City, have made loose enquiries this summer but Alaba has shown himself categorically disinterested in a move to England.

All points to him staying, then. But for how long?

There’s a long-held suspicion at Bayern’s Saebener Strasse HQ that Zahavi might be deliberately quoting sums the club can’t meet in an effort to stall and run down Alaba’s contract. Representing the defender as a free agent next year would put himself and the player’s father in a position to conclude an even more lucrative deal. The Spanish giants could be back in the picture by then, as well.

If Alaba won’t agree a new deal, Bayern are increasingly minded to keep him for one more year and then see him leave. They have plenty of depth in the centre-back positions, with Lucas Hernandez, Niklas Sule, Benjamin Pavard and Tanguy Nianzou on their books. It’d be a shame to see him turn out for another club, but the best part of the €100 million they won’t fork out on his wages can then be spent on another high-class addition in a more pressing position. Needs must.

If the champagne is to keep flowing in the long run, the odd bottle has to stay unopened.

[NikkiCFC 8,285]

 

[Vesper 30,085]

45 minutes ago, NikkiCFC said:

 

2018

Alonso: Chelsea value Real Madrid, Atlético target at 60m

https://en.as.com/en/2018/08/22/football/1534938948_579545.html

[blu35_army 551]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

2018

Alonso: Chelsea value Real Madrid, Atlético target at 60m

https://en.as.com/en/2018/08/22/football/1534938948_579545.html

now,,we're lucky if we can get €10m for him.....

[Magic Lamps 11,692]

5 hours ago, Vesper said:

2018

Alonso: Chelsea value Real Madrid, Atlético target at 60m

https://en.as.com/en/2018/08/22/football/1534938948_579545.html

Tbf we probably never would have got 60m if we sold back then. 40max. 

[pmh1 23]

Nice little Dregs update. Good to get him off the wage bill.

 

Chelsea midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko is in talks with Paris Saint-Germain over a loan move ahead of the October 5 transfer deadline. [via

@NizaarKinsella

 

[Vesper 30,085]

10 hours ago, Magic Lamps said:

Tbf we probably never would have got 60m if we sold back then. 40max. 

That is the whole point. We got offered around £45m (after FOREX conversion back then) and we said no, €60m.

Pigs get slaughtered.

And Sarri fucked us there too. Cunt said Alonso was the best LB in Europe.

Smdh

[Special Juan 28,095]

Barkley gone, sounds like RLC is next and a possible sale/loan for Jorginho, if this happens someone has to be coming in.

[Pizy 18,850]

13 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

Barkley gone, sounds like RLC is next and a possible sale/loan for Jorginho, if this happens someone has to be coming in.

Nah, were clearing space for the miraculous return of Drinkwater. This is the chance he's been waiting for. 💪🏼

[whats happening 1,612]

i cant believe bakayoko is still a chelsea player

[Special Juan 28,095]

Lewis Baker still is, let that sink in.

[Atomiswave 6,117]

30 minutes ago, whats happening said:

i cant believe bakayoko is still a chelsea player

We have made such huge howlers in transfers for years, very difficult to get rid.

[Special Juan 28,095]

We will get Rice don't worry.

[YorkshireBlue 3,264]

3 minutes ago, Special Juan said:

We will get Rice don't worry.

Do you honestly believe that?