Chelsea Transfers

[Jase 43,479]

35 minutes ago, Vesper said:

LOLOLOLOL

right on cue

you can set yer fucking Rolex to it!

Serie A side ‘change their stance’ on Chelsea star and want him on loan

https://astamfordbridgetoofar.com/2021/07/05/transfer-news-ac-milan-change-stance-on-Chelsea-star-hakim-ziyech/

Transfer News: AC Milan change stance regarding Chelsea playmaker Hakim Ziyech

According to a report by Italian publication, Corriere dello Sport via SempreMilan (h/t Football.london), AC Milan now want to sign Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech on loan instead of a permanent transfer.

The Moroccan wide-man joined the club just last summer in a move from Eredivisie giants, Ajax. But life in English football did not get off to a roaring start for him.

Multiple fitness issues saw him sidelined for a number of games under Frank Lampard. And ever since Thomas Tuchel took over the helm earlier this year, Ziyech’s role is reduced largely to being a squad player in the league. (h/t Transfermarkt)

Pretty sure Milan are looking at a number of options. They have also been linked with Coutinho, Tadic for example. 

[Vesper 30,106]

14 minutes ago, King Kante said:

Pedri and De Jong are the only ones I really rate and we don't really need Pedri with Billy/Jorgi/Kova. 

However, what is interesting with Pedri is that he will be out of contact next season and Barca are already €300m over the new La Liga wage cap. 

Personally, I don't see us getting him but I do see City putting insane money his way. He is perfect for Pep and Gundogan and KdB are both over 30. 

Barca are properly fecked, like Leeds 2003 fecked. If anyone cares to actually look at their financial situation they're going bankrupt very quickly as unlike Leeds they cannot even really fire sale owing the the insane wages of their players and/or the low amount of years they have. Ter Stegan and De Jong are probably the only two they have in a reasonable situation (although Ter Stegan is on big, big wages for a GK.)

Not sure about Rice, I really like the idea of him back as he is such a Chelsea lad but I fear his inability to break the lines with his running and passing would be a big issue for us. 

Citeh FOR SURE with Pedri

Pep is already drooling over him

fuck us all if they get him and Kane plus some other top notch players (you know they will spend a lorry full of cash)

[Vesper 30,106]

2 minutes ago, Jas said:

Pretty sure Milan are looking at a number of options. They have also been linked with Coutinho, Tadic for example. 

Tadic is a farmer league flat track bully and turns 33yo in 4 and half months

Edited July 4, 2021 by Vesper

[Jase 43,479]

1 minute ago, Vesper said:

Tadic is a farmer league flat track bully and turns 33yo in 4 and half months

33 ain't that old yet when it comes to Serie A.

[Superblue 6,372]

33 minutes ago, King Kante said:

Pedri and De Jong are the only ones I really rate and we don't really need Pedri with Billy/Jorgi/Kova. 

However, what is interesting with Pedri is that he will be out of contact next season and Barca are already €300m over the new La Liga wage cap. 

Personally, I don't see us getting him but I do see City putting insane money his way. He is perfect for Pep and Gundogan and KdB are both over 30. 

Barca are properly fecked, like Leeds 2003 fecked. If anyone cares to actually look at their financial situation they're going bankrupt very quickly as unlike Leeds they cannot even really fire sale owing the the insane wages of their players and/or the low amount of years they have. Ter Stegan and De Jong are probably the only two they have in a reasonable situation (although Ter Stegan is on big, big wages for a GK.)

If Barcelona had any sense they'd let Messi walk.

He's still an incredible player but the money they are paying him and the over-reliance on him is just pushing them deeper into this financial abyss.

They moved away from relying on their academy and started paying stupid money for players. The transfer fee's for Dembele and Coutinho in particular were nothing short of a joke. Coutinho even in his pomp at Liverpool was never more than £50m. Griezmann falls into that category too simply because he wasn't needed when Messi is at the club. Although ironically if Barca let Messi go, they should rely on Griezmann the next couple of years to anchor the attack.

I do think over the next few years more players will end up moving clubs at the end of their contracts instead of the big money moves and if Barca cleared the decks somewhat over the next season or two and rebuilt around a younger core of players then they could be in a position to make a play for the likes of Haaland, Mbappe, etc because they'll still hold massive pull for players.

[Jase 43,479]

Speaking of Pedri...

 

[Vesper 30,106]

1 hour ago, Jas said:

33 ain't that old yet when it comes to Serie A.

only for certain positions

look at wingers for instance

Insigne (30yo) is the only decent one over 27yo (unless you count CR7 who is now listed at CF)

every LWer over 24yo

every RWer over 24yo

 

every SS

Josip Ilicic is ageing out, that leaves only 3 decent ones in the entire league, a 29yo, a 27yo, and a 26yo

 

every AMF 30yo or older

 

every RMF over 24yo

every LMF in the league

 

 

It is only at CF (in terms of offensive players) where you really get the grandpa effect (and even there is it really only the 5 oldest on the list, the rest are all 32yo or younger)

all these are 30yo or older and still banging them in or assisting on them

Zlatan Ibrahimovic 39    AC Milan 
Fabio Quagliarella   38    UC Sampdoria      
Cristiano Ronaldo    36     Juventus 
Edin Dzeko     35    AS Roma   350+ career topflight goals (over 500 total goals produced including assists) for club and country, truly overlooked great striker
Dries Mertens     34    SSC Napoli  
Alexis Sánchez    32    Inter Milan   (14 total league goals (7+7) produced in only 1100 minutes) 
Ciro Immobile     31    SS Lazio   
Duván Zapata    30    Atalanta BC    
Luis Muriel    30    Atalanta BC   

Edited July 4, 2021 by Vesper

[King Kante 1,643]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

Citeh FOR SURE with Pedri

Pep is already drooling over him

fuck us all if they get him and Kane plus some other top notch players (you know they will spend a lorry full of cash)

If we can get Håland and sort out a more offensive CM, I am pretty confident about our chances. If you look at City, they're starting to age out. I mean, look at the ages of the side at the start of next season: 

KdB - 31 (maybe not an issue with his play style but he has never been quick and always looked a little 'chunky')

Gundogan - 31 (bad knees)

Kane - 29 (bad ankles) 

Walker - 32 (relies on speed)

Fernandinho - 38

Mahrez - 31 (relies somewhat on speed)

Then you have some of their speed merchant players pushing for 30 during that season: 

Sterling 28

Cancelo 28

For me, City are a great side but they're not far off a overhaul. One thing the do have however is probably the best group of CB's and GK's in Europe that are still young + Zinchenko (although he seems to split opinion.) 

Edited July 4, 2021 by King Kante

[Vesper 30,106]

19 minutes ago, King Kante said:

If we can get Håland and sort out a more offensive CM, I am pretty confident about our chances. If you look at City, they're starting to age out. I mean, look at the ages of the side at the start of next season: 

KdB - 31 

Gundogan - 31

Kane - 29

Walker - 32 

Fernandinho - 38

Mahrez - 31

Then you have some of their speed merchant players pushing for 30 during that season: 

Sterling 28

Cancelo 28

For me, City are a great side but they're not far off a overhaul. One thing the do have however is probably the best group of CB's and GK's in Europe that are still young + Zinchenko (although he seems to split opinion.) 

you are off on all of those ages (in bold is what you said)

at the start of next season (what you said) they are

KdB - 31 (just turned 30 a week ago, on June 28)

Gundogan - 31 (is 30yo, turns 31 October 24) this is the only one you are sort of close too

Kane - 29 (Kane is 27, turns 28 July 28th)

Walker - 32 (just turned 31 May 28, not 32 until after next season ends)

Fernandinho - 38 (is 36, turns 37 May 4th, 2022)

Mahrez - 31 (is 30, turns 31 February 21, 2022)

Then you have some of their speed merchant players pushing for 30 during that season: 

Sterling 28 (is 26, turns 27 Dec 8th)

Cancelo 28 (is 27, doesn't turn 28 until May 27, 2022, after the season ends)

 

Edited July 4, 2021 by Vesper

[Mário César 1,246]

43 minutes ago, King Kante said:

If we can get Håland and sort out a more offensive CM, I am pretty confident about our chances. If you look at City, they're starting to age out. I mean, look at the ages of the side at the start of next season: 

KdB - 31 (maybe not an issue with his play style but he has never been quick and always looked a little 'chunky')

Gundogan - 31 (bad knees)

Kane - 29 (bad ankles) 

Walker - 32 (relies on speed)

Fernandinho - 38

Mahrez - 31 (relies somewhat on speed)

Then you have some of their speed merchant players pushing for 30 during that season: 

Sterling 28

Cancelo 28

For me, City are a great side but they're not far off a overhaul. One thing the do have however is probably the best group of CB's and GK's in Europe that are still young + Zinchenko (although he seems to split opinion.) 

LOOL

where you saw the ages of the players? trolol

[Vesper 30,106]

IF this happens, Dusan Vlahovic is still probably still on the table, but if CR7 leaves, for sure (95% IMHO) he is gone to Juve.

 

TRANSFER NEWS - CRISTIANO RONALDO'S AGENT APPROACHES JUVENTUS OVER CONTRACT EXTENSION - REPORT

https://www.eurosport.com/football/transfers/2020-2021/transfer-news-cristiano-ronaldo-s-agent-approaches-juventus-over-contract-extension-report_sto8405132/story.shtml

Cristiano Ronaldo has asked Juventus for a new contract, according to a report in Italy.

The Juventus star has been the subject of transfer speculation since Portugal were knocked out of Euro 2020.

 

 

Ronaldo was tipped to leave Juventus in search of a new challenge, but Gazzetta dello Sport claim the forward’s agent has moved to dispel rumours his client could be on the move. 

 

Jorge Mendes has approached Juventus this week about extending Ronaldo’s deal until 2023, which will serve as the clearest indication yet the goalscorer plans to stay in Turin.

Edited July 5, 2021 by Vesper

[King Kante 1,643]

1 hour ago, Vesper said:

you are off on all of those ages (in bold is what you said)

at the start of next season (what you said) they are

KdB - 31 (just turned 30 a week ago, on June 28)

Gundogan - 31 (is 30yo, turns 31 October 24) this is the only one you are sort of close too

Kane - 29 (Kane is 27, turns 28 July 28th)

Walker - 32 (just turned 31 May 28, not 32 until after next season ends)

Fernandinho - 38 (is 36, turns 37 May 4th, 2022)

Mahrez - 31 (is 30, turns 31 February 21, 2022)

Then you have some of their speed merchant players pushing for 30 during that season: 

Sterling 28 (is 26, turns 27 Dec 8th)

Cancelo 28 (is 27, doesn't turn 28 until May 27, 2022, after the season ends)

 

Sorry, I meant the start of next season not this coming one. I count the season we're about to go into as this season as we are past 1st June.

Still, I was out on a few still. 

[Vesper 30,106]

1 minute ago, King Kante said:

Sorry, I meant the start of next season not this coming one. I count the season we're about to go into as this season as we are past 1st June.

Still, I was out on a few still. 

no problem, cheers

[Superblue 6,372]

1 minute ago, King Kante said:

Sorry, I meant the start of next season not this coming one. I count the season we're about to go into as this season as we are past 1st June.

Still, I was out on a few still. 

Although some of the ages were still off, it is a good point that some of their big players are pushing over the magic 30 number. 

We do have a couple of our own mind (in terms of important players, not squad players) I'm pretty sure Silva will be 37 (although I see his game time being managed a lot more by Tuchel next season, particularly as there's a valid argument that Christensen could possibly go ahead of him), Azpi is 31, Kante is 30 and Jorginho is 30 mid-season.

I think where we do have the edge over City is the bulk of our main players are in their early 20's and arguably still haven't fully tapped into their potential so there should be more to come.

What I would say though about City is they have found themselves over the past couple of years in a similar position to us a few years ago when we had to replace a core group of players (Cech, Cole, Terry, Lampard, Drogba, etc) in a short space of time. There was always a bit of a worry within our fan base when that time would come but we managed to get through fairly well and carried on winning trophies. City have been able to replace Kompany and David Silva without really missing a beat, and we'll surely soon see what their plans are post-Aguero. I think given their resources when the time comes to replace these players they'll probably get it right more often than not.

[King Kante 1,643]

8 minutes ago, Superblue_1986 said:

Although some of the ages were still off, it is a good point that some of their big players are pushing over the magic 30 number. 

We do have a couple of our own mind (in terms of important players, not squad players) I'm pretty sure Silva will be 37 (although I see his game time being managed a lot more by Tuchel next season, particularly as there's a valid argument that Christensen could possibly go ahead of him), Azpi is 31, Kante is 30 and Jorginho is 30 mid-season.

I think where we do have the edge over City is the bulk of our main players are in their early 20's and arguably still haven't fully tapped into their potential so there should be more to come.

What I would say though about City is they have found themselves over the past couple of years in a similar position to us a few years ago when we had to replace a core group of players (Cech, Cole, Terry, Lampard, Drogba, etc) in a short space of time. There was always a bit of a worry within our fan base when that time would come but we managed to get through fairly well and carried on winning trophies. City have been able to replace Kompany and David Silva without really missing a beat, and we'll surely soon see what their plans are post-Aguero. I think given their resources when the time comes to replace these players they'll probably get it right more often than not.

Agree, but I wouldn't say they have replaced Silva. Torres may do so but he is blowing a bit hot and cold atm. 

As for us, Dave has a replacement in James whole I also think he is the sort of player that will be like James Milner and Fernandinho in that he'll get to his mid 30's and still be fine. AC is a player I have always backed and I think he is capable of replacing Silva. 

Midfield is the issue going forward. Billy if he develops properly should be able to replace Jorgi. Kante is irreplaceable but their are some options out there to replace him long term (but in a different fashion): Bellingham, Rice (personally not sold), those two French kids (at Monaco and Rennes) that everyone bangs on about that I haven't seen much of etc.