For anyone who is interested. Feels like a condensed silly season this year because the World Cup normally slows things down, and because England’s transfer window was actually reduced by a few weeks. Premier League teams can only add players until August 9, although they can still sell to other leagues until the end of the month.
The big story today is Liverpool breaking the world transfer record for a goalkeeper, somewhere in the neighborhood of £67mm for Alisson from Roma assuming he clears the medical.
I am a Liverpool fan and I’m excited. It seems like crazy money, it is crazy money I guess. It is the act of a team that probably feels, justifiably, like they could have been European champions last season if not for two incredible blunders by their keeper.
All told this basically means they spent the Coutinho money on Alisson and Van Dijk. The latter was a major difference maker for the team in the second half of last season, if Alisson has anything like the same impact it could be a fun year.
Anyway this thread is intended as a catch all for movement this summer.
Only three weeks until the Premier League starts back up. Hard to believe.
They certainly need some more depth.
If he gets Fekir, it's a great transfer window for the Reds. Assuming no big losses are coming the squad will be so much deeper than before. The only bad news is Ox being declared out for the season. What a shame.
Courtois looks set to depart Chelsea for Madrid. So be it, he's a great keeper but he's always had one foot out the door. Think it's 50/50 they can hold onto Hazard though. Hope they do, as they finally have an attacking mind in charge with Sarri and Eden could really flourish. But he's earned the right to move to Real Madrid if that's what he wants. I'm just excited to see a Jorginho/Kante midfield.
BTW, the games against Dortmund on 7/22 (4 PM) and against ManU on 7/28 (5 PM) are on ESPN. Does anyone know if the game against Man City is being televised?
They're entertaining and an interesting, easy read. Picked them up at Amazon.
If he gets Fekir, it's a great transfer window for the Reds. Assuming no big losses are coming the squad will be so much deeper than before. The only bad news is Ox being declared out for the season. What a shame.
Coutinho might be the best bit of business Liverpool ever made. His 112 million pounds + Sakho’s 25 million + 85 million in CL prize money turned into
Van Dijk = 75 million
Alisson = 66 million
Keita = 53 million
Fabinho = 40 million
They could also get Fekir from Lyon but they’d have to sell Origi and/or Sturbridge to do it. That’s a team that will at the worst push man city the distance
They certainly need some more depth.
I'm sure there's a lot more involved than I'll never know, but I wonder what they're waiting for? After the last match against Columbus the team has an 11 or 12 day layoff. That would've been a nice period to get any new player acclimated to the system.
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seem set to add a CM and a CB, mostly as cover. I suspect they have an offer out to Claudio Marchisio, who would certainly be an interesting addition. It feels like he's been around forever, but he's only 32, but he has been banged up.
They certainly need some more depth.
I'm sure there's a lot more involved than I'll never know, but I wonder what they're waiting for? After the last match against Columbus the team has an 11 or 12 day layoff. That would've been a nice period to get any new player acclimated to the system.
Agreed. They're dangerously thin right now. If they really want to make a push, they need reinforcements STAT
Kyle, geez, who knows. There seems to be conflicting signals - the Sarri hire ("fun, fun, fun"), and the Jorginho signing seem at least Hazard-appeasing-esque. Losing Courtois, the dalliance with Higuain, the rumors of letting Morata leave (with four-years left on his contract), an uninspired choice at replacement-keeper... suggest the opposite.
For whatever reason, the club has been operating in the transfer market like a club off the top tier, while also not offering enough opportunities to their youth. Why isn't Kurt Zouma with the squad in Australia?
Hazard is a joy to root for, and I believe there's no way Chelsea finish top four next year if he goes. Madrid is sitting on a pretty big war chest, so we'll just have to wait and see. What's pretty clear though, and perhaps not surprising given that the DOF position is still unfilled, is that whatever remnants of a plan that did exist seem to have been politically motivated to appease various characters at various times - some of whom are no longer even with the club. There doesn't appear to be a vision.
At least Zola is back in house?
Also, as GT pointed out, Roma is likely getting the better end of the deal by far.
Chelsea with Schmeichal will have the better keeper. I'm not sure Allison represents an upgrade from Karius, although he's likely better than Mignolet at this point.
Also, as GT pointed out, Roma is likely getting the better end of the deal by far.
Chelsea with Schmeichal will have the better keeper. I'm not sure Allison represents an upgrade from Karius, although he's likely better than Mignolet at this point.
Just financially Roma comes out huge. While I don't think Alisson is as bad as you suggest - Roma's tactics in the opening leg against Liverpool were awful - I do think Donnarumma is the better long-term investment.
BREAKING - Arbitration Court overturns Milan's Europa League ban. Perhaps Donnarumma and Bonucci aren't going anywhere after all ...
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If I'm shelling out $$$ for a keeper, he is going to be a huge upgrade. The biggest upside is that Alisson is only 25 or 26 I think.
Don’t know much about Alisson other than what I’ve read. I watched him in the Champions League, not very impressive especially at Anfield but you can’t always blame a keeper in those situations. Roma were just completely overrun. Watched Brazil in the World Cup as well but you only see so much.
The things I’ve read have been promising. He sounds like a genuinely great prospect, and he’s only 25. If he can just consistently be a top 3-4 keeper in the Premier League that’s probably enough although it sounds like he could be a good deal better than that.
Who do you rate above him?
Although he's been in poor form, De Gea was actually the best GK in the PL based on stats last year. Courtois I think is better.
But then again, I think Ederson is better too. And like I said above, I'm not sure Alisson is an upgrade to Karius.
A lot of it comes down to the situations you put your keeper in as well. Pickford had a dreadful time last year because Everton sucked. He conceded 30 more goals in the league last season and only played one more game (38 to 37).
Alisson was ineffective against Liverpool last season and so was Ederson, who conceded nine goals in four games.
Karius was fine, but to think that Alisson won't be an improvement is a bit odd.
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Alisson is a bit of a risk because he really only has one full year to go on - but I think he's probably going to be a huge upgrade. First of all, I've never had much faith in Karius - I actually prefer Mignoulet. More than that, Alisson fits Klopp's style perfectly. His value is not just as a shot-stopper, but also as a sweeper/keeper.
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They've been in chaos under Conte too, winning the league in the first year only masked it. Abramovich's sporting director runs the show, not the coach. Until there's a legit "project" there that includes a youth commitment, it will be more of the same.
I would enjoy if Chelsea had both Higuain and Giroud - how many chances could each squander in a season?