Transfer: 2023 Summer Transfer Window - Open Window Edition

[Jersey Fresh]

Supposedly Salah accepted the Saudi offer.

 

[Ajacied]

Curious what @Ajacied thinks. I’ve seen a lot of Ajax supporters not fussed to see him go.

I think most fans hate to see him go. It’s just that Kudus has been pushing for a transfer for about a year now and they don’t really feel he has the motivation or drive anymore to give his all at Ajax. That’s where the fuss is all about. Same group of fans that come up with excuses why Ajax can spend that ~40/50M elsewhere.

The facts: Kudus’ stay with Ajax hasn’t been fully successful. He’s been playing multiple positions, from a box to box CM, to CAM, striker or on the wings. Couple that with a few injuries/set backs, multiple coaches in just a short window and he never got a consistent stretch of greatness. It were mostly flukes or a handful of games where he showed absolute top class abilities. You can tell however, that he is the total package, only still a diamond that needs to be polished. He has all the traits to become an elite player one day, including the physical attributes. Outstanding dribbler, quick, agile, strong, finds spaces well, rocket of a shot and can even defend well. His football IQ I am not sure about. He can make some really nonchalant plays every so often.

I for one would hate to see him go. There’s yet another raid going on and he’s pretty much the only player left with world class abilities. The rest either come up short or are still just teenagers.

 

[Savant]

Supposedly Salah accepted the Saudi offer.

Ralph Wiggum, “I’m in danger”

 

[Jersey Fresh]

Ralph Wiggum, “I’m in danger”

What do you think? Does FSG hold on for dear life or just take the money and say “bon voyage”?

 

[Savant]

What do you think? Does FSG hold on for dear life or just take the money and say “bon voyage”?

Either would not surprise me. But there is no chance in hell they would be able to effectively replace this late in the window. Don’t even think they’d be able to fix the other roster holes either with the way they operate. Best case scenario is you get another window or two out of him. He is not a LFC player this time next year either way.

And here is the thing: yeah you might get stupid money for him, but we’ve already seen with Fabinho they have no idea what to do with it

 

[Jussi]

I guess that's the source?

 

[Chimaera]

It is very dissapointing. Hopefully he's back next year

It might be. But he's 21. He could have a major injury and never realize the riches he could see there.

It stinks from a footballing sense, but for him personally? That's the move I would make.

 

[Chimaera]

What do you think? Does FSG hold on for dear life or just take the money and say “bon voyage”?

How much money are we talking about them paying for Salah? If it's not 125-150+, kick f***ing rocks.

I actually think they're better poised to being able to sell Salah than most other positions... but it still would be a massive issue. My concern is they let him go, they're not capable of getting players to fill the spot. It's just going to be a sit on the money till January or summer.

I think what's more likely to happen is they talk to Mo (who's agent has said the right things so far), and say, if you want to go, next summer, you're welcome with our blessings.

 

[koyvoo]

What a friggin blow

 

[Savant]

What a friggin blow

Let’s wait until it’s done before dancing on the grave please.

Conspiracy Theory (not mine) is that they are trying to unsettle Salah before the Newcastle game because PIF things.

There is going to be a revolt if FSG let Salah go

 

[Ceremony]

Why is Laporte going to Saudi so cheap? He's actually good. Isn't he?

 

[red devil]

 

[cgf]

Guess Xhaka, Hoffman, a returned Wirtz, and Boniface made those two expendable.

They’re also close to signing that winger from Southampton.

 

[Savant]

Why is Laporte going to Saudi so cheap? He's actually good. Isn't he?

No one wants to pay his wages, and he turned down moves elsewhere

 

[cgf]

From the way it's sounded. Tuchel thinks they really need a true 6, the front office thinks Kimmich is already said 6 and Kimmich thinks he is as well. The latter, of course, are all sorely mistaken.

They were pursuing various 6s before they got wrapped up in the Kane stuff. Though that certainly cooled off after Kimmich’a comments.

And tbf to him, he could be a 6, he just needs a more defensive 6 next to him, 3 cbs behind him, or more industrious 8s in front of him a la Pirlo.

 

[Bringer of Jollity]

They were pursuing various 6s before they got wrapped up in the Kane stuff. Though that certainly cooled off after Kimmich’a comments.

And tbf to him, he could be a 6, he just needs a more defensive 6 next to him, 3 cbs behind him, or more industrious 8s in front of him a la Pirlo.

Hmm, I still just think he's more of a deep-lying 8 than an effective 6, and he'd be far better off having the flexibility that an actual 6 behind him would allow him.

 

[JeffreyLFC]

The problem with selling Salah that late is finding a replacement and not overpaying through the roof.

Also convincing the fanbase that he wanted the transer and they had no choice. Which would be a very hard sell.

Otherwise Ben Doak time and pray!

 

[Duchene2MacKinnon]

Makes me think this is not going to be China 2.0....

It would be Spanish Oscar.

 

[gary69]

Jesper Karlsson finally left Eredivisie, moved to Bologna.

 

[Brunkmeister]

Jesper Karlsson finally left Eredivisie, moved to Bologna.

Nothing against Bologna but that is a pretty disappointing move after all. Were talks about bigger clubs. But i guess he has to earn his way up through the ranks.

 

[phisherman]

Makes me think this is not going to be China 2.0....

It was never comparable to what happened with China.

 

[S E P H]

We still don't know what will happen in the long term. I guarantee you lot that Veiga isn't going to spend his entire career in SA. Remember, CR7 was rumoured to want out one season after, but probably had a talking to by his agent and King of SA.


- Arsenal is supposedly trying to sell seven players including Balogun (50), Tierney (30), Tavares (15), Pepe (Arsenal wants a fee), Lokonga (15), Holding (10), and Cedric (5).

Extremely hard to see Arsenal sell even 50% of them at this point. I gotta give Chelsea credit, they are very proactive when it comes to selling players. I don't know how they do it, but it seems they're able to market their surplus pieces quite well and get them out of the squad. Arsenal can barely sell Tierney at this point and he'd be near the top of Chelsea's outgoing players in this current window. Yet nobody wants to buy him because every club went for other players instead while Arsenal is twiddling their thumbs.

- Arsenal are trying to buy two players after selling all the players that need a move-out, which could be Fresneda and Fati.

- If Arsenal sells Gabriel, they will be going for Guehi from Palace, but things look unlikely with one week left in the window.

 

[Savant]

The problem with selling Salah that late is finding a replacement and not overpaying through the roof.

Also convincing the fanbase that he wanted the transer and they had no choice. Which would be a very hard sell.

Otherwise Ben Doak time and pray!

I mean if they sell Salah they may as well roll with Doak/Elliott there. Aren’t going to be contending for anything other than Europa league and they aren’t going to be able to recruit anyone good

 

[Ceremony]

Punt Salah and let Doak commence his reign as the greatest player in the world.

 

[cgf]

Hmm, I still just think he's more of a deep-lying 8 than an effective 6, and he'd be far better off having the flexibility that an actual 6 behind him would allow him.

Some of this comes down to terminology and interpretation. He can absolutely play the Schweinsteiger role in a doppel-6. But you need to pair him with someone who can fill the Sami role, not ask him to play a Busquets like role as the lone holder.

If you want him to be your lone 6, then you need to stick some Gattusos in front of him, so that (like Pirlo) he can freely manipulate from those deeper positions.

At this point I think my preference is to make him a defensive FB again, and to play with a defensive holder behind Musiala & Wirtz. But I’m cool with giving him the freer 6-role next to Can / Khedira / Martel.