Stickied Transfer Rumours 2018/19

[JimJams]

He played on the left Bilo. Deal with it lad.

 

[Costello]

Brighton wants Joe Gomez.

Yes please. Been very impressed whenever I've seen him, versatile too.

We're on the verge of signing keeper Mat Ryan from Valencia, £5.2m fee agreed. Promising reports from his time at Brugge, didn't sound like he had the best of times at the Mestalla but hopefully a fresh start with us is what he needs - seems highly rated. Probably means Stockdale is off, although to where I have no idea.

Also yet to hear whether Tammy Abraham's heading our way or Toon's, our local rag reporting it's pretty 50/50, but I'm still doubtful we'll get him. Hertha BSC attacking mid Genki Haraguchi is also being heavily linked.

 

[Renegade]

No, that's why it's possible to get mixed up. When the false 9 switch was made (10 mins into the 6-2 at Real) Henry was on the left, Eto'o was on the right. And while he was predominately on the left for Inter, he wasn't exclusively played there (which I'm not sure that anyone has stated?). He played mostly on the left and sometimes on the right, which makes it a forgivable mix-up imo.

Edit: Also, didn't Eto'o play on the right in both those high profile games against Barca? At least at home, he put in some beautiful crosses that game (both Sneijder's and Milito's goals came from right handed Eto'o crosses). I don't remember the second leg well at all to be honest but I'm not sure why Mourinho would change it.

It was always a pretty fluid front line, Henry was predominantly utilised on the left-wing, but Eto'o was also often switching between a central role and both wings. I always remember him being on the left far more than the right, interchanging with Henry. Eto'o has been used on the left for Cameroon and even spent a chunk of his brief Everton spell on that side.

And yeah, it's alright for us to get mixed up remembering how someone played almost a decade ago (how depressing is that?), but we're not making in-depth tactical videos about it. If we were playing closer attention, there is no way either of us would make that mistake.

 

[Bilo]

Yes please. Been very impressed whenever I've seen him, versatile too.

His injury record is a gamble, but he walked into our defense at the age of 18, which even though our defense is notoriously bad is a very good testament to how naturally talented he is. If he stays fit (big if) and hasn't lost out too much on his development (also a big if) then I can see us regretting the sale a few years down the line. Even if he's stagnated a bit he should be a fantastic signing for you lot.

 

[Bilo]

And yeah, it's alright for us to get mixed up remembering how someone played almost a decade ago (how depressing is that?), but we're not making in-depth tactical videos about it. If we were playing closer attention, there is no way either of us would make that mistake.

This is a good point and you're right. And seven years fucking hell. Just looking at what has been going on in Mou's career since makes me feel very old and unproductive.

 

[G-Dragon]

70 million + for Morata...yikes!

 

[Stevencc]

Morata for £60-62m and Lindelof for £35m are seemingly done deals, hopefully we'll see them announced next week.

 

[Costello]

His injury record is a gamble, but he walked into our defense at the age of 18, which even though our defense is notoriously bad is a very good testament to how naturally talented he is. If he stays fit (big if) and hasn't lost out too much on his development (also a big if) then I can see us regretting the sale a few years down the line. Even if he's stagnated a bit he should be a fantastic signing for you lot.

Fairly sure it'd only be a loan (that what our local journo is reporting), still plenty of time for him to come good for your lot yet I'd say. Think the idea is we'll give him the game time he needs to get his development back on track after the injury troubles.

EDIT: ignore me, I've managed fabricate the above in my head. Seems it is a permanent move being mooted. Crazy what's realistic now we're a PL club.

 

[SALTIRE]

This window so far for me...

 

[Storzy]

Never been overly impressed by Morata. Seems a big step down from Ibra anyhow.

 

[SALTIRE]

Probably fit with their playstyle better though than Ibra did.

 

[Bilo]

Never been overly impressed by Morata. Seems a big step down from Ibra anyhow.

He'll score less but contribute more in the general play. In my opinion, had Morata taken Ibra's spot last season the team would have scored more but he'd have scored less than Zlatan. Ibrahimovic was very static towards the end, but he just kept on scoring anyhow.

 

[Bilo]

Fairly sure it'd only be a loan (that what our local journo is reporting), still plenty of time for him to come good for your lot yet I'd say. Think the idea is we'll give him the game time he needs to get his development back on track after the injury troubles.

EDIT: ignore me, I've managed fabricate the above in my head. Seems it is a permanent move being mooted. Crazy what's realistic now we're a PL club.

How's Hughton's record with youngsters? From my experience Gomez in the situation he's in will need a lot of guidance to get to where he really looked like he was going back when he signed for us. His confidence will be shot, he will have missed a lot of development but he's got so much natural talent you wouldn't believe. It's all about his technical skills that need developing because his head had him, like I said, walking into our starting XI at the age of 18 having only been at the club for a month.

What's the fee touted? I'd be disappointed with less than £10M even with his injury record, especially since you too get your fair share of the TV deal. It could be an incredible signing and even at £15M it would be worth the risk from your perspective.

I wish him all the best and a solid buy back clause around £30M.

 

[G.B]

https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/news/re...opp-botched-liverpool-transfer-190009053.html

 

[Ebeneezer Goode]

"exclusively by Yahoo Sport UK." hmmm

 

[SALTIRE]

Gomez will be for a loan surely. It won't be a sale?

 

[Costello]

How's Hughton's record with youngsters? From my experience Gomez in the situation he's in will need a lot of guidance to get to where he really looked like he was going back when he signed for us. His confidence will be shot, he will have missed a lot of development but he's got so much natural talent you wouldn't believe. It's all about his technical skills that need developing because his head had him, like I said, walking into our starting XI at the age of 18 having only been at the club for a month.

What's the fee touted? I'd be disappointed with less than £10M even with his injury record, especially since you too get your fair share of the TV deal. It could be an incredible signing and even at £15M it would be worth the risk from your perspective.

I wish him all the best and a solid buy back clause around £30M.

Couple of sources I've read mention a £10m fee, including this one: http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...uth-Premier-League-Transfer-News-Gossip#t=30s

But who knows where they got that from, and whether Liverpool are actually willing to sell.

On Hughton, he does tend to opt for experience over youth but put faith in a couple of young defenders at times last season, including 18-year-old Chelsea loanee Fikayo Tomori who stepped in for some crucial games during the run-in and handled the pressure very well.

Think we'll definitely be looking to add some athleticism to our backline and Gomez has plenty of that.

 

[G-Dragon]

Morata for £60-62m and Lindelof for £35m are seemingly done deals, hopefully we'll see them announced next week.

Lindelof announced.
https://twitter.com/ManUtd/status/873631005869051904

 

[Bilo]

Bilo you're swedish what's your take on him???

Oh thanks for asking. Well he's got a lot of raw talent, is positionally very good but has some ways to go still. In my opinion, coming into the Premier League United should use him as a right back for him to learn his trade, to throw him in at the deep end (i.e. starting every game at CB) will probably cost you a few goals until he gets the hang of it. When he's at his best he's as good as anyone I've seen in the Swedish national team defense, but he's still young and a few years off his peak. Perhaps a bit too much money as he isn't the finished article but then again, £16M was a lot for Henderson at the time and with inflation at its current going rate it could look like nothing eventually. I wrote this way back when:

On paper, he has everything you can ask at his age. He can play both in the middle and on the right side of the defense, even though he's at his best in the middle. He's good with the ball at his feet, runs with the ball well and is generally a good decision maker. A typical modern centre back. Could still put some weight on mind, but he's positionally aware and one I'd very much like at Liverpool. A good marker and a very good tackler.

However, and this is quite a big however: he keeps having really weird lapses of concentration. By really weird I mean that it just doesn't add up with all his ability, and it costs goals at times. Obviously he's young but it's a warning sign for me, because some of the mistakes he's made (have a look at the highlights from Besiktas-Benfica, for example) are incredible for a top level centre back.

If you can get him for £25M or less, it's a good deal. More than that and it's a gamble. But he will cost you goals while still looking like a fantastic centre back the rest of the time. If he signs, he will be a guaranteed inclusion in our bi-annual overrated/underrated threads. But on pure technically ability alone, you'll get a good squad member at the very least. If he somehow learns how to stay focused for 90 minutes regularly, you have potential as good as any other defender out there.

Reading it back now I have to say just over these past six months he's developed quite a bit. I think that Besiktas game was a good kick up his arse.

 

[epic73]

A bit disappointed at Morata if he's the only striker we sign this window, we got/are getting him for potential when what we need is a striker that's good now.

 

[Jamie_SFC]

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...pool-Southampton-Transfer-News-Rumours-Gossip

No truth in that one surely?

 

[HarvSFC]

Ha, that would be the one player I'd be happy to see go to Liverpool, well him and Redmond.

 

[Stevencc]

Oh thanks for asking. Well he's got a lot of raw talent, is positionally very good but has some ways to go still. In my opinion, coming into the Premier League United should use him as a right back for him to learn his trade, to throw him in at the deep end (i.e. starting every game at CB) will probably cost you a few goals until he gets the hang of it. When he's at his best he's as good as anyone I've seen in the Swedish national team defense, but he's still young and a few years off his peak. Perhaps a bit too much money as he isn't the finished article but then again, £16M was a lot for Henderson at the time and with inflation at its current going rate it could look like nothing eventually. I wrote this way back when:


Reading it back now I have to say just over these past six months he's developed quite a bit. I think that Besiktas game was a good kick up his arse.

He'll be going straight in at centre back to Bailly's left so I hope he settles quickly.

I'm an expert on him because I've watched a couple of YouTube compilations, one of which clocked in at a weighty ten minutes, and I predict that he will be an astounding success.

 

[Bilo]

He'll be going straight in at centre back to Bailly's left so I hope he settles quickly.

I'm an expert on him because I've watched a couple of YouTube compilations, one of which clocked in at a weighty ten minutes, and I predict that he will be an astounding success.

Bailly+VNL will be the weakest CB pairing in the top six next season imo. Bailly is solid but not great (wasn't he kept out of the team for a while last season?) and VNL would be the rawest starting CB out of any of the top six to be completely honest. I think you might be expecting a bit too much of him just yet.

 

[Stevencc]

Bailly+VNL will be the weakest CB pairing in the top six next season imo. Bailly is solid but not great (wasn't he kept out of the team for a while last season?) and VNL would be the rawest starting CB out of any of the top six to be completely honest. I think you might be expecting a bit too much of him just yet.

Bailly is fantastic, he exceeded every one of my expectations last season and United fans now hold him in very high regard despite initial trepidation. He missed some games when we were experimenting with defences to field in his AFCON absence but never due to performance.

We'll have to see how Lindelof settles but I'm happy with our defensive options going into the coming season. Mourinho probably disagrees with my assessment of the left back position, though.

In regards to your comparison of the top six defences, talking purely in terms of single personnel and defensive ability, I wouldn't swap Bailly for any centre back that Chelsea, City, Liverpool or Arsenal have. Alderweireld would be the only centre back I'd take ahead of him. I had to think about Koscielny but age swings it Bailly's way.

 

[Bilo]

Really? I probably only watched a third of all your matches last season so I'll take your word for it. If he can cover well for VNL's learning curve then I guess it will be looking good going forward, especially if Smalling can keep some sort of reasonable form as backup.

You still need a good few signings yet to be proper challengers next season though. As do we, obviously.

 

[Stevencc]

Really? I probably only watched a third of all your matches last season so I'll take your word for it. If he can cover well for VNL's learning curve then I guess it will be looking good going forward, especially if Smalling can keep some sort of reasonable form as backup.

You still need a good few signings yet to be proper challengers next season though. As do we, obviously.

I do agree with that, a proper defensive midfielder would be top of my list as I think it'd transform our midfield.

Not sure what's happening with Fabinho at the moment.

 

[SALTIRE]

http://www.express.co.uk/sport/foot...pool-Southampton-Transfer-News-Rumours-Gossip

No truth in that one surely?

It's The Express, them and The Daily Star never get any Liverpool transfer Rumours correct.

 

[HarvSFC]

It's The Express, them and The Daily Star never get any Liverpool transfer Rumours correct.

How about The Times?

 

[SALTIRE]

How about The Times?

Can't say I notice too much what The Times say either though they might have a better hit rate.