Arena "The Beautiful Game" - The Official JCC Football (Soccer) Thread.

waiting for some additional details on the Messi contract, because there was a lot of talk that he'd have an "ambassador clause" that would allow him to play in MLS.

There aren't many past-their-prime players that moving to MLS would make me go see a game. Messi might be the only one. And at any age, I'd go see Messi play for an MLS team.

 

Yeah, earlier the rumor was that he'd do two more years at Barca, then two years at Miami, then back to Barca in some sort of management role.

 

Instead of Miami, I'd like him to consider coming to Atlanta.

 

Harsh.

Stories still favour Varane to United.
Seems he's happy with the terms offered, which are better than what RM is offering to re-sign.
RM want it resolved, the options are re-sign, leave or be benched for the last year of current contract. They don't want to lose him for free

 

Donnarumma retires early and has joined PSG

 

Obviously he's still on ridiculous money, but I thought he'd leave Barca for whoever paid him the most.
It says something that he was willing to significantly reduce his wages to help out the club's financial position instead of just going somewhere like PSG where he could earn more.

He's still earning around €50m a year, so it's hardly going to cause him any problem.

 

The English Player Premium strikes again

Liverpool signed Konate for £30mil
United close to agreeing a deal for Varane for around £40mil

Two of the world's best CBs for what in the modern football market is pretty good money.

Arsenal....sign Ben White for £50mil
A fine defender no doubt, but nowhere near elite level yet.

But then neither were Maguire (80m) AWB (50m) or Chilwell (50m)

Brighton got a good deal there

 

Varane wants to move on and only has 1 year left on his contract. £40m abut right
Konate, 1 year left on his contract and had a minimum fee release clause that Liverpool triggered. £30m (give or take) is under valued because of the release clause

White wants to move on but has a contract till 2024. Arsenal have to pay a premium to buy out the contract so it's not and England premium its a contract premium. Konate would have been £40-50m had it not been for the minimum fee release clause and Varane would have been Maguire./VVD levels if he still had 2 or 3 years on his contract.

Brighton have a good but fair deal, if anything I would say that Real and Leipzig will miss out

 

Varane & Konate are worth £50m

White is not, he's worth the sort of money Liverpool & United are paying for better players.
English defenders have been signed for ridiculous money in recent years, far more than they're actually worth

 

Contracts Ritch, the fact they only have 1 year left reduces their value and Konate has a MINIMUM fee release clause. Leipzig were obligated to accept Liverpools bid.

A players value plummets in his last year. Pogba is a £90m midfielder (based on France performances) but if United sold him now they'd get £50m for him as he's in his last year/

Varane is in his last year so his price drops as it's either get around 50% of value or lose the player for nothing.

White at £50m is about right based on ability, duration of contract and potential. Arsenal have got a good player there.

 

Given they got Gabriel for 25m, who was scouted by many big clubs, paying twice that for a defender who right now isn't much better seems unnecessary given what Arsenal need to improve their squad. They aren't exactly rich these days, that much on a CB seems like a waste of a large chunk of their budget they could have saved on a cheaper defender to be used elsewhere.

Arsenal's problem last season was scoring goals more than defending, White won't help with that.

I'm sure White will be worth 50m in time, assuming he improves at Arsenal

 

He's worth £50m now thats why Arsenal payed £50m now and the reason Arsenal are struggling to score is the same reason United struggled under Mourinho is because their defence isn't good enough and they have to play deeper than the like of Lacazette and Aubamayang like. White fixes that problem.

White is going to be an excellent defender and in all honesty should have gone to a bigger club

for £50m

 

United apparently trying to tempt Goretzka to agree to sign next summer when he's out of contract.

Also apparently interested in Ruben Neves, who Arsenal also are keen to sign. He could be available for £35m, which I think is a good price for someone of that ability.

No idea how long the Varane deal will take, but it does seem like it will happen eventually. Personal terms aren't an issue and he wants to leave Real Madrid, so it's a case of how long it takes for the clubs to negotiate a price.

Still lots of chatter around Trippier. I'm fine with getting a back-up to challenge AWB, but we have Dalot already who has had a good season on loan with AC Milan and apparently is highly regarded by Ancelotti.
Why not just keep him as the attacking RB option and save the money?

 

AWB isn't that great going forwards but is excellent defensively. Rumours are it's Trippier to be first choice RB with AWB/Dalot as back up and with AWB to be also trialled in a central role alongside Maguire/?? in a similar vein as Walker gets used for England and see if he can become a Centre back.


Very much crappy paper rumours though so pinch of salt advised

Spurs looking to move on a few players with Dier and Winks near the top of the pile to move on. Don't know who'll they'll replace them with considering the £2.50 they'll get.

 

AWB can't play CB, he slides in too much which is dangerous in the box.
And there's no way we paid 50m for him just to be a back-up RB, he's the first choice guy and anyone else is there simply to motivate him.

Haven't Liverpool only bought in one player and lost Wijnaldum?
I've heard also that there are issues with Henderson signing a new contract. It would be crazy for them to let their captain go, he's very important to that team.