Transfer Talk Topic

[Rob B]

Matt Law saying we are readying a bid for the RB Malo Gusto.    I don't know anything about him other than the fact he's only 19 and his YouTube highlights remind me heavily of Reece James - which is quite a scary prospect.  The reason I say this is he looks happy for wingers to try and take him on and to just use his physicality to brush them aside.  I haven't seen anything of his forward play, but defensively he plays very similarly. 

One of the big outlets in Portugal also saying we are back in conversation with Benfica for Enzo Fernandez.  Wouldn't surprise me as I don't think our January business is finished yet (just a hunch) 

[My Blood Is Blue]

11 minutes ago, Rob B said:

Matt Law saying we are readying a bid for the RB Malo Gusto.    I don't know anything about him other than the fact he's only 19 and his YouTube highlights remind me heavily of Reece James - which is quite a scary prospect.  The reason I say this is he looks happy for wingers to try and take him on and to just use his physicality to brush them aside.  I haven't seen anything of his forward play, but defensively he plays very similarly. 

One of the big outlets in Portugal also saying we are back in conversation with Benfica for Enzo Fernandez.  Wouldn't surprise me as I don't think our January business is finished yet (just a hunch) 

The new owners are flying through this rebuild aren't they!

[xceleryx]

1 hour ago, Rob B said:

Matt Law saying we are readying a bid for the RB Malo Gusto.    I don't know anything about him other than the fact he's only 19 and his YouTube highlights remind me heavily of Reece James - which is quite a scary prospect.  The reason I say this is he looks happy for wingers to try and take him on and to just use his physicality to brush them aside.  I haven't seen anything of his forward play, but defensively he plays very similarly. 

One of the big outlets in Portugal also saying we are back in conversation with Benfica for Enzo Fernandez.  Wouldn't surprise me as I don't think our January business is finished yet (just a hunch) 

The Malo Gusto links popped up a few days ago, so I do think he's someone we're seriously taking a look at procuring should the possibility arise. Not too familiar with him personally, but I do wonder if having a 19 year old primary backup to RJ is viable or not. Unless of course both Azpilicueta and himself split time depending on match circumstances and needs.

Enzo is a must for me, but I just can't see it happening at this rate. With Benfica adamant on his release clause being paid, it really isn't practical for us to be dropping such a outlandish lump sum all at once - as per the requirements to activate a release clause. Although if Caicedo is being priced at like £80m by Brighton for a January sale, then I'd rather us put the extra coin up and just get Enzo. He's the classier of the two. 

[Ham]

1 hour ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

The new owners are flying through this rebuild aren't they!

I think this last year's will be the only mega windows.  This will recalibrate the club and set us up for a good few years ahead whilst FFP is at its most relaxed after COVID and then we'll be run far more sustainably. 

Our net spend over the 10 years prior to the takeover show restraint compared to some.  

We'll also recoup some of this outlay which won't be reported on quite so excitedly. 

 

 

[Bob Singleton]

2 hours ago, Rob B said:

Matt Law saying we are readying a bid for the RB Malo Gusto.

[SNIP]

Yes, that's a story that re-emerged around Thursday/Friday, though I first noticed it just before the World Cup

Our recent signings have tended to be somewhat left-field and players we'd not previously been linked with (one major exception being Nkunku who we'd been linked with last summer, though that signing still isn't "officially official" yet. The other is Mudryk. His name cropped up a few times last summer, but more in forlorn hope than expectation based on a couple of Chelsea linked overseas scouts attending Shakhtar games). Also, we seem to have signed those players (Badiashile, D Fofana and Madueke come to mind) just days after first being linked with them.

Any way, just for fun...

(usual stuff; red indicates new player linked or change of circumstance since the last list posted, rest ought to be self-explanatory)


 

* Linked in Summer 2022

GOALKEEPERS

Robert Sánchez (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Jordan Pickford (Everton) *
Illan Meslier (Leeds United)
Diogo Costa (Porto)
David Raya (Brentford)



DEFENDERS

Joško Gvardiol (RB Leipzig) *
Benjamin Pavard (Bayern Munich) *
Milan Skriniar (Inter Milan – Contract ends 30 June 2023) *
Denzel Dumfries (Inter Milan) *
Jeremie Frimpong (Bayer Leverkusen)
Nelson Semedo (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Alejandro Grimaldo (Benfica)
Malo Gusto (Lyon)
Jose Gimenez (Atletico Madrid) *
Joël Veltman (Brighton & Hove Albion – Contract ends 30 June 2023)
Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) *
Tino Livramento (Southampton)
Triston Rowe (Aston Villa)
Piero Hincapié (Bayer Leverkusen)
Nahuel Molina (Atletico Madrid)
Evan N’Dicka (Eintracht Frankfurt)
Josip Juranovic (Glasgow Celtic > Union Berlin)
Benoit Badiashile (AS Monaco > Chelsea)
Alex Sandro (Juventus – contract ends 30 June 2023)
Ivan Fresneda (Real Valladolid)
Matty Cash (Aston Villa)
Pedro Porro (Sporting Lisbon)
Rafa Marin (Real Madrid)

 

MIDFIELDERS

Declan Rice (West Ham United) *
Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund) *
Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig)
Sandro Tonali (AC Milan)
Moisés Caicedo (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Leandro Trossard (Brighton & Hove Albion > Arsenal)
Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Stanislav Lobotka (SSC Napoli)
Ibrahim Sangaré (PSV Eindhoven)*
Frenkie de Jong (Barcelona) *
Enzo Fernandez (Benfica)
Adrien Rabiot (Juventus – Contract ends 30 June 2023) *
Arsen Zakharyan (Dynamo Moscow) *
Edson Alvarez (Ajax) *
Naby Keita (Liverpool – Contract ends 30 June 2023)
Bruno Guimaraes (Newcastle United)
Weston McKennie (Juventus)
Lorenzo Pellegrini (Roma)
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio) *
Romeo Lavia (Southampton) *
Leon Bailey (Aston Villa)
Andrey Santos (Vasco da Gama > Chelsea)
James Maddison (Leicester City)
Ismael Bennacer (AC Milan)
Yunus Musah (Valencia)
Sander Berge (Sheffield United) *
Youri Tielemans (Leicester City) *
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal – 15 Can't sign a contract until 16)
Chris Rigg (Sunderland – 15 Can't sign a contract until 16)
Martin Zubimendi (Real Sociedad)
Kouadio Kone (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Nicolo Barella (Inter Milan)
Khephren Thuram (Nice)
Noah Mbamba (Club Brugge)
Matheus Nunes (Wolverhampton Wanderers)
Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid) – On Loan

ATTACKERS

Christopher Nkunku (RB Leipzig > Chelsea 1 July 2023) * - Not yet officially confirmed
Rafael Leao (AC Milan) *
Kylian Mbappe (PSG) *
Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) *
Marcus Rashford (Manchester United) *
Christiano Ronaldo (Free Agent > Al Nassr) *
Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal)
Joao Felix (Atletico Madrid > Chelsea – Loan until 30 June 2023)
Jonathan David (OSC Lille) *
Neymar (PSG) *
Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli) *
Mykhaylo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk > Chelsea) *
Wilfred Zaha (Crystal Palace – Contract ends 30 June 2023) *
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (SSC Napoli)
Arnaut Danjuma (Villareal)
Junior Adamu (RB Salzburg)
Benjamin Sesko (RB Salzburg – Pre Contract to join RB Leipzig on 1 July 2023)
Lautaro Martinez (Inter Milan) *
Endrick (Palmeiras > Real Madrid - Pre-Contract agreement once he turns 18) *
Martin Terrier (Rennes) *
Yéremy Pino (Villarreal)
Ivan Toney (Brentford) *
Youssoufa Moukoko (Borussia Dortmund – Contract Extended to 30 June 2026)
Memphis Depay (Barcelona > Atletico Madrid) *
Federico Chiesa (Juventus)
Pepê (Porto)
Cody Gakpo (PSV > Liverpool)
Mohammed Kudus (Ajax)
Jadon Sancho (Manchester United)
Dusan Vlahovic (Juventus)
Tammy Abraham (Roma)
Goncalo Ramos (SL Benfica)
David Datro Fofana (Molde > Chelsea)
Matheus Kunha (Atletico Madrid)
Beto (Udinese)
Dani Olmo (RB Leipzig)
Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach – Contract ends 30 June 2023)
Mikey Moore (Tottenham Hotspurs – 15 Can't sign a contract until 16)
Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire) *
Vitor Roque (Athletico Paranaense – 17 Can't sign a contract in UK until 18)
Noni Madueke (PSV Eindhoven > Chelsea)

 

[mora]

According to The Athletic, there is some sort of purchase clause in Felix's contract.

Quote

The player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, was then tasked with finding a solution — which turned out to be a loan to Chelsea for the remainder of this season, with a clause in the deal opening the door to a permanent transfer in the summer.

Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid are set for change – their story looks close to an end - The Athletic

Not sure if this could work:

            Nkunku

Mudryk - Felix - Madueke

[My Blood Is Blue]

35 minutes ago, mora said:

According to The Athletic, there is some sort of purchase clause in Felix's contract.

Diego Simeone and Atletico Madrid are set for change – their story looks close to an end - The Athletic

Not sure if this could work:

            Nkunku

Mudryk - Felix - Madueke

I'm not convinced Nkunku will play the striker role, I think he'll play in one of the roles behind. I would also imagine Havertz gets in ahead of Madueke and plays the 'no.10' role with Felix out wide. To be honest, on paper, any combination of Mudryk, Havertz, Felix, Nkunku, Mount and Madueke behind a proper striker feels very promising indeed.

One thing that seems quite certain, based on the signings we've made and how Potter has set up in recent weeks, is that the preffered formation for next season will be 4231.

Kepa/Mendy (or new signing)

James/RB2 - Fofana/Chalobah/Silva - Badiashile/Koulibaly - Chilwell/Cucurella

CM1/Kovacic - CM2/Kante/Gallagher

Felix/Mount - Havertz/Nkunku - Mudryk/Madueke

STK1/Nkunku/Havertz

We're not too far away, but the CM signings are crucial.

[Bob Singleton]

@My Blood Is Blue  That's certainly looking like a far stronger, better balanced and - dare I say? - 'frightening' squad. CM1 and CM2 will be crucial, as you say.

I'm interested in what happens with Zakharyan (Dynamo Moscow). We want him. He wants to come to us. Just sanctions stopping a deal from being made for around €12m. He looks like a playmaker who can be a 6 an 8 or a 10, though the deeper roles seem to suit him better. He doesn't shy away from a tackle and is decently mobile. I wonder how he'd fare sat next to a more conventional defensive midfielder in the 'pivot'?

[RDCW]

38 minutes ago, Bob Singleton said:

@My Blood Is Blue  That's certainly looking like a far stronger, better balanced and - dare I say? - 'frightening' squad. CM1 and CM2 will be crucial, as you say.

I'm interested in what happens with Zakharyan (Dynamo Moscow). We want him. He wants to come to us. Just sanctions stopping a deal from being made for around €12m. He looks like a playmaker who can be a 6 an 8 or a 10, though the deeper roles seem to suit him better. He doesn't shy away from a tackle and is decently mobile. I wonder how he'd fare sat next to a more conventional defensive midfielder in the 'pivot'?

Zakharyan and Mudryk in the same team might be a bit tense....unless the former is prepared to issue an explicit denunciation of the war, which would probably be too much to ask of him!

[Mark Kelly]

Just now, RDCW said:

Zakharyan and Mudryk in the same team might be a bit tense....unless the former is prepared to issue an explicit denunciation of the war, which would probably be too much to ask of him!

Well , Mudryk has signed for one of the architects of the Ukraine conflict apparently so should be expecting it.

[My Blood Is Blue]

A loophole around financial fair play used by Chelsea to sign players on contracts of up to 8½ years to spread the impact of their transfer spending is to be closed by Uefa.

Officials at European football's governing body are planning to set a five-year maximum for the length of time over which a player's transfer fee can be spread, with the new policy brought in before the summer transfer window. It is understood the move comes after a number of clubs raised concerns with Uefa over Chelsea's policy.

(Martyn Ziegler - The Times)

[Bob Singleton]

9 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

A loophole around financial fair play used by Chelsea to sign players on contracts of up to 8½ years to spread the impact of their transfer spending is to be closed by Uefa.

Officials at European football's governing body are planning to set a five-year maximum for the length of time over which a player's transfer fee can be spread, with the new policy brought in before the summer transfer window. It is understood the move comes after a number of clubs raised concerns with Uefa over Chelsea's policy.

(Martyn Ziegler - The Times)

I suppose it was bound to happen at some point.

[Mark Kelly]

Just now, Bob Singleton said:

I suppose it was bound to happen at some point.

It was bound to be David Dein.

I suspect.

Edited January 23, 2023 by Mark Kelly

[Ham]

33 minutes ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

A loophole around financial fair play used by Chelsea to sign players on contracts of up to 8½ years to spread the impact of their transfer spending is to be closed by Uefa.

Officials at European football's governing body are planning to set a five-year maximum for the length of time over which a player's transfer fee can be spread, with the new policy brought in before the summer transfer window. It is understood the move comes after a number of clubs raised concerns with Uefa over Chelsea's policy.

(Martyn Ziegler - The Times)

Too late.  We've already ruined football again 🙄

What's great about this is that we've done our business and nobody can now copy us after the end of this month.  

More incentive to get Enzo over the line this month.  

[Bob Singleton]

12 minutes ago, Ham said:

[SNIP]

More incentive to get Enzo over the line this month.  

The rumour mill is certainly in full swing at the moment regarding both Enzo and Malo Gusto. Lots of talk that we're going to have one more try at getting Fernadez before next Tuesday's deadline, whilst there are equally just as many stories regarding us pushing to sign Gusto now rather than in the summer.

If we do get even just one of them, it's going to cause problems regarding who makes the cut for the CL squad spaces.

[hallgalley]

Good list as usual

Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire) Has now gone to villa (before I even saw the links to us)

 

[Bob Singleton]

7 minutes ago, hallgalley said:

Good list as usual

Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire) Has now gone to villa (before I even saw the links to us)

 

Thanks for the update... with such a long list of players linked, there's bound to be a one change of circumstances that slips through! 🤣

[Bob Singleton]

Not a transfer story per se, but quite a few articles saying Thiago Silva will be/has been offered a one year extension

[xceleryx]

3 hours ago, My Blood Is Blue said:

A loophole around financial fair play used by Chelsea to sign players on contracts of up to 8½ years to spread the impact of their transfer spending is to be closed by Uefa.

Officials at European football's governing body are planning to set a five-year maximum for the length of time over which a player's transfer fee can be spread, with the new policy brought in before the summer transfer window. It is understood the move comes after a number of clubs raised concerns with Uefa over Chelsea's policy.

(Martyn Ziegler - The Times)

Good to see they're taking a real stand against such bending of the rules. God forbid we hand out a Harry Kane like 6 year deal, or a 7 year deal like Joao Felix signed on when joining Atletico from Benfica. Actually, we should've followed the Barcelona model and hand out lifetime contracts like they did to Iniesta and a couple of others. That's far more inline with keeping things fair.

I suppose once they close this loophole they'll also be getting right onto doing the same with multi-club portfolios and creative sponsorship deals, right? 

FWIW my understanding is that UEFA can't prevent us handing out contracts of such length as there's no restrictions in England on this. However, what can be done is restricting the number of years the cost of a contract can be spread out across. 

[xceleryx]

2 minutes ago, Bob Singleton said:

Not a transfer story per se, but quite a few articles saying Thiago Silva will be/has been offered a one year extension

Good to see. Arguably one of the biggest moves we'll make in either transfer window, which says a lot when you consider the man is 38. 

Still baffles me that some didn't actually want us signing him initially, crazy. 

[Bob Singleton]

3 minutes ago, xceleryx said:

Good to see they're taking a real stand against such bending of the rules. God forbid we hand out a Harry Kane like 6 year deal, or a 7 year deal like Joao Felix signed on when joining Atletico from Benfica. Actually, we should've followed the Barcelona model and hand out lifetime contracts like they did to Iniesta and a couple of others. That's far more inline with keeping things fair.

I suppose once they close this loophole they'll also be getting right onto doing the same with multi-club portfolios and creative sponsorship deals, right? 

FWIW my understanding is that UEFA can't prevent us handing out contracts of such length as there's no restrictions in England on this. However, what can be done is restricting the number of years the cost of a contract can be spread out across. 

Yes, from what I've read it's not the length of the contracts themselves that are the problem, but the amortisation period that goes with it. I also understand - but I may be wrong - that it's other PL clubs that have complained to UEFA. Looks like clubs will be allowed to offer contracts of whatever length they want but the costs (transfer fee and wages) will be amortised for a maximum of 5 years should the contract be longer than 5 years.

[Bob Singleton]

6 minutes ago, xceleryx said:

Good to see. Arguably one of the biggest moves we'll make in either transfer window, which says a lot when you consider the man is 38. 

Still baffles me that some didn't actually want us signing him initially, crazy. 

I wanted us to sign him when he moved from Milan to PSG, and every year ever since, until he finally arrived at Stamford Bridge. It was so clear that he was just getting better with age. Even in his mid 20s he wasn't quick (I dare say there's little difference in his speed/mobility even now), but he's always known exactly where to be a split second before his opponent has even decided what he's going to do. An absolute Rolls Royce of a player.

[xceleryx]

15 minutes ago, Bob Singleton said:

Yes, from what I've read it's not the length of the contracts themselves that are the problem, but the amortisation period that goes with it. I also understand - but I may be wrong - that it's other PL clubs that have complained to UEFA. Looks like clubs will be allowed to offer contracts of whatever length they want but the costs (transfer fee and wages) will be amortised for a maximum of 5 years should the contract be longer than 5 years.

Yep, that's how I've also read it. Which is ridiculous really, we're still having to pay the same amount whether things are spread out over 5 years or 8 years. Just because we're choosing to take a longer view of things doesn't mean we're going to be spending like this forever either. There's obviously a very clear plan in place with respects to spending big early to establish a prosperous foundation that can hopefully grow together, therefore allowing us to just make the usual top-up signings that are usually par for the course for every side.

I guarantee you if any other club did this absolutely boo all would be said.

Edited January 24, 2023 by xceleryx

[xceleryx]

14 minutes ago, Bob Singleton said:

I wanted us to sign him when he moved from Milan to PSG, and every year ever since, until he finally arrived at Stamford Bridge. It was so clear that he was just getting better with age. Even in his mid 20s he wasn't quick (I dare say there's little difference in his speed/mobility even now), but he's always known exactly where to be a split second before his opponent has even decided what he's going to do. An absolute Rolls Royce of a player.

Just goes to show how important it is to identify the profile of a player and not sleeping on high football intelligence either. Talent is one thing but half the things Thiago Silva does purely stems from his experience and high football IQ. Hopefully this isn't completely lost with the transfers we make moving forward. Signing young talent with potential is all well and good but proven experience can be worth its weight in gold at times.

Edited January 24, 2023 by xceleryx
Really need to proof read before clicking submit.

[Rob B]

It’s really irritated me how the media have reported on this, and that is the reason UEFA are changing the rules imo.

Words like ‘loophole’ and phrases like ‘cheating the system’ are totally unrepresentative of the actual situation. 

Every club in the world spreads the transfer fee over the duration of a contract and it’s hardly rocket science to realise that the longer you offer a contract, the lower the amortisation.  It’s basic accounting.  However, the huge trade off that no one seems to be acknowledging is that the club are committing to paying that players wages for 7-8 years.  It’s almost the duration of a career in some cases. 

Do we seriously think Abramovich and Marina didn’t consider this on more occasions than just Kepa?  But the financial liability is huge and I suspect that is what puts off most clubs (as it’s been highlighted on here already, it has happened with the likes of Kane, Felix etc)

It’s not a loophole, it’s a calculated risk to help rebuild a squad.  There’s pro’s and con’s.