I do love the Barcelona strategy this summer.
‘BARCELONA INTERESTED IN HECTOR BELLERIN’
Crowd: Oooohhhhhhh
Small Print: ‘ᵇᵃʳᶜᵉˡᵒⁿᵃ ʰᵃˢ ⁿᵒ ᵐᵒⁿᵉʸ’
Crowd: Boooooooo
Still, they do have a delightful pink and green kit this season. The chances of them coming up with a fee for our right back seems very, very slim.
Transfer gossip language has been very interesting this summer. Everyone, including some journalists, has decided they want to be a transfer expert when they grow up. We’ve moved from ITK accounts hedging bets on Wayne Rooney joining, to accounts dropping things like.
‘Arsenal bid hasn’t happened, but is imminent’
What sort of information is that? Imminent? Come at me when the fax has landed.
So, in today’s news, Arsenal are about to imminently lodge a bid for Houssem Aouar. That’s the nearly news GFFN and one of the French stations has. I don’t think this story has moved much, but it’s pretty clear that the plan is to first, land the Algerian (thought he was Moroccan the other day, sorry), then we’ll move on Thomas Partey.
I think there’s a couple of things at play holding up these deals. Firstly, we’re not doing particularly well at shifting on players. It looks like everyone in Europe is waiting for a better deal before they sell and start their own transfer business. Matteo, Torreira, Lacazette, Reiss, Sokratis, and Mustafi are all still with Arsenal. I don’t think that’s a lack of interest, I think it’s a lack of commitment because of the uncertainty.
Once those names start moving, which I believe they will, I think we’ll see posturing clubs come to the table. Lyon will not land £60m for their young star and they might entertain a swap deal. They have no Europe, they need to sell, so bringing players the other way will be of interest.
Atléti might be stubborn enough to hold out for the full whack of cash, but remember, they are in dire straits when it comes to cash. They can only invest 25% of what they make. Even the best possible summer is not going to give them much room to make blow out deals. I think they might also indulge in swaps if anyone will go the other day, and I think they might move away from full cash payment.
I also wonder if there’s posturing with our players. Letting Mikhi go on a free was the right thing to do. However, that might have opened the door to other players to push for the same. Mustafi has one year left on his deal, why wouldn’t he push for a Bosman? Why wouldn’t Kola push for an extra £10k a week in Germany if he can shake out of his deal? There’s never been a better year to try your luck.
Spurs have gone full-on Jose Mourinho over at the (what is their stadium’s name?) bowl. They’re close to bringing Gareth Bale back home on a years-long loan. They’ll pick up £300k a week of his mega-contract. He’s a great player. Spectacular. A winner. A machine. However, you cannot ignore that he only played 1200 minutes last season, might lack motivation, and he has one of the worst injury records in world football. I think he’s racked up about 30 injuries at Madrid. Truly shocking. I love having the best players back in England, but can’t help but think this is going to look like Ozil levels of ROI.
In an interesting bit of merch news, it is being reported that Arsenal has the most purchased shirt in the UK. The analysis seems a little blurry, they’ve based some of it on search data on a single website (massive SEO link-building play). It reads more like a very bias poll than reality, but look, I’ll take a win however it comes. The new Arsenal shirts are certainly more pleasing on the eye that the Liverpool offering.
The Premier League has made a new deal in China with Tencent, the tech giant has a finger in a lot of gaming pies around the world. It also owns WeChat, a more advanced version of Whatsapp. This from the FT.
The replacement deal with Tencent, which was approved unanimously by the league’s 20 member clubs, runs until the end of the season and includes a fee, as well as a revenue-sharing agreement with the Premier League based on subscriber numbers. But it is worth less than the amount PPTV was due to pay this season, according to people with direct knowledge of the terms. Clubs have been reassured by Premier League chief executive Richard Masters that they will not be out of pocket from the new arrangements, partly because PPTV had already paid for half of its $700m contract, the people said.
So, firstly, good news that the Premier League has recouped a huge pool of money from a massive market. Secondly, I think it’s very interesting that it’s an org that is heavily into tech picking up the deal. I’d be interested to see if they have anything interesting lined up for distribution of the game. WeChat is your pocket everything, I wonder if you’ll be able to buy games via the app?
The future of the Premier League football, from where I’m looking, is not SKY. They do not have pockets deep enough and I think it is extremely ominous for them that Amazon is lurking noisily in the background.
- Amazon is helping Spurs build their brand with All or Nothing
- They are creating a merchandise hub on their site, no doubt that’ll be huge in the future
- They already have a small piece of the pie where they offer a slew of games via Amazon Prime
- Sport, in general, is one of the few appointment TV moments. It’s globally popular. It makes so much sense for them if they want more engagement with their app.
My hope is that at some point, someone will come in with the scale to take all the spoils. Not many with pipes or capital to do it, but Amazon certainly does. My football mix of apps and subscriptions in America is almost as absurd as it is in the UK. Hopefully, that’ll work itself out at some point, but again, notable that so many major brands are using football to pump their cord-cutting download numbers. Expect more competition when the current deal runs out. Disney+, Facebook, and Google might make a play.
Ok, that’s me done today, see you in the comments.
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | Google Podcasts | Audioboom
Afternoon
2
Tro4phy
Tr4phy
Trophy
Ola
DM to replace Arteta as Arsenal manager?
As good as Arteta has been so far, DM is the King of the Tr4phy.
Meanwhile, clubs across Europe seem to be playing a cat-and-mouse game, with everyone waiting for the other to move before pouncing and making their own move.
The absence of cash is making the transfer market constipated.
DM solidifying his position because competition from Bankz and Boomslang has evaporated. Kind of like when Leicester won the league.
Great piece today. Still can’t bring myself to watch a Spurs docu.. “All or nothing” when they haven’t won shit in 15 years feels like an epic troll though.
I’m surprised Google hasn’t made a play for the EPL via YouTube.
They already have the infrastructure, the cash and the reach to pull it off.
Imagine YouTube sports…$20 a month to watch the EPL..
Only featuring for 1200 minutes for Madrid might turn out to be boon for Madrid and Bale.
And if Bale stays fit for the whole season Spuds will also be in with a shout for top 4.
That player is extraordinary.
+ they are also getting a very good LB in Reguilon.
PS – Where are Spuds getting all this money from. They dont have CL + a large stadium debt. What has Levy got under his hat.
I believe Levy is betting too much on Jose’s second season magic and using up future funds to get top 4.
I saw the article on shirt sales, who knew that a league table for them was a thing.
I am wondering just how much of a clear out there is going to be this window.
Genuinely sad to see Martinez go to AV, however he wanted guaranteed game time to advance his case for playing in goal for Argentina. It looks like both he and the club were disappointed at him leaving. Wishing him well apart of course from when we play the Villans.
Its only a matter of time before Amazon offers it all, hate to shovel my cash into the Amazon coffers but they get it right and make it bloody easy.
At moment I have ESPN+, Peacock and NBC Gold. So silly.
Football journalists are the world’s most prolific purveyors of fake news. Always have been. And we fans are like addicts agog for the next fix.
On past performance it’s unlikely that the football press will get it right about Partey or Adouar. But we can say with near certainty that Mikel will bring in a top quality midfielder. Who is anybody’s guess.
So here is mine: a SA gem unearthed by Edu.
Jamie – dude, I’ve been banging those tr4phies in for like 5 or years or something now, maybe longer lol. Not braggin’ or anything, ya know..
Captain Tierney,
Hopefully, Jose’s second season will prove to be as magical as Emery’s.
It used to be that Mourinho would come in, win a secondary trophy in his first season, then the league in his magical second season, before alienating all the players and the Board and walking off with a massive cash sum in his third season.
Now he goes straight to alienating all his players and his management without winning anything meaningful.
Bale back to the Spuds is laughable.. Sacrificing Alli for him is plain stupid. But not my monkey, not my forest.
Let’s see whether the rumoured 2nd bid for Aouar will unsettle Lyon.
Top ten?
Ah maybe not
The real money lies in the PL having their own media infrastructure and launching their own channel (online or otherwise) with a subscription service either to just one team or multiple/all matches. That, or the football clubs themselves doing it – but that’s a lot more complicated.
shad
Let’s see whether the rumoured 2nd bid for Aouar will unsettle Lyon.
lol
I don’t think Aulas will get unsettled by a low bid. He’ll probably issue a tweet to put the pressure back on Arsenal.
I do think the positive past history of dealing with them for Lacazette may help us with him.
DM –
Just yanking your chain, fella! Your commitment has been consistent for years. Still, Ronaldo and Messi pushed each other to be better, right?
@Dissenter,
A man can only hope. There is too much (dis)information out there. At least so far what has been reported is he actually wants the trade. Now to leverage on that and time as we hopefully ship out the excesses..
My wager is on Kola exiting before Torreira now that he has introduced the family back at home dynamic.
Generally it’s not a good idea for players to go back to their former watering holes. That’s why I think the return of Bale will end up being a sloppy mess, an expensive sop at that.
Madrid messed up badly in the summer of 2019- they should have just let him go to China. That’s probably one of the worst football financial decisions ever considering Bale makes over half million weekly.
What makes Spurs think Madrid will want Dele Ali and a counter-weight? Madrid should ask for Son, if they have any sense in them.
*What makes Spurs think Madrid will want Dele Ali as a counter-weight?
“Madrid messed up badly in the summer of 2019- they should have just let him go to China. That’s probably one of the worst football financial decisions ever considering Bale makes over half million weekly.”
Very true. Zidane should have moved him on sharpish but Perez has a soft spot for Bale despite his lack of playing time..
Jamie
Very true. Actually, now that you mention it, I haven’t seen Bankz for yonks. Is he still around here ever?
DM –
Haven’t seen him about for a while either. Hope he’s doing well.
Can’t see Bale having £300k per week of his salary paid by the Spud’s going down well. They’ve had issues with players and salaries for a while now with Levy pleading poverty until his salary was released, now they’re going to fund 50% more than Kane gets paid,
Honestly in all my years since I started interneting as a young lad, I’ve never seen anyone take the 1st game as seriously as DM. He regularly tells people his holiday schedule lest anyone dare think they’re getting the tr4phy over an active DM. Always ready with an explanation as to why he didn’t get it if someone nips him to it, like when my uncle started losing to my little cousin in backyard one-on-one basketball. “No I had a big lunch, that doesn’t count. Old football injury acting up too yikes” It’s a big part of his identity, you… Read more »
Bale is custom made for Mourinho anti football tactics, he would also do well at Athleti too
Kick the ball in a straight line, run after it faster than everyone else.
So, according to Pedro, we can afford to buy both Aouar AND Partey during this window??
Ok… lol
“Imagine YouTube sports…$20 a month to watch the EPL..”
beIN isn’t much more for all the games live with English commentary.
“Bale is custom made for Mourinho anti football tactics, he would also do well at Athleti too
Kick the ball in a straight line, run after it faster than everyone else.”
@SId,
Does he still have the legs for this? The EPL will pose a fresh challenge to him and given his injury history, he’ll be happy to pocket the £300k for a game a week.
Arsenal & Dijon have reached an agreement over the transfer of goalkeeper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson, worth around €2m. He will sign a five-year deal at Arsenal. [@mohamedbouhafsi]
Harry Kane would do better than Firminho at liverpool.
Alex Rúnarsson, looks like a proper number 2 goalie; there won’t be any arguments about who’s number one. Leno will probably have to play both league and most cup games.
His numbers are dismal, maybe the goal keeping coach can locate the real goalkeeper in him.
Luteo Guenreira
Lol! Totally, it’s all I live for. Without the tr4phy, my life would have no meaning. 😏
Fuck. Thiago to Liverpool hurts. That’s gonna bring them back up a level. £20m??
Harry Kane would do better than Firminho at liverpool.
Sid
I know it’s free but it’s still trash….. Harry Kane and Firminho are two different players with Firminho integral to pools attack.
So no Harry will not do better.
“Arsenal & Dijon have reached an agreement over the transfer of goalkeeper Rúnar Alex Rúnarsson, worth around €2m”
Is this contact or data scouting?
If it’s the former, are we going to see a Pedro post on how terrible it is or is contact scouting only bad when it involves Raul and Kia?
Sal “At moment I have ESPN+, Peacock and NBC Gold. So silly.” Dumped YouTube TV after they raised their subscription price from $50 to $65 (30% increase is ridiculous). That’s after a year and a half of Hulu TV before that, and a few others before that (PS Vue was the best, by the way). But now it’s just a non-stop greed, and getting closer and closer to what the cable/satellite companies are charging. I’m not playing those games anymore. So I signed up for ESPN+ which is well worth 50 bucks a year, IMHO for League/FA Cup games, as… Read more »
I thought we were ok and was relaxed about more players coming in, but now with Tiago and Bale transfers, we will have to get the two midfielders we want by hook or by crook….
Can we win Europa to get into CL….? Arteta talks about a three year plan to win CL, which sounds a bit far fetched, but if he is to be taken seriously we need to start the climb this season without delay…..
“Fuck. Thiago to Liverpool hurts.”
Worst news of the day. That is a record daylight mugging. He definitely takes them up a level. Though it definitely means curtains for Wjinaldum or Keita..
2020 and we still can’t subscribe to watch all of your chosen teams games in the UK.
azed
And no mention of VAT either!
Left
A big part of that is / was the rule about not showing 3pm Saturday kick offs – something I can’t see them getting rid of once things are back to normal.
Thiago to Liverpool is proper move from Klopp, upgrade if you can.
Done just that
Only worry is the knee at 29.
NA
aby Keita is off, gegen press is tough when you are above 30
You heard it here 1st!
Heard Wijnaldum is also off to Barcelona . Koeman loves the dutch players .
Woab Hope it goes down that way. But tbf Mourinho he has won the league title in his second season wherever he’s went except ManU where he finished 2nd and called it the greatest achievement of his career. And they went on a steady decline after Mourinho (except for the Ole honeymoon) until they signed Bruno. Ofc he wont be challenging for the title in his second season at Spuds but if he can keep Bale fit and firing for the whole season + a very good upgrade at LB and RB gives them a fighting chance for top 4… Read more »
Now watch as Keita will probably be sold to West Brom for £60m.
Gareth Bale is not the player he once was when he left Spurs at 24. They’re are paying £20m loan for a player who hasn’t played a competitive series of games in 2 years. This is a panic signing by Mourinho in order to please the fans after their opening day loss and negative impact from their horrendous documentary. There’s a reason Man Utd didn’t look at Bake when they are looking to the future with Sancho who still has not reached his full potential yet. Gareth Bale has decided to play golf for two years rather than move to… Read more »
I am 100% certain that Arsenal will buy at least one midfielder player in this current transfer market whether or not we manage to generate some sales. It is inconceivable that Kroenke and the senior management will leave Arteta short in this department if they have real ambition to progress in the league. Personally I do not think that we will buy 2 players in this window which is grossly optimistic considering economic climate, but also how will we fit in more than one player in the starting eleven without destabilising both Xhaka and Ceballos who will expect proper playing… Read more »
DM what an achievement 🙄5 years of posting top 4 wish I had that skill
Maybe you can start contributing to the chat as well in the next half decade
Heard Wijnaldum is also off to Barcelona . Koeman loves the dutch players
Someone more workman like to take the physicality on behalf of Messi and Busquets. Still don’t understand why they got rid of Rakitić
When Messi leaves, they’re fucked.
Mr Serge
Sour grapes?
Bale back at Spuds will be interesting.
Surprised Spurs and Real didn’t just come to a solution for all parties considering Bale’s deal end in 2022.
I get that getting him off the wage bill is priority #1, but come next July he’ll be 32 – completely depreciated asset.
Best case scenario they get £10m which gets rid but, they’ll have to also pay something towards his wage for obvious reasons.
This reeks of desperation on the part of Mourinho.
“Gareth Bale has decided to play golf for two years rather than move to an elite club which tells you all there is to know of his mental state.”
That elite being whom? To be fair to him, he was on his wage to the airport when Real changed their mind about China
“Naby Keita is off, gegen press is tough when you are above 30You heard it here 1st!”
Wait, what…lol
Story circulating that Aouar agreed personal terms with Arsenal two weeks ago. No agreement yet with Lyon. He appears to be the priority . Bid also rejected for Raya. The Icelandic lad is a No.3 choice
Wait, there are Arsenal fans who watched Spurs documentary?
Arsenal getting linked with Zaha again, loan with obligation to buy and Nelson going through other way.
Understandable if we had wrapped up Partey and Aouar, but not sure I get that as it stands.
Spurs’ next documentary probably already in the works “ Bale , the prodigal son returns”.
Tom
The DVD potential is huge for the toilet dwellers
Pedro,
I don’t think that Amazon is building Spurs brand. More likely that they were one of the few premiership clubs willing to accommodate such intrusion in their day to day and also the fact they were expecting some fireworks there with Levy.
I do expect that the Mourinho meltdown will be spectacular. But it could of biblical proportion if the grumpy one is followed everyday by a crew forcing their camera into his face everytime after he had a dispute with Levy or a player.
Just watched the Aubameyang/Wright love in for the first time.
Such a humble guy.
God I’m so glad he stayed.
Zaha & Aouar? That would be nasty.
Amazon is making Spurs the drama club, they will acquire the tag of reality TV club when it’s all over.
Why don’t they just call it “slumming with Jose Mourhino”?
That show is a disgrace, how may people even watch it. I can understand watching a season of city shattering records to win the league but why watch Spurs as he stagger about like an old drunk?
“I do expect that the Mourinho meltdown will be spectacular. But it could of biblical proportion if the grumpy one is followed everyday by a crew forcing their camera into his face everytime after he had a dispute with Levy or a player.”
Not as if they’d want to generate viewing figures is it.
Christ the british media love Spurs. Apparently Bale back on loan for 300,000 a week is the biggest transfer of the summer. A loan. Absolute nonsense
“I think Arsenal will offer something to Lyon for Aouar and I think this one could happen” says
@LaurensJulien
Oh
Shad
Rakitic left because Pjanic came in , I guess . Wijnaldum Pjanic Busquets/Vidal/De Jong is still a good midfield. Plus Coutinho looks like he will be involved lot lot more. Its all if they can play as a team , very disjointed right now
Marko
If we’d have done it the story would be about throwing £300k per week down the toilet and how it will upset all the players.
Spurs could pay Bale upto 17 mil for 1 year loan. Could rise up to 22 mil depending on performance related bonuses.
Massive.
What a kick in the back they’ll get if the man picks up another big injury .
If it were Arsenal loaning Bale, the story would be
” Arsenal wasting 22mil a year on a Spurs has-been ”
This media 🤯
“Arsenal getting linked with Zaha again, loan with obligation to buy and Nelson going through other way.”
@CC,
Nelson is a bit of a conundrum. Seems to have hit a bit of a glass ceiling in his development. Always seems to be trying too hard when he comes on. And I’m sure he doesn’t fancy another loan spell. A swap for Zaha would be gash since we wouldn’t be getting much value coming in. Zaha blows hot and cold too often, and would command higher wages. Maybe swap Zaha for Willock + £1
@Divine
Didn’t Vidal go to Inter? Not that he was a guaranteed starter. Pjanic is quality but they have so many good players but out of form..Not sure how they inted to play coupled with the wingers given they have so many CMs and their play is also reliant on wing play..
I would certainly consider getting in a fee for Reiss Nelson as much as I would consider him as an option for the coming season but I honestly wouldn’t want Zaha in any case. Partey and Aouar are the priorities after that if Lacazette goes you replace him and him leaving is the only way I see us being interested in another forward despite me still wanting Coutinho on loan or Szoboszlai or Almada for example.
Zaha? Can’t see why we’d be in for another winger, especially one on £120k a week.
Auba, Pepe, Willian, Saka, Nelson if he stays, Gabi when he’s fit all play on the flanks.
Central midfield is the weak spot for us now. I’d be happy with 1 or 2 and call it a smashing window.
“ Spurs could pay Bale upto 17 mil for 1 year loan. Could rise up to 22 mil depending on performance related bonuses.
Massive.”
Has Levy hired Raul?
Jamie
It’s a bullshit rumour. The only question is it his agent trying to drum up interest or just your average paper bullshit?
Spurs a goal down.
Levy definitely looks like he’s really starting to lose the plot – hiring Mourinho and paying a loan player more than your star player.
Must be something about new stadiums.
No return leg so they could be going out
“Arsenal getting linked with Zaha again, loan with obligation to buy and Nelson going through other way.”
CC
Would probably mean Pepe is off then. Can’t imagine us having William, Zaha, Pepe and Saka especially when Aubameyang has one wing on lock down.
If the Spud’s fucked up qualifying for the group stage of the EL I actually think I would need medical attention I’d laugh so hard.
Marc –
Yeah, you’re probably right.
Hodgson said after their game the other day that Zaha was still wanting to leave and hoping a CL club would come in for him, so could be his agent trying to put out some feelers.
Can’t see any of the top 4 going for him this window though. I think he made a mistake pricing himself out of the market when he extended a couple years ago.
Marko –
Lovely!!
Marko
“No return leg so they could be going out”
You serious?
Mourinho is so outdated it’s funny how turned out like Wenger
Bastard spurs about to mess up my acca
Spuds is lucky. The opponent defender saved a header with his hand. PK and red card!!!!
Fuck your acca Bati the banter is more important
Is that a mistake did their opponents just get two reds in the space of a minute?
Meltdown from Lokomotiv. They went loco.
1-1 Bati jinx it everyone boo Bati. Booooo
Thanks Bati fucked up everyone’s fun.