Summer Transfer Thread 16/17

[Hero]

Was going to wait a couple of weeks but it's already kicking off today...

Bayern Munich have nabbed what was regarded as one of Man Utd's main transfer targets and signed the 18 year old wonderkid Renato Sanches from Benfica for £28m.

[Fernando]

Also signed Mats Hummels from Dortmund too.

[Hero]

Just give them the Bundesliga title for next season now and be done with it.

[Crimey]

It's crazy how often Bayern have now taken a star player from Borussia Dortmund. It pretty much never happens in England. The top teams would pluck from the slightly lower sides, but players regularly being bought from the team finishing second by the team finishing first is unheard of. Only transfer I can think of that was even close in recent times is Robin Van Persie to Manchester United.

It'll be interesting to see which team is busiest this year in the transfer market. Real Madrid will likely need a new star striker if this Benzema thing doesn't blow over. So Lukaku, Aguero, Aubameyang and Lewandowski will all likely be in the picture. Not sure if Barcelona will be in the market for anybody major this summer. Bayern have likely completed their main business already. Manchester City have Guardiola and he'll get a lot to spend. Chelsea will surely want to reignite their squad with some new signings. Arsenal need to spend, doubt they will. Manchester United may go out and spend big again as well. 

PSG will need to sign players to replace at least Ibrahimovic, maybe Cavani as well - think Lukaku is most likely for the former.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Be interesting to see if teams like West Ham/Southampton etc continue to pickup really good players

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Can't believe Townsend is now considered as good as Walcott cos he scored a freekick. I hope we buy Walcott, I really do, his goals from the right would be amazing.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Our list according to Ken Dyer (London journo with links to the club) is Vardy, Lacazette, Benteke, Mane, Batshuayi, and Walcott.

An itk on a West Ham forum has also claimed the Vardy link. I find it hilarious, and sounds to me like classic Sullivan business. Bid for someone we can't get to show we are willing to go for different targets if you ask too much for your player.

I'd love Walcott and Lacazette. Think we'll be closer to Benteke and Townsend.

[Jermaine2015]

Rather surprised with FC Bayern's rapid fire acquisitions of Mats Hummels and Renato Sanches. I thought we'd get Hummels eventually considering he's a Bavarian, but Sanches came as a complete shock...I thought we sign Sanchez...Alexis that is.

We've been light in midfield since Javi Martinez trashed his knee a couple of years ago so hopefully Sanches can add more power to the midfield.

Seems like Benatia will be shipped off as his move hasn't really worked out.

[BamBam]

Bayern are ruthless as fk, like silent assassin's with the Sanches transfer

Woodward will have to go sign a global cotton wool sponsor by 3pm to really show them who's boss

[Hero]

With the likes of Sanches, Kimmich and Coman they're starting to drop the average age (which has been needed).

[Guest]

Can't believe Townsend is now considered as good as Walcott cos he scored a freekick. I hope we buy Walcott, I really do, his goals from the right would be amazing.

He's done a considerably more than score just one free-kick. He's pretty much carried Newcastle these last couple of months, while you've been solely watching WHU. You hope you buy Walcott? The big problem with that post is, 'his goals from the right would be amazing'. Good luck seeing those

[GSC]

Isnt there an unwritten rule in Germany that Bayern get first dibs on all the best German players or something. Strong Bayern = Strong Germany iirc.

[Crimey]

Roma have rejected a £23 million deal from Chelsea for Nainggolan. He'd be a good signing, going to cost more than that though, especially if other teams start bidding, or even if other sides go for Pjanic.

I've heard that before GSC, although it doesn't explain the Lewandowski deal, or the fact that healthy competition with all the German players playing more across two sides is clearly better. Gotze has been much worse off since moving.

[GSC]

Hes carried Newcastle into the Championship, a signing so good it transcended the Premier League

[Hero]

It has been the unwritten law in Germany that what is good for Bayern is good for Germany, though in recent years Dortmund have begun to get annoyed over it (with fair dues being that 3 out of the past 4 they've had a player nabbed by them and Reus was heavily touted until resigning).

[Guest]

Hes carried Newcastle into the Championship

No, McClaren & the failures of the ownership & last summer's poor transfer dealings have carried Newcastle into the championship. Four goals, four assists, multiple MOTM performances, a nomination for this month's PL player of the month & now paper talk of his inclusion in the Euro squad on Thursday, suggests that Townsend has done nothing of the sort & has been at the forefront of the attempt, to stop us sleepwalking towards relegation. But carry on.

[Hero]

I wasn't a Townsend fan previously but I'm happy to eat my hat in regards to his performances since putting on the stripes, he's been the main reason that they actually for a few weeks had any hope of staying up.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Can't believe Townsend is now considered as good as Walcott cos he scored a freekick. I hope we buy Walcott, I really do, his goals from the right would be amazing.

He's done a considerably more than score just one free-kick. He's pretty much carried Newcastle these last couple of months, while you've been solely watching WHU. You hope you buy Walcott?   The big problem with that post is, 'his goals from the right would be amazing'. Good luck seeing those  

Ahh yes, carried them so well too. I missed you

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I have no real problem with Townsend, but I'd rather Walcott. I think the ceiling is much higher

[NickisBHAFC]

Walcott is a better club player. Townsend always seems to do better for country for some strange reason.

[Guest]

Walcott is a better club player. Townsend always seems to do better for country for some strange reason.

Obviously seen no PL action recently. Yes, Walcott that cracking club player, who's career has been pretty much been sitting on the bench & averages less than five league goals a season.

Now that's a 'higher ceiling' isn't it?

Jokers

[Dolphin Ziggler]

You seem to not understand the phrase.

[Guest]

If people think Walcott is their solution then they've even bigger problems than they previously thought. I peek through my fingers for fear of seeing him linked with Liverpool.

Any ambition Walcott had had been drained out of him by Wenger and his "4th is pretty much a trophy lads, no need to try harder" mantra.

Townsend has the chance to prove a few things to a few people and maybe even himself but given his change in attitude when things went pear-shaped at Spurs, the chances are that when it goes pear-shaped at Newcastle and he's playing in the Championship, his poor attitude will resurface.

[Stella]

£20m for a 26 year old England player doesn't sound like the worst signing ever. Injuries are his main problem. Inconsistent displays are another!

[President Trump]

Townsend to Southampton is the latest rumour

[Crimey]

Granit Xhaka is going to move to Arsenal for £40 million. 

Decent signing, but yet another central midfielder for Arsenal.

[Fernando]

its 33.8m difference is he's box to box and like a tackle. so im content

[westisbest]

Isn't Walcott injured a lot?
I know Wilshire is, thought Walcott had injury problems to.

I think Towsend is decent, from what I have seen of his short spell so far at Newcastle he has done very well.

If they are to go down, they would do well to keep him, as think he would be great in the championship.

[Ent]

God knows who United are going to buy this summer with Bayern just signing our two main targets.

[Hero]

Varane appears to be the main target according to the red tops. Marquinhos also heavily mentioned.

Expect it'll be neither and it'll end up Koulibaly.

[Holymiky]

God knows who United are going to buy this summer with Bayern just signing our two main targets.

To be fair though, Hummels had been linked to Utd for at least 2-3 seasons and nothing happened so i'm not exactly shocked to see him go elsewhere. It's the same as some players in the past for Chelsea who i thought would eventually sign then they end up signing for someone else.

[Ent]

Haven't even heard of that bloke, shows how out of touch I'm getting.

Will varane leave Madrid, he's started about 30 games this season and Pepe and Ramos are 33 and 30.

Marquinhos also a regular for psg and silva 31.

Can't see either of these guys coming to a flopping non cl team when they are on the cusp of becoming first choice at better performing clubs.

[Holymiky]

Mats Hummels who signed for Bayern.

[Ent]

Meant koulibaly.

Not so out of touch I haven't heard of a World Cup winner.

[Hero]

Di Marzio has stated Utd are very keen and he's a reporter that only tends to state what he knows rather than speculate for back page space. Previously it was Utd and Bayern who were linked with a move but guess Bayern no longer are considering him.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/kalidou-koulibaly-all-about-napoli-giant-whos-luring-man-united-and-bayern-scouts#:aYwc6odky57hSA

[Guest]

Borussia Dortmund have beaten Liverpool, Manchester City & Leicester City to the signature of 18-year-old French wonderkid Ousmane Dembele. He had recently been named, Ligue 1 Young player of the Year.

[Fernando]

That's an interesting signing guessing that means one of Reus/Kagawa/Mkhitaryan is out the door. Can't imagine he'd go to sit on the bench at his age.

[Crimey]

That's an interesting signing guessing that means one of Reus/Kagawa/Mkhitaryan is out the door. Can't imagine he'd go to sit on the bench at his age.

What? 18 years old is exactly when you'd expect a player to be happier to sit on the bench. He's not in his prime. 

I don't think any of those players will be leaving. Dortmund lacked depth in those attacking positions, Dembele will learn from those players and Dortmund will have lots of games so will get plenty of opportunities to play.

[GSC]

18 years old is when you need to be playing

[Crimey]

I disagree. I think unless you're an exceptional 18 year old, getting some game time is the best thing. Means they can get game time, learn from the older players, be taken out of the limelight when needs be and don't get burnt out too early on. 

I think there is a bit of a weird phenomena recently amongst football fans who seem to believe that if you haven't broken through at 18 you're a failed player. I think players should be hoping to properly break through at 21-22. It's perfectly reasonable and probably better not to be a starter at 18.

[Ent]

You need to be pushing for a first team place aged 18-19, that doesn't mean you need to be starting every week.

A first team squad is a great place to be if you are in your late teens, playing the right amount but training every single day with top professionals is a great education.

More so at a club like Dortmund with top players, learn everyday.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

You either need to be like Ent says, bench/starting every now and again for a big team, or loaned out to a lower league club playing every week

Playing U21 football does nobody any favours

[westisbest]

It does if your doing well, and you get recognition by your manager.
Then get a spot on the bench at least in the first team.

[Ent]

The u21 standard just isn't up to much

Say what you want about the old reserve system but if you weren't I the match day squad you played for the reserves and the youngsters at least had some experienced opposition/team mates.

[Crimey]

Mario Gotze to Liverpool rumours gaining steam, so naturally he'll sign for Chelsea at the last minute.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Stoke and west brom to battle it out for Nathan Redmond this summer

[Guest]

Never really rated Redmond, as a PL player. Not surprised we're linked, although for £8m, I'd rather have Townsend, but guessing he will go to a bigger club. I can't get excited really about Redmond as a potential signing

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

He's coming along nicely is Redmond, a injury pre Christmas took him some time to come back from otherwise he'd be pushing 10 goals for a relegsted side.this year which is pretty handy

I think he'll be a good buy for a team of WBA's ilk (kinda hope he goes to Swansea)

[GSC]

To be honest with Pulis as a manager that's not much to get excited about anyway. You'll be comfortably above the relegation zone, it wont be pretty and you might get the odd cup run. Which suits WBA perfectly I suspect.

[Guest]

Rangers have confirmed the signing of midfielder Jordan Rossiter from Liverpool, to be completed this summer. Possible compensation of £250k or something along those lines

Thought he was the next Steven Gerrard.......

Not surprised he's moved on, doubtful to get much game time, once Klopp starts spending big.

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