The European Club Soccer Off-Season Thread

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by cam_wmh

OH NOES... Sounds like Pellegrini knows he's doing


... told Garreth Barry he's free to leave this summer.

Scott Sinclair thinks now this is his year...

[d_phaneuf]

Neymar will definitely fit in at Barca

[Brannigans Law]

lol edited this before i became a failblog posting.

[robaur]

Bale and Suarez to Real Madrid would be unreal.

Coentrao/Pepe/Ramos/Marcelo
Khedira/Xabi Alonso
Bale/Ozil/Ronaldo
Suarez

#SEX

[valo403]

Impressive lift on that dive

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by robaur

Bale and Suarez to Real Madrid would be unreal.

Coentrao/Pepe/Ramos/Marcelo
Khedira/Xabi Alonso
Bale/Ozil/Ronaldo
Suarez

#SEX

0% chance though

Bale and Ronaldo don't work on the same team to their normal effect, can't have 2 players who are basically told they have no position

if you told them to be on the wings and switch every once in a while they would still be world class, but at that point it's not worth the 100m or whatever it would cost

Bale's not going this summer to RM, he's definitely not going until CR7 leaves though

[d_phaneuf]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23019246

Tottenham are set to complete the signing of Brazil midfielder Paulinho next week for a fee of around £17m.

also love his quotes

'To play in England for a great team like Tottenham is a dream. What I respect about Tottenham is the ambition they have shown.
'This summer there has been interest in their coach and their best player - and they have been clear they both are not going anywhere.
'When my agent made me aware that Tottenham were interested I knew it would not be a move that I could turn down.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23019246



also love his quotes

That is an embarrassment of riches at midfield.

[Addick]

Nice to see some activity.

Originally Posted by Arseblog News

French Press : Arsenal Offer For Grenier Rejected
28 June 2013
Arseblog News

According to French publication Le 10 Sport, Arsenal have finally tabled a formal bid for Lyon’s Clement Grenier while Marseille are planning talks with Gervinho in the coming days.

In an ‘exclusive’ the paper claims the Gunners offered below €10 million for French international Grenier earlier in this week but that OL president Jean-Michel Aulas rejected the bid.

Stressing that the ball is now back in Arsenal’s court, the report also claims it’s up to Arsene Wenger to raise the stakes even though the 22-year-old midfielder has only one year left on his contract at the Stade de Gerland.

Complete Article

[d_phaneuf]

I am surprised by the lack of activity so far

most teams start training for next season in the next 2 weeks

[devo22]

yeah, it's been pretty slow.

Us United fans believe/hope that they just won't announce anything before Moyes officially takes over (Monday). My hope is that Garay and Strootman are all but wrapped up and Thiago and Baines are close, but who knows, really ... if they introduce Moyes next week without announcing any signings, I'll start to be worried, no doubt.

[Locke]

I guess Evra was choked about the possibility of bringing in Baines and has asked for a transfer back to Monaco.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

I guess Evra was choked about the possibility of bringing in Baines and has asked for a transfer back to Monaco.

makes sense. Evra was terrific for United over the first few years, but he has taken a few steps back and he is starting to become a real liability defensively against quick players. Imagine what would happen in the derbies this year if City throws on Jesus Navas he'd tear Evra to pieces with his speed. Baines is better than Evra at both ends in my opinion and he needs to leave Everton soon if he ever wants to play in the CL. With the Moyes connection, it just makes too much sense. Evra has won everything at the club level, I'm sure he'd be fine with a return to Monaco. They have ambitions now and he'd surely earn a lot too.

I really hope the Baines transfer finally goes through ... he has been linked with United for years now. It's time.

[Alex.ua]

devo22, nobody needs leave Everton, especially for MU! It's time for Everton back on the top!

[cam_wmh]

wut

[FlamesAndBruins]

Very happy with my team's (Schalke) off-season. Smart transfers all around. Not enough to challenge Bayern and Dortmund for the top 2 in all likelyhood, but a strong challenger for #3 without spending that much.

[Addick]

Inching to completion.

Originally Posted by Arseblog News

Higuain Granted Permission To Negotiate With Arsenal
03 July 2013
Arseblog News

Jorge Higuain, father of Gonzalo and aficionado of beat poet Allen Ginsberg, says that he has permission from Real Madrid to speak to Arsenal and conclude a deal which feels like it has been going on for an eternity at this stage.

According to Marca, who are quoting TuttoMercato, Jorge rapped, “We do not negotiate with any club without permission of the selling club.

“We have permission [from Madrid] and hopefully we can soon see my son in the Premier League.”

Complete Article

[cam_wmh]

Sounds like Thiago will be signing tomorrow. Baines doesn't seem certain anymore.

Also, Rooney left Carrington sooner than most on when they returned earlier this week.

[rubecube]

I wonder what Spurs fans think of Cristian Tello. He has an 8M release clause and could provide some cover on the wings. Seems weird that AVB is going to run with a 4-3-3, which puts Bale outside, as opposed to what he was last year.

[devo22]

First Moyes press conference right now, says Rooney isn't going anywhere

4.07pm BST Moyes wants Rooney to stay
Moyes speaks about Rooney: "Wayne is not for sale. He is a Manchester United player and will remain a Manchester United player. I see a glint in his eye. He looks happy, he looks like he will knuckle down and get himself right. He is training brilliantly well ... I'm looking forward to working with him." The pair have had "several meetings" and Moyes expects Rooney to become the club's record goalscorer.