The European Club Soccer Off-Season Thread

[The Big Chill]

I would imagine they would accept a bid of around 40 from Madrid, despite rejecting that from Arsenal.

[Bagor]

What makes you so think Bale isnt going to Madrid?

I feel it's more likely he goes than not.

As for Suarez, Liverpool deserve everything they get with him.

[Bagor]

[The Big Chill]

I think you spend more time following Liverpool then any other club.

[Bagor]

Well .... they are the most entertaining.

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by Bagor

What makes you so think Bale isnt going to Madrid?

I feel it's more likely he goes than not.

As for Suarez, Liverpool deserve everything they get with him.

club saying they won't sell, no quotes from player that he wants to leave

all the people who know Bale say he's not the kind of person to pout or force a move right now

I think barring a huge change he's gone next summer, but early summer i.e May or June, so that Levy/AVB have enough time to properly reinvest in the squad

[Bagor]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

club saying they won't sell, no quotes from player that he wants to leave

all the people who know Bale say he's not the kind of person to pout or force a move right now

Sounds exactly like Ronaldo pre Madrid move.

And whilst VB might be not selling one of your directors wasn't beating the won't sell drum today, in fact, far from it.

Tottenham director Sir Keith Mills has admitted the club are almost powerless to keep Gareth Bale if he wants to move to Real Madrid, even though he signed a new four-year contract only last summer. Real Madrid have confirmed they are in talks with Tottenham over Bale and a potential world record transfer, with Spurs said to be demanding in excess of £80million.
Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas has said that Bale is not for sale, but Spurs recognise any attempts to keep the Wales international against his will could be futile.
Mills told the Evening Standard: "We very much want Bale to stay. If a player is desperate to leave, it's very difficult to force him to stay. We've seen it in other clubs. Even if he has a contract, you can't force somebody to play for you."

http://www.standard.co.uk/pasportsfe...y-8747992.html

[d_phaneuf]

a non-executive director, definitely making the final decisions...

look at all the things he's involved in, it's not day to day operations at Spurs

I'll take the manager 2 days ago saying he's not for sale, and Levy not selling in the past in situations like this until it becomes a problem (berba and Modric) which almost everyone agrees Bale won't become

I didn't say it was definite, I just don't see it happening this summer

[Locke]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

my guess is that later this month, Arsenal willingly up their bid, but Madrid realize Bale isn't going this summer and either match Arsenal or get it close enough that Liverpool would rather take it than strengthen a rival

Madrid need a big signing this summer, Suarez goes to Madrid

be interesting to see if FSG would then spend the money

Not a chance in hell.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Locke

Not a chance in hell.

Why do you say that? They've spent money consistenly since taking over.

[valo403]

Images of Bale have been removed from the giant Times Sq. billboard advertising the BPL and from the Spurs twitter background, coincidence?

[d_phaneuf]

Originally Posted by valo403

Images of Bale have been removed from the giant Times Sq. billboard advertising the BPL and from the Spurs twitter background, coincidence?

the billboard

Tottenham HotspurVerified account
‏@SpursOfficial
The two-week campaign was so popular that it was extended by a further fortnight, which ends today @NYSpurs #THFC

the background

Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 20h
Gareth was on that background too. Did anyone notice? We change our social media backgrounds regularly and feature all players. #THFC
Expand
Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 20h
Changing our Twitter background seems to have created a bit of a frenzy. With Clint leaving the Club, it was time for an image change #THFC

the lols

Tottenham Hotspur ‏@SpursOfficial 10h
We might change our Twitter background image again - hope nobody reads too much into it. WARNING: another change is coming! #THFC

[d_phaneuf]

such an even more stacked midfield now with Capoue joining

he can fill in at CB in a pinch if needed, very happy with this move

http://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actua...ttenham/391245

[valo403]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

the billboard



the background



the lols

I posted it mostly to see the reaction, which falls in line with the whole 'if I like the implication I'll go along with the story, if not it's garbage' phenomenon.

[d_phaneuf]

I thought it was crazy they even responded to it

the twitter account is usually so business related, that a joke or even a response was out of it's character

but so many people were taking it as some sort of confirmation

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Why do you say that? They've spent money consistenly since taking over.

While I'll agree with that, I just dont see it. If they sell Suarez for £50M, I dont think they turn right around and spend it again. I hope they dont, there isnt anyone around worth that kind of money right now.

[Addick]

So it looks like Gustavo is available but Wolfsburg look ready to swoop in. With him being able to provide cover at LB and CB he would be a ready made solution to our defensive woes, it would be tough to see Wenger and company overlook another excellent option. He even appears to be in Wenger's spending comfort zone!

[Bagor]

Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor says Luis Suarez's contract does NOT require Liverpool to sell him if they receive a bid of £40m. The players' union chief also warned that formal escalation of the dispute would kill the player's proposed move to Arsenal - for this transfer window at least.

Taylor has been called in by Suarez to try and seek a resolution between the player and the club over the exact meaning of the '£40million trigger' clause in the Uruguayan's contract – specifically whether it cues a sale... or merely negotiations.
And the PFA chief sees no swift resolution if the rift between club and player ends up being put before the Premier League for a ruling.

Taylor said on talkSPORT: "There are different ways it can be interpreted. If it goes to the Premier League it will take time, and the window is then closed."

Taylor had earlier been critical of the use of 'buy-out clauses' in player contracts.
He said: "It is a delicate situation and we are trying to help. "These buy-out clauses have caused no end of problems in the past and they continue to do so because of the way they were drafted at the time.

"He [Suarez] believes the £40million amount that is mentioned, if that is offered that gives him the right to go. "Liverpool, from their side, are saying that is a minimum figure from which they will consider negotiation and of course they will want to keep the player, unless they replace the player with someone as good or better, which is not going to be easy in a short period of time.
"We have been asked to try and help to sort the situation out and we have been trying to do that."

Taylor later told the Press Association the contract does NOT oblige Liverpool to sell Suarez:
"If you are going to have a supposed buy-out clause it should be that, but it is different as it says if there is no qualification for the Champions League [by Liverpool] and if there is a minimum offer of £40million then the parties will get around the table to discuss things but it does not say the club has to sell.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...-chief-2137102

If he's going to be pissed at anyone it should be his agent.

[SuperMatt18]

I want to see a game where Bayern start all 10 of their "international" midfielders.

Thiago, Kroos, Schweinsteiger, Gustvao, Alaba, Gotze, Shaquiri, Martinez, Ribery, Robben, Neuer should be the starting 11 for a game.

[Bagor]

The game is afoot.

Daniel Levy has held face-to-face negotiations in Florida with Florentino Pérez over Gareth Bale's proposed world record transfer from Tottenham to Real Madrid.Pérez, the Madrid president, said at the meeting that his club are prepared to pay €100m (£86m) for the Wales forward, which would eclipse the current record – Cristiano Ronaldo's £80m move from Manchester United to Real in 2009. But Levy, the Spurs chairman, wants £100m.
Levy added that he would be prepared to do business if Pérez included the highly rated young Real striker Alvaro Morata in the deal. But Real do not want to lose a player whom they consider to be a future Spain No9.
The prospect of any makeweight helping to finalise the transfer is complicated and, as such, unlikely. The challenge in the coming days will be for the two parties to bridge the £14m gap in their respective valuations, to facilitate a straight cash deal.
Pérez and Real were in Florida for the club's pre-season friendly against Chelsea while Levy has a property in the US state. Talks will continue but Bale, who is desperate to be granted his dream move to the nine-times European champions, has been encouraged by Levy's willingness to entertain Pérez.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...am-real-madrid