2024/2025 English Premier League Thread

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

Bryan Mbeumo to Manchester United, per Ornstein. Fee is high (£65m) ... but then again, when I see what others have paid for the likes of Madueke or Kudus this summer, I'd rather pay £65m for Mbeumo.

Still need a striker, obviously - but Cunha and Mbeumo had a combined 35 goals and 14 assists in the PL last season. Should improve our dire attack a bit.

Yeah, but United's Priority #1 is still to jettison the very, very expensive ne'erdowells.

[devo22]

Barcelona are advancing with a move to sign Marcus Rashford from Manchester United. Barcelona have made an offer via intermediaries to loan Rashford next season and the proposal includes an option to buy.

The 27-year-old wants the move and the idea has been agreed to by United and although it is not yet a done deal, talks between all parties are now at the final stages.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/607...lona-transfer/


I can't believe he actually gets his move to Barcelona. Incredible. Sucks that it's just another loan, but that's what happens when mediocre players are on outrageous wages. It is what it is.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I just want to take a second to appreciate the greatness of Lord Ornstein, miles ahead of that engagement baiter Fabrizio.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/607...lona-transfer/


I can't believe he actually gets his move to Barcelona. Incredible. Sucks that it's just another loan, but that's what happens when mediocre players are on outrageous wages. It is what it is.

Barcelona must be pretty desperate. It'll be interesting to see the details, United want him off the books and away from the training ground but are likely only to get 1 of those things. I dont see Barca coughing up his £325k/wk.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

Barcelona must be pretty desperate. It'll be interesting to see the details, United want him off the books and away from the training ground but are likely only to get 1 of those things. I dont see Barca coughing up his £325k/wk.

well, Lord Ornstein has spoken.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1946585899497656484

[Locke]

Hugo Ekitike is expected to arrive in the UK on Tuesday for a medical and to finalise a six-year contract after Liverpool reached a total agreement in principle with Eintracht Frankfurt over a deal worth £79m (€91.5m).

Liverpool are understood to have kept a contingent of staff in the UK to complete the signing and, once it has been, it is hoped the player will be able to fly to Asia to join the team on their pre‑season tour later in the week.

https://www.skysports.com/football/n...nkfurt-striker

Alright! Now we have to see what shakes out with Darwin and Diaz.

[devo22]

man I wonder how Frankfurt fans feel. On one hand, they have made insane money off selling their strikers (Kolo Muani, Marmoush and Ekitike have been sold for a combined €260m or so over the past two years), but on the other hand, I'm sure it sucks that those players keep leaving after a few months ... even with Frankfurt securing CL football.

[Senator Clay Davis]

I also wonder how Klopp feels right about now. They seemingly ran a break even operation while he was there, now the money faucet is flowing once he's gone.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

man I wonder how Frankfurt fans feel. On one hand, they have made insane money off selling their strikers (Kolo Muani, Marmoush and Ekitike have been sold for a combined €260m or so over the past two years), but on the other hand, I'm sure it sucks that those players keep leaving after a few months ... even with Frankfurt securing CL football.

I dont know much about Frankfurt's development process or ownership, but obviously they're pumping out strikers at a prodigious rate, maybe they're confident about some new up and comers?

The money is nice, but that doesnt really trickle down to the fans unless its used to replace the outgoing players.

At some point Frankfurt are going to have to determine when exactly it is that they feel their window to compete is and hold some players and go for it.

[devo22]

well, they've signed Jonathan Burkardt from Mainz, who scored 18 league goals last season. They'll be fine, I guess.

But yeah, the way they've been pumping out strikers is ridiculous. Even going back a few years, they had Sebastian Haller and Luka Jovic, and sold them for a combined €115m. Bad news for Liverpool? Most of them have flopped after leaving Frankfurt. Jovic was a total bust at Real, Haller didn't make it at West Ham, Kolo Muani has been a flop at PSG. Too early to tell with Marmoush, but he has clearly been the best of the bunch so far. Ekitike himself couldn't cut it at PSG, so will be interesting how he does at Liverpool. Can't possibly be more useless than Darwin, so there's that.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

I also wonder how Klopp feels right about now. They seemingly ran a break even operation while he was there, now the money faucet is flowing once he's gone.

It is interesting, but I think it was more about circumstance.

Klopp had a much, much tougher task. Yeah, Slot won the League at a brisk jog without buying anyone other than Chiesa, but really, I think Slot and Liverpool think 'Now is the Time.'

United and Spurs are no threat, City are finally financially constrained for the first time ever, Chelsea are a wild card, they could be equally stellar or garbage on any given night, who knows about Newcastle?

The biggest dog in the fight is Arsenal.

Whereas Klopp was fighting everyone all the time. The margins were Razor thin. Its why you saw Klopp be that passionate, because he was under immense pressure all the time, a draw here loss there and all of a sudden you're under water, how many times did City win the title by a point? Liverpool won by 10 last season.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

well, they've signed Jonathan Burkardt from Mainz, who scored 18 league goals last season. They'll be fine, I guess.

But yeah, the way they've been pumping out strikers is ridiculous. Even going back a few years, they had Sebastian Haller and Luka Jovic, and sold them for a combined €115m. Bad news for Liverpool? Most of them have flopped after leaving Frankfurt. Jovic was a total bust at Real, Haller didn't make it at West Ham, Kolo Muani has been a flop at PSG. Too early to tell with Marmoush, but he has clearly been the best of the bunch so far. Ekitike himself couldn't cut it at PSG, so will be interesting how he does at Liverpool. Can't possibly be more useless than Darwin, so there's that.

Well in fairness to Ekitike at PSG, he was behind Messi, Neymar and Mbappe. Kind of tough to crack that.

And I still have hope for Darwin. I like him. He is an Agent of Chaos. He just needs to be more clinical, but I dont think he's hopeless. He has the tools, he has the talent, he just needs to put it all together.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Arsenal are gonna fumble the Gyokeres signing and end up with Darwin, aren't we?

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Arsenal are gonna fumble the Gyokeres signing and end up with Darwin, aren't we?

I hope not. I like Darwin. I think he's just right on the cusp of figuring it out.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Originally Posted by Winsor_Pilates

Arsenal are gonna fumble the Gyokeres signing and end up with Darwin, aren't we?

But Darwin isn't a Chelsea scab. Jackson, on the other hand...

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Senator Clay Davis

But Darwin isn't a Chelsea scab. Jackson, on the other hand...

Woah there....I read that Jackson has serious interest from United. Now...that'd be funny.

[The Big Chill]

I think Nunez still has a good chance to carve out a good career, he just needs to go somewhere that will play to his strengths. He’ll look better in a team that plays more on the counter.

I have no idea about Ekitike, he looks like a better fit but it’s a big fee for a small résumé.

The prices for strikers is crazy, it’s 70+ mil for average players with any potential now.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I think Nunez still has a good chance to carve out a good career, he just needs to go somewhere that will play to his strengths. He’ll look better in a team that plays more on the counter.

I have no idea about Ekitike, he looks like a better fit but it’s a big fee for a small résumé.

The prices for strikers is crazy, it’s 70+ mil for average players with any potential now.

Its all Pep's fault.

Football has spent a couple decades working it's way away from the #9 to the false-9 and so out and out strikers are a rare breed now, and the rarer they are the more they cost.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by Locke

Woah there....I read that Jackson has serious interest from United. Now...that'd be funny.

I saw that. Nightmare fuel.

Personally, I'd go for Ollie Watkins. He can do a job for two or three years and be a stop gap while they get their #### in order. Other name that has been floated is Benjamin Sesko, but having watched him closely at Salzburg and Leipzig, I've honestly never understood the hype around him.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

I saw that. Nightmare fuel.

Personally, I'd go for Ollie Watkins. He can do a job for two or three years and be a stop gap while they get their #### in order. Other name that has been floated is Benjamin Sesko, but having watched him closely at Salzburg and Leipzig, I've honestly never understood the hype around him.

Step aside Hojlund! Here comes Jackson to the rescue!

Just give Harry Maguire the #9 and see what happens.