2024/2025 English Premier League Thread

[devo22]

Liverpool didn't spend a lot last year. Spending big this summer makes sense, even after winning the title.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by devo22

Liverpool didn't spend a lot last year. Spending big this summer makes sense, even after winning the title.

Pretty crazy to win a title with just one 10m pound signing across the two windows, who wasn't even really a factor.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by cam_calderon

Looking likely that they'll get a decent price for Diaz. Can see why they'd want to avoid another Trent situation, but he's only 28. Deserved a new deal on better terms at Liverpool.

It seemed that Diaz wanted out, so on paper it makes sense to sell him now at peak value. It won’t be easy to replace his production on the field though.

It looks like we will be pushing hard to get Isak in. That would be an enormous move, although I’m sure Newcastle will fight hard to keep him.

[cam_calderon]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It seemed that Diaz wanted out, so on paper it makes sense to sell him now at peak value. It won’t be easy to replace his production on the field though.

It looks like we will be pushing hard to get Isak in. That would be an enormous move, although I’m sure Newcastle will fight hard to keep him.

I read in the Athletic earlier that Newcastle won't entertain a fee of less than £150 million, possibly even less than a record fee. Can Ekitike play wide? Seems like an awful lot of money to spend when you've just bought a striker.

[devo22]

by the way, Newcastle's summer has been nothing but fun. Missing out on pretty much every target, then Isak tells them he wants out.

Such a shame. Couldn't happen to a nicer club.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

It seemed that Diaz wanted out, so on paper it makes sense to sell him now at peak value. It won’t be easy to replace his production on the field though.

It looks like we will be pushing hard to get Isak in. That would be an enormous move, although I’m sure Newcastle will fight hard to keep him.

Essentially this. With every new body coming in he's seeing his playing minutes drop incrementally. He wants to play.

I get what Slot is doing. He's setting this team up to compete across the board in terms of competitions and everyone is going to have to do their bit, but Diaz doesn't want to be a bit-part player. Fair enough.

Conversely, no one has any leverage on Liverpool, so they can wait until they get the fee they want which, apparently, is about 50% of an Isak.

I still think they need at least another CB.

[The Big Chill]

Diaz is 28, so this is his last chance at a lucrative long term contract. I think that’s the main reason he wants to move.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Diaz is 28, so this is his last chance at a lucrative long term contract. I think that’s the main reason he wants to move.

Yep. Also, sounds like its a done deal. Diaz to Bayern.

[devo22]

watched some of Man United-West Ham yesterday. United played well for an hour or so, but once they replaced the first XI, it was a different game. Wasted some really good chances (what else is new), Hojlund hit the post, an Amad goal was called back for offside. Still, something to build on. Current first XI seems pretty set, only Mbeumo (and I guess Onana) missing. Certainly not having high hopes, but you can see the ability Cunha brings and adding Mbeumo won't hurt either.

Still think Bruno is a bad fit in midfield (he played higher up yesterday, but once Mbeumo comes in, he'll be back in the double six ... and yeah, that's just not good), but can't get too mad when he does stuff like this.

https://twitter.com/user/status/1949262117141397579

as for West Ham ... well, Jarrod Bowen is pretty decent. If Graham Potter has improved them, I haven't seen it.

[devo22]

Uniteds striker search down to Watkins and Sesko, per every reputable source today. Jackson is off the table, thank god.

Still hoping for Watkins. Easily the sensible choice here.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by devo22

Uniteds striker search down to Watkins and Sesko, per every reputable source today. Jackson is off the table, thank god.

Still hoping for Watkins. Easily the sensible choice here.

While this is true, I'm not sure of United's strategy here.

Villa, meanwhile, are insisting they will not let Watkins leave. There is, though, a belief at United that the right offer could tempt Villa to part with the 29-year-old, who was the subject of a bid from Arsenal in January.

United are unlikely to match the £60 million ($80m) offer submitted by Arsenal six months ago and instead value the England man at closer to £45m.

https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/...tinues-sources

He's 29, Villa didn't entertain Arsenal's £60M bid, but for some reason are expected to be tempted by United's £45M bid?

[devo22]

well, prices are always inflated in January. Would have been hard for them to replace him then, plus they were still hoping to reach the CL at that point. Now might be the time to sell him before he turns 30. Those "hands off" warnings are meaningless, too. Leverkusen said the same about Granit Xhaka last week, now he's joining Sunderland.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Where does it say Villa are going to be ok with £45 million? Article strongly implies they won't be. Mostly seems to suggest that if United want to come over the top that like Villa will sell, because as the prophet Theodore DiBiase once said "Everyone has a price". That price is probably close to the same as it would cost for Šeško though.

[SuperMatt18]

Watkins is good but I feel like the 22 year Sesko makes more sense than the 29 year old Watkins with where United are in their current re-build.

[Senator Clay Davis]

But thats the thing about this window for United, they are clearly targeting PL proven because they are just trying to raise their floor as a team. Given the likely costs I would definitely rather have Šeško, but he likely comes with growing pains. United's many errors over the years have left them at the point where it probably does make more sense to go for Watkins simply to get out of the bottom half.

[devo22]

Originally Posted by SuperMatt18

Watkins is good but I feel like the 22 year Sesko makes more sense than the 29 year old Watkins with where United are in their current re-build.

I would disagree. I think targeting PL proven players makes sense for them at the moment, to right the ship and get back into the upper bracket of the table. They are starving for goals ... betting on unproven talent to solve your goalscoring woes doesn't seem like a good strategy to me. Watkins is PL proven, he's played with Mbeumo before, he can take pressure off Hojlund.

Watkins can do a job for two or three years while they get their act together in other areas. Him, Mbeumo and Cunha scored a combined 51 goals and 22 assists last season ... injecting that kind of proven PL talent is exactly what United need at the moment.

[M*A*S*H 4077]

I'm sure I'm in the minority but I'm not sold on Sesko as an elite, top level striker. He strikes me as a less well rounded Havertz when he plays. I've watched him a decent chunk for Leipzig and Slovenia and I just don't see him as "the guy". I have my doubts on him being a consistent 15-20 goal guy in the Bundesliga, let alone the Premier League

[devo22]

completely different topic, but it's insane that PL clubs are allowed to sell their own women's teams to their parent companies to boost their PSR numbers. Chelsea and Aston Villa already did so, now Everton follow suit.

Everton have sold their women's team to the parent company which owns the club - a move that will improve their compliance with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).

The team has been purchased by Roundhouse Capital Holdings, which is owned and controlled by American businessman Dan Friedkin. The Friedkin Group completed its takeover of Everton in December 2024.

The move allows the women's team to act as a standalone entity and attract minority investment. The men's team, meanwhile, benefits from the sale being recorded as revenue in the club's accounts, which positively impacts their PSR position.

Everton are the third Premier League club to sell their women's team to navigate the Premier League's financial rules.

Chelsea sold their women's team to parent company BlueCo for nearly £200m in June 2024. Subsequently, the team attracted the attention of Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, who purchased an 8-10% minority stake in May. Aston Villa sold its women's team to holding company V Sports in June.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/a...s/cjey097w872o