** Official ** Summer 2010 Transfer Thread - Signings, Sightings and Rumor's in Here
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Out of curiosity, do you like/support Milan?
In response to your post:
-I agree about the need for a central defender and, more urgently, a left-back which is why although I didn't fully agree with it, our decision not to pursue the signing of Salvatore Bocchetti (not a natural left-back but can play there) is baffling. We're overloaded with right-backs even if some don't belong there or are rubbish (Zambrotta and Oddo are dire, Bonera isn't great at all, Abate is a winger, Papasthatopoulos is happier in the middle, Antonini is needed to link with Ronaldinho on the left and I've on idea how much is expected of the loan signing Bruno Montelongo). At left-back we've got Antonini, the unwanted Jankulovski who refuses to leave when nobody will match his wages (€3.2m per season) and the other unwanted, Kaladze who is considering a move to Werder Bremen but doesn't want a wage cut (€2.5m per season).
-I actually think we do need a striker. Berlusconi was right when he said in January that we needed someone to finish off chances rather than create them upon the loan signing of Mancini which went horribly wrong. Borriello doesn't score enough, Huntelaar wasn't given a fair chance but has no excuse for his rubbish pre-season performances, Pato is constantly injured, Inzaghi rarely scores before January amidst injury problems and our midfield provides no goal threat. I suppose if the midfield promised goals then the strike force wouldn't be bad at all but as it doesn't, we need a more consistent attack than other teams. Ibra isn't the ideal choice if we were buying him outright, Dzeko would be but its clear from the information I've seen in the last 10 hours that Dzeko couldn't have happened because the Ibrahimovic deal isn't a straightforward signing:
Ibrahimovic is joining on loan with an obligation for us to sign him permanently next summer. The price, originally €30m and then €40m now stands rumoured strongly at being €25m. At least €15m is payable next summer and we are looking to offload Huntelaar, Kaladze and, if he's attracting a €15m offer from Lyon, Flamini simply because its a great offer. In wages we would supposedly save in the region of €9m per season which is exactly what we're said to have offered Ibrahimovic. This is probably the strangest deal I have ever known Milan - or perhaps any club - be a part of. The figures are changing wildly on a day-to-day basis yet the sources are highly respected and very close to the people involved.
The problem I think we do have is that the necessary overhaul of the team which still hasn't taken place properly isn't going to happen next season either given the fact we're effectively signing an 'expensive' player - to us anyway - in next season's market right now. The midfield is our biggest problem - I'm beyond tired of Pirlo's sub-standard free-kicks and constantly being tackled near our penalty area and the entire presence of a once incredible but now lethargic Gattuso.
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All from the Telegraph article, here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/fo...l-international-Raul-Meireles-from-Porto.html
"It is understood that Meireles had been lined up by Barcelona, should they have failed to land Mascherano and sources at the Camp Nou revealed that Meireles would now be joining Liverpool instead."
"The signing would represent a coup for Liverpool. Meireles was coveted across the continent after establishing himself as one of the most impressive central midfielders in European football.
He came close to joining Jose Mourinho at Internazionale."
If all that's remotely accurate, it sounds like he could be a useful player. Then again, it was about this time last year that I said that I couldn't wait to see Aquilani play, and it was a long wait, so I'm not sure I'll risk holding my breath
To an extent, although for me the left back and central midfield roles (and left midfield, unless Cole will play there) are far more pressing. We are short up top, but when Torres is fit and functioning there is nobody better. When he isn't, we have a lot of good young players coming through, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kuyt get a chance back up top. Hodgson also seems to see Babel as a striker, and it will be good for him to get a proper run in his preferred position.
While we could do with another top striker as a foil for Torres, or to replace him when he's out, we don't have the money, and I'm not sure that spending £10mil on a striker would get us one who is better than Jovanovic, Ngog, Babel, or Kuyt. To get a striker worth having, we would have had to spend £20mil plus, and we don't have this money.
It's money well spent in my opinion. While we do need another top striker, this is almost an unrealistic request, if you look at who is available. Ultimately we were outplayed in the middle by City - while we held the ball up poorly, it was the midfield where we were really short, and the possession stats speak for themselves.
For me, money on the midfield and left back was the right choice. Whether Mereiles will prove to be the right player is less clear.
"It is understood that Meireles had been lined up by Barcelona, should they have failed to land Mascherano and sources at the Camp Nou revealed that Meireles would now be joining Liverpool instead."
"The signing would represent a coup for Liverpool. Meireles was coveted across the continent after establishing himself as one of the most impressive central midfielders in European football.
He came close to joining Jose Mourinho at Internazionale."
If all that's remotely accurate, it sounds like he could be a useful player. Then again, it was about this time last year that I said that I couldn't wait to see Aquilani play, and it was a long wait, so I'm not sure I'll risk holding my breath
eggyoke said:
To an extent, although for me the left back and central midfield roles (and left midfield, unless Cole will play there) are far more pressing. We are short up top, but when Torres is fit and functioning there is nobody better. When he isn't, we have a lot of good young players coming through, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Kuyt get a chance back up top. Hodgson also seems to see Babel as a striker, and it will be good for him to get a proper run in his preferred position.
While we could do with another top striker as a foil for Torres, or to replace him when he's out, we don't have the money, and I'm not sure that spending £10mil on a striker would get us one who is better than Jovanovic, Ngog, Babel, or Kuyt. To get a striker worth having, we would have had to spend £20mil plus, and we don't have this money.
It's money well spent in my opinion. While we do need another top striker, this is almost an unrealistic request, if you look at who is available. Ultimately we were outplayed in the middle by City - while we held the ball up poorly, it was the midfield where we were really short, and the possession stats speak for themselves.
For me, money on the midfield and left back was the right choice. Whether Mereiles will prove to be the right player is less clear.
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I think Meireles will be fine. Aquilani was never going to perform in England - his style is that of a slow, creative midfielder with a lack of strength much like Pirlo. That's just not the sort of midfielder who suits the league over here.
Im sure some of the older members here can enlighten you on that.Out of curiosity, do you like/support Milan?
. Alternatively, keep pressing F5 till a certain sig of mine rotates
Tbh, I don't think the first team is that bad, it just lacks motivation from the 'stars' and depth of squad. The probable first team for this season is probably going to be something like:
Amelia, Antonini, Nesta, Silva, Zambrotta, Gatusso, Pirlo, Seedorf, Ronaldinho, Pato & Boriello.
On paper, apart from perhaps Antonini, fully fit, all those are still very capable players. But at least 5 of them seem to lack the same conviction they had a few years ago. Due partly to lack of squad depth to give them competition.
The players they could have gotten on a free this window, all from SeriaA and proven, would have given the team much needed, quality, young, strengthening, thus giving the 'oldies' some motivation to actually play the game rather than play on their name.
Although I'd be annoyed if Flamini goes. He should be a regular starter in my books. He played very well at DL for a while for us IIRC, so hes adaptable too. But realistically, he is Gatussos replacement.
Im all for Milan's new direction of saving cash, becoming self sufficient, but if Berlusconi wants to win what he wants, he should have put in one large cash injection and big transfer campaign to refresh the entire squad, THEN wash his hands and say, right, now youve got a squad that can compete for 3-5 years, so you've got from now onwards to become self sufficient, blood the youngsters, get players/replacements on the cheap, etc;
Instead, he's setting lofty goals that just wont happen with this squad.
About the only thing im confident of is the Champions League. Milan have never failed to do well in the CL, whatever the circumstances.
The sig is showing
The first team isn't SO bad and I actually think Antonini is very good but I consider him our only good full-back - though I know virtually nothing of Montelongo - and I'd agree with you about the conviction. Pirlo has been poor pretty much since the World Cup although 06/07 wasn't so bad for him.
Flamini should be a regular but I noticed a worrying trend with him last season. In his first season (under Ancelotti) he didn't get enough time but was excellent when he played and when used at right-back, was incredible. Unfortunately he doesn't want to play there which is one of his reasons for leaving Arsenal. Last season when he played, he was going in with tackles that had me worried he could get a straight red as they were typically the sorts of challenges you only get to make in England or Scotland. Flying in two-footed when on a yellow isn't a good sign in continental Europe. You want to assert authority and strength over your opponents but in a certain way.
The problem with Berlusconi - aside from his children - is his political career. He's never at Milan games, he's distant from our situation and because of his role he can't put money in. He was supposedly prepared to put €30m in this summer but the Italian navy blocked him - as he's PM all such transactions are vetted for conflict of interests and some sort of "decency" in the current financial climate.
Why he doesn't sell us, I don't know. He says nobody with the same passion is prepared to come in and can promise the investment but we've only his word for that. I'm loathe to be sold to Arab owners but I'd be lying if I said that I wouldn't welcome Gazprom with open arms - which isn't to say their interest was concrete. Being self-sufficient is the right way to go but there's a difference between the way to do it and the way he's trying to do it. Milan fans aren't asking for one €30m player, two €20m players, four €15m players and more, we all just want players bought shrewdly which show that we're moving forward and refreshing the squad. He doesn't seem to understand that. Gazprom would be smart enough to give us a bit of money to use but nothing exorbitant. We could do as you say - build a team that can do well while the youngsters are coming through, integrate them like we used to back in the late 80s and early 90s and then build from there with only the odd big signing needed over the years.
The first team isn't SO bad and I actually think Antonini is very good but I consider him our only good full-back - though I know virtually nothing of Montelongo - and I'd agree with you about the conviction. Pirlo has been poor pretty much since the World Cup although 06/07 wasn't so bad for him.
Flamini should be a regular but I noticed a worrying trend with him last season. In his first season (under Ancelotti) he didn't get enough time but was excellent when he played and when used at right-back, was incredible. Unfortunately he doesn't want to play there which is one of his reasons for leaving Arsenal. Last season when he played, he was going in with tackles that had me worried he could get a straight red as they were typically the sorts of challenges you only get to make in England or Scotland. Flying in two-footed when on a yellow isn't a good sign in continental Europe. You want to assert authority and strength over your opponents but in a certain way.
The problem with Berlusconi - aside from his children - is his political career. He's never at Milan games, he's distant from our situation and because of his role he can't put money in. He was supposedly prepared to put €30m in this summer but the Italian navy blocked him - as he's PM all such transactions are vetted for conflict of interests and some sort of "decency" in the current financial climate.
Why he doesn't sell us, I don't know. He says nobody with the same passion is prepared to come in and can promise the investment but we've only his word for that. I'm loathe to be sold to Arab owners but I'd be lying if I said that I wouldn't welcome Gazprom with open arms - which isn't to say their interest was concrete. Being self-sufficient is the right way to go but there's a difference between the way to do it and the way he's trying to do it. Milan fans aren't asking for one €30m player, two €20m players, four €15m players and more, we all just want players bought shrewdly which show that we're moving forward and refreshing the squad. He doesn't seem to understand that. Gazprom would be smart enough to give us a bit of money to use but nothing exorbitant. We could do as you say - build a team that can do well while the youngsters are coming through, integrate them like we used to back in the late 80s and early 90s and then build from there with only the odd big signing needed over the years.
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Like yourselves
??
Three league titles a champions league trophey and a couple of carling cups ?
Lets see what you guys win in the next three years.
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Just seen a report saying the deal for Konchesky could eventually cost £5 million. Don't really know what you can say 
Caporegime
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Sounds about right. I just hope we can recover some of that cost once we've kicked out the much younger Argentine international Insua.
Youth does not exist in this dojo, does it? NO, SEN-ile.
Youth does not exist in this dojo, does it? NO, SEN-ile.
Just seen a report saying the deal for Konchesky could eventually cost £5 million. Don't really know what you can say
Link?
It could be over a couple of years, though. Any news on the youngsters?
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Reported in the Liverpool echo. Might well be over a few years but I'd guess the eventually part of the story would mean based on appaearances. No mention of the two youngsters.
http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/live...p-for-meireles-and-konchesky-100252-27156727/
Ah ok. If Konchesky had a full contract, I think £5m is a bargain, but with a year left you're probably paying a chunk to make us let him go. He's still a good buy for up to £6-7m tbh, don't forget he's English, and probably one of the most consistent left backs....now he'll score an own goal and get sent off on his debut.
Well, I think we're trying to buy the youngsters as Liverpool said they don't want them (we nearly signed Dalla Valle last season).
Think it's just the price of getting English players now that the new squad restrictions are in. Ultimately I reckon Konchesky is a decent signing. He won't set the world alight, but is a solid left back defensively and offers something going forward. We're short on English players over the age of 21, so the signing makes sense to me. We're over-paying for him compared to what Fulham payed for Salcido, but he's proven in the Premiership and helps to get us towards our requirement for English players, which is somethign we desperately need.
In half an hour, we are set to officially rob Barcelona. Both clubs will announce the Ibrahimovic deal on their websites at the same time and it appears to be that Ibrahimovic will join us on loan for the season with an obligation for us to pay them €25m as a transfer fee next summer, possibly in instalments. Now that's cheap.
Cheap. Zlatan is worth about £10. Just because Barca paid well over the odds doesn't mean someone else paying way over the odds, but not as much over, is a good deal. Certainly not cheap.
IMO Konchesky is worth about £1.5-2m. It's because he's English that more is being paid, but they had a better player already
IMO Konchesky is worth about £1.5-2m. It's because he's English that more is being paid, but they had a better player already
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