Summer Transfer Window 2013/2014 aka Arsenal , we can afford folks and the mancs really want Fellani

atpbx · 30 May 2013 at 07:29

Don't Liverpool win more games without Suarez than with him or something stupid?

It was one of those stats which you straight away think yes they probably do, but almost all of those matches he didn't play in would have been against Doncaster belles or something.

omnomnom · 30 May 2013 at 07:29

manic111 said:
Fair enough. I wonder who else Balague thinks we've signed - got to assume it's somebody based in Spain, given that it's him who's reporting it. I'm thinking a winger or a centre back. Possibly Cuenca?

The only one I can think of is Navas? Maybe?

Oh I dont know.

Night x

:-(

Breeze · 30 May 2013 at 09:07

@GuillemBalague: Luis Alberto (Barcelona B) is the other Spanish player that is about to agree to join Liverpool. A midfielder in the Xavi/Iniesta mould

Newbie007 · 30 May 2013 at 09:30

Breeze said:
@GuillemBalague: Luis Alberto (Barcelona B) is the other Spanish player that is about to agree to join Liverpool. A midfielder in the Xavi/Iniesta mould

Quick Google: Scored 11 goals and given 17 assists in 37 games (32 starts) with Barcelona B this season. Barca had the option to buy (he is under contract at Seville), but they have declined as they have tons of options in his postion.

Stewy · 30 May 2013 at 10:00

they already have a Welshman in the Xavi / Iniesta mould :confused:

Biz.Kid09 · 30 May 2013 at 10:23

Manchester City have informed Thiago that they are willing to pay €18m buyout clause, United also considering approach (AS)

Not surprising if it's true, we would have to be stupid to not enquire at least.
If he is willing to move I think we have the upper hand over other clubs but of course that means nothing until the contract is signed.

elmuzzy66. · 30 May 2013 at 10:29

Stewy said:
they already have a Welshman in the Xavi / Iniesta mould

I would have thought that that welsh mould would have been destroyed in disgust

Flanders · 30 May 2013 at 10:33

Biz.Kid09 said:
Manchester City have informed Thiago that they are willing to pay €18m buyout clause, United also considering approach (AS)

Not surprising if it's true, we would have to be stupid to not enquire at least.
If he is willing to move I think we have the upper hand over other clubs but of course that means nothing until the contract is signed.

Out of interest, what makes you think you have the upper hand?

drunkenmaster · 30 May 2013 at 10:44

Flanders said:
Out of interest, what makes you think you have the upper hand?

At a guess, Pelligrini, a well respected manager in Spain, Yaya, a player he trained with telling him to join, Silva, another guy he plays with in the Spanish team and on top of that, you know, more money.

ULtimately given the shot to play alongside Aguero, Silva and Yaya and under a manager who plays good attacking football, and the unknown of playing under Moyes, with Carrick, Valencia and Rooney...... I know which I'd choose.

Personally I think he has no reason to leave, live in maybe Manchester, or stay in Barca, where he's getting a good wage anyway, and in a couple years Xavi will be playing less most likely. Its not like there won't be people interested in a couple years, and I'd also be a bit wary about assuming he's going to be great just because he's been at and played a few games for Barca. I don't think he is anywhere near as good as Xavi defensively, and for the number of shots taken he's got a fairly poor scoring record, he's a 1 in 10 shots scorer, and is closer to Cesc or Iniesta in the team, getting forward rather than defending. Without a real first team run, knowing what form he can produce over 30+ starts, hard to know how good he is. I think 18mil + a big wage for a 22 year old who certainly hasn't shown a huge amount yet is... excessive.

Caseh · 30 May 2013 at 10:51

drunkenmaster said:
At a guess, Pelligrini, a well respected manager in Spain, Yaya, a player he trained with telling him to join, Silva, another guy he plays with in the Spanish team and on top of that, you know, more money.

ULtimately given the shot to play alongside Aguero, Silva and Yaya and under a manager who plays good attacking football, and the unknown of playing under Moyes, with Carrick, Valencia and Rooney...... I know which I'd choose.

Or, you know.. The option of playing for the Premier League Champions.. Or not.

Tom84 · 30 May 2013 at 10:59

Gotta love Biz, ever the optimist

For what it's worth Thiago's BBF is a certain DDG :cool:

BaZ87 · 30 May 2013 at 11:21

It's not hard to understand why City may have an easier time signing Thiago. It's said that dealing with Spanish clubs isn't always straight forward - City having Soriano and Begiristain is likely to make it a bit easier for them to deal with Barca.

Tom84 · 30 May 2013 at 11:26

BaZ87 said:
It's not hard to understand why City may have an easier time signing Thiago. It's said that dealing with Spanish clubs isn't always straight forward - City having Soriano and Begiristain is likely to make it a bit easier for them to deal with Barca.

Yeah I doubt that's the reason why Biz would feel City would be favourites

BaZ87 · 30 May 2013 at 11:28

Ok, the fact that they'll pay him double the wages another club would, helps them too

And people need to forget his so called buyout clause - even amongst Spanish clubs it's relatively meaningless, for an English side it's totally meaningless.

drunkenmaster · 30 May 2013 at 11:29

CasKirensys said:
Or, you know.. The option of playing for the Premier League Champions.. Or not.

Which is why top players only ever sign for the reigning champions...... oh wait..

If being champions was his primary criteria, he wouldn't leave Barca who are a stronger, better and far more competitive in the champions league team than Utd. Barca are a far better team than City or Utd, currently, miles ahead which is why I said I don't think he'll leave.

For me City with more money to strengthen and a far more experienced manager in terms of Europe, multiple competitions and winning titles has a far higher shot of winning the title than a quite dodgy Utd squad that walked to the title thanks mostly to a crap Mancini and Chelsea in a rebuilding phase, with a new manager who won't have the same effect on the team as Fergie, who no one has a clue what he'll do with the team next year, who he'll buy, how he'll play or how he'll do.

elmuzzy66. · 30 May 2013 at 11:55

People are not taking into account the pique factor. He's been at utd and knows what the club is all about. I think what he tells thiago will have a bigger influence than who plays for city or utd.

cm1179 · 30 May 2013 at 11:56

from the sun but this rumour is gathering a lot of weight. would love to see an attack containing this pair. get a creative source in midfield and a new left back. sandro and kaboul fit again and spurs would be a great force.

of course, neither will probably sign.

Saint · 30 May 2013 at 11:58

cm1179 said:
from the sun but this rumour is gathering a lot of weight. would love to see an attack containing this pair. get a creative source in midfield and a new left back. sandro and kaboul fit again and spurs would be a great force.

of course, neither will probably sign.

Expect the Leandro deal to be done as early as this week

A number of recognised 'spurs in the known' sources have confirmed this. Nothing concrete on the Villa deal though as his wages are a stubmbling block

elmuzzy66. · 30 May 2013 at 12:00

Villa's wages seem to be the only issue for spurs atm. he's on around 8mil euros per season.

Cosimo · 30 May 2013 at 12:00

From SSN:

Andre Schurrle's projected move from Bayer Leverkusen to Chelsea has moved a step closer after the Bundesliga club's general manager said a fee has now been agreed. Wolfgang Holzhauser claims Belgium international Kevin de Bruyne is set move in the opposite direction on loan as part of the deal.

They are going to buy Andre Schurrle for a specific fee and, in return, they will loan De Bruyne to us for a year for free..