january window

[Blue Since 76]

http://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2014/dec/30/transfer-window-20-premier-league-targets-for-january-2015

Edinson Cavani (Paris Saint-Germain)
Age: 27
Fee: £25m-£30m
Possible suitors: Manchester City or Arsenal would find it hard to resist if such a player entered the market

Allegedly unhappy about frequently being played out of position, Uruguayan striker Cavani has still scored a goal every other game for PSG. His lack of recent form may tempt Laurent Blanc to listen to offers

I'd definitely be trying the Falcao route of can we have him on loan and then we'll definitely buy him in summer, honest.

Any striker we go for now has to fit into our plans next season as well, not just for the next few weeks whilst we cover for injuries. If that's all we want, we may as well bring Villa in. Cavani could be a long term option, but could he firm a partnership with Kun? Think Kun prefers the Negredo type who bullys defenders and creates space, whereas Cavani would probably want to be number one as well.

[Cit.revenge]

Is there a FFP for rags , because they are spending like insane . How can they pay Pogba 98 mill , where they cover all those transfers ?

[Sue Perb]

I believe Pellers confirmed, yesterday, that due to FFP regulations we CAN'T be active in the January transfer window at all! I hate UEFA and as for that plonker Platini!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... grini.html

[Nigels Tackle]

given that we'll be refereed out of the champs league, ffp squad restrictions make fuck all difference
personally i'd prefer to do the domestic double
cavani on loan to lead that charge pls

[Ted Hughes]

Is there a FFP for rags , because they are spending like insane . How can they pay Pogba 98 mill , where they cover all those transfers ?

The rags make a huge amount of money. It's the Glazer's debt which stops them from spending it. They were able to exist, slowly paying off the debt, & signing the occasional player, without losing money, then the two new deals with Chevrolet & Adidas has given them an extra 50 million plus per season, plus the new tv deal is substantially higher than the last one & any other new deals they have done.

They could be 80/100 mil better off per season than they were BUT they missed the Champions League. So they are panic spending short term to try & make sure they get back in, so their business plan continues to work.

In typical fashion, like they have done for years, Arsenal & Liverpool are completely fucking up a huge opportunity to do some serious damage to the rags. Keep them out of the Champions League for a few seasons & they have big problems.

But instead, Arse/Liverpool collapse.

[blues2win]

They have a stadium capacity of 76,000 and a long established brand. We're catching up on turnover but we still have a long way to go. I agree that if they miss the CL this year there will be an immediate crisis not least because their sponsors will be extremely unhappy and may have conditions in their contracts. The rags would also lose a substantial amount of CL income. It is of course ridiculous that FFP takes no account of debt. Our debt is zero.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

Anyone know 'owt about this guy?

The champions have made an enquiry for Anderlecht's Dennis Praet
The 20-year-old is valued at around £10million
The attacking midfielder impressed during Anderlecht's Champions League clash against Arsenal earlier in the season
Manuel Pellegrini has said that he believes UEFA Financial Fair Play restrictions will make it tough for City to sign anyone in January
However that could be resolved if Praet is immediately loaned back to Anderlecht for another season

Manuel Pellegrini has said that UEFA Financial Fair Play restrictions will make it difficult for the club to sign players this month, but despite this City are closely monitoring Praet.
The £10million attacking midfielder was excellent in Anderlecht’s Champions League games against Arsenal, and City have been watching him for some time.

Praet could make the move to the Etihad Stadium and then be immediately loaned back to Anderlecht
City not only have a restriction on the amount they can spend but they have also agreed to limit their wage bill and are short of homegrown players for their Champions League squad.
Even if a deal is done this month, there is a possibility that Praet, whose contract runs out in 2017, could stay at Anderlecht for another season.
This which would keep him off the City wage bill and allow him to mature in the process.
But City will have to conclude a deal quickly as Borussia Dortmund are also keen on the midfielder, who once trialled at Arsenal, and could put him straight into their team.

[phips]

i don't remember him standing out when i watched the Dortmund-Anderlecht matches but i do remember them mentioning Youri Tielemans and that he could be one of the best players produced at Anderlecht in a long time

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

i don't remember him standing out when i watched the Dortmund-Anderlecht matches but i do remember them mentioning Youri Tielemans and that he could be one of the best players produced at Anderlecht in a long time

Thanks for the response. All I can glean is that he's a midfield play-maker, not if he's a genuine prospect or not.

[twosips]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-JyeaVD-V0

Talented player, clearly. Dunno though myself. He might just flop a bit over here and i'm not convinced he could do anything that given time any of our EDS lads couldn't do.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-JyeaVD-V0

Talented player, clearly. Dunno though myself. He might just flop a bit over here and i'm not convinced he could do anything that given time any of our EDS lads couldn't do.

If he is actually loaned back out as soon as we buy him, then by the time he is considered ready to possibly return and play for us, the EDS youngsters will also be just about ready as well which, on the face of it, means increasingly stiff opposition for him to get into the squad.

If this transfer does come about, I hope it turns out to be a brilliant piece of long-term business and forces dubious souls such as myself to eat some healthy helpings of humble pie.

[blues2win]

Di Matteo confirms Schalke want Nastasic on loan I suppose. OK Roberto how about us getting Julian Draxler?

[phips]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-JyeaVD-V0

Talented player, clearly. Dunno though myself. He might just flop a bit over here and i'm not convinced he could do anything that given time any of our EDS lads couldn't do.

If he is actually loaned back out as soon as we buy him, then by the time he is considered ready to possibly return and play for us, the EDS youngsters will also be just about ready as well which, on the face of it, means increasingly stiff opposition for him to get into the squad.

If this transfer does come about, I hope it turns out to be a brilliant piece of long-term business and forces dubious souls such as myself to eat some healthy helpings of humble pie.

if anything, we should look into doing what Chelsea do. buy a talented prospect for relatively cheap, loan him out and let him shine, and then flip him for big money without him ever getting much, if any, time with the first team. if he flops then so what, he was cheap anyways and if some of them hit then we recoup the lost money on the flops and hopefully a profit on the one we sold.

[phips]

Di Matteo confirms Schalke want Nastasic on loan I suppose. OK Roberto how about us getting Julian Draxler?

Apparently we're flush with cash in January and have no squad limitations

We start with the shock news that Manchester City are ready to rival Arsenal for Julian Draxler.

The German forward could cost as much as £25m to bring in but Schalke's interest in Matija Nastasic could smooth the way to a deal.

Another attacking midfielder pulling up trees in Europe is also believed to be on Manuel Pellegrini's wanted list.

Dennis Praet caught the eye for Anderlecht during their recent Champions League clashes with the likes of Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund, and now City want to complete a £10m swoop.

Meanwhile, Levski Sofia youngster Bozhidar Kraev is already in Manchester for a trial with the Premier League champions, the Guardian report.

City's injury problems in the centre-forward position have led to links with a number of stars, most prominently Wilfried Bony of Swansea.

But The Sun now claim that Aston Villa star Christian Benteke is wanted by the Blues.

Finally, rumours regarding Ross Barkley refuse to go away, and now it seems Everton are ready to sell for £45m to try and halt their decline.

[Slim]

Benteke
Bony
Barkley
...and Draxler

One of these things is not like the others.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Benteke
Bony
Barkley
...and Draxler

One of these things is not like the others.

Or nothing is as it seems.......

Crikey, this is sounding like some ancient Buddhist text.....

[lets all have a disco]

Draxler and Barkley are great fits for City we do need a new left back and striker though i'd try for Mandzukic.

[Bluez]

Is Barkley really that good? I have not seen too much of him but i don't see what the fuss is about and 40 mil +? I would be worried about a very expensive Rodwell. He was also the next big thing, and I know he had injuries by us but he's not exactly ripping up trees at Sunderland. We seem to be falling into the "next big thing must have him trap" quite a bit. Sinclair??

[Clowncrete]

Is Barkley really that good? I have not seen too much of him but i don't see what the fuss is about and 40 mil +? I would be worried about a very expensive Rodwell. He was also the next big thing, and I know he had injuries by us but he's not exactly ripping up trees at Sunderland. We seem to be falling into the "next big thing must have him trap" quite a bit. Sinclair??

Barkley is a step above Rodwell/Sinclair, tbf. 40 million since he is English and young.

[Ted Hughes]

Is Barkley really that good? I have not seen too much of him but i don't see what the fuss is about and 40 mil +? I would be worried about a very expensive Rodwell. He was also the next big thing, and I know he had injuries by us but he's not exactly ripping up trees at Sunderland. We seem to be falling into the "next big thing must have him trap" quite a bit. Sinclair??

Potentially Barkley is 'that good'. Much more ability than Rodwell; more like Rooney.

There is nothing he lacks in order to be the complete footballer. But imo, he has to prove he can fit into a team like ours & be on the same planet as Silva & Nasri & also that he buys into the work ethic; that even the best players have to run. He could easily fail to reach that potential; he is after all, English.

We don't have any kids currently who combine so many things; the ability plus the physical presence etc. We do have kids who are as good, maybe better as footballers (in fact some definitely better I'd say) & who are willing to work hard too, but not with his ready made Premier League physique.

If Rooney had Silva's build, he would have cost a lot less. It's the added 'bull in a china shop' bit which you would be paying for.

It's a gamble. And it's also a gamble, not to buy him. Same as with Rooney.