Since transfer season is open, figured it was time to start a new thread. Already a lot of big moves. Preseason games start in a few weeks so I'd expect a flurry of moves between now and then to try and get guys in and integrated. Or not and nothing else happens until Aug 31. Last season was one of the more interesting all across Europe. I predicted Chelsea would struggle and that Teuchel wouldn't make it to 2023 with them...but I didn't think it would be that bad. Didn't see Liverpool falling apart for much of the season or Arsenal leading for about the same amount of time. Just hope the EPL doesn't become the Bundesliga and we're all playing for 2nd for the next decade. As a United fan, I'm mostly fixated on the sale...or not. The Glazers have clearly made a conscious decision to not give even the slightest of f***s about what they're doing to the club by dragging this process out. Yes, we signed Mason Mount for a reasonable price but the rest of the business is stalling because of this instability. It's infuriating. I can't imagine they're so disconnected from reality that they don't see that no one in Manchester want's them to remain anywhere near the club. I get trying to maximize the sale, but this is damaging and they've gone from just merely disliked to pariahs who should really consider whether it's safe to ever show their faces in NW England again. That said, I really hope we find a proper 9.
News on some of the many of Americans moving about Europe... Pulisic to AC Milan just about done. Jedi Robinson signs long term with Fulham Ricardo Pepi moves on 5-yr deal to PSV Folarin Balogun being considered by Chelsea Weston McKennie in talks with Dortumund Brendan Aaronson in process of finalizing loan to Union Berlin Tyler Adams might stay at Leeds despite interest from Villa, Nottingham, West Ham
After locking up Kovacic as a Gundogan replacement waiting on locking up Gvardiol to replace what should be an outgoing Laporte and keep City's back line rolling when we play 4 center backs either as a back four, or part of our 3 defenders, 2 defensive mids formation that sees Stones play along side Rodri. Once we lock up Gvardiol I don't expect City to make any other moves of note this window. What will be interesting this season is Foden getting more playing time as a attacking mid with Grealish being the 1st choice LW.
So much for no more moves. With Mahrez looking to join the list of players moving over to the Saudi League I would expect City to bring in another option at winger to complement Grealish and Silva (so long as he stays). Not sure who that would be but City fans would like to see Sane come back which might be a possibility with the hardships he has had in Munich coupled with the reports that his family like it better in England (not sure why but I'll take it).
Rashford locked up on 5-yr deal and becomes team's highest earner. Onana deal agreed and he's headed to Manchester for physical. Hopefully he'll be able to make the US trip. Once the deal is finalized, Dean Henderson will move to Nottingham permanently for £20 million. Maguire stripped of captaincy and told he can move on. £50 million is allegedly what United want but that doesn't seem realistic. West Ham proposed a loan but United rejected it. Good weekend for United. Now they can focus on a #9.
No sane person would prefer to live in Manchester over Munich. But bad jokes aside, Bayern will rather sell Gnabry. No chance this is happening any time soon.
Took a little longer than I expected but City got their guy in Gvardiol. By all accounts he should fit right into Pep's system as he can play with pace and control the ball and push play forward. He should fit right into City's new tactic of deploying CB that have a majority of the skillset of wingbacks.
Some other news from a former player working on his legacy (for reference, this is like a German flashing a swastika tatoo). But, but, but the evil German racists discriminated his poor, innocent soul so hard. To me it was kind of obvious that he only played for Germany for career reasons, now we have further proof.