I'm glad we're starting this transfer thread early. Gives us lots of time to hit the requisite 100 pages needed to actually get the transfer across the line.
*pitches tent*
*pitches tent*
This will be an expensive transfer for sure, however there could be some kind of clause in his contract that we don't know about – surely when he signed for Dortmund they viewed it as a stepping stone to an eventual transfer to a big English club and may have ensured that the the fee wouldn't be an insurmountable obstacle if and when he decides to leave.
Meanwhile RedAstaire *Stares at campfire.... Prods it with a twig to stoke the embers and then starts playing 'Hard Time Killing Floor Blues' wistfully but quietly to himself.I'm glad we're starting this transfer thread early. Gives us lots of time to hit the requisite 100 pages needed to actually get the transfer across the line.
*pitches tent*
Two threads?
Two threads?
Can't see us signing him. Dortmund bought him for 30 million, and he has a contract till 2025. They won't sell him for anything less than 80-100 million, especially in a window where Haaland is also likely to leave.
Gravenberch, on the other hand, is eminently more transferable. His contract expires in 2023, so he'll have only 1 year left on his deal next summer. Raiola will be wanting to get him a move if he doesn't agree to a new deal. Real have also set the market for a young midfielder with 1 year left on his deal with Camavinga at €30 million. That's the sort of price range we're comfortable operating in, so I can definitely see a deal happening there.
I'm also a big fan of that Dutch-Surinamese midfield lineage - Rijkaard, Seedorf, Davids, Wijnaldum.
All not just technically and tactically proficient, but also showing remarkable physical strength and career longevity.
I really think Gravenberch is going to be an addition to that line - his technical ability and tactical nous is already highly advanced, and he's showing signs of picking up a huge physical workload already. 47 games in the first team as an 18 year old is remarkable.
We patched up that relationship a long time ago, so that shouldnt be a problem.
Yeah I expect so. they know how to sell players at maximum value and timing to themI thought i read somewhere that he’s about to be offered a new contract, i wonder if this is where Dortmund offer him big boy money to agree to a big release clause. Not sure that makes sense unless Dortmund are already planning for his sale and are prepping the price tag.
Yeah I expect so. they know how to sell players at maximum value and timing to them
If Dortmund had Klopp and the squad they have now, would you rule them out of winning the league?I think the issue is that the only way these kids will develop is if they play regular footy. Dortmund can offer them that opportunity because they're not expected to win their league and the only way they'll stand a chance of doing so is if they take a chance on these kids and they prove to be as good as the hype. Even with Haaland reaching exceptional standards, they're still not likely to win the Bundesliga because Lewandowski can match him and cancel out that advantage (plus Bayern have other strengths on top). I just don't think we can do that - there's too much pressure to perform from day one, so we wait and hope to pick these kinds of players up when they're proven, but not yet at the very top of the game.
I'm surprised to see Elliott getting so much game time so far this season - it's what he needs to develop, but it's unusual for us to give out that kind of opportunity. The lads who got decent minutes last season were mostly in the team because of injuries. I suppose Elliott is getting game time because in Klopp's system midfield is not as important - we need workers, rather than ballers in there, so there's not as much pressure on Elliott as there would be if he played up front or at full-back (obviously TAA is one of those exceptional players who can just do the job from an early age).
Most on here are convinced Neco, for example, isn't good enough, but I think he just needs more time to grow into the player he could become - I don't think he will ever be as good as TAA or Robbo, but I think he has the potential to be decent, but perhaps more for a mid-table side.
I wouldn't rule them out of winning it, even without Klopp, but I wouldn't expect them to. So because there's no expectation, there's less pressure on the kids.If Dortmund had Klopp and the squad they have now, would you rule them out of winning the league?