Summer Transfer Thread and Gustavo Cisneros Type Rumours.

[Malandro]

Whether or not it is JWP being discussed, we're not going to get him unless we stop taking the piss with bids that we must know have 0% chance of being accepted.

Our owners seem to have a pretty good track record with transfers.

[LukeJames]

I think the £25m is to perhaps test the water and maybe unsettle him.

[Monty]

Whether or not it is JWP being discussed, we're not going to get him unless we stop taking the piss with bids that we must know have 0% chance of being accepted.

Our owners seem to have a pretty good track record with transfers.

And I'm delighted with it, but that bid was a bit of a pisstake.

[andyh]

Twitter reporting Álvarez has rejected a move to Orlando, hoping to talk to villa

[cdbearsfan]

Good stuff. Get it done.

[Chris_Jephcott]

Twitter reporting Álvarez has rejected a move to Orlando, hoping to talk to villa

Seen this is a few places now with statements ranging from “in talks” with Villa, talks planned, or hopes to talk.

I think something might be going on there…

[ozzjim]

Looks like decent backup for Ollie. Got to think if Jack were to stay (unlikely as it is), and Alvarez and Bailey sign, El Ghazi may be available.

[Dante Lavelli]

There’s something wrong with the football food chain here, Orlando should not be signing young players from river plate.

[cdbearsfan]

Well, they aren't if he's turned them down.

[ozzjim]

Maybe not, but I agree with the sentiment. Orlando having the money to buy players from River Plate is just weird

[cdbearsfan]

South American club football is rubbish since they got rid of all the dictatorships. See also: Eastern Europe.

[Monty]

It is all wrong, for sure. I wonder if the South American leagues will ever recover to the levels they were once at. I watched highlights on Youtube the other day of Zico's Flamengo team absolutely twatting Liverpool 3-0 in the Intercontinental Cup in the early 80s. Can you imagine a player like Zico staying in Brazil these days beyond his teens? It's a bit sad really.

Eastern Europe also suffered from being splintered into too many countries. Yugoslavia can kick arse - Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina? Not so much. But that's where racism gets you.

[Dave]

Eastern Europe also suffered from being splintered into too many countries. Yugoslavia can kick arse - Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina? Not so much. But that's where racism gets you.

Rather picking and choosing to make your point there I'd argue.

One former component of Yugoslavia appeared in the most recent World Cup final.

[Monty]

Eastern Europe also suffered from being splintered into too many countries. Yugoslavia can kick arse - Slovenia, Serbia and Bosnia & Herzegovina? Not so much. But that's where racism gets you.

Rather picking and choosing to make your point there I'd argue.

One former component of Yugoslavia appeared in the most recent World Cup final.

It's a fair point, but on the other hand - imagine how good they could be if they had a wider range of players to choose from?

[cdbearsfan]

They'd be shit because they'd all hate each other. In any case, we were talking about club football. No theoretical post-Communist Czechoslovak or Yugoslav League would be able to hold onto their players if Premier League, La Liga or Serie A clubs wanted them any more than Sparta Prague and Red Star can now.

A massive former USSR League might have a better chance, but I can't see the Russians and Ukrainians sitting down to discuss it any time soon. The Armenians and Azeris might not be too keen, either.