2023 Summer transfer window - hopes, needs, expectations and rumours.

[Dave]

I think the Chelsea links are all a bit conspiracy nut territory. The simpler explanation is that Chelsea had a lot of overpaid has-beens on their books and those sort of players are the ones most likely to take a last big payday. It just happens to have coincided with PIF taking over a bunch of domestic clubs and offering last big paydays out to anyone willing to listen.

Not so sure. They’ve helped Chelsea a fair bit haven’t they?

Yes, but as he says that's because of the players that Chelsea have filled their squad with. If we decided that we didn't want Coutinho anymore and they wanted to take him off us, that's because he's the sort of player they want. Not because of any sinister links between Edens or Sawiris and the Saudi Royal Family.

Chelsea just have lots of that sort of player.

[PeterWithe]

But Chelsea seem to have had far more luck in shifting unwanted players than almost every other club I can think of, helpfully avoiding the FFP brick wall they were heading toward, and most seem to have gone to PIF owned clubs, who apparently share owners with them. Its got a whiff about it.

[Brazilian Villain]

They're not having much luck with Fofana. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66236741

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Lot of noise on Twitter from Arab sports sites that Diaby has agreed terms with the oil goblins.

Not just Arab sites, Rudy Galetti (88.5k followers) on Twitter has said the following:

Moussa #Diaby accepted the offer of #AlNassr and gave the green light to start talks with #BayerLeverkusen.

💰 The 🇸🇦 club is now preparing an official bid which will be sent to the 🇩🇪 club in the next few hours. 🐓⚽ #Transfers

[PeterWithesShin]

Fuck him if he chooses the oil money. He's shit anyway. Greedy twat.


Disclaimer: If it's all bollocks and he signs for us then I reserve the right to say he's great and a good egg.

[dave.woodhall]

They're not having much luck with Fofana. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66236741

Is anyone else wondering why the name 'Fofana' sounds familiar?

[Toronto Villa]

They're not having much luck with Fofana. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66236741

Is anyone else wondering why the name 'Fofana' sounds familiar?

I was wondering the other day what happened to the highly rated Fofana we were meant to sign during GH's time with us

[DB]

Yeah, if they are genuinely interested in him then this could be pivotal signing. It does show that the Saudi's can get younger players which could open the door for others. So far their sig ings have been older players coming to the end of their playing days. He will.come to us....

milinkovic-savic and ruben neves are both in their prime.

Not heard of the 1st chap and 2nd one aged for the Dogheads and not sure they were bidding against another Prem or European club(?)

[PeterWithesShin]

They're not having much luck with Fofana. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66236741

Is anyone else wondering why the name 'Fofana' sounds familiar?

I was wondering the other day what happened to the highly rated Fofana we were meant to sign during GH's time with us

Struggled with injuries and retired in his mid 20s.

[Brazilian Villain]

They're not having much luck with Fofana. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66236741

Mind you, we aren't having much luck with our Wesley either.

[Dave]

Yeah, if they are genuinely interested in him then this could be pivotal signing. It does show that the Saudi's can get younger players which could open the door for others. So far their sig ings have been older players coming to the end of their playing days. He will.come to us....

milinkovic-savic and ruben neves are both in their prime.

Not heard of the 1st chap and 2nd one aged for the Dogheads and not sure they were bidding against another Prem or European club(?)

The "first chap" was being regularly touted for £80m moves to Man Utd and Juventus a couple of years ago, and only didn't move because Lazio wouldn't accept £80m, saying it would need to be £100m.

He's a really good player and in the prime of his career.

Edit - and on your original point, moreso than Diaby would be, on both counts.

[dave.woodhall]

They're not having much luck with Fofana. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66236741

Is anyone else wondering why the name 'Fofana' sounds familiar?

I was wondering the other day what happened to the highly rated Fofana we were meant to sign during GH's time with us

Struggled with injuries and retired in his mid 20s.

I believe he failed a medical here, or we were warned off, or similar.

[ozzjim]

I think there is a huge element of playing football manager in cheat mode when you own 4 clubs in Saudi, fund a further 8 to buy players to try and make the league appear competitive, and own a team in the champions league in the UK. The easiest route through FFP is to sell 3-4 players to and one of your 4 (plus Saudi clubs, balance the books and carry on. Of course it will happen. Saint Maximan will be the first of many. Fifa I would guess need to sort out the loophole.

The Chelsea stuff is more tenuous for certain, but there's a clear link to the investment fund. Difference is, Chelsea has about 65 players, so the Saudi clubs may well go for a fair few of them anyway.

[paul_e]

If Diaby does choose to go to them I'm not sure I'm that upset. He looks very good but he's very small and the one niggling concern I have is that he'd be another that was easily bullied in the premier league.

Doku as the alternative is also pretty small but much stockier and able to out-muscle a defender as much as burning them for pace or beating them with a trick.

[villadelph]

If Diaby does choose to go to them I'm not sure I'm that upset. He looks very good but he's very small and the one niggling concern I have is that he'd be another that was easily bullied in the premier league.

Doku as the alternative is also pretty small but much stockier and able to out-muscle a defender as much as burning them for pace or beating them with a trick.

Apparently, Doku has Jack Wilshere's hamstrings.