Winter 2025 Transfer Window - hopes, speculation, rumours etc.

[Holy Trinity]

It was indeed a very clever joke but it would have flown so far above a lot of people's heads it barely registered

[algy]

We really have to up our game and be demanding of ourselves if we’re going to keep posters like BV in the forum. It’s not good just rolling up our sleeves and doing another fish-based punfest or hoping for a moment of magic like when Barbara Windsor’s bra flew off in Carry On Camping. We need a squad of world class posters.


(I have to admit BV’s joke flew over my head until I googled it just then. But just cos I’m the Kortney Hause of posters doesn’t mean you lot get to slack off)

[Beard82]

That was a highly impressive joke.  And way above my pay grade well done BV.  Now do one on Parrondo's paradox

[PeterWithe]

That was a highly impressive joke.   

It needed more tits in it.

[dcdavecollett]

These jokes about paradoxes are all very well but they do take a lot of Fermin up.

I'll get me coat...

[Hillbilly]

If he'd though a bit harder he know there's no paradox. Blues fans are proof that extraterrestrials exist and have been dumping their undesirables on Earth for at least 149 years.

[JUAN PABLO]

Sorry If already posted


Aston Villa and Arsenal have expressed an interest in signing Olympiakos' 17-year-old forward Charalampos Kostoulas and 18-year-old midfielder Christos Mouzakitis.

Ive heard these two have real potential and could be top players .    Midfielder Mouzakitis is like Adam Wharton of Palace , left footed midfielder , would play left side of a double pivot , great passer  .  Kostoulas would suit Villas system , very Morgan Rogers , very strong , attacking midfielder and second striker , looks good , proper profile for Villa.

Do like these kind of interests , young and lots of potential.   

Not sure about Villa songs with these names .

[Dante Lavelli]

Yep, I am big fan of trying to sign the best talent before they’ve made it.  One success and you can build half a team.

However, when they do those “where did Bellingham” come from pieces the scouts from school are 100% sure “he was always going to make it” whereas I wonder how much of that is 20/20 hindsight. 

@Rotterdam - Can you genuinely spot the ones that will make it and the ones that will not?  How random is it?

[Baldy]

Arses, Scousers and Chelski monitoring Bournemouth center half Dean Huijsen. A Spanish U21 international with a cool head on his 19 year old shoulders.

Could be a good one for the future. 55 million release clause.

Wonder if Unai is sniffing.

[Dave]

Wonder if Unai is sniffing.

If he is, you'd think the time to have done the sniffing is when Juventus were trying to offload players to us last summer rather than spending five times as much 12 months later.

[Baldy]

Wonder if Unai is sniffing.

If he is, you'd think the time to have done the sniffing is when Juventus were trying to offload players to us last summer rather than spending five times as much 12 months later.

True, he seemed to go under the radar for a lot of big clubs. Looks a class act (so far) in the Premier League.

[Rotterdam]

Yep, I am big fan of trying to sign the best talent before they’ve made it.  One success and you can build half a team.

However, when they do those “where did Bellingham” come from pieces the scouts from school are 100% sure “he was always going to make it” whereas I wonder how much of that is 20/20 hindsight. 

@Rotterdam - Can you genuinely spot the ones that will make it and the ones that will not?  How random is it?

I suppose the answer is 'yes and no'.
Top players like Grealish, Bellingham and Morgan Rogers standout as something special. A coach at work had Morgan for a couple of years and said he would win a game on his on if needed. He was so much better than all the others...so Man City bought him for their 'elite' group. Jack was another that was head and shoulders above everyone, same for 'St Jude'.

On the flipside, Tom Fellows was fairly average for WBA u18, Tim Iroegbunam was the standout for me in that group. Tim was highly regarded and Tom flew under the radar. Tom went on loan and blossomed. Tim picked up by us, didn't maybe develop but was sold for $. Jamal Jimoh in the u21 is another Tim potentially, but I know Unai likes him a lot. 

A further layer is the ones that have a high ceiling and are looked on as future stars, but for some reason don't kick on and develop. Could be injury related, growth or simply the others caught up. A lad called LC was sold by WBA to Chelsea. He was outstanding at u14/15 but through injury has barely played for Chelsea u18 and u21s. He is though on big money and has a two year pro guaranteed, he'll be a millionaire at 20.

Rico Richards is an interesting one. Contract from WBA on his 17th birthday, didn't develop and stalled football-wise. released after two years. Picked up by Villa, and a business based thought that he could evolve. If he doesn't, it's not a big financial gamble...think a Finn Azaz.

From what I've learnt, the ceiling is so high that few make it through. Being around L1 or L2 is fantastic...National League players can be on £1k a week easily. But they all want to be the next Morgan Rogers or Cole Palmer. Football is a business and players the commodity and academy's can be a big money spinner.   

[OCD]

Yep, I am big fan of trying to sign the best talent before they’ve made it.  One success and you can build half a team.

However, when they do those “where did Bellingham” come from pieces the scouts from school are 100% sure “he was always going to make it” whereas I wonder how much of that is 20/20 hindsight. 

@Rotterdam - Can you genuinely spot the ones that will make it and the ones that will not?  How random is it?

Bellingham probably isn't the best example as he was a generational talent and all the top clubs wanted him.

[paul_e]

Yep, I am big fan of trying to sign the best talent before they’ve made it.  One success and you can build half a team.

However, when they do those “where did Bellingham” come from pieces the scouts from school are 100% sure “he was always going to make it” whereas I wonder how much of that is 20/20 hindsight. 

@Rotterdam - Can you genuinely spot the ones that will make it and the ones that will not?  How random is it?

I suppose the answer is 'yes and no'.
Top players like Grealish, Bellingham and Morgan Rogers standout as something special. A coach at work had Morgan for a couple of years and said he would win a game on his on if needed. He was so much better than all the others...so Man City bought him for their 'elite' group. Jack was another that was head and shoulders above everyone, same for 'St Jude'.

On the flipside, Tom Fellows was fairly average for WBA u18, Tim Iroegbunam was the standout for me in that group. Tim was highly regarded and Tom flew under the radar. Tom went on loan and blossomed. Tim picked up by us, didn't maybe develop but was sold for $. Jamal Jimoh in the u21 is another Tim potentially, but I know Unai likes him a lot. 

A further layer is the ones that have a high ceiling and are looked on as future stars, but for some reason don't kick on and develop. Could be injury related, growth or simply the others caught up. A lad called LC was sold by WBA to Chelsea. He was outstanding at u14/15 but through injury has barely played for Chelsea u18 and u21s. He is though on big money and has a two year pro guaranteed, he'll be a millionaire at 20.

Rico Richards is an interesting one. Contract from WBA on his 17th birthday, didn't develop and stalled football-wise. released after two years. Picked up by Villa, and a business based thought that he could evolve. If he doesn't, it's not a big financial gamble...think a Finn Azaz.

From what I've learnt, the ceiling is so high that few make it through. Being around L1 or L2 is fantastic...National League players can be on £1k a week easily. But they all want to be the next Morgan Rogers or Cole Palmer. Football is a business and players the commodity and academy's can be a big money spinner.   

I think the big 'unknowns' that make it almost impossible to be certain come down to 2 things:

1. How long does the desire to be the next Palmer/Rogers/etc drive them? Does th efirst pro contract make them think they've made it? Does a handful of first team appearances? The very best players are the ones who get a taste of it and want more and push themselves to be better and go further. They're not always the ones that have the most talent.

2. Who do they have around them and how do those people react to the money and fame of their son/brother/mate/etc. The wrong people can very quickly become a distraction/bad influence.

Almost every example of someone looking like the world is at their feet but then failing sees them fall down on 1 of those 2 points.

[Mister E]

Yep, I am big fan of trying to sign the best talent before they’ve made it.  One success and you can build half a team.
However, when they do those “where did Bellingham” come from pieces the scouts from school are 100% sure “he was always going to make it” whereas I wonder how much of that is 20/20 hindsight. 

@Rotterdam - Can you genuinely spot the ones that will make it and the ones that will not?  How random is it?

I suppose the answer is 'yes and no'.
Top players like Grealish, Bellingham and Morgan Rogers standout as something special. A coach at work had Morgan for a couple of years and said he would win a game on his on if needed. He was so much better than all the others...so Man City bought him for their 'elite' group. Jack was another that was head and shoulders above everyone, same for 'St Jude'.

On the flipside, Tom Fellows was fairly average for WBA u18, Tim Iroegbunam was the standout for me in that group. Tim was highly regarded and Tom flew under the radar. Tom went on loan and blossomed. Tim picked up by us, didn't maybe develop but was sold for $. Jamal Jimoh in the u21 is another Tim potentially, but I know Unai likes him a lot. 
A further layer is the ones that have a high ceiling and are looked on as future stars, but for some reason don't kick on and develop. Could be injury related, growth or simply the others caught up. A lad called LC was sold by WBA to Chelsea. He was outstanding at u14/15 but through injury has barely played for Chelsea u18 and u21s. He is though on big money and has a two year pro guaranteed, he'll be a millionaire at 20.
Rico Richards is an interesting one. Contract from WBA on his 17th birthday, didn't develop and stalled football-wise. released after two years. Picked up by Villa, and a business based thought that he could evolve. If he doesn't, it's not a big financial gamble...think a Finn Azaz.
From what I've learnt, the ceiling is so high that few make it through. Being around L1 or L2 is fantastic...National League players can be on £1k a week easily. But they all want to be the next Morgan Rogers or Cole Palmer. Football is a business and players the commodity and academy's can be a big money spinner.   

I think the big 'unknowns' that make it almost impossible to be certain come down to 2 things:

1. How long does the desire to be the next Palmer/Rogers/etc drive them? Does th efirst pro contract make them think they've made it? Does a handful of first team appearances? The very best players are the ones who get a taste of it and want more and push themselves to be better and go further. They're not always the ones that have the most talent.
2. Who do they have around them and how do those people react to the money and fame of their son/brother/mate/etc. The wrong people can very quickly become a distraction/bad influence.

Almost every example of someone looking like the world is at their feet but then failing sees them fall down on 1 of those 2 points.

I'd add that physical strength and durability is a key component of success. I remember Ars Wenger saying that the primary consideration when looking at young players was their physical attributes and speed over 3-5 metres.
Rogers, Grealish and Bellingham all demonstrated physical prowess early on in their career.