Summer Transfer Window 2018

[Lineker]

The Guardian have decided that silly-season is upon us:

Chelsea have joined the list of clubs monitoring Anthony Martial’s situation at Manchester United and would move for the France international if the striker agitates for a transfer from Old Trafford this summer.

Martial has endured a frustrating third campaign in English football, flitting from team to bench and limited to 17 Premier League starts, and suitors – who already included Juventus and Tottenham Hotspur – have been granted enough encouragement that he could seek a fresh start at the end of the season. The Frenchman is contracted to 2019 with an option for a further year, and would therefore command a considerable fee. Juve are understood to have indicated they would be prepared to pay around £45m for his services.

Chelsea, braced for Real Madrid to firm up their long-standing interest in Eden Hazard, would consider the 22-year-old a player of considerable potential, but also one with the quality already to feature anywhere across their front line. United’s instinct will be to retain the forward, who they secured from Monaco for an initial £36m in 2015, but, if Martial pushes for a move, they may not be averse to selling, even to a divisional rival. The clubs negotiated Nemanja Matic’s move to Old Trafford last summer, and José Mourinho retains an interest in the Chelsea forward, Willian.

Abramovich is still hopeful Hazard will sign a new contract but is eager to instigate other changes to the playing staff at Stamford Bridge this summer, when Antonio Conte is expected to depart. Despite the uncertainty over the identity of the Italian’s successor, the club’s recruitment department – still operating without a technical director – have already begun exploring the market for potential additions, though Chelsea would have to generate funds through sales.

A failure to qualify for the Champions League – they are fifth, now five points behind Tottenham with three games to play – would result in a shortfall of up to £70m in revenues and, in order to satisfy Financial Fair Play rules, fringe players may be moved on. Borussia Dortmund may seek to make Michy Batshuayi’s loan move a permanent deal after the Belgian impressed in the Bundesliga with seven goals in nine starts prior to an ankle injury. Kurt Zouma and Kenedy, currently on loan at Stoke and Newcastle respectively, could also move on, while Tomas Kalas and Lucas Piazon could join Fulham permanently if Slavisa Jokanovic’s side are promoted to the top flight.

The England internationals Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who is expected to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the summer’s World Cup finals, and Tammy Abraham will not be sold, but the likes of Marco van Ginkel and even Danny Drinkwater, who has endured a frustrating first season at the club since arriving from Leicester for £35m, could also depart. David Luiz, under-used all season, may consider the changes in the dugout before confronting his own future at the club.

Chelsea boast a net outlay of around £119m since 2014 with their business model having shifted markedly from the lavish spending of the early Abramovich era. The oligarch remains as committed as ever, with the club committed to redeveloping Stamford Bridge, but will continue to comply with FFP, meaning they will not boast the leeway enjoyed by Manchester City and United in the market.

Abramovich is to be honoured by the Federation of Jewish communities of Russia, whose board of trustees he chairs, for investing in excess of £360m into Jewish communities in Russia, Israel and other countries around the world. “Much of the work we do has been made possible thanks to Mr Abramovich, and we are deeply thankful for his continued support,” said the FJCR president, Rabbi Alexander Boroda.

“We have more than 160 communities in all of Russia and Roman supports them all. He never talks about it, but I want to because people don’t understand who is the source of it is – and it is him.” Chelsea have run a prominent ‘Say No to Antisemitism’ campaign, personally initiated by the owner, since February.

[stokeriño]

Silly season never stops, nevermind what The Guardian says.

That's a really random mish-mash of Chelsea-related stories. It's not often a story leads with transfer rumours and ends with "P.S. the owner supports Jewish communities".

Actually the thing that surprises me the most is that it didn't delve into managerial rumours at all.

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

You've misunderstood, Anthony Martial is the new managerial candidate.

[Colly]

And he's Jewish. 

[Gazz]

1 hour ago, Jericode said:

You've misunderstood, Anthony Martial is the new managerial candidate.

He'd spend less time on the bench.

[Chris2K]

Quote

even Danny Drinkwater, who has endured a frustrating first season at the club since arriving from Leicester for £35m, could also depart.

Imagine if there was just some way of this being predicted before he signed for a team with seven more talented central midfielders in their squad.

[stokeriño]

15 hours ago, Chris2K said:

Imagine if there was just some way of this being predicted before he signed for a team with seven more talented central midfielders in their squad.

I presume when you come up with the figure of 'seven' midfielders, you have to be counting players who play in entirely different areas to Drinkwater (e.g. Hazard, Willian, Pedro, etc.).

The only part of the squad relevant to Drinkwater are those who might play in the two central midfield slots in 3-4-3. For this there are only three other players: Kante, Fabregas and Bakayoko. Four players for two positions is perfectly average.

(The subsequent January arrival of Ross Barkley is irrelevant since, even on the rare occasions he has made an appearance, Conte has used him as depth for the attacking midfielders of Hazard/etc. rather than in central midfield.)

The fact that Danny keeps being injured doesn't help either.

[Gazz]

I'd completely forgotten Ross Barkley signed for Chelsea.

[stokeriño]

1 minute ago, Gazz said:

I'd completely forgotten Ross Barkley signed for Chelsea.

So has Ross Barkley.

[DavidMarrio]

1 hour ago, Gazz said:

I'd completely forgotten Ross Barkley signed for Chelsea.

 

1 hour ago, stokerino said:

So has Ross Barkley.

You know who hasn't forgotten...our mayor! He is still waiting to hear back after he sent a strongly worded letter about the transfer!

[stokeriño]

39 minutes ago, DMo Salah said:

You know who hasn't forgotten...our mayor! He is still waiting to hear back after he sent a strongly worded letter about the transfer!

As I recall, when he referred the matter to the police, the police politely told him to shut up and sit down.

[Baddar]

There are reports that Liverpool have agreed a £62m fee for Nabil Fekir. 

[Nerf]

2 hours ago, Baddar said:

There are reports that Liverpool have agreed a £62m fee for Nabil Fekir. 

Apparently the paper in France that broke it is god-tier reliable, but few of our journos have squashed it. And then allegedly Sadio Mane goes and talks about him joining in his a post-match interview with some French journos. Weird situation. Would be a fantastic signing though.

[FLiam]

The Lyon president came out and said it’s nonsense. For what it’s worth.

[Nerf]

6 minutes ago, Liam Mk2 said:

The Lyon president came out and said it’s nonsense. For what it’s worth.

Exactly like he did with Lacazette?

[Rich]

4 minutes ago, Nerf said:

Exactly like he did with Lacazette?

Are you saying he is Lyon to us?

[Arjen Robben]

10 minutes ago, Rich said:

Are you saying he is Lyon to us?

[Gazz]

Iniesta has signed a three year deal with Vissel Kobe. 25m Euros a season salary. Vissel and Barca are both sponsored by Rakuten.

[Arjen Robben]

Quote

Japanese club Vissel Kobe 'surprised' at links to Andres Iniesta

I would quite like us to sign Besic permanently. He’s been great on loan from Everton and I don’t think he has much future there.

[Lineker]

Iniesta supposedly fancies a move to Australia. So watch him sign for Melbourne City and then be loaned at some point to Manchester City.