Summer Transfer Window Thread 2016

[Lineker]

AZ Alkmaar have thrown Tottenham’s move for Vincent Janssen into doubt after their sporting director revealed they have yet to receive an improved bid for the Holland striker.

The 22-year-old, who finished as the top scorer in the Dutch league last season with 27 goals in 32 appearances, was the subject of a bid worth €18m (£16.5m) from Spurs last month, which was rejected. That led Janssen to voice his frustration at their stance, with AZ believed to be holding out for a fee of €20m – reportedly on the advice of Moneyball author Billy Beane, who was hired as an advisor in March last year.

However, the club’s sporting director Max Huiberts has denied that Tottenham have submitted a new offer and warned they will have to pay their asking price if they want to sign Janssen.

“There is a lot of speculation and I read a lot of nonsense stories,” he told Dutch newspaper Noordhollands Dagblad.

“We received one bid from Tottenham Hotspur that we have not accepted. That’s not so strange to me. It is not often that a club agrees immediately with a first offer. Then we heard nothing more.”

Asked whether he would be making contact with Tottenham, Huiberts added: “No, that’s not us. If you want to buy something, you have to go to the store. The store does not belong to you.”

Andrija Zivkovic has signed a five-year deal with Benfica, the Portuguese champions have confirmed.

Bristol City have signed Lee Tomlin from Bournemouth for around £3m, according to Sky sources.

[Lineker]

 

[Benji]

Looking at rumours - I hate people who write "Blah blah headed for [City/United]".

Like, really, do you know how many teams have the suffix City or United you incompetent twat?

[Lineker]

Stoke City are close to agreeing a deal with the Egyptian club Al Ahly to sign the highly-rated teenager Ramadan Sobhi, with the forward expected to join for an initial fee of around £2.5m.

Sobhi, 19, was a regular in the Ahly side who won the Egyptian title last month under the former Tottenham and Fulham manager Martin Jol, scoring five goals.

Stoke have been in negotiations with his club for some time but Jol is thought to have attempted to intervene to stop the player leaving. However, despite interest from Italian clubs, Sobhi has expressed a desire to move to the Premier League and is now expected to join Mark Hughes’s side.

The likelihood is that he will be immediately loaned out to a club in Europe because he does not meet the requirements for a UK work permit having appeared only six times for his country since his debut last June. Home Office rules state that players from countries ranked between 31st and 50th by Fifa must have played at least 75% of competitive matches over the past 24 months, although there is a possibility that Sobhi could be granted special dispensation via the appeal process.

Meanwhile, Stoke appear to face competition to sign West Bromwich Albion’s Saido Berahino with Watford reportedly ready to offer £20m for the striker in the coming days.

[Benji]

Feels like a lot of clubs are looking for a striker this off-season. Interesting season ahead.

[Lineker]

Juventus have turned down an offer of £38m from Manchester City for Italy centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, according to Sky sources.

Huddersfield Town have signed Australia international midfielder Aaron Mooy on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

[Nerf]

21 minutes ago, Lineker said:

Juventus have turned down an offer of £38m from Manchester City for Italy centre-back Leonardo Bonucci, according to Sky sources.

Huddersfield Town have signed Australia international midfielder Aaron Mooy on a season-long loan from Manchester City.

What on earth even was the point of that Mooy transfer? It's not like he's a development player that needs a loan.

[Arjen Robben]

Or is he

[Lineker]

To sell more Man City shirts in Australia, maybe?

[Arjen Robben]

Don't they own a team in Australia? Probably a better money spinner.

[Lineker]

Aston Villa have signed Hellas Verona goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini, according to reports in Italy. Corriere di Verona claim the 21-year-old, who came through the youth ranks at Manchester United, has been drafted in by manager Roberto di Matteo in a deal believed to worth €5m (£4.2m). Villa are yet to confirm the transfer.

[The Lusophone]

1 hour ago, Lineker said:

Andrija Zivkovic has signed a five-year deal with Benfica, the Portuguese champions have confirmed.

Is that the Ajax Zivkovic?

[EddieG]

25 minutes ago, Mad Jack said:

Is that the Ajax Zivkovic?

No, this guy came from Partizan.

[Arjen Robben]

Quote

Middlesbrough line up shock move for former Arsenal and Manchester United star Robin van Persie

[MDK]

Just now, Arjen Robben said:

I think you avatar sum it up completely 

[Arjen Robben]

Concur

[MDK]

It's like Ravanelli all over again

[Baddar]

Mkhitaryan confirmed. 

[MDK]

4 minutes ago, Baddar said:

Mkhitaryan confirmed. 

Only in writing tho. Nobody can pronounce his name.

[Baddar]

1 minute ago, MDK said:

Only in writing tho. Nobody can pronounce his name.

United released a Facebook video addressing that!