The Transfer Thread 2023/24 - Everything Not Wolves

[Alan]

Don't necessarily agree with the last paragraph (things could go a lot of ways), but respect your conviction on the subject.

 

[White Wolf]

It doesn't actually need to become the best league, it's an extension of Saudi soft power. So long as the league and some teams become prominent it is working. How many Saudi teams could most people name before this year? I could only name one.

I'd also argue that many of us are not the primary target audience when they are doing this. I'm not sure if it has been noted by many outlets but a lot of the players the Saudis are going for are Muslim: Benzema, Kante, Mane, Mendy, Koulibaly, Mahrez, Mousa Dembele, Fofana from Lens; they have been linked to or attempted to sign more such as Pogba, Ziyech, Partey, Dzeko, Gundogan. There is probably more out there but those are the ones I can recall. Ronaldo is also incredibly popular in the Islamic world, moreso than Messi for some reason.

The Saudis like to position themselves as the leader of the Islamic/Arab world, and this part of that strategy. They want the biggest league in the Islamic world, where the biggest Muslim and Arab players are.

There won't be many people from the UK who begin supporting a Saudi team, but there is a massive market of people in Africa and Asia there to capture (one which is not as averse to supporting multiple teams as your typical European supporter, worth adding!).

Building up a domestic sporting league helps diversify their economy away from the reliance on oil, brings in money from overseas and draws in tourism, and really increases the profile of their country in parts of the world which they are very interested in extending their soft power to. The Premier League has given England a massive boost in soft power for decades now, even a fraction of that is going to help the Saudis a large amount because they are working from a much lower base.

 

[Kenny]

Chelsea clearly want to be known at Chelsea and Hove Albion

Now in for Sanchez from Brighton.

 

[Alan]

Fabinho also off to join the Fighting Nunos.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Al-Hilal have now put a massive bid in for Osimhen. This is getting a bit ridiculous.

 

[Alan]

Al-Hilal have now put a massive bid in for Osimhen. This is getting a bit ridiculous.

At least some of these who go will be putting in transfer requests after just a season, surely? Take a season of the crazy wages and run.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

Trouble is nobody else can compete on wages as FFP is yet to hit Riyadh.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1684523750966849537

Saudis grey out the rainbow armband.
It's no coincidence that they have made this effort to go for a player that has stated he is pro LGBT.

Sports washing at its finest.

I wonder how Henderson is justifying this to himself in his mind?

 

[Kenny]

I wonder how Henderson is justifying this to himself in his mind?

By counting the cash at the end of his first month.

Be interesting to see if he speaks out whilst over there. Will be a brave move if he does as anything could happen to him.
If he does, look out for a mystery long term injury that suddenly happens (torn hamstring, ACL, limb missing, death that kind of thing)

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

By counting the cash at the end of his first month.

Be interesting to see if he speaks out whilst over there. Will be a brave move if he does as anything could happen to him.
If he does, look out for a mystery long term injury that suddenly happens (torn hamstring, ACL, limb missing, death that kind of thing)

The cash is his reason, obviously.

But his internal monologue must be saying this is ok because of X, Y, Z?

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

It's probably written into his contract that he's not allowed to say a word about the issue.

 

[Kenny]

The cash is his reason, obviously.

But his internal monologue must be saying this is ok because of X, Y, Z?

Aside from the cash...errr "I can make a difference being here or at least try"

Will presume he will also be donating a lot to the charities he is close to on this subject and add a level of well, the Saudi money is now doing good in this area, even if they don't want it to.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

Seems that Barca included some clause in Dembelé's deal where he could go for €50m after a year but they just thought no-one would ever find out.

Except PSG did and bid one day before the deadline and he's off. It also seems that the stupid clause means Barca only get €25m and Dembelé gets €25m.

Good to see their shithousery biting them for once.

 

[Alan]

Charlotte FC have signed left back Jere Uronen (nope, me either) from Stade Brestois, which may signal the end of the Nathan Byrne era in the Queen City! Huzzah!

 

[Kenny]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1686761580157943808

 

[Nando]

Looks like Chelsea and Brighton have agreed an OTT fee for Sanchez (£25m) which will allow Caicedo to go for £80m and in turn reduce the sell on to Independiente del Valle.

 

[Alan]

Looks like Chelsea and Brighton have agreed an OTT fee for Sanchez (£25m) which will allow Caicedo to go for £80m and in turn reduce the sell on to Independiente del Valle.

I dunno, didn't Arsenal pay more than that for Ramsdale?

Prices have gotten wild across the board, really.

 

[Deutsch Wolf]

He's arguably not even third choice now for Brighton as he's totally fallen out with De Zerbi. In a normal world you'd only offer buttons for him as he's clearly never going to play.

He's better than Kepa but this is no kind of bar.

 

[Nando]

£40m for Livramento is absolutely batshit.

 

[YoungWolf]

Wow. Good player. But barely played in a year!