Transfer Thread 24/25

[stormi]

Hurts seeing Huijsen go. I think we had him in the bag if Madrid didn't come in for him.

Oh well, things move quickly in football. Nobody knew who he was like two years ago, a new 'can't miss' young CB prospect will emerge like they always do.

Kind of getting less excited by Delap the more of his footage I consume, I think at the moment I prefer Ekitike or Samu if we'd go the route of paying his RC.

Welcome to the club. I knew you'd get there eventually.

I need you to stay away from Ekitike, please. Of course, if Wirtz to Liverpool does happen, as far-fetched as that sounds, then you can have a free run at the player.

He really is Isak before the Newcastle move.

If FSG have Wirtz money then they surely have a huge move on the cards. Maybe that is Ekitkie, although with the Frimpong news it sort of complicates things. In a back 4, Frimpong is essentially a winger, I wonder if that means Slot intends to play Salah more centrally next season?

[Baseline81]

He really is Isak before the Newcastle move.

If FSG have Wirtz money then they surely have a huge move on the cards. Maybe that is Ekitkie, although with the Frimpong news it sort of complicates things. In a back 4, Frimpong is essentially a winger, I wonder if that means Slot intends to play Salah more centrally next season?

If you look at how Liverpool has been playing, Slot has clearly made the decision to have Diaz at CF than Nunez. To me, that points to someone who has more than just goal-scoring ability, hence Ekitike over Sesko.

As to Frimpong, he honestly cannot be any worse than TAA on the defensive side of things, even if he's moved to RB instead of RWB as he was at Bayer. I do agree, though, it will push Salah more centrally, which he prefers. Frimpong's strength is pushing down the wing.

[stormi]

@Baseline

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£60m and he's all yours

[Baseline81]

@Baseline

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£60m and he's all yours

I chuckled when I saw that.

I do recall a time when LFC were interested in him prior to his move to Chelsea. However, I cannot see this happening. For one, he doesn't fit the FSG template -- young, cheap, and about to break out. Obviously, there are departures from it such as van Dijk and Alisson, but Nkunku is not in that category. And two, his time at Chelsea hasn't gone well, both in performance and with injuries.

If you get £60m, it certainly won't be from Liverpool.

[stormi]

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This is an old school Chelsea center back. Him and Colwill could marshall this backline for the next 7+ years.

[Baseline81]

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This is an old school Chelsea center back. Him and Colwill could marshall this backline for the next 7+ years.

What has Colwill actually shown you?

[stormi]

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This is an old school Chelsea center back. Him and Colwill could marshall this backline for the next 7+ years.

What has Colwill actually shown you?

He's outstanding. Can defend high up the pitch, very aggressive, great aerially, elite ball player.

De Zerbi was pivotal for his development, same with Caicedo. You know how picky RDZ is with his squad selection, he was starting a 35 year old journeyman Jason Steele over Sanchez cause he was competent in possession. He excommunicated Trossard.

He leaned on a 20 year old Colwill and let Caicedo conduct the orchestra as his metronome in the 6.

The issue is getting him a serious partner. Wesley Fofana can't stay fit and is plagued by the bozo gene, Chalobah is just horrible at the sport, and Tosin is no more than good squad depth.

[Baseline81]

He's outstanding. Can defend high up the pitch, very aggressive, great aerially, elite ball player.

De Zerbi was pivotal for his development, same with Caicedo. You know how picky RDZ is with his squad selection, he was starting a 35 year old journeyman Jason Steele over Sanchez cause he was competent in possession. He excommunicated Trossard.

He leaned on a 20 year old Colwill and let Caicedo conduct the orchestra as his metronome in the 6.

The issue is getting him a serious partner. Wesley Fofana can't stay fit and is plagued by the bozo gene, Chalobah is just horrible at the sport, and Tosin is no more than good squad depth.

Not sure about that, stormi.

His defensive statistics are not that good.

https://fbref.com/en/players/700783e7/Levi-Colwill

[stormi]

He's outstanding. Can defend high up the pitch, very aggressive, great aerially, elite ball player.

De Zerbi was pivotal for his development, same with Caicedo. You know how picky RDZ is with his squad selection, he was starting a 35 year old journeyman Jason Steele over Sanchez cause he was competent in possession. He excommunicated Trossard.

He leaned on a 20 year old Colwill and let Caicedo conduct the orchestra as his metronome in the 6.

The issue is getting him a serious partner. Wesley Fofana can't stay fit and is plagued by the bozo gene, Chalobah is just horrible at the sport, and Tosin is no more than good squad depth.

Not sure about that, stormi.

His defensive statistics are not that good.

https://fbref.com/en/players/700783e7/Levi-Colwill

https://fbref.com/en/players/972aeb2a/William-Saliba

https://fbref.com/en/players/5ed9b537/Ibrahima-Konate

https://fbref.com/en/players/4115ce4e/Jan-Bednarek

i hate fbref and what their green bars have done to my people

[Baseline81]

Don't quite understand this one. Both Diaz and Raphinha, who has had a monster season, play LW.

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[Baseline81]

Google Translate:
• @LFC will begin negotiations with @Eintracht Frankfurt soon

• The striker wants to take the next step in his development and wants to move to the @premierleague

• The player has already held initial talks with #LFC

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[KG Leonard]

stormi, both of our clubs missed out on Dean Huijsen. As to your CB list, I have read of Liverpool's interest in Tomás Araújo.

Why have you removed Delap from your striker list? In an April post, you had him as your No. 1 CF.

Hurts seeing Huijsen go. I think we had him in the bag if Madrid didn't come in for him.

Oh well, things move quickly in football. Nobody knew who he was like two years ago, a new 'can't miss' CB prospect will emerge like they always do and market fiends will convince you that it's either him or nobody else .

Dean Huijsen was a wonderkid signing for Juventus at 16, so prestigeus that it was a whole new gen rebuild for Juve, loaned to AS Roma in 23/24 and was sold to Bournemouth to spend a lot transfer money on their new coach Thiago Motta. A coach that failed hard and was sacked. Juventus is the only team who had chance to keep Huijsen, no big team in PL had ever a chance. He grew up in Malàga and said in interview when he was struggling in Juve that his favourite player was Sergio Ramos. His goal was clear from the start even when he wasn't starting for Spain and Madrid couldn't miss him. With although to respect for PL who dominate Europe moneywise, he didn't come from nowhere, it was 4-5 years ago.




https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6362003/2025/05/17/real-madrid-signing-dean-huijsen-analysis/

[stormi]

stormi, both of our clubs missed out on Dean Huijsen. As to your CB list, I have read of Liverpool's interest in Tomás Araújo.

Why have you removed Delap from your striker list? In an April post, you had him as your No. 1 CF.

Hurts seeing Huijsen go. I think we had him in the bag if Madrid didn't come in for him.

Oh well, things move quickly in football. Nobody knew who he was like two years ago, a new 'can't miss' CB prospect will emerge like they always do and market fiends will convince you that it's either him or nobody else .

Dean Huijsen was a wonderkid signing for Juventus at 16, so prestigeus that it was a whole new gen rebuild for Juve, loaned to AS Roma in 23/24 and was sold to Bournemouth to spend a lot transfer money on their new coach Thiago Motta. A coach that failed hard and was sacked. Juventus is the only team who had chance to keep Huijsen, no big team in PL had ever a chance. He grew up in Malàga and said in interview when he was struggling in Juve that his favourite player was Sergio Ramos. His goal was clear from the start even when he wasn't starting for Spain and Madrid couldn't miss him. With although to respect for PL who dominate Europe moneywise, he didn't come from nowhere, it was 4-5 years ago.




https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6362003/2025/05/17/real-madrid-signing-dean-huijsen-analysis/

If this is true then he wouldn't have been at Bournemouth.

Wonderkid culture is a disease, and not only that but football is the most abundantly talented sport in the world.

Unless you're describing a once in a lifetime player ability wise-- talking Messi or Yamal, which DH is not then, contemporaries will arise. Give it two years and there will be a new can't miss 20 year old CB on the market.

It's just up to those in a position of power to identify them.

[KG Leonard]

Hurts seeing Huijsen go. I think we had him in the bag if Madrid didn't come in for him.

Oh well, things move quickly in football. Nobody knew who he was like two years ago, a new 'can't miss' CB prospect will emerge like they always do and market fiends will convince you that it's either him or nobody else .

Dean Huijsen was a wonderkid signing for Juventus at 16, so prestigeus that it was a whole new gen rebuild for Juve, loaned to AS Roma in 23/24 and was sold to Bournemouth to spend a lot transfer money on their new coach Thiago Motta. A coach that failed hard and was sacked. Juventus is the only team who had chance to keep Huijsen, no big team in PL had ever a chance. He grew up in Malàga and said in interview when he was struggling in Juve that his favourite player was Sergio Ramos. His goal was clear from the start even when he wasn't starting for Spain and Madrid couldn't miss him. With although to respect for PL who dominate Europe moneywise, he didn't come from nowhere, it was 4-5 years ago.




https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6362003/2025/05/17/real-madrid-signing-dean-huijsen-analysis/

If this is true then he wouldn't have been at Bournemouth.

Wonderkid culture is a disease, and not only that but football is the most abundantly talented sport in the world.

Unless you're describing a once in a lifetime player ability wise-- talking Messi or Yamal, which DH is not then, contemporaries will arise. Give it two years and there will be a new can't miss 20 year old CB on the market.

It's just up to those in a position of power to identify them.

I agree with wonderkid culture, specially since teams like Barcelona, Chelsea, United buy players who were good for like a month and overpay, then they fail.
Also there are many wonderkid who became stars early without being Yamal, Messi level. That's crazy expectations.

Saliba was waiting for his chance in Arsenal for years on loan and Konate succeeded early. Szoboslai was young star and star at Liverpool at 22. There are many like Huijsen who just waited for their chance or their Bournemouth. Saliba was in French league on loan.

Why was he at Bournemouth? Because top 15 teams in PL has too much money. He didn't fail down to their level, all the best Italian, Spanish sport directors work for Aston Villa and Bournemouth etc. The guy who bought all the young talents for Juventus works for Bournemouth now and convinced Juve and sold him to Real for much more.

He just turned 20, his progression is the natural one for the best young talents. KDB at Werder Bremen, Salah at Roma/Fiorentina etc. Yamal/Messi at 17-19 is the abnormal ones.

[stormi]

Dean Huijsen was a wonderkid signing for Juventus at 16, so prestigeus that it was a whole new gen rebuild for Juve, loaned to AS Roma in 23/24 and was sold to Bournemouth to spend a lot transfer money on their new coach Thiago Motta. A coach that failed hard and was sacked. Juventus is the only team who had chance to keep Huijsen, no big team in PL had ever a chance. He grew up in Malàga and said in interview when he was struggling in Juve that his favourite player was Sergio Ramos. His goal was clear from the start even when he wasn't starting for Spain and Madrid couldn't miss him. With although to respect for PL who dominate Europe moneywise, he didn't come from nowhere, it was 4-5 years ago.




https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6362003/2025/05/17/real-madrid-signing-dean-huijsen-analysis/

If this is true then he wouldn't have been at Bournemouth.

Wonderkid culture is a disease, and not only that but football is the most abundantly talented sport in the world.

Unless you're describing a once in a lifetime player ability wise-- talking Messi or Yamal, which DH is not then, contemporaries will arise. Give it two years and there will be a new can't miss 20 year old CB on the market.

It's just up to those in a position of power to identify them.

I agree with wonderkid culture, specially since teams like Barcelona, Chelsea, United buy players who were good for like a month and overpay, then they fail.
Also there are many wonderkid who became stars early without being Yamal, Messi level. That's crazy expectations.

Saliba was waiting for his chance in Arsenal for years on loan and Konate succeeded early. Szoboslai was young star and star at Liverpool at 22. There are many like Huijsen who just waited for their chance or their Bournemouth. Saliba was in French league on loan.

Why was he at Bournemouth? Because top 15 teams in PL has too much money. He didn't fail down to their level, all the best Italian, Spanish sport directors work for Aston Villa and Bournemouth etc. The guy who bought all the young talents for Juventus works for Bournemouth now and convinced Juve and sold him to Real for much more.

He just turned 20, his progression is the natural one for the best young talents. KDB at Werder Bremen, Salah at Roma/Fiorentina etc. Yamal/Messi at 17-19 is the abnormal ones.

I don't think this is farfetched, but I also don't think Huijsen is a once in a lifetime player. Had they had Alonso in for last season or if they'd been humiliated the way they were by Barca last season and not this season, then they would have signed Yoro in response.

Just how many young elite U22 ballers popped out in the past two years?

Olise, Yamal, Wirtz, Palmer, Doue, Joao Neves, Yoro, Cubarsi, Yildiz, Guler, Lewis-Skelly, Baleba, Lamine Camara etc etc. And these are only the ones that have gotten a chance to showcase themselves.

[KG Leonard]

No one but maybe Yamal is once or twice in 50 years like.


You can still be the best defender or attacker or midfielder in the world. Defenders, central defenders need more time, experience to become world class. All those players you mentioned are wingers, goalscorers, attacking fullbacks. Virgil Van Dijk, De Bruyne was at Groningen, Werder Bremen at their age. Palmer was at the bench in City at the same age as Doue or Lewis-Skelly, Huijsen. Early start isn't everything, you know all about Sancho.


By the way Real got Huijsen mostly because they have too many central defenders injured. Huijsen was not part of the plan.

[Baseline81]

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[stormi]

No one but maybe Yamal is once or twice in 50 years like.


You can still be the best defender or attacker or midfielder in the world. Defenders, central defenders need more time, experience to become world class. All those players you mentioned are wingers, goalscorers, attacking fullbacks. Virgil Van Dijk, De Bruyne was at Groningen, Werder Bremen at their age. Palmer was at the bench in City at the same age as Doue or Lewis-Skelly, Huijsen. Early start isn't everything, you know all about Sancho.


By the way Real got Huijsen mostly because they have too many central defenders injured. Huijsen was not part of the plan.

True, but I also think the way they got bossed this season contributed to their aggressiveness in chasing after Huijsen and now Carreras from Benfica.

It's a domino effect. They scapegoated Ancelotti and then hired a replacement in Xabi Alonso who plays a three at the back system and needs ball players to suffocate possession.

Alonso's 3ATB is much more like Tuchel's than it is Amorim's (the very worst) or Conte's. He needs plays in the interior of the formation that are extremely press resistant (Wirtz / Hofmann / Xhaka / Palacios) and CBs that are extremely progressive (Hincapie / Kossounou / Tapsoba / Tah).

Huijsen is a match made in heaven.

[Baseline81]

One for stormi:

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[MetalFingaz]

Curious for people's thoughts on Wirtz out of possession. I haven't watched Leverkusen much this year and wonder how his physical profile would translate to the Premier League.