Summer 2014 Transfer rumour thread - Part II

If they're all united then why are so many players calling out the board to match their ambition? Sounds like the opposite of united to me.

 

As I said earlier on this thread, I think this is a very subtly stage-managed campaign by the whole club to show that all the players and staff want the same thing. If you look at those players' statements, they haven't said anything different from what the likes of Reed and Krueger have said. The point is that Southampton do have ambition, we have had since Markus bought us, and it continues under his daughter. I believe this summer we will begin to see the extent of that ambition, not necessarily just from who comes in, but more importantly from who stays.

 

Unless he's angry with Katharina after his (to all intents and purposes) sacking from Saints. However, you would have to be a spiteful person who could carry a grudge to do that, wouldn't you? Oh....


As for all the speculation, this will be a long summer. The World Cup is a pain as it will delay a lot of things. It will all be about 'wait until after the WC' instead of 'wait until the summer'. I would like to see MP sign a new contract early to settle nerves, but that won't happen. Keep him and we could survive a few player losses.

 

That all sounds a bit too ideal for me. I suppose we'll see, but there are easier ways to accomplish that - like, I don't know, just getting the players to say "we're happy that the board are promising to match our ambition" rather than calling them out.

 

Don't read too much into what the team says without hearing the full context of the conversation. Always possible to lift one comment from a considered discussion and twist it by adding the interviewer's thoughts in between player quotes. However, don't believe the club support or promote these comments as they are hardly what we want to hear. Les Reed can't be pleased that his attempt to halt speculation (or at least protect MP from constant questions) is being undermined by the players giving soundbites.

 

Suarez says Real are about to offer enough money to activate his release clause. I thought the existence of a release clause was disproved when Arsenal made their offer. Really feel for Liverpool...may have lost the League and now their top player wants out (can especially sympathise with the latter).

 

He's signed a new contract since then so the release clause would have changed.

 

I bet it is £40m instead of £30m.

 

I see it as the players giving a little nudge. No players have asked to leave and there are no bids. Some one is leaking **** to the papers, there's too much speculation for this to be just paper talk.

 

No, the Liverpool owner confirmed that it existed, but they just didn't honour it. So I can't imagine they will do in future either.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...hn-henry-reveals-club-ignored-it-9164948.html

 

This has always confused me about the famed Arsenal bid. If there's a legal clause in the contract, surely the club have to honour it?

 

I'm guessing the Suarez camp used it as extra leverage in the new contract rather than kicking up a public fuss.

 

I've always assumed they gambled that Suarez wouldn't be prepared to go to court over a bid from Arsenal (plus the fact a court case could take forever). A bid from Real Madrid might be a different story though.

 

Yeah, you'd have thought so. Let's not start on contract law again though

 

It'll depend what the clause was - ie the wording, which would allow lawyers/a court to construe any unfairness/illegality if it came to it.

With the quality of legal representation the premier league clubs have I'm sure it's not gone to court for a reason.

Anyway... just came over to say I'm conflicted over the Lallana rumour. Would almost like you to keep him more than see him in red! It's a wonderful success story.

But... any risk he'd move to Liverpool and lose his form/head etc?

 

Head? No. Form? Possibly, as might any player. I think he'd flourish, but I don't want to see it!

 

I think I am going to adhere to that sage bit of advice, wait until they sit down in the Summer and see what happens.

 

There's a romance to Lallana seeing how far he can take you. I remember coming on here when you got promoted and saying I really thought he was going to succeed - the reaction was surprise because he was such a well kept secret!

Maybe the more time he spends around the England squad the more he thinks he should be at a Chelsea, United etc sort of club? Hard to know I suppose.

I'd be very surprised if he pushes to leave and can't see us spending the rumoured £25m though... crazy money.

Think you're in for a long summer... Hope you're not picked apart by the failing 'bigger' clubs like Spurs, United, maybe ourselves. Lots of players that will attract interest.

 

Not fond of Suarez, but I have to say that he has given everything for Liverpool (despite wanting a move). Not a sulker like Anelka.

 

The fear is that Spurs are hovering around the manager - if he goes, there's a chance players may follow. He/players will likely only go if requisite funds and ambition aren't shown by the board. We shall see what transpires.