Transfer Rumours Summer 2025 1 - 10 June, 16 June - 1 September

He is done. I can't think of any player that has ever relied on their pace and physicality more so then Kyle Walker. It was always going to be the case that when age caught up with him, his decline would be rapid.

It will be even more prominent at Burnley as he'll have lots of defending to do, which he wasn't much good at even in his prime.

 

Except he’s 28, not 34.

He’s in his peak years as a footballer, was in the England squad prior to us getting relegated in ‘23.

 

He could still see his career out there? There doesn't seem that much interest for him from the PL. No one wanted him that much when we went down and after last season I doubt that has changed much.

I'd rather start every week in Turkey than sit on the bench for Everton or fulham

 

European football too.

 

Yeah, I just don't think when he was chatting to his agent thinking "I'll leave when my contract is up and make a move for my career" that his mind was at "Besiktas, yeah that's the one".

 

Dunno, if he is a bit bored of England and wants to experience something totally different and still play in the UEFA competitions while he’s good enough to compete at a high level, then it makes sense. Rather freshen it up and try something new than go and be a squad player competing for rotational minutes with someone like Fulham or Brentford, I guess

Suppose we shouldn’t forget his best mate Dele also played for Besiktas and lived in Istanbul and by all accounts really enjoyed it, which Kyle no doubt knows - and now Tammy Abraham is there, who I think is also part of that friendship group

 

Sunderland not messing around, must’ve spent close to €150m so far. Another €23m on a winger today. Obviously their squad needed work to give them any sort of chance but they look to be really going for it

 

I'm no expert in Sunderland's finances, but I'm assuming that they've been doing alright on that front in the past couple of years: they've made some reasonably sized sales, and I don't recall them spending big on purchases. They've also offloaded the remaining big earners from the previous regime.

In which case, they've probably come into this summer with a lot to play with in terms of PSR. And that will have been increased even further by the sale of Bellingham (I did suggest the other week that his sale would be beneficial to them).

Ultimately, good luck to them. But it will still be a tough ask to make it to 17th.

 

Sheffield United losing one of their star players for £13m here

 

Fair shout.

 

They've got a decent start so if they can get some early points will be in good shape.

I still think at least one promoted sure will stay up and make a mockery of everyone suddenly claiming it's impossible.

 

The idea that a player will just ‘sit on the bench’, is very much a fan’s argument. I expect most players at this level believe that they can force their way into the first team, wherever they go.

Footballers are not the brightest bunch, and are often egotistical. That said, KWP is clearly not your typical footballer. Having seen the hero-worship that even Redders received in Turkey, I can see it as being more appealing than certain other countries. Hope he doesn’t though, as I really want him to rediscover his best form for a Prem club.

 

Doing a Nottingham Forest . As it’s the only strategy that seems like it has a chance of working. Gamble though

 

I agree - I think the stars are more aligned for it to happen this year than last. The only **** teams (rather than totally ****) were Spurs & Man U. Their **** isn't as bad as relegation **** (just). This year, I expect one or more of Bompey, Brentford, Wolves to be very poor.

 

I think they span a relatively normal distribution of intelligence

I’m not a fan of this premise and I believe it stems from the fact that a lot of players come from working class backgrounds

 

I think it potentially stems from a lot of footballers going straight into football as soon as they can and often not pursuing any other form of education. Not that extended formal education is necessarily a marker of intelligence

But I think the average intelligence of the general population is probably overestimated

 

And if you are a PL level footballer there is a very good chance that you have known you are extremely talented from a very young age, with a high chance of being a pro if you put the time and effort in. So a lot of people would completely focus on getting as good as you can at football and neglect education even when you are there.

 

Youth programs at EPL clubs include Education

 

Yes but not as a primary focus. I doubt it’s like you see in the US college films where the sports stars need to maintain a certain grade level to play. Usually as a plot point. No idea if this is how it really likes

 

Intelligence and educational knowledge are different.