Transfer thread for 2016-17 season

I was very reluctant to using the word "Modric", as I knew I'd be taken literally. But someone deeper who's creative. Maybe Harry Winks is that man. Who ever it is, we need to see that sort of player more often IMO, whether it means using a youth player or signing one who can do the job.

 

Someone like...Youri Tielemans?

Would anyone mind if I kidnapped him and locked him in Levy's office until he signed?

 

I'm all for it. He's a beautifully skilled and cultured footballer. I fear we'd lose out in an open market auction. Kidnap and brainwashing it will have to be.Then he's ours.

 

Taken from Qi book of facts: ''In 1992, the rules governing what the French may legally christen their children were relaxed. The following year, the most popular name for baby boys was 'Kevin'.''

 

I think we had and missed that opportunity when they came to the Lane back in November. If I remember correctly, he came off, Ezekiel came on and scored a few minutes later. In the confusion, we should've stuffed him in a sack and tied him to the roof of Archway Steel.

 

It's an odd world, eh?

 

If you say so, HBIC! I know nothing about the guy, to be honest. Apparently we're after him according to "sky sources".

 

HB is on commision.

 

Interesting bit of joined-up journalism here: we've supposedly made an offer for Espanyol goalkeeper Pau Lopez as cover for Lloris - so naturally the papers latch on to the fact he was in Espanyol's youth team when Poch was there, which is apparently the sole basis for this bid (as opposed to, say, the possibility of Vorm leaving - and those Everton rumours keep bubbling back up)

Better than remembering him repeatedly stomping on Lionel Messi during a Copa del Rey match back in January, I guess...

:::EDIT:::

There's suggestions that the interest in Lopez stems from a means to offload Fazio. Espanyol are interested in Fazio but aren't willing to meet the club's valuation (of what, £2.50?) but the possibility of swapping Fazio for Lopez means both parties are satisfied - certainly more satisfied than the other offer on the table, namely Roma loaning him in for the season.

 

Our once highly-rated academy forward Cristian Ceballos has been sent out on loan from Charlton to Belgian minnows Sint-Truiden. It's a real shame when young prospects don't fulfill their early promise and potential, but I will say this: I can't think of a single instant when the club have let a promising player go and 2-3 years down the line we haven't been able to look back and realise that they made the right decision.

 

Several papers were only too willing to let us know we made a mistake releasing Reece Oxford after he played the sum total of one Premier League game - and no doubt we'll hear more of it should he move to one of the Manc clubs for the £18m being bandied about.

 

I would shift the timeline out to 5 yrs (to be safe) .

But I do wonder if some of them have been unfortunate in not getting the key
opportunities to make that final breakthrough.

 

Absolutely. In many ways, their failure to fulfill potential is nothing more than a self-fulfilling prophecy: often events beyond their control such as a badly timed injury, too much competition for their place or a senior manager who hasn't got the time of day for the youth team, can conspire to render their talent and ability completely irrelevant.

This rings true in the case of Ceballos: the member of the coaching staff who truly believed in him left the club (Interim Tim), then he moved to Charlton to kick start his career but picked up a really bad injury in October of last season that he never really shook off and was limited to barely half a dozen appearances, and a club of their size simply can't afford to retain and carry players for the sake of seeing if they turn out to be good enough a la City and Chelsea, and so he has moved on into obscurity.

It makes you realise how fragile the career of a footballer is: being in the wrong place at the wrong time can destroy you permanently.

 

I don't think we have too much to be sorry about. We are hardly on the scale of Chelski and there three teams worth of loaned players. How many of those are ever going to get into Chelski's first team and how much perfectly good talent have they wasted (and other Sky favourite teams who have bought the English flavour of the month and never played them?)

 

Grant Ward has joined Ipswich on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee.
Understandable that he's left, as his chances looked limited and he's done quite well on loan.
Hope he pushes on and has a decent career.

 

I'd call that official

...as for figures, the East Anglian Daily Times (yes, really) says the fee is around £600k, with various performance-based clauses.

Another couple of rumours doing the rounds...
* Braga winger Rafa Silva is linked with a £10m move - although the fact he's a goalscoring left winger makes me think he's a backup plan in case Marseilles decide to dick us around for the second time this summer before taking another roll in Roman's filthy lucre
* With his contract talks at Leicester stalling, for arbitrary reasons we've been determined as the front-runners for Danny Drinkwater

 

OP updated re Grant Ward

 

Looks like Fazio gone

Fabrizio RomanoVerified account‏@FabrizioRomano 10m10 minutes ago
Via @DiMarzio, Federico Fazio close to join AS Roma! 4M€ to Tottenham for him. #THFC#transfers

Fabrizio Romano‏ @FabrizioRomano
Fazio from Tottenham to AS Roma is a done deal #THFC#transfers

 

Good to finally be shifting Fazio. He was probably one of the highest earners at the club.

Any updates Re Nkoudou?! Is he doing a medical with NASA or something?!

 

Even though I (and others) rip him to shreds at times, Fazio would likely make a superb signing for a Serie A side. The pace and physicality of the game will suit him well. It's a great deal for both clubs if it goes through, because the sheer fact we're getting money for a player who was often appalling in our set up is great, while Roma are purchasing a guy who'll likely do very well for them at a bargain price.

Best of luck to Grant Ward by the way, had a really good season with Rotherham last year so it's nice to see a good club purchase him on a 3 year deal, was going to be tough for him to get in this side, especially with younger lads seemingly ahead of him but I think Ipswich will realise they've got a great deal in time to come.