Transfer Rumours Summer Transfer window

[Southern A]

Very interesting this. Hope it all works out and this isn't a case of too many cooks. Hope Speakman is still heavily involved.

yeh I’m so conflicted. Everything was going well. I don’t know why this is needed. But on the other hand he’s clearly a very senior operator in the footballing world and Speakman, let’s face it, isn’t yet.

 

[CR17]

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[Irish Black cat]

yeh this is my thinking. I absolutely love it. I’m just confused by the timing. At least it’s very early in the window. And frankly he wasn’t available until yesterday and wouldn’t have been coming at all had we not been promoted.

Got to assume it was always the plan to do this once we got promoted

He obviously has ethics coming here over the mags and Saudi but to get him over Juventus is a massive statement

 

[J Flash]

Very interesting this. Hope it all works out and this isn't a case of too many cooks. Hope Speakman is still heavily involved.

I did think of the too many cooks when I first read about it. I will say I do have confidence that KLD wouldnt make such a big appointment without having full confidence that it will be the right structure.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Speakman had a say, surely he’s trusted enough to have one. Maybe the demands are too much on speakman and it’s lifting the weight a bit on some elements of his role.

Always a nervy one mate when it’s an appointment in this kind of role, but I’m feeling quite excited about it at the moment. Fingers crossed.

 

[Chucky Puddin]

I find this part interesting

Ghisolfi worked at Nice with INEOS between 2022 and 2024, where head coach Francesco Farioli had wished to retain his services before Roma saw off interest from Monaco to secure his signature last summer. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Farioli come in at some point if RLB has a bad run, we’ve previously been linked to him!

 

[CR17]

I did think of the too many cooks when I first read about it. I will say I do have confidence that KLD would make such a big appointment without having full confidence that it will be the right structure.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Speakman had a say, surely he’s trusted enough to have one. Maybe the demands are too much on speakman and it’s lifting the weight a bit on some elements of his role.

Always a nervy one mate when it’s an appointment in this kind of role, but I’m feel quite excited about it at the moment. Fingers crossed.

Some big clubs wanted him mind

 

[SourPatch2]

Sunderland are close to appointing Florent Ghisolfi as the club’s director of football.

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman will remain at newly-promoted Sunderland and will work alongside Ghisolfi, who was Roma’s sporting director for 2024-25.

Ghisolfi had interest from other clubs including Newcastle United, who are assessing candidates to succeed outgoing sporting director Paul Mitchell, with interest also from Juventus, Fiorentina and Saudi Arabia.

A former midfielder, Ghisolfi led Roma to a top-five finish in Serie A for the first time in five seasons last term, missing out on Champions League qualification to Juventus by one point.


The 40-year-old, who decided to leave Roma this summer, had his first sporting director role at Lens, who won promotion back to Ligue 1 during his time at the club before later qualifying for the Champions League.

Ghisolfi worked at Nice with INEOS between 2022 and 2024, where head coach Francesco Farioli had wished to retain his services before Roma saw off interest from Monaco to secure his signature last summer.

Sunderland are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017, having defeated Sheffield United in last month’s Championship play-off final.

The Farioli part is interesting. Obviously heavily linked here before

I did think of the too many cooks when I first read about it. I will say I do have confidence that KLD would make such a big appointment without having full confidence that it will be the right structure.

Wouldn’t be surprised if Speakman had a say, surely he’s trusted enough to have one. Maybe the demands are too much on speakman and it’s lifting the weight a bit on some elements of his role.

Always a nervy one mate when it’s an appointment in this kind of role, but I’m feel quite excited about it at the moment. Fingers crossed.

Yeah it's 100% exciting, beats the days of Richard Hill doing the transfers

 

[Southern A]

I’m gonna risk being seen as captain hindsight here and perhaps this is a tad harsh. But whilst Speakman has done brilliantly in the market overall, it’s also true that we’ve seemed perhaps a bit slow, perhaps missing out on targets in negotiations etc. The whole previous striker rigmarole

Perhaps this guy is coming in to take over on negotiations and dealings with agents etc, allowing Speakman to concentrate on academy, coaching, the initial player identification etc

 

[Chadm93]

Track record according to that article looks promising

 

[J Flash]

Some big clubs wanted him mind

Aye that’s promising. I mean he’s just been at Roma. Feather in the cap that he’s chosen us.

Only 40 too. Feels like it fits us. Let’s see, I assume he signed ELF for Roma which is promising.

 

[MadMackem77]

My only worry would be timing

but if this has been in the works for as long as they say in the articles planning has probably been there with expectation for him to come in

great cv, good transfer record, big clubs after him and wanting to keep him.

expanding our contacts abroad, this feels like a MASSIVE step in the right direction to establish us in the premier league as he will have a big contact list than Speakman and a bigger reputation.

I mean he’s turned down huge clubs to come here. That says something

 

[williebeams]

does this not push speakman down?

 

[SourPatch2]

Ghisolfi's track record is very similar to ours under Speakman so I don't think there will be a conflict of ideas there. A lot of big fees on young talents and older heads signed on frees.

 

[MadMackem77]

I’m gonna risk being seen as captain hindsight here and perhaps this is a tad harsh. But whilst Speakman has done brilliantly in the market overall, it’s also true that we’ve seemed perhaps a bit slow, perhaps missing out on targets in negotiations etc. The whole previous striker rigmarole

Perhaps this guy is coming in to take over on negotiations and dealings with agents etc, allowing Speakman to concentrate on academy, coaching, the initial player identification etc

Speakman has done a great job but it has been mentioned a lot that his stubbornness has sometimes cost deals.

He does act in the clubs best interests though and I wouldn’t want to lose him

 

[Frazier the Lion]

I’m gonna risk being seen as captain hindsight here and perhaps this is a tad harsh. But whilst Speakman has done brilliantly in the market overall, it’s also true that we’ve seemed perhaps a bit slow, perhaps missing out on targets in negotiations etc. The whole previous striker rigmarole

Perhaps this guy is coming in to take over on negotiations and dealings with agents etc, allowing Speakman to concentrate on academy, coaching, the initial player identification etc

Let’s hope he’s not better at getting deals for the likes of Cannon, Akpom or Armstrong over the line quickly

 

[williebeams]

i suppose this also shows the pull of the premier league and same pull applies to player

were gonna smash it and stay up

 

[Southern A]

Speakman has done a great job but it has been mentioned a lot that his stubbornness has sometimes cost deals.

He does act in the clubs best interests though and I wouldn’t want to lose him

100%. this is about playing to strengths and growing the club. I just hope speakman’s ego takes it (I’m sure it will)

 

[J Flash]

Whatever happens, it doesn’t feel like an appointment that a club that’s happy to just make up the numbers in the premier league would make. It feels like we’re planning to have a really exciting and successful future.

And to think 4 years ago we were in league one and today we’ve sold out our season tickets and appointed a DOF that juve we’re after

 

[Forpadydeplasterer]

I’m gonna risk being seen as captain hindsight here and perhaps this is a tad harsh. But whilst Speakman has done brilliantly in the market overall, it’s also true that we’ve seemed perhaps a bit slow, perhaps missing out on targets in negotiations etc. The whole previous striker rigmarole

Perhaps this guy is coming in to take over on negotiations and dealings with agents etc, allowing Speakman to concentrate on academy, coaching, the initial player identification etc

Piggy back on this... he's struggled to get the European market right too. This bloke could help us get top talent.

And I'm a big KS fan

 

[Southern A]

Richard Hill left us on the 17 July 2020.

less than 5 years ago.

His ultimate replacement within 5 years has turned down Juventus to come to us.