July 19, 20231 yr Author Inter Milan have announced the signing of former Juventus winger Juan Cuadrado. The 35-year-old has joined Inter on a one-year deal after arriving at the San Siro on a free transfer. Cuadrado was a free agent following the end of his Juventus contract this summer, after a successful spell at the club in which he won 11 trophies in eight years.
July 19, 20231 yr Author Manchester City have agreed a £30m deal for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli to sign Algeria winger Riyad Mahrez. The 32-year-old has been given permission not to travel on City's pre-season trip to Japan and South Korea. That had already been agreed providing City received a bid that matched their valuation of Mahrez, who had two years left on his contract.
July 19, 20231 yr Mahrez off to Saudi Arabia. With all the transfers that have been happening the Saudi league will slowly become one of the strongest in the world.
July 20, 20231 yr It'll take a very long time for that to happen, if at all. They're not buying players at their peak, it's somewhere between the Chinese Super League which was flavour of the month for a while and the MLS which is the long-established retirement home for past it players.
July 20, 20231 yr It'll take a very long time for that to happen, if at all. They're not buying players at their peak, it's somewhere between the Chinese Super League which was flavour of the month for a while and the MLS which is the long-established retirement home for past it players. That’s actually a very accurate description of those leagues! :lol: So who so far this transfer window is confirmed to be exiting the prem to go to the Saudi league? I need a list.
July 20, 20231 yr That’s actually a very accurate description of those leagues! :lol: So who so far this transfer window is confirmed to be exiting the prem to go to the Saudi league? I need a list. Completed N’Golo Kanté (Chelsea) Ruben Neves (Wolves) Kalidou Koulibaly (Chelsea) Edouard Mendy (Chelsea) Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) Soon to be completed/strongly rumoured Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea) Jordan Henderson (Liverpool) Riyad Mahrez (Man City) Fabinho (Liverpool) Alex Telles (Man Utd) Aleksandar Mitrović (Fulham) Allan Saint-Maximin (Newcastle)
July 20, 20231 yr ^The only ones of those who you could say are in their prime are Neves, Mitrovic & ASM but the last 2 are hardly top premier league quality. None of the big teams are going after them.
July 20, 20231 yr If you look at the governance and structure though, this is kind of worrying. It's different to China, as the Saudi league is bankrolled by PIF. The fact they are getting some good players who are probably past their peak (Kante, Firmino, Benzema) but could easily play for a Champions League club still is part of their strategy. It's not just older players going for one last pay day. Worryingly agents will see the $$$ signs and use Saudi clubs to leverage better contract terms, or the players might be tempted by the project. There's certainly some risks attached, as there are concerns from FIFA over salary payments. Their end goal is the World Cup bid, but they clearly want a Top 5 league as well, with I imagine, the aim of creating some own form of Super League.. which kind of what this new FIFA Club World Cup already could be.
July 20, 20231 yr If you look at the governance and structure though, this is kind of worrying. It's different to China, as the Saudi league is bankrolled by PIF. The fact they are getting some good players who are probably past their peak (Kante, Firmino, Benzema) but could easily play for a Champions League club still is part of their strategy. It's not just older players going for one last pay day. Worryingly agents will see the $$$ signs and use Saudi clubs to leverage better contract terms, or the players might be tempted by the project. There's certainly some risks attached, as there are concerns from FIFA over salary payments. Their end goal is the World Cup bid, but they clearly want a Top 5 league as well, with I imagine, the aim of creating some own form of Super League.. which kind of what this new FIFA Club World Cup already could be. To me, it seems like they are building a foundation to eventually attract more younger players to join. I wouldn’t be surprised in years to come if Saudi owned premier league sides choose to take some of their best players out of the prem and into the Saudi league. As one report suggests, this isn’t a flash in the pan, this league is here to stay and has the funding to make some extraordinary changes to other leagues as they stand.
July 20, 20231 yr This thread needs its subtitle changed to “The Saudi Pro League Takeover Continues” and here’s the latest rumour; @1682022061789818886
July 20, 20231 yr Author @1681574610507104257 This transfer reveal from Burnley, what :wacko: :lol: :huh:
July 23, 20231 yr Author Arnaut Danjuma has become Everton’s second summer signing, joining the club on a season-long loan from Villarreal.
July 23, 20231 yr Author Nottingham Forest have signed former Fulham defender Ola Aina, who left Torino in the summer. Aina said: "I'm very excited to be here and I can't wait to get started. "I wanted to be back on English soil again and Forest is a club which has an exciting project and team.
July 23, 20231 yr Author Luton are in advanced talks with Wolves over a deal for left-back Ryan Giles. A deal is thought to be worth £5million. The 23 year old spent last season on loan at Middlesbrough.
July 23, 20231 yr Author Fulham are close to agreeing a deal with Southampton for defender Mohammed Salisu. The fee is thought to be worth more than £15m. Monaco are also interested and have had two bids rejected. Fulham also finalising a deal with Ajax for defender Calvin Bassey. That fee is thought to be worth €21m.
July 23, 20231 yr Author Fulham have agreed a deal to sign Wolves striker Raul Jimenez for £5.5m. Jimenez will have his medical tomorrow
July 23, 20231 yr Fulham have agreed a deal to sign Wolves striker Raul Jimenez for £5.5m. Jimenez will have his medical tomorrow Sounds like Mitrović is clearly on the move to the Saudi league then if that’s the case.
.thumb.jpeg.7794815fed26c2970ca50740c03700f9.jpeg)
Create an account or sign in to comment