General Premier League Thread 2024-25

If Klopp were still manager it might be a bit different. You got the feeling he was a bit more led by sentiment than the club wanted.

He personally interjected and insisted Jordan Henderson got renewed that summer when he would have been going into the season with 12 months left

Milner was another favourite

I think with Slot it will be a lot colder along with the club's wishes. They will be looking at the data as you say and acting accordingly.

The most intriguing part though is how players like Virgil and Mo have been able to speak openly with other clubs, and sign a contract with them, for a couple of months now. And where are the rumours of them doing that? What foreign journalists are saying that clubs in their leagues have been discussing terms or trying to do a deal with Virgil or Salah?

That part of it is weird to me. For Trent, sure, Madrid linked everywhere you look

But is nobody interested in Virgil van Dijk on a free? Really?

Nah that would be hugely surprising. You can't see a scenario where he goes to City this summer

It's Madrid or he stays

I think Liverpool's offer would have to be insulting to even consider going to another English club straight from Liverpool, especially if they end up Champions of England

In the future? Maybe. But this summer? Not a hope. As I say, he'll sign a new contract or go to Madrid

As I posted elsewhere, if Madrid didn't want him I doubt he'd be as keen for a move. It just fitted timing wise

I'm going to let you in on a little secret here, but it doesn't matter what Liverpool offer. Man City automatically have the ability to offer an extra 50k a week on top. And more if its needed.

I'm not debating the practical possibility, I'm saying it's improbable. You are saying you wouldn't be surprised. I think most people would be hugely surprised.

It's not like they're going to be surprised as in "oh my God I didn't think Man City were allowed to sign a player from Liverpool - how is that possible??", that's not what I'm saying (though what is surprising is having to explain this)

It would be surprising because Liverpool are a much better team than City are now and it's not like Gerrard trying to leave when they failed to finish top 4 (but backtrack after qualifying via CL winners), Torres leaving after carrying Hodgson's team for half a season or Sterling leaving halfway through a season where Balotelli, Borini and Lambert were the striker options.

In all of those examples Liverpool were significantly worse than the teams they were looking to join.

Real Madrid would be an intriguing move for him. And I fully expect him to go there, and if he doesn't, he'll be at Liverpool next season.

The main reason I see Salah staying is to break records

Personally, I can't see him overhauling either Alan Shearer or Ian Rush, but all the others are within "striking" distance.

Even looking at it financially, I'd take a 2 year risk for Salah no problem.

I'm not sure about Real's vision when it comes to Trent, I think they see another shiny toy that could well be discarded/scapegoated when it suits.

I'm not entirely sure there's anything contact wise we could have done to get Trent to sign. I get the impression he's sign with Real if all other things were equal.

Is Salah OK with 2 years though or is he looking for a bit more security?

32 now, this is the last big deal he gets at the top level.

I think Trent in at RB at Real probably makes them better at steam rollering the weaker teams in La Liga but also makes them a bit more vulnerable to the better teams when they play Barca, A Madrid and the better European sides

Real would have to make other signings at the back and change their midfield a bit to make it all work IMO

Funny enough for them VVD on a free wouldn't be a bad deal

Are City paying people off the books while under investigation? How are they managing that?

There could be any random company in the world that hires any random person to do a once-off consultancy job, and pay that person any random amount of money for doing that. It wouldn't be on Man City's books so it would not count towards their accounts.

That person could be a Man City player, or a wife, or a relative, but it doesn't matter as it is not direct income through Man City. HRMC are fine with it, as tax is still being paid. But it is irrelevant to Man City accounts. Whether that company is linked to the owners of Man City or not is another thing.

I definitely think they were at it previously.

But now? Especially while under investigation.

Hopefully they get nailed for it anyway and are hit hard. Ideally put out of business, but that won't happen of course.

He's right of course but still.

Jim's antics have been a bit of a PR disaster so far.

I don't get that interview. Basically says that the manager is doing a great job because he doesn't recognise the players on the bench v Arsenal so the squad must be down to the bare bones so what a job he's doing.

Yet also mentions 3 attackers with 100 international caps between them for England and Brazil who the club is still paying transfer fees and wages to to play for other clubs

I'm not sure he understands cause and effect

Sancho is doing nothing at Chelsea right now. Not paying him his full salary is good business. Having an obligation in the loan deal that means he’s practically already sold is excellent for us. He could have 100 int. caps on his own but it means nothing if he can’t be relied upon.

Rashford is doing alright for Villa with 3 assists. No goals and is mostly used as a sub off the bench. Regardless of that, he wasn’t able to meet the mangers standards in training and seemingly so professional standards. Having someone else pay 75% of the wages of one of your highest earners, who wasn’t going to be playing anyway, is not bad business.

Antony - doing very well for Real Betis. Did nothing for us in the last 18 months though. Would he be able to come back to the EPL and get the same numbers as he’s doing in La Liga? That’s the question but I doubt it. At a time where the club is in such financial trouble, having whatever % of his wages paid by someone else until he can be sold, isn’t bad business.

There isn’t anything he can do about payments owed to clubs for some of these players. It was done before he came in. It shouldn’t be used in the argument. I do think his praise for Amorim was overly generous and of course it’s not the smartest thing to use the players on the bench being kids as some way of overstating the job he’s doing, when you loaned four more experienced players out (including Malacia) but they were right to let those players leave, as they weren’t good enough.