Transfer Talk/Gossip/Rumour Thread - Summer 2014 - Mod note in OP

It will be interesting to see where Cavani ends up.

His age is irrelevant to be fair considering what we are talking about what he can bring to Chelsea now at this moment.

If he were willing to stick around and play 2nd fiddle for now, then we could more reasonably discuss what he will be in 5 years time, but it seems like he's unwilling to do that, and he definitely isn't good enough to be the number 1 guy now ahead of Costa, no matter how great people think his stats are for a 21 year old.

Turtwig wrote: »

Are you judging that off the Belgian system at the world cup or the Everton one? Because for the latter it was dynamic and bloody impressive.

Both. I completely disagree on his Everton performances, thought he scored a few goals but generally didn't contribute much to the overall play.

The Lukaku thing really isn't that difficult to figure out. He's got certain gifts(mainly physical, eg. great strength and fantastic speed across the ground) he is also quite a decent finisher given the chance. The negatives are that his link up play seems to bounce between dreadful and nonexistent, and when faced with playing against a team who don't leave space in behind, ie. the vast majority of teams that Chelsea will play against this season, he often looks bewildered.

The big fish in a small pond argument is correct. Playing for a smaller team he will look devastating because the space in behind and the quicker transitions from front to back all play to his strengths and often serve to mask his weaknesses.

Maybe this season Drogba can help him to become a more complete player but at the moment comparing the two is ridiculous. Two very different types of players (if anything Lukaku more closely resembles Torres in his prime in terms of playing style). Didier had, and still has, far more technical ability and ability in general to lead a line for a big club than Lukaku does.

I hate this Lukaku issue. So often people say "he's better than all the strikers at Chelsea, they'd be mad to sell him" its a case where of you look purely at stats you might be right but you must look at the bigger picture. Leading the line for Chelsea entails different demands from leading the line at Everton or West Brom. The man obviously has talent but so far hasn't shown nearly enough to suggest that he can be Chelsea's main man and that's what matters here, its not whether he can score more goals than other Chelsea strikers while playing for a different club, it's whether be can do it at Chelsea and, so far, nobody seems overly convinced he can, enter Diego Costa.

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Loic Remy's £8 million move to Liverpool called off as French striker fails medical #lfc http://fw.to/2dRjzIg

CSF wrote: »

Could end up a blessing in disguise for Liverpool. They can do better with that Suarez money.

Think they may struggle to find someone better for 8.5million. They'll need to be spending a fair bit more to come close.

@DHodja: Via Gol.hr: "Dejan Lovren: I signed with L'pool on Saturday evening, they should officialy announce it on Sunday, 11 PM CEST."

marno21 wrote: »

Liverpool playing at 11pm our time tonight. Strange time to announce it

It'll be 10pm announcement our time.

Remy's 'advisors' saying he didn't fail a medical and that it is Borini's refusal to join Sunderland that scuppered the deal.

Lucas Hood wrote: »

I'd well believe that. Some former footballer came out a while ago and said players will only fail medicals if the club aren't 100% about signing them. I think it may have been the secret footballer not sure though.

I'd well believe it in theory too, but the fact that it's Remy's representatives saying it obviously makes me believe it less.

Griezmann to Atletico, oh baby!!!

Lord TSC wrote: »

Looks confirmed via Madrid's site if my Spanish is right. Nice.

Wonder if it's anything to do with Turan leaving....

Never.

Stefan de Vrij to Lazio for €8.5 million