2024/2025 Midfielders Rumours Thread

[sdvroot]

Chelsea captain and 121 millions lmao...

Hey bro I am expressing interest in Scarlett Johansson too. Introduce me.

 

[BasedGodPunk]

Better chance I become the next Pope than Enzo even flying to Italy for a meeting w Beppe. Our days of spending like that are LONG gone. I'd say 40 mil is prob the most we would be able to spend on one player moving forward.

 

[Il Drago]

Chelsea captain and 121 millions lmao...

Hey bro I am expressing interest in Scarlett Johansson too. Introduce me.

I wouldn't call him Scarlett. He has lost his starting spot in latest Chelsea games. But indeed zero truth to the rumors.

 

[NimAraya]

Inter and Barcelona have joined Real Madrid in expressing interest in Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez. (The Sun)

We blew that chance when his price was 20m before he joined Benfica. Any news linking us to him now is pure nonsense.

 

[kurt0411]

Well this is interesting

Verratti being linked with Inter for January

 

[Rodani]

Oaktree says no.

 

[PHM1605]

Well this is interesting

Verratti being linked with Inter for January

Salary 30m net
Imagine one takes 90% pay cut and it's still too much. For a 32yo.

 

[CafeCordoba]

I wouldn't call him Scarlett. He has lost his starting spot in latest Chelsea games. But indeed zero truth to the rumors.

How do you know there's no truth to the rumors? Maybe there's been inquiries, or agent has been talking to clubs.

 

[Damageplan]

Id more than settle for Bernabe.

 

[varmin]

Veratti looks washed up but he can cover all positions in the midfield. His salary should be insane though

 

[Besnik]

Verratti has been one of my favourite non-Inter player(s) for many years.

I have no idea how's his situation in Qatar. He knows that if he would want to join a team in Europe, he would have to take a massive paycut, but I'm not sure about his physical condition and also motivation to challenge in top level.

Being 32 years old isn't THAT much. I know it isn't the best idea, but if he's willing to take a paycut and join Italia's champions, then why not? We could get to use his experience in some matches.

I don't think he'd have an issue of being in the bench. Is it worth the gamble? IMO probably yeah, but I know there's no way happening.

 

[Damageplan]

Used to really like Veratti and his style of play and he would have fit us like a glove id say but at this point he pretty much checks all boxes against signing him. He is 32 and his salary is nowhere near what we can offer. Even if he takes a pay cut so that checkbox can be cleared he is still old for Oaktree standards. This is most likely just agents pushing for a way our of Saudi league. We would also have to free at least 1 midfield spot for him since we already have Frattessi and Asllani fighting for minutes.

 

[Besnik]

Age shouldn't be a problem in his situation. He just turned 32 years old (in November), so he's not even that old.

 

[YoramG]

Don't we keep reading everywhere about Oaktree's embargo on signing anyone over 25? These sources should at least co-ordinate their bullshit.

 

[Rodani]

If that strategy is true, we're gonna miss out on good mercato opportunities.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Age shouldn't be a problem in his situation. He just turned 32 years old (in November), so he's not even that old.

Yes, but when it comes to almost any 30+ player who's left for Saudi, I'm generally assuming their level is going to be nowhere near what it was if they returned to Europe. Age-related decline but also I can't imagine for one minute these guys are maintaining the same physical and preparation levels playing in a far worse league than they'd have playing for a big club in a top league. There's no way the motivation is the same. For former European players who've left for Saudi, it's for the massive pay check, and that's fine but with the full knowledge that the competition sucks by comparison.

Besides, wasn't Verratti's fitness levels a concern already during his PSG career? It doesn't get better in your 30's.

 

[ADRossi]

Yes, but when it comes to almost any 30+ player who's left for Saudi, I'm generally assuming their level is going to be nowhere near what it was if they returned to Europe. Age-related decline but also I can't imagine for one minute these guys are maintaining the same physical and preparation levels playing in a far worse league than they'd have playing for a big club in a top league. There's no way the motivation is the same. For former European players who've left for Saudi, it's for the massive pay check, and that's fine but with the full knowledge that the competition sucks by comparison.

Besides, wasn't Verratti's fitness levels a concern already during his PSG career? It doesn't get better in your 30's.

You saw this a lot with China in the 2010s. The players who left for China and returned to Europe never accomplished anything, including the spaz Arnautovic. El Shaa is the only one I can think of who even returned to his NT.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

You saw this a lot with China in the 2010s. The players who left for China and returned to Europe never accomplished anything, including the spaz Arnautovic. El Shaa is the only one I can think of who even returned to his NT.

Yannick Carrasco returned to Atleti and had a good run there, so you can add him to that short list. But he was also in his mid-20s so he doesn't fit the parameters I defined. El Shaa was 29 when he returned to Italy so that's a better fit.

(Carrasco ended up being one of the mercenaries fortunate enough to cash out to China for a while, return to Europe, and then cash out to Saudi. Frankly, I respect the hustle.)

 

[CafeCordoba]

I've never quite liked Verratti's whiny attitude on the pitch. And to me he takes too big risks with the ball given his position. I think we are fine in midfield.

 

[NimAraya]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1863242142212108290