Winter Silly Season Transfer Thread 2025/2026

[IloveFFC]

https://twitter.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2018074414797996324

[Deeping_white]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

[Rambler]

€37 mil.

Seems a lot of money for us. Fortunately it's not strand Larson bad but I think we're massively overpaying for a striker who's only done it in the Dutch league.

[WolverineFFC]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

[Steady Eddie Johnson]

This is screaming failed transfer due to PSV not identifying a replacement in time.

[cookieg]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

If they can't find a replacement then they may not be willing to let him go. We did the same with Bayern when they came in late for Joao.

[Chi_FFC]

Basically says the offer is getting so good PSV might take it even without a replacement.
https://x.com/RikElfrink/status/2018080022351716819?s=20

[RAY Rock]

Absolutely unbelievable money for a mediocre injured player in my opinion. We need a central midfielder

[LPNCanadian]

Absolutely unbelievable money for a mediocre injured player in my opinion. We need a central midfielder

I agreed, we need forward also, but Pepi overpriced IMO

[WolverineFFC]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

If they can't find a replacement then they may not be willing to let him go. We did the same with Bayern when they came in late for Joao.

That was basically my point. If we were always going to meet the asking price, seems silly to leave it to the last minute. More and more I think alot of this last minute stuff really is penny pinching to save on a few weeks salary.

[Trusty Steed]

It's certainly a risk, it's a lot of money. He's only 23, but has a lot of good attributes. I don't think he'll hit the ground running, but with the players & coaches here I'm sure he'll improve a lot.

[Barrett487]

Basically says the offer is getting so good PSV might take it even without a replacement.
https://x.com/RikElfrink/status/2018080022351716819?s=20

By saying no, #Fulham's bid for Pepi has already risen considerably. PSV will make the final decision tomorrow. Tonight's position was that a replacement is absolutely necessary, but there may come a point where the bid becomes so high that PSV relents. More tomorrow.

[Matt10]

It's certainly a risk, it's a lot of money. He's only 23, but has a lot of good attributes. I don't think he'll hit the ground running, but with the players & coaches here I'm sure he'll improve a lot.

I think risky, yeah, but what a story considering where he started. Another player from Texas is not a bad thing. There has to be some kudos to the club for working on this and shelling out the cash for once rather than us trying to get bargains in the last hour of deadline day.

[SimonDaviesEnjoyer]

If I were a betting man, it'd be against this transfer happening in Jan. I could see it happening for 5m less in summer.

[jayffc]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

They asked for 45m+ in January allegedly, quotes suggested they wouldn't even entertain talk about a transfer for less than that

Also , consider he's injured and cannot play

Wed have paid out maybe 300k for a guy with a broken arm to hang about the training room

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

If they can't find a replacement then they may not be willing to let him go. We did the same with Bayern when they came in late for Joao.

That was basically my point. If we were always going to meet the asking price, seems silly to leave it to the last minute. More and more I think alot of this last minute stuff really is penny pinching to save on a few weeks salary.

Possibly, Except it's hundreds of thousands of pounds not pennies. Small bucks to a billionaire, but In the land of ffp and scr, such savings on bobb who was way cheaper than allegedly quoted early in window + being frugal and not paying an injured guys wages all month could even allow us to make the sort of offers to push things over the line like in this case. Maybe?

More I think about it, summer window is 3 months long

If chuks on 120k
Kevin on 70
JKA in 20 pw

signing them last day as opposed to first day of summer theoretically would save 2.5m in wages before you get to any other millions possibly saved on transfer fees quoted earlier in window

Now I totally 100% get the argument against this and some cases it's worth buying at least a little earlier etc for pre season ,IF we can get a good  deal on right player early....and im inclined to agree to some extent that would be ideal scenario.

Just saying I understand the fiscal perspective and over time that all this adds up for a club with smaller revenue, perhaps even to giving room for deals like that maybe we wouldn't have afforded had we not made such frugal savings. Who knows.

[WolverineFFC]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

They asked for 40m+ in January allegedly, quotes suggested they wouldn't even entertain talk about a transfer for less than that

Also , consider he's injured and cannot play

Wed have paid out maybe 300k for a guy with a broken arm to hang about the training room

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

If they can't find a replacement then they may not be willing to let him go. We did the same with Bayern when they came in late for Joao.

That was basically my point. If we were always going to meet the asking price, seems silly to leave it to the last minute. More and more I think alot of this last minute stuff really is penny pinching to save on a few weeks salary.

Except it's hundreds of thousands of pounds not pennies. Small bucks to a billionaire, but In the land of ffp and scr, such savings on bobb who was way cheaper than allegedly quoted early in window + not paying an injured guys wages all month allows us to make the sort of offers we are here I assume

I don't think the situations are comparable for the reasons you stated. Bobb was clearly for sale and a negotiation could be had. The other (Pepi) not so much and the club risk losing him this window in leaving it so late. There was no reason the process couldn't have been wrapped up earlier in the window if they were always willing to pay up.

As for the PSR, sure I guess a half million pounds could be the difference between breaking and not breaking the barrier. I doubt it though. This feels a lot more like a rather inflexible way of doing business which risks the club losing out on a player they clearly want.

[RAY Rock]

It's certainly a risk, it's a lot of money. He's only 23, but has a lot of good attributes. I don't think he'll hit the ground running, but with the players & coaches here I'm sure he'll improve a lot.

his attributes are
1) He is injured
2) He is made of Glass
Complete waste of money

[jayffc]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

They asked for 40m+ in January allegedly, quotes suggested they wouldn't even entertain talk about a transfer for less than that

Also , consider he's injured and cannot play

Wed have paid out maybe 300k for a guy with a broken arm to hang about the training room

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

If they can't find a replacement then they may not be willing to let him go. We did the same with Bayern when they came in late for Joao.

That was basically my point. If we were always going to meet the asking price, seems silly to leave it to the last minute. More and more I think alot of this last minute stuff really is penny pinching to save on a few weeks salary.

Except it's hundreds of thousands of pounds not pennies. Small bucks to a billionaire, but In the land of ffp and scr, such savings on bobb who was way cheaper than allegedly quoted early in window + not paying an injured guys wages all month allows us to make the sort of offers we are here I assume

I don't think the situations are comparable for the reasons you stated. Bobb was clearly for sale and a negotiation could be had. The other (Pepi) not so much and the club risk losing him this window in leaving it so late. There was no reason the process couldn't have been wrapped up earlier in the window if they were always willing to pay up.

As for the PSR, sure I guess a half million pounds could be the difference between breaking and not breaking the barrier. I doubt it though. This feels a lot more like a rather inflexible way of doing business which risks the club losing out on a player they clearly want.

Sure every situation is different but in case of bobb we allegedly got them from 35m+ valuation to 25 up front 2 add ons.

Pepi they were quoted as saying they wouldn't talk for less than 45m euros early in window, then rumours it ended up dropping to 35 range last week and we're pushing extra cash their way to hit around 37. We offered a good amount earlier in window (32) but perhaps the money saved from bobb has allowed them to push harder on pepi, who knows. They gotta balance all signings together not just in isolation. It's a jigsaw after all.

Well have to see if it goes through I guess.

[jayffc]

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

They asked for 40m+ in January allegedly, quotes suggested they wouldn't even entertain talk about a transfer for less than that

Also , consider he's injured and cannot play

Wed have paid out maybe 300k for a guy with a broken arm to hang about the training room

https://twitter.com/fabrizioromano/status/2018074414797996324

I am not normally hypercritical of the club's transfer slowness, but if this one doesn't go through it is unbelievable. We eventually met PSV's asking price but left it to the last day and now they have to find a replacement? Wouldn't be surprised if this turns out just like Joao to Bayern.

If they can't find a replacement then they may not be willing to let him go. We did the same with Bayern when they came in late for Joao.

That was basically my point. If we were always going to meet the asking price, seems silly to leave it to the last minute. More and more I think alot of this last minute stuff really is penny pinching to save on a few weeks salary.

Except it's hundreds of thousands of pounds not pennies. Small bucks to a billionaire, but In the land of ffp and scr, such savings on bobb who was way cheaper than allegedly quoted early in window + not paying an injured guys wages all month allows us to make the sort of offers we are here I assume

I don't think the situations are comparable for the reasons you stated. Bobb was clearly for sale and a negotiation could be had. The other (Pepi) not so much and the club risk losing him this window in leaving it so late. There was no reason the process couldn't have been wrapped up earlier in the window if they were always willing to pay up.

As for the PSR, sure I guess a half million pounds could be the difference between breaking and not breaking the barrier. I doubt it though. This feels a lot more like a rather inflexible way of doing business which risks the club losing out on a player they clearly want.

Well given we were allegedly at 86% threshold when scr limit is 85% it probably is a fine margins game. Again this isn't about one window or singing in isolation. If we're doing this all the time it will of course add up

I don't know if it's completely inflexible. If they find a deal they're happy with they do pull the trigger (ESR) If not they appear happy to sit it out and play hardball. Without knowing the full inside financial info, Presumably they feel their approach has paid off more than it hasn't in their eyes historically or they wouldn't keep keep doing it, one would logically assume.

[SerbianLad]

I still think we shouldn't take a risk on Pepi. We're not a "big 6" club, so we can't spend virtually unlimited amounts of money. We need to spend smart. We've already gambled with Kevin and Bobb(and to a lesser extent ESR), I don't think we should make another big money signing of a young, somewhat unproven player. And that's on top of the things that I've already mentioned numerous times in various threads here.

I'd reevaluate in summer.