The Official FOF Silly Season Summer Transfer Thread 2017-18

[aaronmcguigan]

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/transfers/ruben-neves-wolves-fc-wolverhampton-wanderers-porto-a7828671.html

SportFootballTransfers
Why does Ruben Neves' transfer to Wolves sit so uncomfortably?

This is the kind of Championship-blitzing deal that Wolves fans will have been dreaming of since Fosun's takeover, but Jorge Mendes is clearly exerting a strong degree of influence at Molineux

Andy Brassell Saturday 8 July 2017 09:27 BST6 comments
   
   
   
   
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ruben-neves.jpg
Ruben Neves is talented but will have to adapt quickly to English football's second tier Getty
If you take away the identities of the major protagonists, it sounds like the perfect deal. Club A is ambitious, and wants to sign XXL-sized talent to fire its promotion push. Club B is a traditional behemoth, but needs money (quickly), and can get it for a top-quality academy product they can't find a place for. Well-connected agent C puts the move together.

So why does the imminent transfer of Ruben Neves sit so uncomfortably? There's no doubt that Wolverhampton Wanderers have got themselves an eye-catching coup in the shape of Porto's much-talked-about midfielder, even for the suggested €18 million price tag. This time last year, the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal were being linked with the 20-year-old, who has just returned from the Euro Under-21s in Poland. At that point, the Portuguese giants were not encouraging suitors, and it would have taken an offer of around double what Wolves are slated to be paying to even get them to the negotiating table.

When Chinese owners Fosun took over Wolves last year, with their involvement with super-agent Jorge Mendes clear from the beginning, this is the kind of Championship-blitzing deal that their supporters probably had in mind, with the hope of management putting together a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Many of those same fans have expressed their indignation at outside criticism of the Neves deal, attributing it to jealousy. It's true that not every player that the Fosun regime have brought in has been from the Mendes stable, but that has never been the suggestion from any serious commentators – that was so at Valencia too, with Shkodran Mustafi an example of an arrival from outside the circle.




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It's clear, however, that Valencia have to be brought into the conversation, especially with Nuno – Mendes' first-ever client, of course, ever since the goalkeeper persuaded his friend and then-nightclub boss to negotiate his move to Deportivo La Coruña in late 1996 – now into the fold. There is enough player traffic from Mendes' favoured spots to see that he is exerting a strong degree of influence over Wolves' transfer policy. Such an arrangement worked well enough initially at Valencia, with the club qualifying for the Champions League in 2014-15, before the positive recruitment dried up.

The books show Valencia spending €138 million on transfer fees in the summer of 2015, but the devil is in the detail. Rather than building on a successful side, the majority (including André Gomes, Álvaro Negredo and Rodrigo) were already there on loan, with the club fulfilling obligatory purchase options. Nuno was hamstrung, and didn't last the calendar year.

When Gary Neville arrived at Mestalla in December 2015 as the eventual replacement, he was welcomed in some quarters of the local media simply because he was perceived as not part of the Mendes clique. This, of course, was before they understood the existing link between club majority shareholder Peter Lim – good friend and long-time business partner of Mendes – and Neville via Salford City.

fosun-jeff-shi.jpg
Fosun have clear links to super-agent Mendes (Getty)
By this point, it was already clear to the majority of fans that their club was just being used to park player collateral. It is hard to see the Neves deal being any different. His ability is clear and as Nuno has pointed out, he wore the Porto captain's armband as a teenager. He also broke Cristiano Ronaldo's record for the youngest Portuguese to play in the Champions League, and he is his nation's youngest goalscorer in the competition.

Neves has an enviable range of passing, good vision and is sharp in the tackle. He is not, however, a transformative player who can turn a side's fortunes on his own (as even Talisca, who eventually joined Besiktas instead of Wolves last summer, is to a point), but a good player for a good team. He will need lots of help around him.

Neves should at least get some games at Molineux. Nuno only started him in six Liga games last season, though he did give the midfielder the nod for his XI in the Champions League last 16 first leg against Juventus in February. It was a tough campaign.

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Nuno appointed as new Wolves boss
When Nuno used Evandro – now at Hull City – as his third and final substitute in the first leg of the Champions League playoff against Roma, Neves was spotted crying on the bench. He later underlined on his Instagram account that it was "a spontaneous reaction," and that no disrespect was intended to either his coach or his teammates. It was, however, only the beginning of his frustrations last season, the highlight of which was probably when he was spotted watching the away game at Belenenses from the stands with some of the club's hardcore supporters. A long season in the Championship will be a test of his physical, as well as mental, fortitude.

This deal has presumably been sold to Neves as a bridge to the Premier League with the best case for Wolves, having offered ready cash below market value, selling on to a top-flight English club at a handsome profit – something which is expected in Portugal.

"Ruben has the talent for any league," wrote O Jogo's Hugo Sousa last week, "and certainly for the second tier in England. For this reason, the move isn't strange. It's just sad." From the sake of Neves, one of Portugal's brightest talents, one hopes that he brings his quality to bear regardless.

[General]

Perhaps, when looking at our recent history, we should be less complacent about claiming to be a 'top club in London' and start to show we mean business in the transfer market by at least inspiring players and their agents we have learned many lessons about panic buying at inflated prices and now know quality when we see it and what it is worth.   Our transfer team need to not only be statistically clever they need to know the way human beings operate too, which is a totally different kind of logic that computers simply cannot and will not replicate.  Time to change the way we negotiate or the people who do the negotiating perhaps.

Class

Different Class, you speak with both eyes open.

I completely agree to one degree in regards to having to approach things on an empathetic people centric approach - some players who don't have the highest statistics could blossom in the right environment/league/club under the right psychological guidance. It's a huge issue with our value system as is currently in my opinion... that said though, in order to show value in a reasoned way which makes an impact you have to acknowledge that there will be elements of the statistical approach that will work... Quantative data over time, will allow you to draw some accurate patterns but it works best with quantifiable data, which includes is 1/3rd of a footballer... the mental game counts for so much more.

Anyway - to the point - Data does work, needs to be taken in to account - speed/heigh/physical attributes are all things that can arguably be judged for face value and so can info like tackles made/% pass completion... but the last two are more erratic.

[ffc73]

Historically a lot of transfers are based on respect &/or previous working relationships. That is not uncommon in other work environments.  Keegan, Bracewell, Sanchez, Hodgson and Jol all had hits & misses in bringing players in on that basis. And Tigana. Would Saha have got a "yes" from the computer?  Equally would Saha have come to us without Tigana at the helm?

Lots of factors in recruitment. Stats just one element.  Getting the right mix is key

[Mince n Tatties]

Couple of Turkish clubs interested in
Rolan now.

[Fulham76]

Couple of Turkish clubs interested in
Rolan now.

He's not coming to us.

He/his agent are using us to get a better deal at a bigger club. I'm not sure he'll find what he's looking for in turkey but unlikely he'll be a fulham player next season in my opinion.

[hovewhite]

Cant see it myself a good CF is difficult to get for our team very difficult.

[deano_632]

Deal agreed for Rolan.........
http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2017/07/08/por-fulham-agree-deal-for-rolan/

[Jonaldiniho 88]

10 in 31 equates to around 15 in 46. Anyone know the quality of the French league other than Monaco and psg? I'd welcome any striker and if true this is great news. The report seems too accurate to be completely fabricated.

[cmg]

The article tells us no more than we already knew. The clubs have agreed terms but the player remains to be convinced to come to a Championship outfit.

Bordeaux were 6th in Ligue 1 last year, reckoned by UEFA to be the 5th strongest league in Europe.
He has a decent scoring rate and played his 25th international for Uruguay in their latest match (v Italy).

I'd say he would be a valuable acquisition if only he could be persuaded to come...if only!

[Tabby]

10 in 31 equates to around 15 in 46. Anyone know the quality of the French league other than Monaco and psg? I'd welcome any striker and if true this is great news. The report seems too accurate to be completely fabricated.

The French league is usually fairly low scoring and defensive. Only teams to buck the trend are basically Monaco and PSG. Bordeaux scored 53 goals in 38 games for example.

The quality is about equal to championship outside of the top half. Better in the top half.

[Walsh]

If that article is accurate then I'm not happy about it being Kline and Khans decisions to sign him. Need to let Slav pick the players he wants.

[Wearethewhites]

Article slightly behind, talks have already taken place, and gone well by all accounts.

[Tabby]

If that article is accurate then I'm not happy about it being Kline and Khans decisions to sign him. Need to let Slav pick the players he wants.

Slav isn't a scout. He has a veto on any player signed though, according to reports, so I doubt they'd force him to play Rolan.

[westcliff white]

The two Turkish. Labs for Rolan have made no bids only one bid and that's ours

[Wearethewhites]

Article slightly behind, talks have already taken place, and gone well by all accounts.

"By all accounts".... except your own account yesterday...

Cant agree terms, as it stands, he doesn't want to come, or drop down

If you're going to claim an ITK source at least be consistent in what you claim they've told you

Sorry, yes, it's all made up rubbish, please forgive me.

[westcliff white]

Article slightly behind, talks have already taken place, and gone well by all accounts.

"By all accounts".... except your own account yesterday...

Cant agree terms, as it stands, he doesn't want to come, or drop down

If you're going to claim an ITK source at least be consistent in what you claim they've told you

Things move on and change quickly, fingers crossed right now

[hovewhite]

Really hope this guy signs quickly and its done and dusted.

[westcliff white]

Rumoured late interest from Newcastle in Rolan, no bid and it is just a rumour

[hovewhite]

Rumoured late interest from Newcastle in Rolan, no bid and it is just a rumour

Your on the right topic,its all rumour!

[Pavel Dempsey]

Fulham interested in Everton goalkeeper Joel Robles. #ffc