🌞Summer Silly Season Transfer thread 2026

[sarnian]

do suggest he's hardly been a disaster or something to be ashamed of.

Again, that's far too dismissive of his contributions. He's been a significant improvement on the RCB's we had prior to his arrival. Now if folks want to have a discussion about whether we should have signed him because of his age and price (and whether we'll be regretting the signing in a year or two) that's one thing, but if we're simply talking about his performance over the past few seasons, he's been very good for us.

Reading the Andersen posts perhaps this should be renamed The Inquest Page.

[jayffc]

Interesting discussion, would like to know more about potential acquisitions.  I notice Tete has been mentioned quite a bit.  I have always liked Tete.  Just wondering if anyone knows if he is currently healthy and ready to go.  Not sure if/how much he played in pre season.  Appreciate a Tete update.

He played in the behind closed doors friendly last week apparently, but with Castagne doing well in pre season, It looks very like if either of our Fullbacks were to leave it would be Kenny.
Higher wages, sadly very injury-prone and seemingly less suited to Arbeloas system of very high attacking wing-backs

I love Tete but it probably makes sense for him to move on IF we manage to secure Fort or another attacking target at RWB like Bellanova

[WindyCity]

Interesting discussion, would like to know more about potential acquisitions.  I notice Tete has been mentioned quite a bit.  I have always liked Tete.  Just wondering if anyone knows if he is currently healthy and ready to go.  Not sure if/how much he played in pre season.  Appreciate a Tete update.

He played in the behind closed doors friendly last week apparently, but with Castagne doing well in pre season, It looks very like if either of our Fullbacks were to leave it would be Kenny.
Higher wages, sadly very injury-prone and seemingly less suited to Arbeloas system of very high attacking wing-backs

I love Tete but it probably makes sense for him to move on IF we manage to secure Fort or another attacking target at RWB like Bellanova

TY for the update and commentary

[General]

Palhinha reunited with Silva for 14m euros... 


João Palhinha to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement with FC Bayern done at €14m plus €5m maximum add-ons.

Documents to be exchanged in the next 24h with president Rui Costa after green light from Palhinha as
@Record_Portugal
 reported.

After Aston Villa deal off, João's ready for Benfica.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090436984019771778?s=20

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

Palhinha reunited with Silva for 14m euros... 


João Palhinha to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement with FC Bayern done at €14m plus €5m maximum add-ons.

Documents to be exchanged in the next 24h with president Rui Costa after green light from Palhinha as
@Record_Portugal
 reported.

After Aston Villa deal off, João's ready for Benfica.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090436984019771778?s=20

Even though he's past his best and hasn't impressed at either Tottenham or Bayern Munich this still feels like quite a cheap fee for him. Although I suppose the money is a bit of a write off as you can assume no residual value.

[Deeping_white]

Palhinha reunited with Silva for 14m euros... 


João Palhinha to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement with FC Bayern done at €14m plus €5m maximum add-ons.

Documents to be exchanged in the next 24h with president Rui Costa after green light from Palhinha as
@Record_Portugal
 reported.

After Aston Villa deal off, João's ready for Benfica.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090436984019771778?s=20

Even though he's past his best and hasn't impressed at either Tottenham or Bayern Munich this still feels like quite a cheap fee for him. Although I suppose the money is a bit of a write off as you can assume no residual value.

Also his 6 figure weekly salary makes it impossible for us to sign him given it would be money you'd never get back

[Chi_FFC]

All interesting stuff. I will say as well to the eye test, there were so many games where we actually defended well for 85 minutes, and then seemingly switched off late in games or conceded silly soft goals out the blue..

Random factoid. If all our matches over the past two seasons had ended right before the 85th minute, we'd have taken 4 fewer points than we actually did. In the two prior seasons there'd have been no change.

[bencher]

Palhinha reunited with Silva for 14m euros... 


João Palhinha to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement with FC Bayern done at €14m plus €5m maximum add-ons.

Documents to be exchanged in the next 24h with president Rui Costa after green light from Palhinha as
@Record_Portugal
 reported.

After Aston Villa deal off, João's ready for Benfica.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090436984019771778?s=20

Is there no rivalry issue with being an ex Sporting player and moving to Benfica?

[jayffc]

All interesting stuff. I will say as well to the eye test, there were so many games where we actually defended well for 85 minutes, and then seemingly switched off late in games or conceded silly soft goals out the blue..

Random factoid. If all our matches over the past two seasons had ended right before the 85th minute, we'd have taken 4 fewer points than we actually did. In the two prior seasons there'd have been no change.

The comment wasn't just about the specific 85th minute onwards fwiw but wasnt worded best. It was saying we would seem to defend well for vast majority of the game and one silly fluffy moment would cost us, either switching off late OR conceding out the blue (should have made clear I meant this during the match itself, where we'd seem like we were dominating or playing really well, then randomly concede, failing to capitalise on otherwise decent performances ).

Also ya don't need to keep pushing back on my comments about Anderson, ya preaching to the choir here, I don't think he's been the disaster others have suggested is my point, upgradeable but not what people make out he's been. I think his first season was good and last one decent enough across the season...but I will also say stats alone on general defensive performance of the team don't tell the full story and there are plenty other factors at play, and last year many games where Diop could reasonably say he probably deserved to start over him on form. But again, whilst I do think he probably doesn't suit this sytem under Arbeloa, I also think he's a solid  midtable defender

[General]

Palhinha reunited with Silva for 14m euros... 


João Palhinha to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement with FC Bayern done at €14m plus €5m maximum add-ons.

Documents to be exchanged in the next 24h with president Rui Costa after green light from Palhinha as
@Record_Portugal
 reported.

After Aston Villa deal off, João's ready for Benfica.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090436984019771778?s=20

Even though he's past his best and hasn't impressed at either Tottenham or Bayern Munich this still feels like quite a cheap fee for him. Although I suppose the money is a bit of a write off as you can assume no residual value.

I'm not sure it's fair to say he didn't impress with Spurs - he was one of their key players last season and scored more than a few goals that were key to keeping them up, in particular the goal on the last day that actually did. Spurs fans were split on wanting to keep him, but many/a majority did seemingly want to keep him for the effort he gave to the club last season.

Even if you go on FPL he scored the most points for the whole club.

I appreciate they were poor last season as a team, but if anyone came out with credit, then Palhinha was one of them.

He didn't fit Kompany's tactics at Bayern and was used infrequently, but if I remember correctly also had issues with his relationship where his partner split from him- or at least that was what was said. Still came out of it with having played some CL football and a Bundesliga title, so can't have been all bad.

I'd take him back at Fulham, but I just don't think we'd go there on his wages.

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

Palhinha reunited with Silva for 14m euros... 


João Palhinha to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement with FC Bayern done at €14m plus €5m maximum add-ons.

Documents to be exchanged in the next 24h with president Rui Costa after green light from Palhinha as
@Record_Portugal
 reported.

After Aston Villa deal off, João's ready for Benfica.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090436984019771778?s=20

Is there no rivalry issue with being an ex Sporting player and moving to Benfica?

It's a bit like Bayern hoovering up all the Bundesliga talent - it's got to a point now where it just happens and I don't think it courts the same level of controversy as it did before.

[Super Mick]

We signed Diops replacement yet?

[WindyCity]

The comment wasn't about the 85th minute onwards fwiw. It was saying we would seem to defend well for vast majority of the game and one silly fluffy moment would cost us

I think that sort of thing happens with all clubs.  That said, with FFC new way of playing high press, my worry might be similar, being vulnerable to the counter.  We saw just this in the Stuttgart game with Leno making a great save at the end to preserve the win, even though FFC had pretty much controlled much of the game.  Fingers crossed no fluffy moments in those sorts of games......

[Neutral Zone Ultra]

Palhinha reunited with Silva for 14m euros... 


João Palhinha to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement with FC Bayern done at €14m plus €5m maximum add-ons.

Documents to be exchanged in the next 24h with president Rui Costa after green light from Palhinha as
@Record_Portugal
 reported.

After Aston Villa deal off, João's ready for Benfica.

https://x.com/FabrizioRomano/status/2090436984019771778?s=20

Even though he's past his best and hasn't impressed at either Tottenham or Bayern Munich this still feels like quite a cheap fee for him. Although I suppose the money is a bit of a write off as you can assume no residual value.

I'm not sure it's fair to say he didn't impress with Spurs - he was one of their key players last season and scored more than a few goals that were key to keeping them up, in particular the goal on the last day that actually did. Spurs fans were split on wanting to keep him, but many/a majority did seemingly want to keep him for the effort he gave to the club last season.

Even if you go on FPL he scored the most points for the whole club.

I appreciate they were poor last season as a team, but if anyone came out with credit, then Palhinha was one of them.

He didn't fit Kompany's tactics at Bayern and was used infrequently, but if I remember correctly also had issues with his relationship where his partner split from him- or at least that was what was said. Still came out of it with having played some CL football and a Bundesliga title, so can't have been all bad.

I'd take him back at Fulham, but I just don't think we'd go there on his wages.

The majority of Tottenham fans I saw didn't seem to be that impressed, as you say it was a low bar last season. Either way, my point is that his stock has only gone down since having left us.

[Chi_FFC]

but I will also say stats alone on general defensive performance don't tell the full story and there are plenty games where Diop could reasonably say he probably deserved to start over him on form.

I'll keep it brief here and just say this is wrong. Diop was a nice backup to have but if he'd have played more over the past couple of seasons we'd have certainly been worse off in the table.

[JimmyConway]

but I will also say stats alone on general defensive performance don't tell the full story and there are plenty games where Diop could reasonably say he probably deserved to start over him on form.

I'll keep it brief here and just say this is wrong. Diop was a nice backup to have but if he'd have played more over the past couple of seasons we'd have certainly been worse off in the table.

Absolutely.

[jayffc]

but I will also say stats alone on general defensive performance don't tell the full story and there are plenty games where Diop could reasonably say he probably deserved to start over him on form.

I'll be kind here and just say this is wrong. Diop was a nice backup to have but if he'd have played more over the past couple of seasons we'd have certainly been worse off in the table.

Jesus, alright man, literally can not be quantified by stats as too many variations (opponent, team available around them etc etc) that alter these, and doesn't make them a predictor of exactly what would have happened, so we'll never know with any certainty for you to be here stating it like its fact. I think season before last Anderson played better than this year on the whole, this season however I think there are games when Diops form deserved more starts where Anderson wasn't performing as an individual. Its an opinion, and ya free to disagree with it but talking like it can be definitively ruled one way or another is a bit much.

thats enough fof for the day

[jayffc]

The comment wasn't about the 85th minute onwards fwiw. It was saying we would seem to defend well for vast majority of the game and one silly fluffy moment would cost us

I think that sort of thing happens with all clubs.  That said, with FFC new way of playing high press, my worry might be similar, being vulnerable to the counter.  We saw just this in the Stuttgart game with Leno making a great save at the end to preserve the win, even though FFC had pretty much controlled much of the game.  Fingers crossed no fluffy moments in those sorts of games......

Sorry , missed this Windy, so before departing...

Perhaps, Just think generally it wasn't like our defence was all over the place on the whole. As for the counter next year, agree that's the big question...how open will our defence be with our fullbacks pushed so high up. We do seem to have systems for countering this with our deep midfield players and how our players move when in posession to out of possession. But how wide open we'll be we'll soon find out. Does seem it's one of the reasons we seem to be looking for defenders with physicality and recovery pace at RCB though.

[@jolslover]

but I will also say stats alone on general defensive performance don't tell the full story and there are plenty games where Diop could reasonably say he probably deserved to start over him on form.

I'll keep it brief here and just say this is wrong. Diop was a nice backup to have but if he'd have played more over the past couple of seasons we'd have certainly been worse off in the table.

Disagree. He looked more solid than Andersen last season

[I Ronic]

but I will also say stats alone on general defensive performance don't tell the full story and there are plenty games where Diop could reasonably say he probably deserved to start over him on form.

I'll keep it brief here and just say this is wrong. Diop was a nice backup to have but if he'd have played more over the past couple of seasons we'd have certainly been worse off in the table.

Disagree. He looked more solid than Andersen last season

Do you think he and Marco didn't see eye to eye?
I'm really surprised he didn't get more game time.