The Unofficial 2023 January Transfer Rumors/Done Deals Thread

[YayNJ]

Moukoko and Isak!

Their DOF really has been playing football manager

[Meets1]

So what's the book on Moukoko at this point? All potential? Too young to tell?

[mikee1186]

What's not to like about the kid? He just turned 18, he made Germany's WC roster, and he's performing well and getting results in the Bundesliga. No reason to let the pumper hype train get out of hand - we've seen this sort of player fail to pan out MANY times over the years - but there's legitimate reason to be cautiously optimistic about him.

[fadster]

I mean standing back and looking at him in isolation he's doing pretty well for someone who only recently turned 18. The issue he has is that he still has all the baggage of the mountain of hype he's had on him since 14/15 years old.

[YayNJ]

Aye, if I were him I wouldn't be moving yet. I'd stay at Dortmund for another couple of years. I'm not a money hungry agent though with no concern about my players welfare other than financial.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by mikee1186

What's not to like about the kid? He just turned 18, he made Germany's WC roster, and he's performing well and getting results in the Bundesliga. No reason to let the pumper hype train get out of hand - we've seen this sort of player fail to pan out MANY times over the years - but there's legitimate reason to be cautiously optimistic about him.

If he moves to Newcastle, he will have a much higher chance of success than if he moves to Chelsea or Barcelona, for the simple reason that Newcastle have a good management structure in place than knows what it's doing.

Whereas Chelsea and Barcelona are both administrative messes and clubs that like to buy shiny things with no clue how to develop or use them.

[mikee1186]

Agreed. The next move (or a longer Dortmund stay) is a critical decision at this stage of development. I don't know why he wouldn't stay at Dortmund for another 2-3 years at least, given their history of developmental successes. I hope he takes the long view.

[kingb22]

Originally Posted by mfw13

If he moves to Newcastle, he will have a much higher chance of success than if he moves to Chelsea or Barcelona, for the simple reason that Newcastle have a good management structure in place than knows what it's doing.

Whereas Chelsea and Barcelona are both administrative messes and clubs that like to buy shiny things with no clue how to develop or use them.

Newcastle (or staying at Dortmund) would be a good move for him, in that I see a lot of Callum Wilson's game in him. Would be a good guy to mentor under for a bit while you get your legs under you in the EPL. He also seems a guy who could play any spot in a front 3 if needed.

Isak I'm curious about. He's a guy who LOOKS great but when you see his actual goal tallies they aren't as good you'd guess. I'm rooting for him when he returns; when he was rumor'd to Arsenal I bought some of his cards.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by mikee1186

Agreed. The next move (or a longer Dortmund stay) is a critical decision at this stage of development. I don't know why he wouldn't stay at Dortmund for another 2-3 years at least, given their history of developmental successes. I hope he takes the long view.

Yep.....the list of good young players whose careers have stagnated because they made the WRONG move at this stage of their development is huge.

Just for starters....Coutinho, Dembele, Dest, Haavertz, Werner, Pulisic, Sancho, Ferran Torres, Donny Van Beek, and many more....

[YayNJ]

Pulisic stagnated due to being made out of glass tbf...

Poor fella hasn't been fully fit for years.

[YayNJ]

Felix to Chelsea on loan confirmed.

[kellmuff]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Pulisic stagnated due to being made out of glass tbf...

Poor fella hasn't been fully fit for years.

Out for months now according to Potter today. Chelsea utterly ravaged by injuries this season.

[YayNJ]

Originally Posted by kellmuff

Out for months now according to Potter today. Chelsea utterly ravaged by injuries this season.

Unlucky. I can't see a top flight return for Pulisic now. He was making noises about how he would leave Chelsea for a Champions League Club or whatever the rumors were, but I'm not sure he's going to be in any position to choose after yet another injury.

Feel you pain re: injuries, but considering you have something like 100 professionals on your books, I won't be shedding any tears - we had to put kids that hadn't even taken their GCSE's on the bench last season!

[YayNJ]

what an absolute joke.

Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 33, wants to leave Chelsea and return to former club Barcelona.

[mfw13]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Pulisic stagnated due to being made out of glass tbf...

His injuries certainly haven't helped.

But Chelsea's policy of buying sixteen gazillion attacking mids hasn't helped either. You end up constantly rotating players, which makes it difficult for chemistry to develop.

Werner and Haavertz have stagnated at Chelsea as well, and Mount hasn't developed quite as quickly as people had hoped either.

There's something to be said for having lineup consistency.....

[kellmuff]

Aubayang is finished as a top level striker anyways tbh. Should just go off to MLS for a pay day. He's dreadful.

Werner and Havertz were different to Pulisic tbh. They were given all the time and chances in the world. Pulisic wasnt. He'd had a couple good games and then get benched.

The prior two though, woof. At least Werner ran his socks off and never sulked. Havertz looks like a guy that was never told 'no' once in his life.

[Tones]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

what an absolute joke.

Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, 33, wants to leave Chelsea and return to former club Barcelona.

he'll end up in Saudi on a big money contract next year.

[YayNJ]

Chelsea have signed Mudryk on a 7 year deal, worth £70m + £30m in add-ons.

RIP Pulisic.

[chiefs]

Here we go! Mudryk to Chelsea. Best Ukrainian since schevchenko. Preferred he teamed up with zinchenko but club wanted their money. High hopes for him as he is the future for Ukrainian football. Excited for this move

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

[YayNJ]

Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire > Aston Villa): $??m

[Patrick Hamill]

Originally Posted by YayNJ

Jhon Duran (Chicago Fire > Aston Villa): $??m

Any good?

[reddragonthe]

Good business for Chicago. $2.5M... one year later, $20M. Decent return.

[Tones]

Originally Posted by chiefs

Here we go! Mudryk to Chelsea. Best Ukrainian since schevchenko. Preferred he teamed up with zinchenko but club wanted their money. High hopes for him as he is the future for Ukrainian football. Excited for this move

Sent from my Pixel 4a using Tapatalk

He's already 22, has scored 12 goals in 44 games in the Ukrainian League... has only made 8 appreances foir Ukraine...

$100M??? Im glad Arsenal backed out of the deal.

[YayNJ]

what do you mean, "already" 22?

That's still young lol

[chiefs]

Originally Posted by Tones

He's already 22, has scored 12 goals in 44 games in the Ukrainian League... has only made 8 appreances foir Ukraine...

$100M??? Im glad Arsenal backed out of the deal.

Darwin Nunez who is (cover your eyes) 23 years old just transferred 80 million
Georgino Rutter (who I like) is transferring 30 million after tallying 2 goals and 2 assists in the Bundesliga this season
Antony went for 100 million and has scored 3 goals this season

The list goes on and on for these young signings. This is what the market is right now. The money in football is stupid there is no way around it. There was a bidding war for this kid and that is why the fee went so high. But, please don't think that Mudryk doesn't have game and that he isn't going to ball out.

Was a few years back, but when the NBA had its last media deal and the cap doubled overnight. All of sudden Mike Conley (who I like) was the highest paid NBA player. Sometimes timing and circumstance have more to do with a player's wages than talent.