23 Apr 2016 12:30:46
Thanks for your earlier answers Ed, I was wondering whether you had anything to share regarding English and or HG youth players we may be looking at? Tottenham for example seems to have plenty of impressive young players in their 1st XI as well as their U21s/ U19s; and whilst I am well aware we have an U19 squad that has just won the U19 Champions League again, but we have major issues integrating them into the senior team; who are the English/ HG alternatives?
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{Ed002's Note - Typically youth players are not ready for the first team immediately. Between the U19s and the first team there is the U21/reserve side - perhaps one or tow will see more opportunities - or perhaps a loan player or two. I am not aware of English kiddies of interest but there may be some.}
23 Apr 2016 07:23:47
Hello EDs. You've earlier mentioned us looking at Embolo, Gabriel Barbosa, Mark Stendera and spoken a bit about Isco. Could you give us the statuses on these players, and do you think they'd be given an actual chance if we bought them, or do you think they would just become some of many loaned out players (speaking of the first three here)? Also, are we interested in Vitesse's Mitchell van Bergen?
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{Ed002's Note - Basel's Breel Embolo remains a target of Arsenal, Borussia Moenchengladbach, Chelsea, Spurs, Inter, Juventus, Red Bull Leipzig and West Ham with Basel aware of interest from all of these clubs in addition to Wolfsburg who have discussed a transfer with the club and had an offer rejected. Inter will push to agree a summer move as they don't have the money for a transfer unless they can offload Icardi. Manchester United, Barcelona, Everton, Real Madrid, Southampton, Liverpool and Leicester have also had the player watched.
Santos' Gabriel Barbosa is of interest to Fiorentina, PSG, Galatasaray, Chelsea, Arsenal, Dortmund and Manchester United. However, although much is expected of him he is only a teenager and whilst there is an agreement between Santos and Barcelona that may be exercised in 2016, I suspect that he won't move there just yet. His agent mentioned that Fenerbahce had made an offer but I suspect that is incorrect and it was Galatasaray and there interest has now gone. I rather doubt Gabriel will end up in Manchester, unless it is in the away dressing room. Chelsea and Fiorentina have held fairly recent discussions and continue to try to strike a deal - but it looks unlikely right now. Both Dortmund and PSG are looking to make an offer offer but I suspect there will be something that will make PSG step back.
Eintracht Frankfurt's Marc Stendera has been recommended to Chelsea by a former player as one who will likely play a major part of the next generation of German players. Bayer Leverkusen had an enquiry about him rebuffed but that may not deter Dortmund in the summer but Nico Kovac wants the player to extend his contract.
Real Madrid made Isco available summer 2014 - although priced at a level where all but a handful of teams could afford him. They also offered him to Chelsea at the same time as a part exchange for a player but Chelsea were not interested. There was interest from Bayern Munich in the past but that has gone. Arsenal made an enquiry regarding Isco's availability in the summer but their first choice was someone else and then no longer a priority. In addition to Chelsea he has also been offered to PSG and Juventus - and Juventus put a significant offer on the table in the summer but it was not accepted. Arsenal may look again and I do expect that Milan, who have been interested in the past, will emerge as possble contenders, but the money will be an issue. Right now there is no interested from Chelsea but Juventus are again keen.
I would not expect any of these to join this summer as things stand right now.}
23 Apr 2016 08:49:08
Thanks a lot for putting your time in such a great and detailed update :) Really appreciate it!
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{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}