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The transfer fees in football thread

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
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There was a time in my youth when Chris Sutton was sold for £5m to Blackburn. There was outrage at the time at a non-international player going for such a fee.

Then the Premiership exploded and very average players started going for £10m+.

Now there's a new wave of TV money and the Premier League club have money to burn.

Looking for value is hardly done anymore though we seem to be an exception to this.

At the moment there are still certain countries known for getting value. Buying from France and Holland are two destinations where buying internationals and highly touted players where it seems you can still get value, though there are obvious risks with these signings.

But as it is so widely known how much money PL clubs have will these destinations stop being cheap for PL clubs buying?

Money is really out of control in football. Fans still regularly talk about how certain players aren't worth £20m but it's a different world now. Clubs are using TV money to buy, they are not selling to buy.
 

Cavehillspur

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2011
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It's definitely out of control, waiting on the bubble bursting which it inevitably will you would think.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
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It's definitely out of control, waiting on the bubble bursting which it inevitably will you would think.
The interesting thing is Sky Sports are losing money and slashing costs, and BT are yet to make any money so you do wonder how they can both legitimise a bigger TV deal next time.

Obviously there's still lots of scope in the overseas TV deals, but its food for thought.
 

Danners9

Available on a Free Transfer
Mar 30, 2004
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https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/jul/14/kyle-walker-manchester-city-madness-premier-league

Guardian have just posted the above article, triggered by the impending sale of Mr. Walker.
and ESPN have this: http://www.espnfc.com/club/tottenha...lker-dier-raise-questions-over-spurs-ambition

the Dier stuff is really hypothetical here, used despite the denials to boost the angle.. but 50-55m will make Walker the most expensive English player ever. Think about that.

This question of 'ambition' from the media then the fans is an odd one. Everton are showing ambition but none of their signings would get in the Spurs side. Selling Walker doesn't necessarily show a lack of ambition, not if the circumstances are explored properly.

The Premier League is in a bubble. Spurs would be right not to pay 40-50m for someone like Sigurdsson who would sit on the bench. It's harder to find a bargain - partly because big clubs and agencies control prospects and dictate where that player can go to, partly because everyone else knows PL clubs have lots of money and hike the prices (see Sven Bender moving to Leverkusen for 15m). It's going to get harder and harder..
 

Oscar22

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2004
16,819
15,351
The problem it creates is that in a few seasons these prices won't be over the top. I remember back when 30million was HUGE money and bought you a top player who could change games on their own. Nowadays 30 million buys you an average to good player. Sissoko being just one example. Players moving for 10-15 million is so rare nowadays and is considered dirt cheap. Problem is now we are starting to see an influx of 80 million signings and a few that are even higher which means that in a couple of seasons 50million will be buying you a bang average player.

Everything they have done to try and remedy it has failed really, the whole FFP rules are a sham in all honesty. There's huge disaprity in what one club can afford compared to others. It's not just in England either, Munich usually hoover up all decent talent from each passing season in Germany, PSG do the same in France. Perhaps they should put a limit on the amount of players that a club can sign in one window, who knows.. i think they've probably already broken it too badly to fix if i'm honest.
 

Oscar22

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2004
16,819
15,351
That's a terrible example.

Well I wouldn't say he's always been terrible. He was semi effective for Newcastle and has had the odd game for France that i've seen where he was at least decent. I think it would be harsh to say he's anything less than average. Just my opinon of course.
 

NinjaTuna

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2017
1,878
7,155
I can't see this lasting, once the bubble bursts for the TV companies, the prices for players should then come down
 

rossdapep

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2011
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78,641
The concern for me is that other European leagues will get worse, the big clubs will get bigger and we will have this colossal gulf between the good teams and everyone else making it impossible for, say, someone like us to break the mould.

I know that this is already pretty much the case but can you imagine if City and United continue to blow everyone else out of the market? At some point they will start to assemble a squad that is formidable surely? At that point I can't see how even good coaching and smart recruitment can prevail?

Secondly, I hate the way that teenagers go for multi-million deals. FIFA should be placing restrictions on these and I'd like to see some restriction on how much kids can earn or move for. Keep them grounded, keep them working hard, help them make the right decisions.
 

DEFchenkOE

Well-Known Member
Feb 13, 2006
10,527
8,052
The fees now are a joke, 16 years ago £50m would get you Zinedine Zidane. Probably won of the top 10 players to ever lace up football boots since the beginning of time.

Now that gets you a John Stones or a Kyle Walker. It's ridiculous beyond belief.
 

Shadydan

Well-Known Member
Jul 7, 2012
38,247
104,143
The concern for me is that other European leagues will get worse, the big clubs will get bigger and we will have this colossal gulf between the good teams and everyone else making it impossible for, say, someone like us to break the mould.

I know that this is already pretty much the case but can you imagine if City and United continue to blow everyone else out of the market? At some point they will start to assemble a squad that is formidable surely? At that point I can't see how even good coaching and smart recruitment can prevail?

Secondly, I hate the way that teenagers go for multi-million deals. FIFA should be placing restrictions on these and I'd like to see some restriction on how much kids can earn or move for. Keep them grounded, keep them working hard, help them make the right decisions.

What inevitably happens when teams shell out big money on players they put pressure on themselves. Fan and media expectation heightens and they are expected to win something which means likely high turnover of staff including players and managers which means that they are constantly rebuilding their teams and have small periods of settlement. This is why smart recruitment can prevail because if you have a settled team and a club all pulling in the same direction you'll likely to improve your consistency and there is generally less pressure on you because you're not expected to prevail.
 
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