Player Watch Player Watch: Giovani Lo Celso

[Pochemon94]

More Barca woe: Spending limit cut by €379m

Barcelona's financial woes continued on Thursday as LaLiga slashed their spending cap by almost €400 million ($429m) for the new season, from €649m to €270m.

www.espn.co.uk

And specifically about Roque who they might not be able to register in Jan.

FC Barcelona’s Vitor Roque Arrival ‘Impossible’ Amid Financial Fair Play Issues: Reports

Vitor Roque's expected January arrival at FC Barcelona is in jeopardy because of the club's Financial Fair Play issues according to the Catalan media.

www.forbes.com

They had to sell Dembele for €50 mil to balance books and got very favourable loan deals for Cancelo and Felix. The fact is it’s not just about spending for them it’s about registering players which has been a big issue. I’m fairly sure they will be looking to offload Raphinha as he has been underwhelming and on very high wages, plus they think they can get a good fee for him but even then they are still struggling. Plus there’s talk about Araujo to BM, They still need to raise funds for Cancelo and Felix who they want to keep. Buying Gio would be a very big ask.

I could see them doing what they did with Arthur and pjanic with Juve, make the transfers insanely inflated so they help with accounting

 

[mil1lion]

More Barca woe: Spending limit cut by €379m

Barcelona's financial woes continued on Thursday as LaLiga slashed their spending cap by almost €400 million ($429m) for the new season, from €649m to €270m.

www.espn.co.uk

And specifically about Roque who they might not be able to register in Jan.

FC Barcelona’s Vitor Roque Arrival ‘Impossible’ Amid Financial Fair Play Issues: Reports

Vitor Roque's expected January arrival at FC Barcelona is in jeopardy because of the club's Financial Fair Play issues according to the Catalan media.

www.forbes.com

They had to sell Dembele for €50 mil to balance books and got very favourable loan deals for Cancelo and Felix. The fact is it’s not just about spending for them it’s about registering players which has been a big issue. I’m fairly sure they will be looking to offload Raphinha as he has been underwhelming and on very high wages, plus they think they can get a good fee for him but even then they are still struggling. Plus there’s talk about Araujo to BM, They still need to raise funds for Cancelo and Felix who they want to keep. Buying Gio would be a very big ask.

I think they'll get a creative deal done again as they always do. I don't think it will be for Lo Celso though as we won't agree to such terms. Every time they keep signing players and getting them registered.

 

[Bluto Blutarsky]

I think he’s a much better player than Sarr. There, I said it

update?

 

[rabbikeane]

If he want Barca and they can't pay, maybe we can swap with players from their dominating women's team.

 

[TOLBINY]

One game? That depends on a) Maddison returning on schedule, not a certainty and b) having no other injuries. It also as things stand would leave us with only Gil as cover for the front 3 with Kulu in midfield. The idea that we sell first then hope to complete deals late in the window (Notoriously hard anyway and everyone would know we were desperate) is pure insanity imo

I meant wait until late to sell and buy - that way we still have PEH and GLC for the January games.

 

[Thenewcat]

I meant wait until late to sell and buy - that way we still have PEH and GLC for the January games.

I’m absolutely fine with selling PEH if we have the replacement - I don’t think it’s realistic to be changing two and it’s unnecessary when GLC is a good player who fits well as an 8 in this system. We need a CB, then an upgrade on PEH, then I’d put another forward ahead of trying to replace GLC. 3 is probably unrealistic in January, 4 isn’t happening. I did the analysis last year, barring Chelsea’s recent instanity no top 6 side has brought in more than 2 first teamers in a January window in recent history. The most successful was Bentancur/Kulu

 

[Ghost Hardware]

I’m absolutely fine with selling PEH if we have the replacement - I don’t think it’s realistic to be changing two and it’s unnecessary when GLC is a good player who fits well as an 8 in this system. We need a CB, then an upgrade on PEH, then I’d put another forward ahead of trying to replace GLC. 3 is probably unrealistic in January, 4 isn’t happening. I did the analysis last year, barring Chelsea’s recent instantly no top 6 side has brought in more than 2 first teamers in a January window in recent history. The most successful was Bentancur/Kulu

I just don’t get why we would want to sell him atm. Regardless of the fact that the majority of European teams are broke or have minuscule budgets, Gio has been consistently good to excellent in his four appearances thus far for Ange in the league scoring 2 goals in the process. I’m a little baffled why everyone is trying to push him out of the club at this point when he could turn out to be an excellent squad player. He clearly suits the system, has excellent technical ability, he puts in a shift and certainly seems to care.

Beyond that once we start playing in cup games we will need to be constantly rotating our midfield and that’s forgetting about Afcon. Imo he’s done more than enough with the chance he’s been given to warrant seeing out the season with us to see if he can earn a contract extension. If not then sell him in the summer which we would probably have a better chance of doing anyway.

The only team who would potentially be able to pay any reasonable fee for him now is probably Villa and I’d rather not strengthen a direct rival.

 

[TOLBINY]

I’m absolutely fine with selling PEH if we have the replacement - I don’t think it’s realistic to be changing two and it’s unnecessary when GLC is a good player who fits well as an 8 in this system. We need a CB, then an upgrade on PEH, then I’d put another forward ahead of trying to replace GLC. 3 is probably unrealistic in January, 4 isn’t happening. I did the analysis last year, barring Chelsea’s recent instantly no top 6 side has brought in more than 2 first teamers in a January window in recent history. The most successful was Bentancur/Kulu

Contract length is against us with both those players if I am not mistaken they will enter the final year of their contract in the summer. Unless we have plans to extend, then if we get decentoffers for them in January, we take it and use it to upgrade. I don;t see GLC having a long term future under Ange - when everyone is fit he will hardly get a look in IMHO.

 

[Rosco1984]

SSN reporting that Xavia wants him in January

he can have him if he gives us Gavi or Pedri otherwise I cant see anyone being sold in january with the injuries and asia cup and afcon.

 

[Thenewcat]

Contract length is against us with both those players if I am not mistaken they will enter the final year of their contract in the summer. Unless we have plans to extend, then if we get decentoffers for them in January, we take it and use it to upgrade. I don;t see GLC having a long term future under Ange - when everyone is fit he will hardly get a look in IMHO.

Are you actually Daniel levy? This kind of thinking is why we sold Sanchez in the summer and left ourselves short. How much more do you think GLC is worth in Jan than next summer, because it sure as hell isn’t as much as the difference between making the CL or not. You say ‘when everyone is fit he won’t get a look in’ - well first, everyone isn’t fit, in fact all of our top 4 midfielders are already injured or are going to miss time. Second he will get plenty of game time if we’re back in Europe, but that’s another call for the summer. Our squad isn’t deep enough to risk letting a productive player go, especially with the injuries we already have and AFCON. It’s madness

 

[TOLBINY]

Are you actually Daniel levy? This kind of thinking is why we sold Sanchez in the summer and left ourselves short. How much more do you think GLC is worth in Jan than next summer, because it sure as hell isn’t as much as the difference between making the CL or not. You say ‘when everyone is fit he won’t get a look in’ - well first, everyone isn’t fit, in fact all of our top 4 midfielders are already injured or are going to miss time. Second he will get plenty of game time if we’re back in Europe, but that’s another call for the summer. Our squad isn’t deep enough to risk letting a productive player go, especially with the injuries we already have and AFCON. It’s madness

If we can sell GLC and PEH in January for a reasonable sum and sign say Connor Gallagher or (insert name of your preferred midfielder) then I think that is sensible business. If we cannot secure a player we consider to be an upgrade, then we definitely keep one of the two til the summer. I would rather oen player who is either a nailed on starter or is providing genuine competiition to start in midfield, than two players who will be keeping the bench warm most weeks becuase we are worried about being short for a game or two - this is a rebuild process.

 

[JamieSpursCommunityUser]

Are you actually Daniel levy? This kind of thinking is why we sold Sanchez in the summer and left ourselves short. How much more do you think GLC is worth in Jan than next summer, because it sure as hell isn’t as much as the difference between making the CL or not. You say ‘when everyone is fit he won’t get a look in’ - well first, everyone isn’t fit, in fact all of our top 4 midfielders are already injured or are going to miss time. Second he will get plenty of game time if we’re back in Europe, but that’s another call for the summer. Our squad isn’t deep enough to risk letting a productive player go, especially with the injuries we already have and AFCON. It’s madness

It isn't madness IF you sign Gallagher AND a 1v1 winger to free up Kulu to rotate as a 10.

If that isn't possible, you keep Gio until the summer and rebuild in a more open market.

In the short term I believe it would actually help us more with AFCON and Bentancur's injury because Gallagher is better suited than Gio as an Ange 8.

Gallagher has the elite engine to protect transitions and counter press for 90+10 minutes which Ange requires in the role.

Without that our defence is more vulnerable to transitions, particularly behind the inverted full backs.

Kulu is marginally better than Gio as an Ange 10 imo, has a higher ceiling, and greater versatility to get more minutes.

So why try and crow bar Gio into an unbalanced 8 role IF you can trade him in for a better suited player?

 

[HildoSpur]

It isn't madness IF you sign Gallagher AND a 1v1 winger to free up Kulu to rotate as a 10.

If that isn't possible, you keep Gio until the summer and rebuild in a more open market.

In the short term I believe it would actually help us more with AFCON and Bentancur's injury because Gallagher is better suited than Gio as an Ange 8.

Gallagher has the elite engine to protect transitions and counter press for 90+10 minutes which Ange requires in the role.

Without that our defence is more vulnerable to transitions, particularly behind the inverted full backs.

Kulu is marginally better than Gio as an Ange 10 imo, has a higher ceiling, and greater versatility to get more minutes.

So why try and crow bar Gio into an unbalanced 8 role IF you can trade him in for a better suited player?

The problem with this is the length of contract he has. If we don't think he is going to be in our long term plans then we really should be looking to move him on sooner than later. I remain unconvinced that he can really make it here although of course I accept that he has made a good impact in the last few matches which has been great. I don't think he has the athleticism to regularly play in this system and I remain a bit doubtful whether he can sustain a good level of performances for anything more than a few weeks. He is a good player, no doubt about it but he is never going to be a regular starter here.

 

[JamieSpursCommunityUser]

The problem with this is the length of contract he has. If we don't think he is going to be in our long term plans then we really should be looking to move him on sooner than later. I remain unconvinced that he can really make it here although of course I accept that he has made a good impact in the last few matches which has been great. I don't think he has the athleticism to regularly play in this system and I remain a bit doubtful whether he can sustain a good level of performances for anything more than a few weeks. He is a good player, no doubt about it but he is never going to be a regular starter here.

I mostly agree about all this but I wouldn't consider selling Gio in January without a quality replacement that allows us to us Kulu centrally without weakening the overall XI.

We'd simply be weakening the squad and team in a very competitive fight for European football.

I'm expecting the top of the table to be very tight this year, and given AFCON ASIA and injuries we could easily end up out of Europe again if we try to be too clever.

Short term results matter to avoid destabilising the longer term project.

Personally I view Gio as one of our best 14-15 players who just so happens to only be really usable in our best covered position, at no.10.

He can still make a big difference this season if we're not able to better tweak the squad in Jan.

 

[Fitchspur]

If he want Barca and they can't pay, maybe we can swap with players from their dominating women's team.

Gio for Bonmati sounds like a fair deal to me

 

[Thenewcat]

If we can sell GLC and PEH in January for a reasonable sum and sign say Connor Gallagher or (insert name of your preferred midfielder) then I think that is sensible business. If we cannot secure a player we consider to be an upgrade, then we definitely keep one of the two til the summer. I would rather oen player who is either a nailed on starter or is providing genuine competiition to start in midfield, than two players who will be keeping the bench warm most weeks becuase we are worried about being short for a game or two - this is a rebuild process.

Selling 2 to get one is crazy. We already have 2 major injuries and 2 more known absences. The current situation should tell you the risk of not having a deep enough squad and hoping for injury luck.

 

[Thenewcat]

It isn't madness IF you sign Gallagher AND a 1v1 winger to free up Kulu to rotate as a 10.

If that isn't possible, you keep Gio until the summer and rebuild in a more open market.

In the short term I believe it would actually help us more with AFCON and Bentancur's injury because Gallagher is better suited than Gio as an Ange 8.

Gallagher has the elite engine to protect transitions and counter press for 90+10 minutes which Ange requires in the role.

Without that our defence is more vulnerable to transitions, particularly behind the inverted full backs.

Kulu is marginally better than Gio as an Ange 10 imo, has a higher ceiling, and greater versatility to get more minutes.

So why try and crow bar Gio into an unbalanced 8 role IF you can trade him in for a better suited player?

I’d make 3 points - 1) in far from from convinced Gallagher is a better player 2) I think Gio is a better 8 than 10 in Ange’s system (and have no problem with Kulu as the backup 10, think he is very well suited) but most importantly 3) it’s a question of priorities. As I keep saying, teams simply don’t get 4 players in in January. So our most urgent task is to buy a CB, then we should be looking to upgrade PEH, then buy another forward to rotate and allow Kulu to cover 10 more and then, maybe, you could look to upgrade Gio. I like Gio but even if you don’t we aren’t getting 4 players in in Jan so it just shouldn’t be a priority to try to replace him

 

[HildoSpur]

I’d make 3 points - 1) in far from from convinced Gallagher is a better player 2) I think Gio is a better 8 than 10 in Ange’s system (and have no problem with Kulu as the backup 10, think he is very well suited) but most importantly 3) it’s a question of priorities. As I keep saying, teams simply don’t get 4 players in in January. So our most urgent task is to buy a CB, then we should be looking to upgrade PEH, then buy another forward to rotate and allow Kulu to cover 10 more and then, maybe, you could look to upgrade Gio. I like Gio but even if you don’t we aren’t getting 4 players in in Jan so it just shouldn’t be a priority to try to replace him

Gallagher may not be a better player than Gio however he is undoubtedly better suited to the way Ange wants us to play with his ability to press and his superb work rate, also he is home grown. I'm not saying we should be rushing to sell Gio in January but I do think if somebody gives us a good offer that we should certainly consider it due to his contract situation. We won't sell both Gio and PEH in January but we might sell one depending on offers and if we can get the likes of Gallagher in. As you said though the number one priority is clearly another centre back however central midfield is not far behind.

 

[Thenewcat]

Gallagher may not be a better player than Gio however he is undoubtedly better suited to the way Ange wants us to play with his ability to press and his superb work rate, also he is home grown. I'm not saying we should be rushing to sell Gio in January but I do think if somebody gives us a good offer that we should certainly consider it due to his contract situation. We won't sell both Gio and PEH in January but we might sell one depending on offers and if we can get the likes of Gallagher in. As you said though the number one priority is clearly another centre back however central midfield is not far behind.

HG would help of course, but for me we should 100% focus on selling PEH. Teams have been interested and he just isn’t good enough technically for Ange, which Gio definitely is.

being realistic, if we get a CB in and then either an upgrade for PEH or another forward in that’s a really good window. I’d be ecstatic if we did all 3

 

[HildoSpur]

HG would help of course, but for me we should 100% focus on selling PEH. Teams have been interested and he just isn’t good enough technically for Ange, which Gio definitely is.

being realistic, if we get a CB in and then either an upgrade for PEH or another forward in that’s a really good window. I’d be ecstatic if we did all 3

Centre back (ideally home grown), Gallagher and a loan for Jota would be a great window in my opinion and hopefully doable.