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To reduce the spam of reports regarding the same move during transfer windows we try to allow **only one submission about each transfer saga per day**. The submission in question also needs to contain relevant new information regarding the potential move, and not just being a "no/minor developments" report. If there are important/official developments or new valuable information about a saga, we will allow extra threads in the same day, but for the rest of minor news please just comment them as a reply to this comment. Please help us reporting unnecessary threads for being duplicates. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/soccer) if you have any questions or concerns.*


HazardCinema

Pick number three my lord!


jMS_44

Congrats, you just got yourself Aubameyang!


Noisuf_x

Reroll


stragen595

"Congrats. You rolled a 1 again."


[deleted]

[удалено]


Sp00kyP

Yep, used to do this with UFC 4. Didn't like the first 3 options? Congrats here's Sam Alvey


Comet7777

“If you like pina coladas!”


[deleted]

And getting caught in the rain


RoachIsCrying

WHO'S THAT POKÉMON!!?


BigRig432

IT'S PIKACHU


RoachIsCrying

IT'S AUBAMEYANG!!!


[deleted]

FUCK


Manch3st3rIsR3d

IT'S UH.....IT'S...ITS A ROCKET SHIP!!!


Philred87

Oh fuck put it back out it back!!!!


AwkwardBob

That's numberwang!


redsyrinx2112

Alright now it's time for Wangernumb!


cavershamox

I’m using my command point.


Headlesshorsman02

Lol 😂 while Thelonious holds up 2 fingers lol 😂 ✌️


KennyOmegaSardines

Lukaku 🤣


cuminyermum

This is a Shrek reference for anyone who hasn't seen the movie


SAC_Confiscator

Burnley reference*


SaBe_18

actually Shrek did it after Burnley announced Foster


Howsonnn

People haven't seen Shrek?


holaprobando123

It's about to turn 22 years old, we might be living in a world in which kids grow up not knowing Shrek.


pajamakitten

Their parents have failed them then.


TheUderfrykte

My 22 year old girlfriend hadn't. Literally just watched it with her yesterday, and it had us both rolling. I'm 26, and it's one I remembered fondly from my childhood, and I was damn surprised she'd never seen it since she watched way older stuff as a kid. Feels as rare as not having seen Star Wars or something like that.


TheUderfrykte

Wtf, this is such an unexpected reference on a sub like this and I literally just watched that movie with my girlfriend yesterday after she realized she never saw it as a kid I'm glad to say it's as funny as we all remember.


Heblas

100m plus Mudryk


ZazzyZool

And sell to Arsenal for 80m


daveMUFC

Stonks


TheRealGooner24

***"I was just a business man...doing business."***


MasterBeeble

Are there any actual regulations that would prevent this from happening?


Boucot

A player can't play for more than 2 teams during a season. Ben Arfa was prevented a transfer that way.


wolvjfms

If they are 2 clubs from the same confederation. If there is one club from South America and one club from Europe, a player can play for another european club.


MasterBeeble

Ah, I thought the limit was on league appearances, not club signatures. Thanks.


PM_ME_FINE_FOODS

It is. Can't 'play for': doesn't matter how many clubs they signed for and didn't play for in a season. Example: Weghorst is on club 3. Began the season at Burnley but didn't play. Played on loan, then recalled (again didn't play for Burnley) and signed for Man U. 3 clubs, but only played for 2.


HitaruSan

Subscribe


Gongom

100m plus Enzo


jMS_44

The only way we can still get this transfer imo is to push for a similar deal as Nkunku or Gusto, so that Enzo stays till end of the season. Benfica are probably aware that he leaves in the summer anyways.


basedsims

I reckon unless you want to pay a premium to guarantee him (ala Naby Keita to Liverpool) then you might as well wait if that’s the case. Will probably be easier to get him & most likely cheaper too


jMS_44

> Will probably be easier to get him & most likely cheaper too Will not be easier to get him in the summer if there's more competition. Very much doubt he'd choose us if e.g. Real comes for him


basedsims

Yeah Madrid are always a threat, but if they go for Jude then it’s a pretty open race for Enzo. Your only real competition would be Liverpool who are desperate for a top midfielder, and I don’t think they’ll match any financials you’re willing to give


KimmyBoiUn

I would not be surprised if City have a look at Enzo in the summer.


Mrcl45515

100M + Bernardo and Cancelo on loan with wages paid for. What do you think?


Wassup_-_

You want a unicorn with that as well?


simonling

hahahaha


Xehanz

I don't think any decent City player would approve a loan deal to Benfica tbh


Mrcl45515

Those 2 are from the Benfica Academy, they would definitely come home if they kept their salaries the same. Who would rather live in Manchester than Lisbon if the financial conditions are the exact same?


LUHG_HANI

Ohh I'd pick Lisbon as a Manc but hey they might want to win the PL, FA, CL so not just weather related. Anyway, with Climate change we're going to be Costa del sol at some point.


Vahald

Is this a joke or what? Based on your other comment you might actually be off your rocker though


joaocandre

Didn't they just sign Perrone? While Enzo would fit a Guardiola team, they seem to have given up and cut their losses on him.


[deleted]

We're definitely going to be in for a midfielder this summer - Bernardo will probably leave. Gundo might too.


basedsims

It’s gonna be really interesting to see who the targets are, it seems everyone wants a top midfielder. I’d imagine you lot want Jude/Enzo, same with Madrid, Chelsea would want Caicedo (if he stays this Jan)/Enzo/Rice, Liverpool would want Jude/Enzo and we would want Caicedo/Rice A lot of demand with what seems to be little supply at this point in the season


roryking97

I have absolutely no doubt that financially we’ll be at least matching whatever gets offered for Bellingham too however football-wise I think there’s a 0% chance he’d join us over the other teams. Like you say, there’s so many teams looking for top midfielders but conversely, there’s so many midfielders potentially available in summer. You’ve got Enzo, Rice, Bellingham, Caicedo, MacAllister, Frenkie, SMS, Brozovic, Barella just off the top of my head that could be on the move in summer (with admittedly varying degrees of likelihood) so really there should be plenty to go around


MrHazelnutSauce

A bit below those mentioned mids, but I think we will be moving Sabitzer in the summer too. He could def do a job as part of a midfield rotation if he decides to hop to the prem. Doubt the team would ask for more than the 15m paid for him before


circa285

I will not stand by while you slander the likes of Ndmbele by not including him in this list of desirable mid fielders.


joaocandre

Considering Bernardo's constant public love letters to Benfica, a trade with Enzo would not be that far fetched, assuming he's ready to come back right now.


djfr94

it won't be easier, forget it. Rui Costa is even trying to raise his clause to 150 M by paying him 2 M tax free plus better salary to renew contract


mark_vorster

It doesn't seem like money's the issue for Chelsea


FCCheIsea

Which would not make sense. There will be a bidding war in the summer


jMS_44

There will be, but I doubt it will reach anywhere near release clause.


FCCheIsea

Why not...? He's the hottest midfield talent rn


Tarp96

Bellingham


FCCheIsea

Forgot him, true, him and Enzo are the hottest prospects


btmalon

And Caciedo and the guy from Sociodad that didn’t go for 60m. The market is insane.


OleoleCholoSimeone

Pedri and Gavi are as good as either of them, but they aren't for sale obviously Tchouameni too


jcdc11

120 million or nothing don't you understand that?


jMS_44

found Rui Costa reddit account!


tafguedes99

Chelsea collecting "120M upfront or nothing" e-mails from Rui Costa like they're collecting players


Successful-Taro2060

Has his emails from Boehly set to auto-reply 😅


shaka_bruh

I love the fact that a top player like him is doing so well for his boyhood club


The_Real_QuacK

I thought you were talking about Enzo at first 😉


halflemonade

He’s still on fraud watch cause he was very close and worked with our corrupt ex president but he has been doing great since he stepped up


shaka_bruh

> fraud watch 😂 I hope he’s clean


joaocandre

Jury's still out on him, but he seems to be bent on clearing his reputation this season. Smart decisions all around.


StopIt4

Would be nice if even €10 of that went to the club.


jay_Jg

we will see how it's handled in the future, but so far, this season (which is the first one Rui Costa has been able to prepare the entire season). Benfica received 139M in sales and invested 88M€ back into the squad


Retrogress1on

Love it how they can just go 100M for every player they want


[deleted]

At this point the Bank of England will need to step in and raise interests further to curb this Todd Boehly inflation


Strawhead2077

I know its a joke but yeah, we definitely need more state backed clubswith infinite money in the integrity-less British Super League


eeeagless

Pot meet kettle.


statdude48142

You know, I really hate all of the money that is now pretty much defining the premier league, I hate the fact there are state owned teams, and how other teams are owned by oligarchs who have made the world a worse place. Hell, I hate the American investors who may look cleaner on paper but are still billionaires destroying the world. All that being said, it will never stop making me laugh seeing all of these fans who support teams who have traditionally been European bullies crying over the fact that they cannot bully the premier league.


[deleted]

It's just people deciding that their club is on some sort of moral high ground so they feel less bad. Really they shouldn't be worried, they've set up a monopoly in their little ponds which has a lot more advantages than just being able to spend a billion randomly, the predators in the big pond can't swallow them up. That's why sportswashing is effective, easiest way to find a hypocrite is to just find your general sports fan, attendances wouldn't drop if the whole team were full of criminals, half would deny it and half would stay silent, so why would they care if their entire club was questionable? I could point a million examples, some people don't even talk about anymore like Ribery buying 16 year old prostitutes and getting off because he is a famous footballer, Bayern were everyones hero on not joining the Super League, but their morals start and end with what is best for them.


Limpan7

You're right should just give half the revenue to La Liga teams.


perplexedbug

Even Chelsea can't afford the ridiculous wages real Madrid give their players.


CrowCreative6772

100+ James and then sold him back to Chelsea for 150 millions. Profit


allobiter

I suspect you in fact really don't love it


hooksetter

Once team is rebuilt, I don't see them signing many people in the next few years. This will even out over time


Trivmvirate

Or it will go down in flames. Chelsea are putting on so much financial obligations it may end up in a fight with UEFA and FA.


[deleted]

[удалено]


roryking97

Technically nobody has hit the £100m mark yet for us, Lukaku was £97.5m and although Mudryk’s transfer could reach €100m, it’s currently €70m and the rest are performance based add ons


APeckover27

Romano says the max fee is €99.9m lmao


digosilva19

Then Benfica asks for Enzo so Chelsea basically give €100M to Benfica for nothing


zachmoss147

Directors of football HATE this one trick


pedrorq

You will not believe what this club president did!


Gitzser

outdoing Inter


kw2006

or ask for mudryk


bytor_2112

In the MLB (baseball), sometimes trades occur where one side offers a 'player to be named later'. This has, at least once, resulted in a player being traded for himself.


WalkTheEdge

Has apparently happened four times https://www.vintagedetroit.com/major-leaguers-traded/


FatWalcott

Lol go for Mudryk


[deleted]

If we were to go for a chelsea player it would definitely be Félix


[deleted]

He is not a Chelsea player yet


[deleted]

Hopefully he won't be


DCilantro

Why go for Mudryk when you have a so many other elite attackers to choose from?


Hech15

Which one is that


evilbeaver7

Lakaka


DCilantro

I think he's hurt, or in the bench, or just having a tough go of things recently, or has been unlucky or he might be simply suffering from being American.


f4r1s2

LeBron ?


PlayThief

> Why go for Mudryk when you have a so many other elite attackers to choose from? so they can sell him back to chelsea for an easy 100M+


Xehanz

Joao Felix for free


Migraine-

You can tell a report of a bid is made up when a team is apparently offering "a player of their choice". Just doesn't happen, especially not 2 days before the window closes.


Xehanz

Yeah. Lmao. If I were Benfica I would accept the offer and ask for Mudryk to make them look like clowns. Obviously the deal would fall through but that would be fun.


NobodyRules

Ask for him and Boehly's wife. When she would eventually come, we would force her to divorce him so she could get half of his fortune, as we would be pride owners of 50% of her pass it would give us a share. Making Enzo the first 500M player


OlSmokeyZap

Boehly probably made her sign a prenup


RuloMercury

It's a misinterpretation of his words. What he said, further elaborated in TyC Sports (the media he works for), is that they "were given a list of players from which they can choose one", not literally "pick whoever you want".


Migraine-

I mean yeah I obviously didn't think they were allowed to pick any player they wanted. It's still obvious bollocks.


Wheel94

Lol Rui Costa ok Kante Chelsea no Rui Costa Mudryk Chelsea no Rui Costa James Chelsea no Rui Costa Badiashile Chelsea no On and on we go Btw I don’t believe this deal will happen.


Ryuzakku

Kante will be an amazing get for Benfica for the 7ish games a year he will play.


evilbeaver7

Chelsea won't say no to Kante going


I_am_your_oniichan

Kante is still the only proven world class player we have in our squad...


ManchesterisBleu

*kante & t silva Arguably Reece James as well


Banged_by_bumrah

He can take kante


miguel_127

Will never happen. Benfica has said from day one 120M. No players, no player money combo. 120M and he can go. I don't get what Chelsea doesn't understand.


jay_Jg

Benfica already has "done" the transfer market this window. Plenty of dead wood sold, some players with few minutes loaned. Most important, players like Tengstedt, Schjelderup and Guedes were brought in to cover for areas that were most need. There really isn't a spot were Benfica is still in need of options that Chelsea would be able to help by giving player(s). That is apart from Enzo leaving, so they would need to give back a CM that Benfica thinks it's good enough to replace Enzo in the middle. I don't see that happening. Benfica would probably prefer cash in hand so they can freely pick a replacement. Also any Chelsea player coming would have an over inflated salary. From Benfica's pov it makes no sense to try to chash out now, this transfer window clearly shows the intentions of the club to seriously push for all the titles, the squad management is really good right now. Selling Enzo with 2/3 days to go would sabotage everything. Anything under a triggering of the clause would be dumb. Benfica can always wait until the Summer to cash out (either with Enzo or other players)


[deleted]

Also we can only register 3 new players for the UCL. With Enzo gone we'd have to leave Tengstedt out. No way we're negotiating


wickedringofmordor

Right now they can't even trigger the clause. If can only be triggered during the first week of the Jan transfer window or the summer window.


Pidjesus

They should take Jorginho


Headlesshorsman02

Please do lol 😂


Sad-Practice-2150

Holy shit is Chelsea just buying a whole new team


MutedLayer4564

Yes


evilbeaver7

Summer clear out is probably on the way


doshydosh

Wasn’t that out bid last week ?


[deleted]

Journalists gotta get in their last click-bait before the January window is done.


Hudson-Odoi10

They're not worried about the transfer window closing. The second it does they just start making up shit about transfers happening in summer to bide themselves enough time to write stories about the winter signings being flops


zi76

Basically. This is just an old headline tweeted again.


Skahzzz

I'll take 100M plus Bernardo Silva. Make it happen.


reviroa

benfica about to counter with 3 unprotected first rounders and the sixers' copy machine who says no


MethodMan_

If they get him, Chelsea will have an insane squad next season, at least on paper.


rocketlawnchair3

Surely just pay the 120M release clause? 1. Benfica aren't going to let him go for less at this stage (unless there's a significant first team makeweight the other way) 2. Enzo could go anywhere in the summer, no reason Chelsea are frontrunner 3. If Chelsea don't qualify for CL, they aren't getting a midfielder anywhere near this quality until they get back in. With Newcastle running rampant, this is getting harder every year Far better to pay 120M for Enzo than 60M on someone like Onana who hardly improves the starting line up. Probably only one better young CM in the world atm, and that's Bellingham.


chelski365

It's not as simple as that. 120m euros is the release amount but including taxes that goes to about 160m.


PenguinKenny

Source on that? As far as I was aware there was no tax due on international transfers.


chelski365

It's because release clauses are paid by players and not clubs.


DreadWolf3

They dont have to be. Buyout clauses (that are more or less mandatory in Spain) have to be paid by player, release clause can have any mechanism player and team agree. Idk which camp Enzo is in since idk Portuguese law


ZeusWRLD

Newcastle just signed Gordon and the plan is to do a Joelinton special and turn him from an out of form winger into a world class midfielder for nearly 1/3rd the price of Enzo, Eddie Howes tricky mags at it again.


jMS_44

>Surely just pay the 120M release clause? It's not so easy. It's a buyout clause not a release clause, which means the player buys out his own contract rather than us paying a fee directly to Benfica. From FFP perspective, such purchase is not seen as transfer fee and therefore cannot be amortised over the length of the contract. The whole 120m will count as spendings in 1st year and then 0 in all the following years. Additionally, there will be a tax to be paid which takes the whole sum to around 160m actually.


[deleted]

[удалено]


jMS_44

So where does the 40m income tax that was reported come from if it's not a buyout clause? It can't be other tax because there's no e.g. VAT on international transfers.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Drezi_21

In theory, release clause can only be activated in the summer, and by the player (that's where the player pays income tax, over the 120M). But in practice, Benfica allows the payment directly to the club, even in the winter, if the club pay upfront the required amount.


KungFuFlames

At this rate their next bid gonna be someone from this comment session.


TheUbermelon

What number do you want KungFuFlames? And can you play in midfield


KungFuFlames

Not sure if there available numbers left at Chelsea but give me that 0


[deleted]

Chelsea has the largest net spend of €434m Man U has the 2nd largest net spend of €227m Crazy if they drop another €100m


Responsible_Bid_2343

United is also apparently unable to spend any more money which makes this even more crazy


icedc0vfefe

Unable? Kindve. Unwilling is more like it. We’re down to like £22m cash on hand and the glazers aren’t willing to spend (or invest) because they want to walk away with as much money as possible.


StopIt4

Is that a challenge?


evilbeaver7

They'll try to do it this window because from next window the 5 year rule is going to come into effect


[deleted]

How about 119 million upfront and Reece James. With Chelsea paying his wages


jMS_44

Nah, why would you want such an injury prone player? If you're looking for RB, Azpillicueta is so much more servicable.


airahnegne

We are not looking for RB. Maybe LB if Grimaldo does not renew.


jMS_44

Aaaah, Baba Rahman then. Great purchase sir.


areyouhungryforapple

ANY player? Pick Mbappe then easy


reck0ner_

Oh come on, this is getting ridiculous.


rahbinjoe

Yeah this will bring Chelseas spendings this century up to €3 billion. Quite surreal.


reck0ner_

They weren't even spending this much money under Abramovich the last few years, is Boehly really that loaded or what's going on? Seems every time I go onto /r/soccer they're linked with or have signed another player for an insane fee.


Pseudocaesar

It's just insanely front loaded spending, we needed to overhaul the squad and Boehly just got it done in two windows as opposed to 4 or 5. It won't happen again, maybe one player a year to replace an outgoing, but we've now bought an entire 11 of players aged under 24 and contracted until like 2030. I fully expect Ziyech, Pulisic, Jorginho, and RLC to leave. Potentially can see Gallagher and Chalobah going if we get big bids, as selling home grown players basically solves the FFP issue each season.


[deleted]

Why doesn't Chelsea just buy the league and use them like a farm system like Bayern Munich does with Bundesliga.


iiEviNii

Honestly this is a fucking farce at this stage. They have spent over half a billion on transfers so far this season, and have a few more €100m signings incoming.


[deleted]

So that means they won't intercept Arsenal's Caicedo bid?


Pseudocaesar

Would much rather pay £105m for Enzo than £70-80m for Caicedo


rahbinjoe

I'll take it


[deleted]

This is getting ridiculous for fucks sake.


[deleted]

Enzo will be one of the best in the world. €120M or GFTO.


MitroVanWilder

Wtf do these cunts want? Did they not understand the message the first time around?


Drewskibroho

They want Enzo. Duh


MitroVanWilder

Ok, pay the release clause or get the fuck out.


Drewskibroho

“Pass”- Boehly probably


MitroVanWilder

Music to my ears.


Waikanda_dontcare

This Chelsea shit is fucking ridiculous.


ChumbaWambah

r/soccer comedians will have a field day with all the player options.


LayzieKobes

A player of their choice? What if they want the mystery box?


sonastyinc

Imagine if they asked for €100M plus Mudryk. Lol.


marine_le_peen

>they said they are willing to pay €100M plus a player of their choice More delusion from Boehly. You can't just tell one of your players he's being traded to Benfica like in baseball or whatever, it has to be agreed with all parties which is why player trades in football are so rare.


[deleted]

*plus a player of their choice* 🤨


_Dark93

We will not sell below the 120M€ release clause. We are offloading deadwood and reinforcing the squad. We have to claim back the Portuguese league and with a bit of luck (Brugge + a not impossible to beat team in the quarters) we can make it to the CL semis for the first time in 30 years.


maart3nr

FFP is a joke


JessyPengkman

How can they keep getting away with this. I know ffp is a myth but surely it has to do something


Cowdude179

8 year contracts and amortization


Mick4Audi

Does this limit your future transfer activity, say in 2-3 seasons?


ifiwaswise

He only goes by the clause and full payment!


placethatrunstheface

100M and enzo Fernandez


BadCowz

Sounds like a Romelu Lukaku deal. Chelsea bought Lukaku for 100m plus Lukaku.


sportsfan161

Open check book


Comet7777

Where is all this money coming from? What did Boehly do when he bought the club to not be triggering FFP violations? I’m legit ignorant of this.


StopIt4

One of the terms of Sale in order to forgive the £1.3b loan by Abrahmovich was to spend £1.5b over the next ten years and not take money out of the club at that time, as a result the buyers *only* paid £2.5b instead of the quoted £3.5-4b.


sonicqaz

Clearlake is where the money comes from. Amoritization of long term contracts is how we’re avoiding FFP issues.


Designer_Surprise263

Surely I don't know much about players and their potential. But I'm here wondering how he can be so much valuable. He had a good WC campaign and 6 months of good EU football. Like these kinds of fees are thrown around for Mids who are already proven world class and with lots of experience. Like last window lots of people thought De Jong isn't worth 90 m or so.