07 Jun 2018 22:17:02
Good evening Eds. Hope you're all well.
General question, more your opinion on transfers fees.
Not going into the depth of money involved and basing this question on reported fees paid for players. Last season saw Neymar £200m, which led to Dembele £150m, Coutinho £140m and Mbappe being priced north of £180m. This seemed like an explosion from the previous top fee, Pogba I think at £89m. It also seemed like a new acceptance and suddenly £75m for VVD was not really much of a blink. Above average players like Keane at £30m or Butland being priced at £40m was normal and Ox at £50m was just done. Whereas for me those last three were double their value from a season previous with prices.

So now this window just started and we look like we've signed a sort after Brazilian at £39m and Lyons captain at £44m. (And include Fred to Utd at £53m) . These two together are surely classed as level with VVD, potential to be world class and currently at the top end of their positions. Yet combined they've cost the same as we were paying for VVD during last summers boom.

So was last season a massive one off? Are fees already just returning to a more normal level? Were we then really lucky to have sold Coutinho when we did for what we did as this summer it's half really not £150m. Interested to know what you guys see and think as you're closer to that world. If you have time.

Thank you.

{Ed025's Note - market forces dictate the prices JMc but i see what you mean mate..


1.) 07 Jun 2018
07 Jun 2018 22:39:13
Jm, it's the same every few years, there is some massive signing, coutinio or Neymar now. I remember Roberto Baggio going for £7 mil to juve, it seemed crazy! People were gobsmacked.

I remember the kaka transfer, over 100 million euroes I think, as gain people were gob smacked.

Five years ago fab and ox would have been 20mil plus players. Two hundred million for Neymar was crazy but it was a buyout clause and the team are owned by a country. Its not just a great forward you get with Neymar, it's a brand, like Ronaldo.
I
I'd take Bale over Neymar or Ronaldo though, that's going to be a massive fee if it happens. Depends on who is managing Los blancos, if it was me I'd tell Bale he starts every game, no way would I sell him.


2.) 07 Jun 2018
07 Jun 2018 23:19:42
I think it's going to stay mad the way Chinese clubs are slapping huge figures on players like Oscar and such. That's pushing up values too. Not to mention the oil monies coming into the game. Remember when Rio Ferdinand to United raised eyebrows.


3.) 08 Jun 2018
07 Jun 2018 23:47:23
I think the Chinese government put a 100% tax on foreign players though didn't they? They didn't want all their money going abroad, if I'm correct. There was a slight boom a few years ago, but you won't get the same outlays as regularly unless something changes there.


4.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 00:21:45
You also need to look at how many years are left on each contract etc! All prices aren’t on the same terms.


5.) 08 Jun 2018
07 Jun 2018 22:36:59
Thanks Ed. I know it was a long winded question, just didn’t know a shorter way to get across my thoughts. So basically unless Ronaldo or Bale move for £150m-£200m it should be business as usual.
Good. Prefer a more realistic expectation and if lucky enough to have the reported £200m budget, be happier to get four quality players then two with that. Yes, yes let’s not talk money or budgets etc, but you all know what I mean.

Thanks again, have a top evening.

{Ed025's Note - you too mate..


6.) 08 Jun 2018
08 Jun 2018 07:27:43
I think Prince Hendo, Baggio went for double that to Juve around £14m.
It was more the spike. The fees increase each year sure, but the sudden jump. Yes 10 years ago £20m was huge and now it’s common. But I meant more how £50m-£60m was getting you an elite player the season before last, Pogba was a jaw dropper at £89m, when only players like Ronaldo and Bale we’re around That. It was as going to happen, the first £100m player and he was going to be special. But bang Neymar £200m, Dembele £152m Mbappe £180+m. Then a defender VVD can be £75m. It was just a massive jump in one season. Honestly would we have expected to get half the Coutinho fee the previous summer?
By tracking a path these figures shouldn’t have happened for many years. So I was interested to know if it’s going to normal or return to that path looking at our two recent deals for two top draw players. Ed answered.