If it were purely a question of funds I don't think he would have bought Young or Jones ahead of a CM. The problem is availability of the right player.
Luka Modric / Signs for Real Madrid
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I'm really not sure how anyone can say we don't need a midfield reinforcement (or reinforcements). I know Cnut and others try to be positive in relation to our squad but this is in no way something that is positive about our squad right now.
Spurs are in all sorts of trouble next year, if Levy handles this transfer in his usual manner. His track record with deals like this is to hold out as long as possible try and screw every last penny out of the buying club, whilst ignoring the needs of his own manager to plan for a future without a player who clearly doesn't want to play for them.
They've had a number of seasons derailed by selling players too late to find an adequate replacement, or even starting the season with a player who is in the final stage of pushing for a move. End result, a wobbly start to the season, often compounded by blaming the manager for their woes and firing him mid-way through the season. All of which explains why every decent season they have tends to get followed by a mediocre one and they never get any sense of momentum or progress.
Absolutely, and hence I will be REALLY astounded if Levy does exactly the same with Modric!
I don't think they are going to sell, but then again Chelsea can easily bid close to the 50M mark as the window closes in August and kudos...Spurs are panic buying at the last minute. I'd have thought Levy and co have learnt from their mistakes, but football ey...
I think the likeliest scenario, if we were to get Modric would be to wait until January so that Modric and Spurs can reasses their chances of getting into the top 4? Modric might just leave for a more realistic price aswell.
I can't see us waiting though, yet I also don't think there are many other midfielders out there who would suit us like Modric would...
For me the only way out for Levy would be to be proactive and ask Chelsea for £50 million plus Daniel Sturridge.
Then go out and spend the whole lot on a top class CB and maybe another forward.
Their midfield is actually pretty well stocked even without Modric. That Sandro looks a player and they have Huddlestone, Jenas and the fella from Wigan that we used to be linked with.
Then go out and spend the whole lot on a top class CB and maybe another forward.
Their midfield is actually pretty well stocked even without Modric. That Sandro looks a player and they have Huddlestone, Jenas and the fella from Wigan that we used to be linked with.
That's stocked in terms of numbers, not in terms of quality.
Makes sense for them to see if they can include Sturridge in the deal though. Probably won't happen, though. Making sense isn't Levy's specialty, making money is.
I agree.
Perhaps slightly different this time in being so categorical about Modric leaving, but his record isnt the best.
For me, if a player desperately wants to go then you will eventually let him go. Surely the club benefits from getting the money in and moving on?
The irony of this is that Spurs really could do with spending significant sums in key areas and money of the kind talked about for Modric would no doubt help them do that by taking a step back to hopefully take a couple of steps forward.
Spurs major problem in getting back in the top 4 and keeping Modric (and others) happy will be finding the money and being able to attract top players - rather than picking over what the top 4 don't want. 'Arry will need to be shrewd in the transfer market this year.
By the way - how did this end up in my post? Not me - a bit bizzare.
"Wouldn't surprise me at all if this whole SNAFU ends up with Redknapp slinging his hook in a strop before the end of the year"
Exactly. If there were a Xavi out there to buy, I'm sure he'd be bought.
It's a bit difficult to believe that we can't find one suitable central midfielder while attempting to stockpile centre-backs.
I still wouldn't rule out the possibility that Fergie is wumming. He's a stubborn jock: everyone and their aunt has been telling him for years that he should strengthen the midfield and he just wants to show them that he doesn't have to follow anyone's advice.
I absolutely agree with that, which is why I don't think it's essential we actually sign an actual playmaker. But I still see another midfielder who is comfortable on the ball and a good passer as absolutely vital.
This. With the exception of 06-8, centre midfield hasn't been right since Keano's hip operation. Our successes have been despite it.
Every year someone says it
He's getting better...
The longer-term term stadium issue is separate from short-term transfer budget issues: Levy won't be trying to gradually save up cash for a new stadium by paring back transfer spending, because that would be a false economy (given the riches of CL money that accrue from finishing in the top 4). Instead the stadium question will revolve around much more substantial sums of money to do with things like share issues, the selling of naming rights, changing the development-scope details of planning permisson and so on.
As for next season, it's far too early to make a solid assessment because the transfer window still has a long way to run. But right now I think the composition of the top 4 next season is far from being cut and dried, because several of the candidates (besides Spurs) still have problems to resolve. For example:
* Chelsea: quite a few ageing players and a CM that's now looking weaker (hence the interest in Modric)
*Arsenal: dropped to 4th place last season, defensive issues and the possibility that Fabregas is going this summer.
* Liverpool: haven't spent wisely so far IMO (barring the signing of Suarez), have a fair few ageing players and lack quality in the wide midfield areas.
* Man. Utd: CM issues (hence again the interest in Modric) and it remains to be seen how well the loss of VdS will be covered.
Obviously Spurs can't compete withe very biggest or wealthiest clubs in terms of transfer fees or wages, but the signs are that a pretty substantial transfer budget will be available this summer. And it should be remembered that Spurs have something like the 10th or 11th highest income in global football terms, so are far from being poverty-stricken. Plus London and the Prem are attractive destinations for many players, and Spurs are fairly-well regarded across Europe and elsewhere.
I agree with you that bringing in a couple of good strikers is the top priority for Spurs (or at least 1 established striker and 1 with potential). The biggest or wealthiest clubs can't accomodate/sign all of the available good strikers, so I'm optimistic that we'll make a deal or two this summer.
Then we have Walker coming into contention (with Corluka) for the RB slot, Sandro looking like he's going to be a big influence in the DM role, Kaboul continuing to improve (now broken into the French senior team) and provide competition for Dawson/Gallas, Khumalo (our new S. African CB) as an as-yet-unknown factor, Danny Rose looks to be a decent backup in the LB slot and Friedel arriving to provide further GK slot competiton.
So all in all Spurs are not in bad shape ... and I expect we'll emerge at summer's end in better shape.
well, except youse very obviously need to sign a top-class centre forward which'll cost at least 25 million (Adebayor?) and a centre-half (Billy Gallas is a complete liability and Dawson is error-prone). Also don't think your goalkeeping issues are behind you.
This on top of keeping the players you have who one would have to assume will all be the subject of bids over the course of the window.
As regards us, well we're United, aren't we? Barring a goalkeeping disaster we'll be grand.
Is this the same as VDS?
So he'll be the worlds best player when he's 45?
Ooops, yes.
I wouldn't rule it out. He's Ryan Giggs.
I cannot argue with your logic.
SSN are reporting Chelsea are preparing to make an improved offer for him.
Radio: Caller: Modric is better than Fabregas... according to Football Manager | Radio talkSPORT
There you go, Modric is obviously better than Fabregas if FM says so...
There you go, Modric is obviously better than Fabregas if FM says so...
Not surprising. They'll be going £30m+ after a while.
Interesting theory on the stadium plans. I tend to approach it from a different view point - do we spend a lot of money (or money we haven't neccessarily got) in pursuit of the CL? Or do we spend the money on a new stadium and increase our revenue long term so we can conpete with the big boys year on year? Clubs have gone under chasing the dreama nd while I dont think that will happen - but £70/80 million onplayers buys a lot of bricks and morter.
Personally I think Spurs will no doubt spend. I suspect however that they won't spend big enough to bring in players which will vastly increase their chances of getting in the top four.
I think there is a significant gap between the current top four and Spurs. You raise some valid points - I expect both Chelsea and Man City to widen the gap between them and clubs from 4th down - simply because they can bring in top quality players. United I think will spend and will always be there or there abouts. Arsenal are the big doubt - but I suspect the new owners will back Wenger if he decides to finally spend in areas where they are weak - simply because they wont want to miss out on CL football.
Spurs can no doubt attract top players - the question remains whether they can attract players good enough to bridge the gap. I agree that Spurs are in decent shape - but I also think they need to improve dramatically to get into the top four, or hope that one of those already there has a very poor season.
If Modric is goin anywhere its to Chelsea - he's said that already. We've no chance of gettin him!
Them comments were relative, if we'd put a bid in he'd be saying he wanted to go to us.
"I want to stay in London" sounded pretty much absolute to me.
You really think he would have said that had we lodged the original bid?
I'd say he'd give it good consideration alright, but you'd have to think he's very settled in London now & goin to Chelsea he'll be steppin up without massively uprootin his life & family. London is a massive draw for people & you can see why when you visit there - fantastic city & it doesnt rain all the time
He might have remained quiet.
He might have said thanks but no thanks.
He might have said that we can stuff our bid up where the sun doesn't shine.
All we do know for sure is what he did say. What he did say was that he wanted to stay in London. I expect him to do just that, whatever we bid for him.
They've been saying that since Chelsea had the first bid rejected, it's not new news
"Sir Alex Ferguson set to break the £80m barrier for the summer by bringing in David De Gea and Luka Modric. (Metro)"
So assuming we spend near the region of £20mill on De Gea, that means he has a £60million deal lined up for Modric?
(or are they also including Jones and Young?
)Just sign him, dont care how much it costs just sign him
So assuming we spend near the region of £20mill on De Gea, that means he has a £60million deal lined up for Modric?
(or are they also including Jones and Young?
It says for the summer, what do you think?
So assuming we spend near the region of £20mill on De Gea, that means he has a £60million deal lined up for Modric?
(or are they also including Jones and Young?
most definately that, 60m for modric is just madness.....
So how much do you think the bid for Modric is?
Madness.
The price will be exhorbitant but I fear SAF will dig his heels in and we will get taken to the cleaners on the price for a player who isn't even in the top bracket of midfielders.
We have to spend wisely.
The price will be exhorbitant but I fear SAF will dig his heels in and we will get taken to the cleaners on the price for a player who isn't even in the top bracket of midfielders.
We have to spend wisely.
£16.5m Jones
£17m Young
£18m De Gea
£35m Modric
£87.5m and that'll be the summer spending done IMO.
If we spent that much I imagine the club would see that as our spending done for the next few years.
Pfffftttt. That is barely the Ronaldo money.