Polarboy

An even more extensive examination of Tonali and his numbers, for people who like that sort of thing.

Romano has supposedly said that the sell on clause percentage that Milan would get for Tonali is 10%. A sizable enough chunk, but 10% and under isn't too bad.

Interesting thread on this Hancko guy. Apparently he predominantly plays left back for Slovakia, so he's more adept there than it might at first glance appear, or indeed has merely filled in, in that position out of necessity. He certainly seems more comfortable there, and supposedly has greater attacking threat and athleticism than Burn. A more defence minded full back than a Trippier, but who can still get forward to decent affect is likely what Howe is looking for. If you factor in that we likely already have good relations with Feyenoord since doing the Minteh loan deal, and this could be a goer.

Having someone who's proven they can crack double figures on goals and assists over a number of years in the PL is decent experience in my book. And that's in a side who were predominantly extremely defensive under Hodgson. And look if his wage demands are ridiculous, and they likely will be given he's on a free and it's his last big contract, then it will be a nonstarter, but if they weren't we could do a lot worse on a free transfer. Again if Howe could bring out his full potential, and he was consistent over a season, he could be a monster.

Would you take Zaha on a free? I mistakenly thought he'd already decided to go to a Saudi side, but apparently he's yet to make a decision on where he'll play. He's 30 so obviously above the age range we've been looking at, but a bit of experience as well can't hurt. There has always been question marks about his mentality given his undoubted talent, but if Howe could work his magic he could be immense under the right circumstances. We could also sell ASM and put the money towards a third big money singing after we sign Maddison, Szoboszlai or some other attacking mid. Great bit of business 😉

I'm sure he was upset to leave his boyhood club, but he can wipe away the tears with the 115k a week. And it has to be said that, again, while I'm sure he was very conflicted, Milan and his agent were always likely to make it a smooth exit for him given his connection to the club. They aren't likely to say nah he's happy enough because he's tripling his wages, and he was upset about Maldini being pushed out anyway. And obviously it always leaves the room for him to move back to AC later in his career if he doesn't leave on bad terms, where the fans think he was happy to leave for better wages.

Seen people talking about Tonali's wages and they work out at about 115k a week, if you exclude the performance related bonus'. Given that Bruno is likely about to get a new contract worth 200k, and Trippier is on around 125k, people can't really say he just came for the money when he won't even be our top earner. Granted he's more than doubled his wages at AC, but I'm sure he could have gotten considerably higher wages elsewhere, or indeed insisted that he be our top earner.

Decent thread on Tonali.

Just reading about Chiesa's injury. He ruptured his ACL in January 2022 and made his comeback in October of the same year. They say it takes at least a season to get back into the swing of things from an ACL, so whoever does buy him could be getting him at good time where he's back to being capable of his best levels.

Well yeah, if we are actually in for him I'm sure the medical would be extensive. I could be wrong, but I think a bad ankle injury is actually more worrying for that sort of dribbler player. Someone was talking about Joe Cole recently and they were saying that a bad ankle injury can fuck up your entire career if you're constantly shifting your balance when you play.

Apparently Juve refused to extend Chiesa's 8m euro a year contract which is why it's looking like he's on the move. What you can take from that is that they perhaps don't believe he's worth that new contract, they can't afford to pay it, or a bit of both. His form has seemed to have tailed off a bit since the Euros. I think he had a fairly big knee injury. If we could get a decent price, and Howe could help bring him back to that form, then we'd have a real bargain on our hands. Juve are supposedly looking for around 50m, so if we could get that closer to 40m it would potentially be great business.

I'll be interested to compare Tonali and Rice's numbers come the end of the new season, given that Rice will probably end up costing more or less double Tonali's fee.

I wonder is the sell on clause a percentage, buy back/first refusal option, or both.

As nice as it would be the Hernandez link seems fanciful if you give it any thought. A starter for France and likely worth 60m+. Probably more than 60m+ actually when you see how much elite centre halfs go for.

Chiesa and Hernandez would be fucking ridiculous. Isn't that Italian journo one of the ones who've been on the ball regarding Tonali etc? I'll admit that I haven't watched a lot of Chiesa except for the last Euros where he scored a cracker against Spain. Looking at his stats he could probably score and assist a bit more given his skill, but reading about him he's definitely a Howe player given his extreme versatility being able to play across the front line and even in midfield, added to the fact that he's supposed to be very good out of possession as well in terms of pressing. Hernandez I'm sure people have seen more of. Pretty much the starting left back for one of the most talented French squads of all time. Or at the very least they have the deepest French squad of all time.

Is Szoboszlai on instead? We're going to end up with the top three dead ball specialists in the league playing for us if he does sign between him Tripps and Tonali.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fwgwg5 A ten minute piece by Italian journo Alessandro Schiavone on Tonali.

I still say Charnley would have had these transfers sewed up well before Ashworth like, and at a much cheaper price. Some chocolate covered rich tea from old Blighty and the Italians would have creamed themselves.

😂

Yeah it will be an amazing deal for West Ham if they can get him back to his Leeds form.