Transfermarkt say that they have a 2 year option on Fati, so presumably they can use that to prevent him leaving on a free next summer and block clubs negotiating in January.
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Isn’t that only because a lot of their players have taken voluntary, temporary, paycuts? And they still can’t register all their new players? Let alone anyone they feel they need to buy.
Depends on the wording of the option. I’m sure sometimes the player has to agree for it to be triggered or it has an in built pay rise if they want to trigger it, which they might not be able to do right now.
How often do those “next big thing” players actually move at that young of an age? Sure Mbappe did but that was for huge money as was Sancho and both were stars by that point rather than still being under the radar.
Joao Felix is another that had that kind of profile as was Rooney I guess but I’m struggling to think of a player with that reputation that has had a successful move that early that hasn’t cost a fortune.
Fati would be a great signing. You certainly hope we’d be sniffing around if there was a hint he was available. But I think Barca will be looking to return to their roots and get more of that La Masia approach back where the core comes from their own ranks and they’ve got the next good generation coming through it seems.
These days potential costs a shed load but it’s a higher risk strategy than picking up players with a few more years experience that you can better predict how they’ll fit the system.
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I’d say they do cost a lot yeah, for what you’re buying at the time but for what you end up with nope.
So some examples I can think of would be Fabregas bought by Arsenal just before breaking out at Barca and breaking out there instead. Aguero when he went to Atletico Madrid. Rooney, Ronaldo going to United. Dembele and Aubameyang both fit the bill at the stage they went to Dortmund as does Haaland. In fact half of Dortmunds most famous players fit the bill including Reus, Lewandowski, Hummels and Bellingham.
I’d say Sancho fits more in with others (like Pulisic) that arrived a bit more under the radar then developed and exploded whilst there (like I’m hoping Elliott goes on to do here, like Gomez did).
Its a type of signing I’m struggling to think of us actually completing, we’ve tried and failed a few times and in many other times actually could have but decided to go for players who were considered more ready and safer bets for the here and now. Looking at you two Kewell and Kuyt that could have been Ronaldo and Aguero! Its a higher risk than we usually go for these days but its a high reward style signing.
Mbappe I wouldn’t actually say fits the category because as said he actually had his breakthrough at Monaco, where he had been developed. He was already that big thing when he moved to PSG (obviously with the fee involved).
Some of their players have taken wage cuts, they are still waiting for others to confirm they will do so. I haven’t seen it said anywhere these cuts are only temporary. They might be, but its worth remembering that part of the problem at Barca is the fall in income, much of which will have been temporary also.
Yes, depends on wording, but I’ve never seen mention of an option that can’t be exercised by the club because the player doesn’t want it, or vice versa. Never seen automatic pay rises mentioned before either but I would be very surprised if the option included a pay rise that the club couldnt honour given it was his first contract.
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I guess it’s pretty hard to pick them before they have that breakout. Rooney, Aguero, Auba, Dembele were all well known even though they were young and all went for big money.
Cesc was the best example of English clubs poaching kids from the Spanish youth academies. We tried that with a few as did others but no came close to the success of Fabregas. Not sure clubs can even do this anymore?
Our approach at the moment seems to be trying to pick up young English lads at a stage earlier as their contracts expire. Solanke, Brewster, Elliott, Balagizi all fit this bill. Supplement them with the odd foreigner like the Polish lad, all the young keepers we buy and Sepp and then see who can make the step up from there.
In fact, the only one we’ve bought that fits the age profile and under the radar nature is Grujic so maybe it’s just not part of our strategy for some reason. Too much yet to prove to be confident of the investment it would take maybe? For every Aguero, Haaland, Fabregas or Ronaldo there are dozens of “next big things” who’ve then fallen by the wayside or not reached their expected heights.
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Aye; I’m sure many of us still remember “Les Gems” for example.
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Grujic, Markovic, Luis Alberto, Illori, Borini, Assaidi, Coates, Plessis, Insua, Ryan Babel.
We really haven’t had many successes with that type of transfer. Not that it should dissuade us but perhaps highlights just how hard they are to get right. If Fati was a possibility then I’d absolutely try and make it happen.
Did read they were more open to Moriba leaving and not for silly money either. Another very talented kid they’ve produced.
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There is an English youth in PSV, Noni Madueke, who did pretty well in his first full season. Granted its the Dutch league but still at 19, seems like a good potential. Left Footed, dynamic, looks strong with considerable pace and likes to run with the ball and can score too.
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With our inactivity in the transfer window, I would love to see two 23-25 yr old, athletic, goal-scoring, assist-creating midfielders come into the club. Our midfield is way too old and doesn’t contribute enough towards winning, and we need to plan for the moving on of a few of these in the near future. I’d love to see Aouar & D Rice signed in this transfer window if we have any intentions of competing for trophies this year. I would even settle for Bissouma and Aouar. But we need youth, athleticism, and legs in that midfield. Barring that, I cant see us competing for trophies.
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I’m guessing it’s just a typo. An extra b there.
Edit: not the big one.
Ryan Babel I mean. Always got confused as to which one had the double b in their name. Will edit 
I watched PSV v Benfica the other day and though I noticed his runs, his final balls to the box always disappointed. Gakpo stood out more in that match.
theres no evidence of that or else we would have played Haaland and Camavinga vs Burnley.
conclusion- we arent trying to sign good young players.
If Liverpool are after Fati I can help there!
50 and perhaps not quite as mobile as I once was, but you don’t lose the touch, do you?
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With Shaqiri gone and the club unlikely to even register Karius, I believe we now have freed up a spot for another signing.
Come on Mikey.
I’m on the Camavinga train. Bellingham and Mbappé next year.
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I love your optimism 
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I’m still not giving up on Saul. Until the window officially closes.
The prices bandied about on Vlahovic forced me to abandon hope on that fancy.
It’s not likely now but with Arsenal looking in trouble with bad results, underwhelming recruiting and squad disharmony, there might be players worth looking at. I remember being impressed by Martinelli, he had injuries last season but I thought he was pretty good when he plays. But still have a long contract and Arsenal won’t entertain selling to PL teams above them I guess