How Do You Replace a Legend? - The Transfers, Rumors & Lies Thread

🚨🇨🇦 Bayern bosses are very irritated with Alphonso Davies’ agent public statements where he constantly ‘flirts’ with the idea of going to Real Madrid. @SPORTBILD pic.twitter.com/dT8QeNwnUm

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) October 10, 2023

Bad Bayern breakup for a player wanting to go to Madrid? I’m getting Deja Vu

 

Of course I’ll address the Rodry part, my thought is, we’ll always need more that a starting 11 to win trophies, some fans are constantly talking about running players into the ground, are you saying he’s not good enough to play for Madrid at all, I guess my question is, considering what he has done on this team already what is that level and do these 10 games define him as a player?

 

For me it's about him. Is Rodrygo willing ng to accept being a sub. We saw Asensio's reaction, what will Rodrygo do when he's getting 15 to 30 minutes a game.

 

Rodrygo sits in between a regular starter and a sub player. He should be afforded sporadic starts here and there. Depending on the opponents and rotation.

One thing is clear, he hasn't shown Madrid undisputed starter quality for all his time here.

 

If Mbappe and Endrick come next season, someone needs to take the fall. And Endrick was playing on the right against Santos. He had some nice runs down the side. The right side might be the place where he gets his minutes in Madrid if Mbappe also comes. Where else can he play? He probably won't be significant here in the next three seasons, but the next coach probably will try to use him. This Guler kid also seemed to be an interesting prospect. Rodrygo might eventually become too expensive to be the backup. He is happy to be in Madrid now, but things can change rapidly if he is losing his minutes. His status with Brazil is very solid now, but what will happen if he is a glorified backup here when he is 25 years old?

 

The first thing to do Endrick is play him in Castilla. The boy needs to acclimate in Spain and be able to grow away from the pressure.

 

He should be brought up Rodrygo way.... halfway between Castilla and first team.

 

I think Endrick will play most of his first year in Castilla. And as mentioned by some posters, he may see quite a bit of time on the right as a pseudo 2nd striker/winger his first couple of years.

It could become very crowded up front in a year.

New #9
Vini
Rodrygo
Joselu
Kubo?
Brahim....

I have not even mentioned Guler because I have yet to see him play.

Even if they switch to 433, that is at least 6 players for 3 spots. Endrick becomes potentially the 7th player in this situation, which is not horrible given his age, but it means lots of minutes in Castilla.

I would like to keep Joselu as a bench player given his age and likelihood that will not complain about it. It is always useful to have a striker you can sub in late in games for headers.

 

Rodrygo played 3 games for Castilla, scored 2 goals and was promoted to first team. Vini played 5 games for Castilla, scored for 4 and was promoted to first team. Endrick unlikely to play long for Castilla espeically if they are in 3rd division. Joselu is on loan and Espanyol could be back in first division next season. If we get a proven scorer, Endrick will be the back up with Joselu returning to Espanyol.

 

The real question is, will Madrid splash on a true Striker?

 

It won't be up to him though. If we spend big on a scorer, club's next priority would be to develop 60 ME asset in Endrick rather than sign Joselu from Espanyol.

 

With the midfield packed, and assuming Mbappe is lined up with Endrick/Guler/Kubo waiting in the wings for the attack, I am betting we will start looking for a young high-potential CB soon in the mold of the Militao/Varane/Pepe/Ramos signings, with Rudiger and Alaba being on the wrong side of 30 and the latter having clear problems of late.

 

We dont know how long Endrick needs to settle. Joselu isn't an expensive temporary backup option either.

Heck, we don't even know if Flo will spend on an elite striker.

 

Don't forget Thibo is in his 30's post ACL.

 

What are the odds thats gonna be another midfielder?

 

I mean, RB is the actual biggest need, but I'm predicting what we'll do based on past actions.

 

If we don't sign an elite scorer, Joselu could be signed from Espanyol. But no one wants that after having Joselu as main striker this season. We need another Benz level striker next season and he'd be a lot younger than Benz. And such a signing would reduce Joselu's role so much that club would want Endrick to have those minutes.

Also Joselu won't get 3-4 chances to finish one when he's getting 10 minutes per game instead of starting like this season. Rather have Endrick come on as a sub with his pace and dynamism in such situations.

 

Lemme guess, it's either a cheap new young RB, like a Marcelo, or a buyback like Fran?

Or just buy another midfielder and play him at RB?

 

I've probably said this a couple times, but Vazquez's contract runs out in 8 months. It's strange to me to not see more rumors regarding a RB. I'm pretty certain Lucas will be gone and so, at the very least, we need someone to replace him either in a backup role or a competitor with Dani.

We see a lot of Davies rumors on the left side and I am excited for that prospect. However, we need to get linked to a RB.

Potential targets:

Unfortunately, Frimpong extended his contract until 2028. He may be expensive. Transfermarkt lists his value at 40 million but it will probably require more.

Market opportunities:

Free agents in 2024 include Wan-Bissaka and Klostermann. I think either of these guys can be serviceable stopgaps if we want to bring them in for free to be a backup for a while.

Players with contracts expiring in 2025 and may be had for a bit of a discount: Trent-Alexander Arnold, Geertruida, Tomiyasu. Obviously TAA would be the most interesting of this bunch.

Contracts expiring in 2026, wont be cheap: Hakimi, Ben White, Mazrouai, Foyth

 

I’ve read some sporadic reports about Malick Thiaw, a CB, just random stuff no doubt as per usual, anyone know if he’s any good though, don’t know him, just wondered

 

Modric just got asked if he will definitely be here in January and his answer was “At my age you have to take it one day at a time, there is a long time between now and the end of the year”.

WTF? It will suck majorly if he leaves in the winter.