^ Big Dunc is still around. And I think they have someone who did the nuts and bolts of the job under Ancelotti at Real, Chelsea and Bayern. I'm not sure Lamps will last, but he'll learn a thing or two from him as well while getting games in. Personally, I'd like to have seen Garner stay and fight for a spot. I liked what I saw from him at Forest. But like McT, he's better off at one of these midtable English clubs.
Gibbs-White went to the same team that Garner played for last season. It just shows that even Nottingham Forest think Garner is not even worth 15 million right now, why would any team pay any more for him?
Forest were interested in Garner, but as a club coming up from the Championship were never likely to be the club able to pay the highest fee for him or be the most attractive option for him salary wise.
He was arguably their best player last season. I know they were interested in him this summer, not sure why they didn’t pull the trigger, especially at this price. Unless we weren’t sure about selling him at the beginning of summer so they moved to other targets. Pretty sure Forest have spent more this summer than any other PL club besides Us and Chelsea.
Now that the window is nearly shut, let’s speculate on what the hell happened in the FDJ saga. Because either we got played or someone spectacularly misjudged the situation from our side.
That they have bought a lot of players doesn't mean they are likely to be able to pay the highest for him (which was my point). They have signed a lot of players on low fees, mostly under £18m and they also signed some CMs when we were still deciding what to do with Garner.
Romano says there is a buy-back Not stated how much, but should hopefully explain in part the fee. At least if he develops strongly then we can look to get him back. More on James Garner deal. Medical already completed, terms now fully agreed with the player and £15m fee confirmed — with buy back clause for United. 🔵🤝 #EFCJames will sign as new Everton player in the next minutes — five year deal valid until June 2027. Here we go. pic.twitter.com/KAsMQZOEXN— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2022
Ten Hag also says the club will not buy anyone else before Thursday's transfer deadline once the signings of Antony and Martin Dubravka are completed. United have agreed an £81.3m deal to sign winger Antony from Ajax, while they are close to bringing in keeper Dubravka from Newcastle United. "For this window, it will be the end," said Ten Hag. "You always have to be alert at a top club. But we will go from September to minimum January with this squad." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62739608
Some context please. We needed to shore up the defense. We conceded too many easy goals and we had Liverpool coming up. The pundits had suggested Lisandro should play in the midfield because he's short. I never doubted Lisandro at CB, but didn't know he'd be this good either. I suggested Lisandro and Varane at CB with Maguire in front (not as a midfielder proper, but as a sweeper). Dropping the captain was not a light decision and Lisandro being MOTM wasn't a preordained fact. It was a big call and ten Hag got it right.
He was the best/most important player for a promoted team. That's usually enough for 20M. 9.5 initial fee is nuts. He's young, terrific engine, adaptable. The thing that pisses me off is that within 5 or 6 starts, he'd be miles ahead of Scott. Scott offers some things, but is really terrible at the things he sucks at. Any kid coming into the first team will suffer a little but if/when we need a squad midfielder in 2-3 seasons when we have our long-term 6 and an 8 next to them, we'll pay 40M for another Donny who won't be as good as Garner. It probably just is pragmatism. There's probably only minutes for 1 developing CM and they're gonna go to Iqbal this season.
Think it came down to Frenkie not wanting to give up the money Barca owe him. They didn't want to pay that money, they expected him to cave or for us to pay his deferred wages and he wasn't about that and neither were we. He'll get paid 500K a week to be a rotation player for them. I think they assumed they could still move him because they registered Kounde with money from the board... like people's personal money they put into Barca's coffers. I think they didn't make a big deal out of it because they wanted that money back pending a sale and also they probably feel pretty stupid with all the 'levers' talk.
No buy-back according to Whitwell Fee for James Garner to Everton: £9m rising to £15.5m in add-ons, there is a sell-on clause included but United do not have the option to buy him back [@lauriewhitwell]— Man Utd Stuff (@ManUtdStuff) September 1, 2022
Official, confirmed. Amad Diallo has joined Sunderland on loan until June 2023 with no buy option included. ⚪️🔴 #SAFCFull agreement signed today with Manchester United. pic.twitter.com/GtFOXETE3l— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2022
🚨 OFFICIAL: Manchester United have signed Antony on a contract until 2027.€100m total fee.(Source: @ManUtd) #DeadlineDay pic.twitter.com/cRfEFer8rK— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 1, 2022
🚨 Ajax's farewell video to Antony. 👋🇧🇷That club is a touch of class.(🎥 @AFCAjax)pic.twitter.com/TIqRTE4DdY— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 1, 2022
Good window, our best in ages: Antony Casemiro Eriksen Martinez Malacia Dubravka We have finally replaced Nani and we're edging towards a functional midfield.
Realistically Garner’s found his level with that move, a buyback would just be decorative. The fee is stupid low, I was expecting £15m rising to £20m. But it’s kinda apparent that we’re moving him aside so that technically superior players like Iqbal and Mainoo have a clear run as the academy talent coming through. I’m happy with the players we do have, but a bit annoyed at how much it cost when had we been more proactive we could have spent the same and signed someone like Matheus Nunes. But it is what it is. We have 6 months to fix our scouting dept so they can actually participate next summer’s moves.
Im not buying it. There were rumors that us and Chelsea were willing to pay his owed wages in order to get the move to happen. If we overpaid like we did for Antony, I find it hard to believe we would pay a little extra to get FDJ over the line given we chased him all summer and he was the #1 target. Looking back, it seems clear now that FDJ was never going to leave. He said he didn’t want to leave and he stood by it. At the time I thought he was just posturing to get the club to pay him off, but I no longer think that was the case. Unless he used us to generate word he was available and hoped a bigger CL club would come in for him. I think the other likely scenario is that we were getting encouragement the whole time from Barca and not FDJs camp and we trusted they would be able to force him out.