24 Nov 2021 11:42:40
Was having a quick glance at the players out of contract this summer. Wow.

Ed002, have you ever seen this many top players approaching end of their terms at this stage?

Have to say, quite a few clubs will be looking at Kessie, Zakaria, B. Kamara, Mazraoui, Cantwell, Azmoun, Pavon and Denayer situations.

{Ed002's Note - Clubs are finding at the higher level players are making what they consider to be unreasonable contract demands and this is delaying agreement - as we see with the likes of Kessie, Rudiger, Dembele and Sule On top of that you are getting those whose contracts are up fishing for options like Palhinha, Xavi Simons and Stark. And of course Mbappe.}


1.) 24 Nov 2021
24 Nov 2021 14:53:24
I wonder whether it'll become more common that we see, certainly the top players, just running down their contracts rather than players moving for big transfer fees in the future.

The market value of some players is outrageous and makes so many unattainable, maybe "free" transfers will become the norm.


2.) 24 Nov 2021
24 Nov 2021 18:31:23
Could it be a case of clubs not having as much money to Chuck at players? Or less wanting to take the financial risk after C.V. decimated the finances of many clubs ed002?

{Ed002's Note - The pandemic has impacted clubs in a different way and some have huge debt related to infrastructure (new grounds like Spurs and Everton), others have have huge debt they can manage (like Manchester United), some have FFP issues (like Everton), some have runaway debt (like Brighton), some have mortgaged everything and been living off borrowed money and not paying for players (like Liverpool). The pandemic and the issues with Broadcasting have hit France very hard .... and so it goes.}


3.) 24 Nov 2021
24 Nov 2021 22:10:14
Great information Ed02 - this should be pinned to the top of the banter and rumour pages when we get to January!


4.) 24 Nov 2021
24 Nov 2021 22:32:01
Hi Ed002, what do you mean by runaway debt with regards to Brighton? Just interested as I live in Brighton so follow them as my 2nd team.

{Ed002's Note - Well Brighton have a great owner but debt to him continues to build and third party borrowing and the impact of the pandemic are seeing a significant increase in that debt.}


5.) 25 Nov 2021
25 Nov 2021 11:33:45
Got ya, cheers Ed002.


6.) 26 Nov 2021
26 Nov 2021 08:13:02
Hopefully the situation will re-boot the way clubs are run. This is in line with the great reset (see world economic forum website) .
There is far too much money and reckless spending, with not enough emphasis on home grown players.
Of course there will always be super rich sides owned by countries and oligarchs, but if they want to waste money on players to win everything, that's their call. FFP is not going to be implemented because the super rich clubs bring so much money into the game -so let's get used to things being the way they are.


7.) 26 Nov 2021
26 Nov 2021 07:27:13
Really interesting Ed.

Is it thought clubs will work it out? Doesn't sound good for Brighton?

And for us. What (do you see) is the plan moving forward on recruitment? And everything else, actually? Club seems to have money that has gone into stadium development, for example, but otherwise how do we move forward?

{Ed002's Note - Liverpool have been working of borrowed money secured against a morthage. The club need to adopt a better policy for transfers which is why they need to consider selling assets like Mane and Salah to buy their replacement before their value drops or contract run out. Else they need to give them long term deals and forget replacing them. The Brighton owner may convert some of the debt in to equity which will ease their problem. Everton have an FFP issue so there may be an ugly ending. Spurs will be able to service their debt like Manchester United.}


8.) 26 Nov 2021
26 Nov 2021 23:06:33
Mrboot I'm a brighton based LFC fan whereabouts you live in this fine city?


9.) 30 Nov 2021
30 Nov 2021 02:57:59
Ed002,

Interested to know how Spurs are able to manage their debt, and how much of an impact them falling out of the regular Champions' League spots have impacted that ability.

{Ed002's Note - Try the Spurs page.}