Is the Premier League bank-rolling Europe's other leagues?
Discussion
Barely a day goes by without another mega million PL signing for a player 99% of us has never heard of from one of Europe's other leagues. It now seems to be part of the Business Plan of these Euro clubs/ and their agents to big-up a player or two in the media each season, slap a ridiculous price tag on them and then sit back and laugh as the Premier League clubs fight over each other to sign them. I'm all for big marquee signings in the PL, but where's the value with all the other journeymen? Basically the Sky/BT PL money seems to be a major source of regular income for these Euro clubs, rather than helping our lower league clubs at home.
There are some classic examples of price inflation being banded about at the moment, even with players we all know about.
How about Mohamed Salah? OK for Basel, awful for Chelsea after £11 million move, farmed out on loan to Italy for a couple of years, before being sold for a similar price to Roma and now suddenly he's worth getting on for £40 million of Liverpool's money. Why? That's more than Alexis Sanchez cost Arsenal!
Or how about Juan Cuadrado? OK for Fiorentina, awful for Chelsea after £25 million move, farmed out on loan to Italy for a couple of years (often as sub), before being sold for a loss at £17.5 million to Juventus less than a month ago (!) and now Juventus are apparently holding out for £30 million of Arsenal or Tottenham's cash. He's 29 years-old already, so not even going to get any better or prove an investment! He's scored a total of 6 goals in the past 2 seasons for Christ's sake!
As Harry Enfield used to say "I saw you coming",,,,
If I was a Liverpool, Arsenal or Spurs fan, I would much rather the club's money was spent a hell of a lot more wisely than on either of these two.
There are some classic examples of price inflation being banded about at the moment, even with players we all know about.
How about Mohamed Salah? OK for Basel, awful for Chelsea after £11 million move, farmed out on loan to Italy for a couple of years, before being sold for a similar price to Roma and now suddenly he's worth getting on for £40 million of Liverpool's money. Why? That's more than Alexis Sanchez cost Arsenal!
Or how about Juan Cuadrado? OK for Fiorentina, awful for Chelsea after £25 million move, farmed out on loan to Italy for a couple of years (often as sub), before being sold for a loss at £17.5 million to Juventus less than a month ago (!) and now Juventus are apparently holding out for £30 million of Arsenal or Tottenham's cash. He's 29 years-old already, so not even going to get any better or prove an investment! He's scored a total of 6 goals in the past 2 seasons for Christ's sake!
As Harry Enfield used to say "I saw you coming",,,,
If I was a Liverpool, Arsenal or Spurs fan, I would much rather the club's money was spent a hell of a lot more wisely than on either of these two.
Morata's another good example.
2014 RM sell him to Juventus for €20 million
2016 RM buy him back for €30 million
2017 RM turn down €74 million from MU (according to the Sun) and are holding out for a whole lot more, possibly even another world record sum!
Once again, he's a decent enough player, but definitely not from the very top drawer of world football, so where's the value for MU? Bonkers!
2014 RM sell him to Juventus for €20 million
2016 RM buy him back for €30 million
2017 RM turn down €74 million from MU (according to the Sun) and are holding out for a whole lot more, possibly even another world record sum!
Once again, he's a decent enough player, but definitely not from the very top drawer of world football, so where's the value for MU? Bonkers!
My original examples may have been lousy, but the BBC has finally cottoned on to the gist of what I was saying 6 years ago.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64493480
85% of the money spent by the PL clubs during this record-breaking January transfer window went towards buying players from foreign leagues. Only 3% was spent on players from the EFL.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/64493480
85% of the money spent by the PL clubs during this record-breaking January transfer window went towards buying players from foreign leagues. Only 3% was spent on players from the EFL.
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