Without wishing to put the commentator's curse on proceedings, Premier League clubs will be excited by the prospect of signing Ligue 1 players as a result of the continuing impact of the failed TV deal, but will have to act quickly. One player who became available due to 'Frogate' was Stade de Reims’ Boulaye Dia, unfortunately Villarreal CF snapped him up, which has however meant that Luuk de Jong has fallen down the pecking order and has 'expressed an interest' in leaving the Europa League winners.
Although Luuk de Jong could be available for as little as £8 Million and on wages that won't break the bank, the ex-Newcastle loanee is 31 years old in a couple of days time and hardly fits into David Moyes's young and hungry frame. He could be a useful back up to Michail Antonio, when Big Mick has his inevitable Hamstring injury(s).
Alarm bells will probably ring though when examining de Jong's scoring record, the Netherlands International joined Villareal from PSV in 2019, he had scored 112 goals in 204 appearances. However, since the move he has suffered a tragic loss of form, scoring just 19 goals in 94 games, sounds familiar?
The one bright spell for De Jong came when scored the winner in the 2020 Europa League semi-final against Manchester United, and a couple more in the final against Inter Milan as Villareal wonthe trophy. A last minute Christmas Turkey, surely the club can do better, or is it a case of Moyes saying "can't buy, won't buy crap!"?
Such is the financial fall out of the failed ProMedia/Bein TV rights deal, that even Ligue 1 title winners Lille are hovering near bankruptcy, they are over £150 Million in debt and the figure is set to climb much higher. Their coveted left back, Zeki Çelik, is available for what would have been a bargain £14 Million, pre-Covid. Çelik is just one of the many players clubs in France are having to sell just to balance their books, but Hammers needs for a left back, while recognised, are not at the top of David Moyes's transfer list.
The transfer market is going to go ballistic in the next 11 days, as clubs vie for what the 'top' clubs don't want, the need for financial survival in France will definitely create a rush for players from those who wish to buy, and those who have to sell.
The thing is, there is no point in buying overage or ineffective duds, even if they are experienced, surely far better to experiment by trying to utilise the wealth of young talent that is already at the club. The Duds are out there, and as a famous sales pitcher once said "There's a bum for every seat!", it is to be hoped that particular title can go to the aptly named Arsenal who seem to have taken over the 'wasteful' baton from the Irons! - Ed
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Could Messi do a job?
Could Messi do a job?