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I agree that it favours bigger clubs but the process of it coming to be matters. The Super League was a cartel trying to break away from football. The new UCL format is something the ECA - which has many big and small members - wanted. One is a rogue move, the other is a democratic decision.

The fact that it isn’t a closed off league is entirely why it isn’t a super league.

I think he also left Salzburg after a move to the Bundesliga fell through. But I honestly can’t quite remember.

I do know of him. He’s been linked to plenty of jobs in Germany. But he’s had two seasons at Salzburg then ran off to Saudi. If I had to say one thing about him it would be his obvious ability to develop young players. But that’s also the remit of every Salzburg manager.

Probably not. Don’t know much about him, aside from some of what he did in Austria.

Well, exactly. Madrid aren't signing Diomande to sell him. Nor are Liverpool signing Barcola to make a profit. So why should their age and resale value be baked into the price? I think football currently fetishises youth and leads to these insane transfer fees.

That’s the fee quoted in the media reports today.

I completely understand that, Austin. But I increasingly find myself wondering if any of the things you’ve mentioned actually matter nearly as much as their impact on a transfer fee would have us believe.

Completely agree.

Which, in my opinion, is the best case scenario. He’s absolutely not ready to be starting for Liverpool, PSG or Arsenal.

It’ll almost certainly end in him signing a new contract at Leipzig with a very appealing release clause in place for next summer. As is often the case with in-demand players at the club.

Great business. Crap sporting project.

I mean, it would be objectively hilarious if Forest could comprehensively replace Anderson with a 28-year-old free transfer from Germany.

I doubt it. All of those clubs do buy players from outside the PL all the time. I sometimes wonder if these "marquee" signings are exactly that: PR moves to keep fans interested. Not bad players. Just a little too expensive. bsky.app/profile/elit...

Anyway, here's a long-ish read from me on whether Chelsea are just pissing money up the wall at an unprecedented rate or, perhaps, might be following Man City's road map towards Premier League success: transfermarkt.co.uk/s/DW7b

Chaotic mess or the next Man City? Making sense of Chelsea's €1.93b transfer gambleChelsea’s summer spending spree hit new heights this week with the signing of Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers. The England international made the move to Stamford Bridge for an eye-wate...transfermarkt.co.uk

ok

So do Dortmund and HSV.

I also compare the Spanish approach to football to that of the Borg in Star Trek. And those that know me well will know that that’s as high an honour as I can pay any country or culture.

I guess the churn is part of the process. If they wanted to minimise that they wouldn’t hoover up so many players every summer.