Category: Transfers

USMNT striker Ricardo Pepi moves to Groningen on loan

Pepi’s heading to the Eredivisie

With the No. 9 role for the U.S. men’s national team up for grabs, Ricardo Pepi is on the move.

The USMNT striker is leaving Augsburg for a season-long loan with FC Groningen in the Eredivisie. Groningen did not announce further details, but Fabrizio Romano has reported there is no purchase clause involved in the deal.

“(Groningen) is a big club here in the Netherlands,” Pepi told the club’s site. “They’ve developed some great players: Luis Suarez, Virgil van Dijk, Arjen Robben. These are world-class players. I know this is a great club for me, and it’s gonna be a good season.”

“Ricardo is a great talent, who has an international reputation,” said Groningen technical director Mark-Jan Fledderus. “At the beginning of this month his name was mentioned to us and we have already had a conversation with him. Shortly afterwards his situation at Augsburg changed and his arrival seemed no longer an option for us. Until yesterday. We acted very quickly on this and last night Ricardo drove to Groningen to complete his transfer today.”

The move comes at a critical time for Pepi’s USMNT hopes. The competition for potential strikers on Gregg Berhalter’s roster for the World Cup is suddenly fierce, while Pepi’s candidacy has fallen off. Since making the jump from FC Dallas to Augsburg, Pepi hasn’t scored a goal at club level, and his last goal with the national team came back in October of last year.

Even with that drought and the addition of Bosnian striker Ermedin Demirovic as a new starter, Pepi had still appeared in every Augsburg match this season. However, he had clearly become a second-choice option for head coach Enrico Maassen, even with Augsburg generally playing with two strikers. So far this year, Pepi has 107 minutes spread across five appearances in all competitions, and only one start.

In that regard, a move to Groningen and the notoriously free-scoring Eredivisie makes sense. For one thing, Groningen needs the help: they’ve scored five goals in four games this season. It’s also a league where Americans have scored plenty of goals, going back to the days of Michael Bradley at Heerenveen and Jozy Altidore at AZ.

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Chelsea spending spree continues with £75m deal for Wesley Fofana

Chelsea’s back atop the list of Premier League spenders

Chelsea, who broke their club record transfer fee for a defender earlier this summer, has broken that record again.

The Blues have signed defender Wesley Fofana from Leicester City in a deal worth a reported £75 million. That expenditure comes just weeks after Chelsea had signed Marc Cucurella in a deal that could be worth £63 million if the various add-ons all come into play.

“I trained this morning with the team and it’s a dream for me. I’m very excited to start playing games for the fans and the club,” Fofana told the Chelsea team site. “I’m here to win trophies: the Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup, Carabao Cup, everything. I came here to win and the club is built to win trophies so I’m here to continue that.”

At just 21, Fofana already has 37 Premier League starts, and would have a higher number if not for missing most of last season after a gruesome preseason injury just over a year ago left him with a fractured fibula and dislocated ankle.

He’ll be expected to become first-choice for Thomas Tuchel alongside Kalidou Koulibaly—another pricey summer acquisition for Chelsea—and the ageless Thiago Silva, which would allow Reece James to move back out to the right flank. With Tuchel toggling between a back three and back four (he used the latter in a 2-1 loss to Southampton on Tuesday), Fofana will have plenty of competition for playing time.

The move takes Chelsea back to the top of the Premier League spending charts this summer. Data from Transfermarkt says that the new ownership group led by Todd Boehly has spent $296 million since taking over, bringing in 18 players in the process. That puts them around $33 million clear of Manchester United, who have been spending wildly without necessarily seeming to know why.

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Manchester United finally signed Antony and it was very expensive

Expectations will by sky high after United paid Ajax an initial €95 million for the winger

Manchester United has finally got its man, and it was not cheap.

The Red Devils announced they have reached an agreement with Ajax for the transfer of winger Antony in a deal worth an initial €95 million, which could rise to €100m.

The Dutch side apparently managed to squeeze out an extra €5m to get the deal over the line after it rejected a €90m offer for the Brazilian last week.

That rejection prompted Antony to go public with his demands, telling Fabrizio Romano in no uncertain terms: “I want to leave.”

Expectations will be sky high for Antony, who scored 24 goals and provided 22 assists in 82 appearances for Ajax after joining from Sao Paulo in 2020.

The winger will be reunited with ex-Ajax coach Erik ten Hag, who took over United before the current season.

Under Ten Hag, United’s summer signings have taken on a Dutch theme, with Lisandro Martinez also joining from Ajax, Tyrell Malacia coming on board from Feyenoord and former Ajax playmaker Christian Eriksen also signing.

The only player to join United this summer without a connection to the Netherlands is Casemiro, who signed from Real Madrid earlier this month.

Those signings have taken United’s expenditures in the current transfer window to over £200m.

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Antony is through being subtle about wanting to join Man Utd

“I’m not asking Ajax to release me, I’m asking Ajax to sell me”

Antony is ready to play hardball with Ajax.

The winger has made it clear he wants his current club to sell him to Manchester United, amid multiple reports on Friday that Ajax had rejected a €90 million offer from the Premier League side.

The Brazil international has said he’s been trying to leave the Dutch side since February and now, he’s frustrated to see his club’s sky-high valuation prevent him from moving to Old Trafford.

“Since February of this year, my agents came to Amsterdam to inform Ajax of my desire to leave the club to face a new challenge and that some interested clubs would arrive and with them, certainly a great offer,” Antony told Fabrizio Romano in an interview.

“During the window months, meetings continued and I also received a proposal from Ajax for a contract renewal. I made it clear once again: I want to leave.

“Today, in a meeting with the club, I expressed my old interest in leaving, only this time with a considerable offer on the table. Others had already arrived! Ajax refused with argument that they only have five days to replace me.

“I’m not asking Ajax to release me, I’m asking Ajax to sell me with the highest bid ever for Eredivisie player. I’ve been insisting on this theme since February so that the club could rebuild the team with peace of mind.”

It’s not clear if United will return with another improved bid for Antony, with the club also linked to PSV’s Cody Gakpo, and Chelsea’s Christian Pulisic.

Over the weekend, Ajax head coach Alfred Schreuder said he believed Antony would stay at the club — taking a shot at United failing to qualify for this year’s Champions League in the process.

“I have a good feeling about it. Of course, it’s difficult. I understand the lad,” Schreuder said.

“But he plays for Ajax, so these clubs do come knocking on the door. We are playing in the Champions League and I don’t think Manchester United are.”

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Newcastle obliterate club record in £60m Alexander Isak move

Isak is the one of the most expensive summer additions to the Premier League

Newcastle United added to their attack today, shattering a club record to sign striker Alexander Isak.

Newcastle is said to have spent £60 million to sign the 22-year-old striker from Real Sociedad, breaking the club’s record for a transfer fee by a mere £20 million. The fee is also the fourth-highest fee spent on a player by any club in 2022, only trailing the money behind moves by Aurelién Tchouameni, Darwin Núñez, and Casemiro.

According to data from Transfermarkt, Newcastle has now spent just a hair under $150 million on transfers in this summer window, the fifth-highest total in the Premier League. The club hasn’t sold any players either, so their balance this summer is only lower than Chelsea, who have spent plenty under new owner Todd Boehly, and Nottingham Forest, who have decided to sign everyone that has ever kicked a ball before.

“I’m delighted to have it done. It was a big, big decision for me but it is a decision I am really happy with,” Isak told the Newcastle club site. “It is a great, historical club that I think anyone would like to play for, with amazing fans. They were a big part of why I came here – and also the club’s project, which is one that I really believe in.”

At 6’3″ and having 37 caps for Sweden and 103 appearances in La Liga under his belt at a young age, Isak certainly fits the profile of a modern striker that a club breaks its transfer record to sign. However, Isak is coming off of a 2021-22 season with Real Sociedad in which he scored just six times in 2,157 minutes.

On the other hand, Newcastle probably does need a striker. Callum Wilson, who is currently dealing with a short-term knock, was only available to play 18 games last season, and had just 26 appearances in 2020-21. Chris Wood, meanwhile, has just five goals in 34 appearances over the past two seasons, and Joelinton ended up having to fill in up top numerous times last season.

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Arsenal’s club-record £72m signing Nicolas Pépé joins Nice on loan

The winger failed to live up to massive expectations in north London

Nice has confirmed that Nicolas Pépé has joined the club on a season-long loan from Arsenal.

The deal will not include a purchase option.

Pépé joined Arsenal from Lille in a £72 million move in 2019, which still makes him the club’s most expensive signing.

But the winger has so far failed to live up to the massive expectations during his time in north London.

The 27-year-old has scored 27 goals in 112 appearances for the Gunners over three seasons. That return isn’t altogether terrible but when considering the huge fee the Gunners paid, plus the fact he had 22 goals in his final season with Lille alone, it’s clear that Arsenal would have expected more.

Nice will hope that a return to France will reinvigorate Pépé, with the club sitting on just two points through its first three Ligue 1 games.

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Kevin Trapp was refreshingly honest about rejecting Manchester United

Some transparency in the transfer window for a change!

This time of year there are a torrent of transfer rumors flying around, some more believable than others.

Teams, agents, players and media all have different and sometimes competing interests, so it’s hard to parse through all the noise.

For example, it seems clear that Manchester United is looking to bring in another goalkeeper to back up, and potentially compete with, current starter David de Gea. But which goalkeepers the club is targeting, and which have actually been subject to an offer, can be shrouded mystery.

That’s why it’s easy to appreciate the statement made by Eintracht Frankfurt goalkeeper Kevin Trapp on Thursday.

The 32-year-old removed all doubt in a statement released by the club: Yes, Manchester United made an offer for me. Yes, I thought about it. And yes, I turned it down.

Trapp elaborated even more in a post on his Instagram account.

The Germany international wrote: “Dear fans, There have been a lot of reports of interest from Manchester United in the past few days. It is true that there is a written offer. Manchester United is a world-class club and the fact that I can deal with and think about such an offer, I hope everyone understands.

“Yesterday, however, I informed the person in charge of both clubs that I had chosen Eintracht. I have experienced unforgettable things here with Frankfurt and we made history together. The start to the season has been bumpy, but I have absolute faith in us. Yours, Kevin.”

For everyone’s sake, here’s hoping at least a few more players follow Trapp’s lead before the transfer window in Europe closes on Wednesday.

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Montréal and USMNT midfielder Mihailovic to join Dutch side AZ

The 23-year-old will depart MLS at the end of the 2022 season

CF Montréal has announced that midfielder Djordje Mihailovic has been sold to Dutch side AZ, where he has signed a contract through 2027.

The 23-year-old will complete the MLS season with Montréal before moving to AZ in January.

Mihailovic has developed into one of the top attacking players in MLS since moving to Montréal from the Chicago Fire ahead of the 2021 season.

The midfielder was called into USMNT camp in June, but was forced to withdraw from the roster because of an ankle injury.

“It’s a very good feeling to be here,” Mihailovic told AZ’s official website. “I think the football philosophy suits me well and AZ is a club where I can develop myself as a player.

“I know my final move won’t be until later, but I’m really looking forward to playing here. I don’t mind finishing the season at Montréal, because that club has brought me a lot. I would like to give something back, because we have a good chance of creating something special.”

AZ released a video upon the announcement showing one of the club’s former stars Jozy Altidore speaking to his fellow American Mihailovic and endorsing the move.

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Xavi makes it clear he wants Sergiño Dest out

The end is nigh for the USMNT right back at Barcelona

If there was any question about Sergiño Dest’s future at Barcelona, the club’s manager Xavi made it even more clear on Saturday.

Dest was left out of Barcelona’s matchday squad entirely for last weekend’s La Liga opener against Rayo Vallecano. Speaking to the media ahead of Sunday’s game against Real Sociedad, Xavi talked candidly about his club’s right back situation.

“Being honest, we wanted to sign Cesar Azpilicueta [from Chelsea] and we couldn’t, so that’s the situation,” Xavi said.

“But we do have players to provide cover there. Ronald [Araujo] did well there last weekend, Sergi Roberto can play there and [Jules Koundé] can as well in case of an emergency.”

Asked if Dest is an option at right back, Xavi said: “He knows what the situation is.”

That situation will likely end with Dest leaving the club before the transfer window slams shut at the end of the month.

The American international has been heavily linked with Manchester United in recent days, with the Independent reporting on Friday that the Red Devils were “making progress” on signing Dest.

Dest’s next destination is still unclear but it’s becoming increasingly likely the right back will see his Barcelona career end after two seasons.

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