Probably because the player they signed is bang average so none of the big boys were interested ?
I mean, had you ever heard of Scamacca before they signed him ? I hadn't
Most people that has played FM will definately know Scamacca. I've seen quite a few Serie A games over the past seasons, though not with Sassuolo or Genoa specifically. He's kind of target man type like Tammy Abraham (tall and with quite decent ball control, red.) with a bit better technique in his finishing and a bit more strength as well.
Couldn't have imagined us going for him really as he - like you've mentioned - was somewhat unknown or average until last season. In 20-21 he only played 26 games for Genoa while being subbed on or off pretty much every game. That was his breakthrough season even - and he was already 22 (21) y/o at that time.
Turned Down PSG and the two Milans to go to West Ham, yet we cannot convince Kounde and Dembele to come here rather than bankrupt Barca...deary me they are a cult.
As far as I've read it wasn't exactly him turning these clubs down, but Sassuolo as West Ham were willing to meet their valuation. PSG wouldn't do that while Inter got Lukaku and had to decide whether or not to go for Dybala instead at the time. That led to rumours saying AC Milan was indeed in pole position to sign him, but from what I know they too felt that €40-50M was way too much and instead tried out for a loan deal with an option to buy.
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Oh well, back to our real issue; the CB/RWB position. Not really that big of a fan of Pavard - he kind of reminds me a bit of Christensen physically and technically. The latter is obviously a good thing. However, there are plenty of exciting Bundesliga CB's to go for IMO. Tapsoba, Upamecano and Mavropanos have already been mentioned, and these aren't even the ones I'd go for primarily.
Gvardiol is. Young, fast and strong. Left footed. Knows how to play in both a 3-line and 4-line at the back. Furhtermore there's Lacroix and Ndicka who'd fit in decently IMO. Looking away from the Bundesliga I'd probably go for Pau Torres.
What I'm struggling to see is he logic in us paying £70M+ for a defender like Fofana, as most rumours now are pointing towards. He's young and he knows the league. Starter for Leicester. I know. He's also just lost around 10 months due to a broken leg - something that will affect most players ability going forward. That injury is a massive red flag in my book. With him just signing a new contract during this period, I'm really finding it hard to see us doing a great deal here.
We once bought a player - some relatively famous Spanish striker from Liverpool who had recently returned from a serious knee injury. An injury that saw him delivering his worst goal return for Liverpool and Spain in a long time - which was shortly before us smashing our transfer record to sign him.
- Needless to say, he was never the same for us or any of the clubs afterwards.
Fofana isn't neccesarily the same case - but young players being hit by serious injuries is such a massive risk. RLC, CHO and Zouma are other examples of players who had the world at their feet before picking up long term injuries. In flashes I've seen alle three showing some of the potential and level they showed before, but never consistantly.