Is it too early for this? 

 

2 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

I've been reading he's on his way to Madrid to pay off his clause. What's this about? How come he has to go do it?

Becaise thats the way rekease clauses work, its a loophole for the player to buy his way out of his contract

3 minutes ago, Xfaxtor said:

Becaise thats the way rekease clauses work, its a loophole for the player to buy his way out of his contract

Yes but his clause is with Bilbao surely? Why would he be off to Madrid then?

3 minutes ago, forbzy said:

Yes but his clause is with Bilbao surely? Why would he be off to Madrid then?

It's where the Spanish FA headquarters are. 

Just now, dkw said:

It's where the Spanish FA headquarters are. 

Ah thanks! Makes sense now ;)

By the way I assume this Ghanian newsreader will faint if we end up making the signing of Kepa:

 

 

 

15 minutes ago, Xfaxtor said:

Becaise thats the way rekease clauses work, its a loophole for the player to buy his way out of his contract

So we send him the money & he pays it off personally?

Does he have kids

2 minutes ago, Stim said:

Does he have kids

That's very forward of you, I'm sure hell appreciate the offer though you randy devil..... 

6 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

So we send him the money & he pays it off personally?

I'm not 100% on the technicalities, but I imagine it's something along the line of him showing up there and informing the Spanish federation of the buyout, and then us paying it on his behalf somehow. I mean, clubs literally handing over large sums of money to players doesn't seem the most sensible scheme in the world.

I recall reading an article about the process a while back, though have forgotten the specifics.

Edited August 7, 20187 yr by Charles Ryder

28 minutes ago, Charles Ryder said:

'Full countdown' is very Pedullaesque. Hot days!

 

Quote

For Sarri, the use of mid-wing Kovacic is the perfect quadrature of the circle. Now all that remains is to close the negotiations, we are in full countdown.

QUADRATURE

Edited August 7, 20187 yr by Amputechture
Quote

https://amp.theguardian.com/football/2018/aug/07/chelsea-kepa-arrizabalaga-athletic-bilbao-record?CMP=share_btn_tw&__twitter_impression=true

1 minute ago, Amputechture said:

QUADRATURE?

Never mind pretty triangles, it's all about those squares.

38 minutes ago, evissy said:

The only explanations I can come up with for Chelsea suddenly paying £71m for a keeper are a) panic and b) they can save money put aside for a midfielder by taking Kovacic on loan - thus putting all money into a keeper.

Kepa Arrizabalaga made more accurate long balls (368) than any other player in La Liga last season. For the style of football Pep, Sarri & Klopp play it is necessary for a GK to be goal with his feet.

14 minutes ago, ducavis said:

Kepa Arrizabalaga made more accurate long balls (368) than any other player in La Liga last season.

Fabregas' successor?

I like this a lot, simply on the basis of taking away Liverpool’s claim of having the most expensive keeper in the world. 

Just now, SimonH said:

I like this a lot, simply on the basis of taking away Liverpool’s claim of having the most expensive keeper in the world. 

Who has the best mega-money-keeper? Alisson vs. Kepa. 

Mega-money-keeper fumbles with the ball and Chelsea loses.

The most expensive keeper in the world messes an easy ball. 

1 minute ago, evissy said:

Who has the best mega-money-keeper? Alisson vs. Kepa. 

Mega-money-keeper fumbles with the ball and Chelsea loses.

The most expensive keeper in the world messes an easy ball. 

I get your point, but don’t you take this away from me!! Hah

I have to work in Liverpool a lot, and they haven’t shut up about it. This will shut them up for a while.

We have definately pulled this out of the bag. 

Allison would've been great, but I don't see a massive difference between him and kepa, if anything kepa has higher potential. 

We may have been backed into a corner, but spending £70m on a goalkeeper is a massive statement of intent, to the rest of league, the media, and most importantly, to hazard and kante, that we are still in the market for top players, to compete for top prizes. 

 

1 hour ago, the special one said:

Not sure about preferred option, I was under the impression Kepa rejected Madrid because he didn't receive assurances that he'd be #1.

He didn't reject it, rumour among the Athletic supporters is that Zidane was the one who opposed hiring him. Other than that, he was going to go there. Now, I am not sure why after Zidane has left they haven't gone for him, after all they had the money from Ronaldo to pay for the clause.

6 minutes ago, RMH said:

He didn't reject it, rumour among the Athletic supporters is that Zidane was the one who opposed hiring him. Other than that, he was going to go there. Now, I am not sure why after Zidane has left they haven't gone for him, after all they had the money from Ronaldo to pay for the clause.

I'd guess because he isn't a big enough name since they lost ronaldo, and also they didnt want to pay for allison, so their 4th choice is Courtois, who they could get on the cheap.

25 minutes ago, SimonH said:

I like this a lot, simply on the basis of taking away Liverpool’s claim of having the most expensive keeper in the world. 

They don't win anything these days 

He's a Kepa 

Good to see the club supporting the new coach. Should be a great signing if it goes through.

Edited August 7, 20187 yr by Luca Vialli

59 minutes ago, Charles Ryder said:

I'm not 100% on the technicalities, but I imagine it's something along the line of him showing up there and informing the Spanish federation of the buyout, and then us paying it on his behalf somehow. I mean, clubs literally handing over large sums of money to players doesn't seem the most sensible scheme in the world.

I recall reading an article about the process a while back, though have forgotten the specifics.

For all those wondering about why he is in Madrid, this is about right. He has to pay off the money of his clause in La Liga's central office, which is in Madrid, and they then transfer the money to the club "selling". Who puts the money, in principle It is the player but obviously the Club buying is going to do that though. And in Bilbao everybody knows everybody, and they've seen him in the airport catching a flight to Madrid, so I think this is going to happen.