Andrea Berta’s Transfer Targets: Summer 2025 FC

[bastun]

I think he can progress play comfortably but it isn't his strength, and at £105M I want to be playing to his strengths. For me he's actually very very good in the final third and very good at crashing the box. Obviously has elite ball winning qualities as well which is nice higher up the pitch.

If we think about it logically Rice is starting, Ødegaard is captain so he's starting.

If I were to take any midfielder from the premier league to fit in with those two it would probably be Ali Mac from Liverpool.

I don't know. he definitely made progress as an 8 with scoring and assisting, but I can think of couple of "box crashing " moments when he should have scored and headed it straight at the keeper or completely missed the goal. On top of my head newcastle away last minute Saka cross and United at home for the FA cup. Everyone has an opinion of course, but in my mind Rice at 6 , Ødegaard right 8 and some strong creator/carrier at left 8 is the best solution.

 

[KarenSprayGooners]

Would be a starter here

Does that mean he's good enough for a title?

 

[KarenSprayGooners]

 

[A_G]

This is the same story as last night

 

[MikelHadADream]

Agree on the importance of an experienced player, but more than anything I want an agile, technical player with real good passing skills. Sort of like MLS.

Not fussed losing out on Zubimendi as I feel a midfield with him and Rice and Merino as backup would just cement our dire anti-football. I think we generally over emphasize the importance of physicality and defensive skills, maybe because of the mid-late Wenger years.

But look at what a midfield of Vitinha, Neves and Fabian Ruiz (replaced by Zaire-Emery) did to Liverpool. Portugal lining up with a midfield three of Fernandes, Vitinha and Silva as well.

I also wouldn’t mind protecting MLS and Nwaneri for another year or two and give them a chance to really grow into senior football and have a good shot at longevity.

If we’re looking at Rice at 6 or a double pivot then Reijnders would be a real good candidate imo. Wouldn’t mind Pablo Barrios or Ezequiel Palacios either, but the latter is probably better suited to playing 6 with Rice at 8 if it’s a lone pivot.

I think because of the way this season has gone, people are taking for granted our solid midfield base, and almost using it as a reason we’ve struggle so much especially in the final third.

I think this couldn’t be further from the truth, and to dismantle/neglect it because he don’t score enough would be foolish. Partey/Xhaka, Partey/Rice, Jorginho/Rice is a big reason we’ve cemented ourselves as a CL club over the likes of Chelsea, United, Sp**s ect.

These guys control most games they play, and give the attackers an unreal platform. I feel the dross Martinelli/Trossard/Ødegaard/Kai have served up has been partly pinned on having two solid midfielders.

My preference is to keep the solidity of Rice/DM and actually prove proper cutting edge up front.

 

[OnlyOne]

It’s a poor source. Madrid don’t have room for Zubi. Similar to when Rice joined City apparently.

 

[KarenSprayGooners]

It’s a poor source. Madrid don’t have room for Zubi. Similar to when Rice joined City apparently.

We know they're selling one and Modric is 50, of course they have room.

 

[OnlyOne]

We know they're selling one and Modric is 50, of course they have room.

We don’t know anything. They still have plenty of depth at 6 regardless.

 

[KarenSprayGooners]

We don’t know anything. They still have plenty of depth at 6 regardless.

Alright bro.

 

[Rasmi]

It’s a poor source. Madrid don’t have room for Zubi. Similar to when Rice joined City apparently.

Could be alonso request

 

[OnlyOne]

Could be alonso request

Wouldn't be surprised, the top top midfielders now managers rate Zubi very highly.

Xavi, Alonso, Buesquests and Mikel all rave about him.

 

[DuBB]

In 2022 maybe. Rice has improved as a player and Tchouameni hasn't really kicked on, at least as a midfielder. He's had to play CB a bit which may be a contributing factor but the Madridistas that I know have not exactly been thrilled with him the last couple of seasons.

I've watched quite a bit of La Liga this season, especially because this season Serie A hasn't been good, and La Liga is very good at scheduling and separating Real, Atletico and Barca games so if you're free on the weekend, you can basically watch all 3 at 3 different times (Sat 3:15pm, Sat evening, Sunday evening, usually)

Camavinga - god-level hunting skills. Can track down, chase down, beat a man to and hunt for the ball better than anyone. He's a recovery and anticipation monster. Imagine those Rice highlights where he's recovering but at least 3 times a match. On top of that, he has a burst of speed with the ball that allows him to get around and get past a man when he's the one in possession. Press resistant. Now here's where things get dicey - so left footed you might as well amputate his right. Does not pass or shoot with his right. Even an easy ball with his right makes him hesitant. He would be a very good Caicedo-like 6, or a Rice-like 8 when pressing from the front. BUT, once he has the ball in those high up positions, he suddenly looks like a 6 out of position. Not creative, not instinctively attacking. Will not help you carve through, bully through or ghost into attacking positions like we want and need an 8 to. He is not an 8 in a ball-dominant team. He's a 6 or a shuttling 8. But wherever he is on the pitch, he tries and is very active. As an 8, will not let you down from lack of trying, but will let you down for lack of ingenuity.

Tchouameni - I explained a few posts back.

Rice is better than both. I know it's not sexy to say because this forum and in general, English football turns players from other leagues into a fantasy instead of watching them and loving the reality of them. But Rice is better than both. Rice is Tchouameni+ as a 6, and absolutely blows them both out of the water as an 8.

If I were to take one, I'd take Camavinga. And I'd play him as a 6. But a 3 of Cama, Rice and Ødegaard would put ALL the emphasis on Ødegaard and the LB drifting in to be our metronomes and creativiy. But it could work, because Cama's engine is such that you could push the LB very very far forward and have Cama cover 6 & LB.

Final kicker - MLS... if his progression continues and he's shifted into midfield, he will probably very soon (by end of next season) be better than Camavinga for what we want. Emphasis on the bold. Because MLS can shield the ball, defend, (not as spry and quick as Camavinga when it comes to tracking and hunting the ball down), as well as run with the ball into space and beat a man, but, MLS can also pass like a 6/8 and break lines creatively and bravely. He has the potential to be special.

If Camavinga could pass, he'd be MLS, and if MLS was a dogged presser and ball hunter, he'd be Camavinga.

I have no real take on Zubi, because every time I try to watch Sociedad, they (collectively) are very bad, or are playing a very bad team, so it is hard to judge. He looks immense for Spain, but his club team are dreadful to watch.

What I do trust is that top calibre teams, coaches, and his international team, rate him highly. That is where all my faith would lie, so if we bought him, I'd be content.

Off back to obscurity I fade, that's all I've got lol

 

[Batman]

I've watched quite a bit of La Liga this season, especially because this season Serie A hasn't been good, and La Liga is very good at scheduling and separating Real, Atletico and Barca games so if you're free on the weekend, you can basically watch all 3 at 3 different times (Sat 3:15pm, Sat evening, Sunday evening, usually)

Camavinga - god-level hunting skills. Can track down, chase down, beat a man to and hunt for the ball better than anyone. He's a recovery and anticipation monster. Imagine those Rice highlights where he's recovering but at least 3 times a match. On top of that, he has a burst of speed with the ball that allows him to get around and get past a man when he's the one in possession. Press resistant. Now here's where things get dicey - so left footed you might as well amputate his right. Does not pass or shoot with his right. Even an easy ball with his right makes him hesitant. He would be a very good Caicedo-like 6, or a Rice-like 8 when pressing from the front. BUT, once he has the ball in those high up positions, he suddenly looks like a 6 out of position. Not creative, not instinctively attacking. Will not help you carve through, bully through or ghost into attacking positions like we want and need an 8 to. He is not an 8 in a ball-dominant team. He's a 6 or a shuttling 8. But wherever he is on the pitch, he tries and is very active. As an 8, will not let you down from lack of trying, but will let you down for lack of ingenuity.

Tchouameni - I explained a few posts back.

Rice is better than both. I know it's not sexy to say because this forum and in general, English football turns players from other leagues into a fantasy instead of watching them and loving the reality of them. But Rice is better than both. Rice is Tchouameni+ as a 6, and absolutely blows them both out of the water as an 8.

If I were to take one, I'd take Camavinga. And I'd play him as a 6. But a 3 of Cama, Rice and Ødegaard would put ALL the emphasis on Ødegaard and the LB drifting in to be our metronomes and creativiy. But it could work, because Cama's engine is such that you could push the LB very very far forward and have Cama cover 6 & LB.

Final kicker - MLS... if his progression continues and he's shifted into midfield, he will probably very soon (by end of next season) be better than Camavinga for what we want. Emphasis on the bold. Because MLS can shield the ball, defend, (not as spry and quick as Camavinga when it comes to tracking and hunting the ball down), as well as run with the ball into space and beat a man, but, MLS can also pass like a 6/8 and break lines creatively and bravely. He has the potential to be special.

If Camavinga could pass, he'd be MLS, and if MLS was a dogged presser and ball hunter, he'd be Camavinga.

I have no real take on Zubi, because every time I try to watch Sociedad, they (collectively) are very bad, or are playing a very bad team, so it is hard to judge. He looks immense for Spain, but his club team are dreadful to watch.

What I do trust is that top calibre teams, coaches, and his international team, rate him highly. That is where all my faith would lie, so if we bought him, I'd be content.

Off back to obscurity I fade, that's all I've got lol

Fantastic post. I always enjoy reading your detailed insights.

 

[DuBB]

Fantastic post. I always enjoy reading your detailed insights.

I'm no scout, just a nerd , and not a stats nerd. All just eye test then follow it up with a quick fbref to see if the numbers show roughly what my eyes do. Plus I don't have insights on tons of players. A couple of years ago it was SMS and Lazio, trying to understand him.

When a team or a player is hyped or takes my interest, I'll check them out several times.

You then get a feel for not only what they're good at, or what they like to do, but generally you understand what they're asked to do by their coach and their team. Then it's about transposing their strengths and weaknesses to our team. Not comparing players directly, but saying "what is he doing very well, and what area of the pitch do we do that or do we need that?"

This year, because of Mbappe, Madrid have taken my interest - side note: I'd spend close to Isak money on Rodrygo. He's producing incredible football whilst feeding on scraps. If you platformed and built around him (ie. played him on our left)... he'd catapult from "don't forget about Rodrygo, he's also quite good" to "is he actually better than Vinicius?" level.

He's clinical, he's creative, but most importantly, he works SO hard. Going forward at least, I haven't had my eye on him defensively. But as an attacker, he's very determined and ruthless. He doesn't mess about. Quite Saka-like or Salah-like in terms of "what needs to happen now? OK, I'll do that. Where's the space? OK, I'll go there. Where's the chance? OK, I'll take it." Like Saka, his decision making is WC, and he is a team player. He doesn't do what's best for him, he'll pass or shoot or dribble or cross if it's the right thing in the right moment.

 

[Vibra]

So a big club wants him. Thought none did

A replacement perhaps

 

[MikelHadADream]

The club deserve to be snubbed by Zubimendi tbh.

Releasing that into mid season did him no favours.

 

[Rasmi]

The club deserve to be snubbed by Zubimendi tbh.

Releasing that into mid season did him no favours.

The club needed good news and to distract fans as they started to realise no striker was coming. The guy that leaked it is very close to the club

 

[MikelHadADream]

I've watched quite a bit of La Liga this season, especially because this season Serie A hasn't been good, and La Liga is very good at scheduling and separating Real, Atletico and Barca games so if you're free on the weekend, you can basically watch all 3 at 3 different times (Sat 3:15pm, Sat evening, Sunday evening, usually)

Camavinga - god-level hunting skills. Can track down, chase down, beat a man to and hunt for the ball better than anyone. He's a recovery and anticipation monster. Imagine those Rice highlights where he's recovering but at least 3 times a match. On top of that, he has a burst of speed with the ball that allows him to get around and get past a man when he's the one in possession. Press resistant. Now here's where things get dicey - so left footed you might as well amputate his right. Does not pass or shoot with his right. Even an easy ball with his right makes him hesitant. He would be a very good Caicedo-like 6, or a Rice-like 8 when pressing from the front. BUT, once he has the ball in those high up positions, he suddenly looks like a 6 out of position. Not creative, not instinctively attacking. Will not help you carve through, bully through or ghost into attacking positions like we want and need an 8 to. He is not an 8 in a ball-dominant team. He's a 6 or a shuttling 8. But wherever he is on the pitch, he tries and is very active. As an 8, will not let you down from lack of trying, but will let you down for lack of ingenuity.

Tchouameni - I explained a few posts back.

Rice is better than both. I know it's not sexy to say because this forum and in general, English football turns players from other leagues into a fantasy instead of watching them and loving the reality of them. But Rice is better than both. Rice is Tchouameni+ as a 6, and absolutely blows them both out of the water as an 8.

If I were to take one, I'd take Camavinga. And I'd play him as a 6. But a 3 of Cama, Rice and Ødegaard would put ALL the emphasis on Ødegaard and the LB drifting in to be our metronomes and creativiy. But it could work, because Cama's engine is such that you could push the LB very very far forward and have Cama cover 6 & LB.

Final kicker - MLS... if his progression continues and he's shifted into midfield, he will probably very soon (by end of next season) be better than Camavinga for what we want. Emphasis on the bold. Because MLS can shield the ball, defend, (not as spry and quick as Camavinga when it comes to tracking and hunting the ball down), as well as run with the ball into space and beat a man, but, MLS can also pass like a 6/8 and break lines creatively and bravely. He has the potential to be special.

If Camavinga could pass, he'd be MLS, and if MLS was a dogged presser and ball hunter, he'd be Camavinga.

I have no real take on Zubi, because every time I try to watch Sociedad, they (collectively) are very bad, or are playing a very bad team, so it is hard to judge. He looks immense for Spain, but his club team are dreadful to watch.

What I do trust is that top calibre teams, coaches, and his international team, rate him highly. That is where all my faith would lie, so if we bought him, I'd be content.

Off back to obscurity I fade, that's all I've got lol

Have you watched much of Zubimendi, if so what do you think of him?

From what I’ve seen from the odd game I’ve seen him he appears a steady eddy, which puts people off him, but I’d argue that’s what you want in that position.

 

[MikelHadADream]

The club needed good news and to distract fans as they started to realise no striker was coming. The guy that leaked it is very close to the club

Yep, was pure PR right after the United cup embarrassment.

 

[Batman]

This year, because of Mbappe, Madrid have taken my interest - side note: I'd spend close to Isak money on Rodrygo. He's producing incredible football whilst feeding on scraps. If you platformed and built around him (ie. played him on our left)... he'd catapult from "don't forget about Rodrygo, he's also quite good" to "is he actually better than Vinicius?" level.

He's clinical, he's creative, but most importantly, he works SO hard. Going forward at least, I haven't had my eye on him defensively. But as an attacker, he's very determined and ruthless. He doesn't mess about. Quite Saka-like or Salah-like in terms of "what needs to happen now? OK, I'll do that. Where's the space? OK, I'll go there. Where's the chance? OK, I'll take it." Like Saka, his decision making is WC, and he is a team player. He doesn't do what's best for him, he'll pass or shoot or dribble or cross if it's the right thing in the right moment.

I've always thought Rodrygo had more talent than Vini and could potentially be a better player. I was definitely laughed at on here for that take. I would love for us to bring him in if he became available. I think he has so much more to offer than what he's able to show in this present Madrid squad, similar to how Benzema had to kind of diminish himself individually to cater to CR7.