• The Houseboat
  • Lucas Torreira (David Ornstein+Guardian update on page 5)

Alfredo Pedulla [usually reliable]: “As in the past few days, we reconfirm that Napoli is no longer in the race for #Torreira. Sampdoria want €5-6m above the €25m release clause & player wants PL move. It is not by chance #AFC materialised.”

I hope we can get it done, it's starting to be reported everywhere now. All we need is Porny to say something, and to get it done before the world cup.

How do we get it done before the World Cup?
We can agree a fee, but the medical is at least 3 weeks away. Which puts inter club agreements at risk.

We can quite easily conduct the medical in Russia. Am pretty sure similar arrangements have been made in the past under similar circumstances.

Looks like a more aggressive, less skilled Cazorla.

I didn't say that. I asked if there is a DM who is more skilled than Cazorla was.

Tambourine Man wrote:

We can quite easily conduct the medical in Russia. Am pretty sure similar arrangements have been made in the past under similar circumstances.

So if you're Tabarez, you're going to disturb your detailed planning for the World Cup in the week before the opening game by allowing one of your key players to leave camp to go do a physical that is out of sync with your training schedule? Okay. 

i still dont get why players allow for agents to set transfer fees for themselves. I thought it was more common for an agent to simply get an agreed upon/contracted percentage?

Sky reporting it now.

Me too - feels likes it makes too much sense to actually happen. The last time we made such a sensible transfer was Alexis, 4 yrs ago. Really hope we get this one completed though - would be a great addition to our MF.

Didn't Di Marzio confirm this already? A lot more reliable than Sky in my book.

He's confirmed the same thing as everyone else, which is that we are in negotiations and the agent fee is a stumbling block. Feels a little like his agent is also playing for time, hoping that he has a stellar WC and can attract more suitors. One way or the other, Arsenal have jaded us enough in recent years to not believe in good things.

That comes with its own risks though. What if he sustains a bad injury at the WC? Suddenly all his suitors would back out.

Agreed - but I can't find any other explanation for their actions. I think his agent also said last week that he would wait for a week (till 15 June) to decide (of course, that's after the WC starts).

Di Marzio on Sky Sport 1: “#Torreira approaches #AFC, we will not continue to see him in Italy. The London club will pay around 30 million, little more than the release clause.” https://t.co/hJW7cbKsCx https://t.co/fwWZQXMbFh

Sounds like a bit more than just confirming negotiations no?