The Debrief: Live January Transfer Window Q&A
We're joined live by Fabrizio Romano and Jonathan Johnson to answer your January Transfer Window Questions.
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hello and welcome to this week's debrief and we've got another transfer special for you I'm anger Scott and it's not quite been the January window we were expecting for briter Romano our transfer Guru got 4 hours sleep the other night and that's unheard of in January uh Ben Jacobs has even been able to pay his phone bill this month uh he's been on his phone so little but you get the sense that it's all about to change Ben and Things Are hotting up yeah I'm not committing to whether I can pay the phone bill yet in January I'll let you know on February the 1st when you get a cut from some of those deals and back to give his views on the market John lossip AKA Jonathan Johnson the CBS correspondent and friend of the debrief JJ how are you doing very well thanks guys looking forward to my first show of 2024 and I hope the new year is treating you both well yeah all it's all been very good I think it's been a really positive start to the year let let's start off with some something that's close to home for you which is about Killian mbappe and what the latest is on him he seems to be teasing out a deal to Real Madrid then Liverpool gets mentioned and we're not quite sure what is going on perhaps you can tell us yeah I mean it's uh we're sort of back in the the the very familiar position of sort of having to second guess what Kenan mbappe's future might hold I think the most consistent that he's been so far this uh this time around in terms of his stance is actually what he saying about his desire to play in the Olympic Games uh this summer obviously we know the Olympics are going to be played in Paris it's a Once in a career opportunity for mbappe to represent his home country in his hometown uh but that would of course come off the back of the euros and you know sort of whether he is still a PSG player whether he's signed for a club like a real Madrid or Liverpool or somebody else uh you'd imagine that it's going to be quite problematic for the beginning of the Club season playing two International tournaments uh and then having to sort of have a bit of rest and then get back into shape once the the season is underway but at this moment in time nothing has been decided by mbappe in terms of where his future lies he's been asked about it a couple of times after some of psg's early games this year notably the trophy the champion which they won at par de PR against too but for for the moment you know there's been no sort of breakthrough in terms of potentially signing a PSG contract extension or uh you know signing terms with the likes of a real Madrid or a Liverpool obviously saw those reports earlier in the window that Rael had indeed tabled an offer and set a deadline of mid January which if was true has already passed but I think you know the the real thing that is quite telling is psg's stance has changed publicly NASA alhi has come out and said we absolutely want him to stay he's the best player in the world pretty much everything that you would expect PSG to say going on a charm offensive trying to to keep him and extend him by a couple more years but the one thing that is very clear at the moment while his future that he you know his future at Club level Beyond this season remains up in the air he is absolutely uh you know not to be convinced uh otherwise of his desire to play in the Olympics now could do you think that could be a sticking point for either Real Madrid or Liverpool should we say if he says well I'm not going anywhere until I've played in the Olympics and who's going to want their star man however many hundreds of millions they're going to be paying him playing in the Olympics and being potentially late back uh for the next season with a new club as a star signing yeah it's I mean it's a really interesting scenario to to potentially play out Ben and I have discussed it a number of times already this month uh you know and it is something that you would imagine that the likes of uh you know a Real Madrid or a Liverpool would be very reluctant to agree to uh you know I think it's you know it's it's accepted that that he will play at the Euros you know he is France Captain after all but it is a once in a career opportunity uh you know to play in the Olympics on uh you know home soil and also in his hometown I think that is real the that that is the the real sort of motivating factor for him he's admitted he wanted to play in previous Olympics the one in Tokyo but uh you know at this moment in time uh you know it does seem like it's something that any potentially interested club uh is is going to have to accept uh and agree to before you know potentially signing mbappe uh and I think as well it's you know something that could you know also lead him into a very interesting scenario that we shouldn't roll out at this moment in time and that's that mbappe's PSG contract does expire that no New Deal has been signed with any potential new club and he actually plays at least one of the international tournaments this summer uh potentially as a free agent while he makes up his mind uh in order to to best ensure that he has the ability uh to play in the Olympics if he chooses to yeah and I think to add what Jonathan just emphasized the Olympics is a deal breaker for Killian mbappe so that is an important factor in all of this because it's not going to be a case where Kil and mbappe can be persuaded not to play in a home Olympics um at the time we're live only one Club PSG has formally committed to allowing mbappe to play in the Olympics alongside the euros and as Jonathan neatly outlined that period if you include training camps tournaments even if the teams don't go all the way recovery will eat into June July August and the earliest Killian mbappe could feasibly play any kind of domestic football is mid or late August and that would be PSG but if he joined Real Madrid or a Premier League team he'll have had no preseason which isn't in this context significant fitness-wise for mbappe but naturally no one's going to want him to return having never met his teammates any new signings no chemistry no notion of tactics no bond with the manager if he was to move to a new club so you could even argue that it might be late August or early September now for mbappe he may wait but the other option I'm told which is equally as plausible is he'll pre- agree but the actual date on the contract will be later in the summer and the reason for that is not necessarily just to allow mbappe to buy his time it's also down to that lack of commit M from Real Madrid and potentially any Premier League club should they enter the race although it's all kind of speculation around Liverpool at the moment a lack of commitment to not only the Olympics but to the finances because every single deal for mbappe the PSG renewal and any maybe rail offer that isn't yet agreed so some of the terms are still under discussion and anything from the Premier League is expected to be somewhere in the region of 70 million euros gross a year it's not as high as 100 million even though you might see that number so then if you're going to sign mbappe and he's going to move clubs then ultimately at the beginning of the summer you are almost forgoing three months of physical mbappe because of the euros and the Olympics but you're paying him those three months and this is why the clubs that are not PSG may consider having a later contract start date so it's not just about mbappe and free agency it may be something that's pre-agreed but with a later start date to save money and then from psg's perspective part of the sort of lucrative aspect that they're playing on is the opposite NASA Al Khalif is saying to mbappe You'll extend and it will be continuous so then you'll go away and you'll be able to play in both tournaments we give you the blessing and you're going to get paid over the summer you might not get paid over the summer at Real Madrid or elsewhere and PSG are trying to use that to almost imply that that's an extra amount of money across those three months that he wouldn't be getting anywhere else I wonder how much she'd really be worried about you know what he gets paid for three months is as long as he ends up a playing in the Olympics and B ending up at the club that he's going to end up at anyway so he obviously holds all the cards and if he's going to say I want to play in the Olympics then neither PSG or Real Madrid or or Liverpool is probably going to be able to stop him um and he'll end up doing exactly what he wants to do anyway let's um let's hear from you as well do send in your questions because we're happy to receive them and we'll go through them with the guys as quickly as possible and we've got Fabrizio Romano as ever and I want to get to um Fabrizio as soon as possible because things are developing all the time today and we caught up with Fab a little bit earlier on and asked him about some of the main dealings uh that are going on and we've got a little bit of news to come back off this little chat for britz here thanks once again for joining us now what's the latest on Kareem benzar it seems quite tense at Al itad there are talks going on at the moment could he possibly leave yes I think it's still a possibility it's not guaranteed because it's quite special situation you know when you are on that salary it's not easy to get a player out of the club so that's why the situation is not is not that easy and that's why there is going to be a new meeting in the next days involving the new director of football of alad raon planes who is who has big experience with this kind of situations he was at Barcelona bet is geta so he's going to have a direct conversation to understand how to handle this situation Marcelo gardo the manager will be involved too so there is going to be a new round of talks to understand how to proceed but the situation remains tense between Benzema and and alad it's also important to say that from what I'm hearing Saudi pro league bosses want the player to stay in Saudi alad or any other club to find the solution internally so let's see how this discussion will will go with Benzema the only way to see him back to Europe is for Benzema to take a big salary cut and they think is not going to be easy so that's why many European clubs are rumored to be interested in Karim Benzema but it's really depending on the player otherwise it's impossible to make it happen at least in the January transfer wi yeah it would send the wrong signal wouldn't it for for the Saudis if um Kareem Benzema would follow Jordan Henderson so you talk about possibly going back to Europe could could anyone really or realistically afford a similar sort of Sal salary potentially in the Premier League I think it's very difficult honestly the information I have is that is very complicated some clubs were interested in that possibility but is never being something really concrete because of the financial package what I heard is that a club that Tred to make it happen is Olympic Leon we know the connection the special connection between the club and the player but at the end what I'm also hearing is that is really complicated is close to 99% uh impossible because at the moment the financial package is is really too too expensive so let's see what happens in the next days but it's very complicated now what about still talking about Saudi what about Jose possibility he may end up at Al Shaban is is any likelihood of that no from what I'm hearing at the moment this conversation is off between Mourinho and and Al shabab then let's see if they will try again but the first round of discussion of of of talks was just on Al shabab side to show their interest in Jose Mourinho but Mourinho at the moment from what them heting is not interested in that possibility he wants to take his time before deciding his next job he doesn't want to decide in just couple of days so that's why at the moment with Al shabab the situation is is very quiet let's see what Mourinho will do because now he wants to pick the best project possible and this could take some time so I think we have to wait before we know the new club of of Joseph Mourinho Al shabab remain in talks to find a new manager they had some contacts last week also with Dean stankovic for example so let's see who's going to be the right profile for them to find the new the new coach but at the moment with morinho it looks complicated I would keep the Saudi possibility for Mourinho open maybe for other clubs in the next months because for example already Halal approached him in June he decided to stay at Roma now he's a free agent and so that could be a chance for sure and finally on the Saudi front look Mo Sal is back with Liverpool Now with an injury from the African Cup of Nations do we expect to have another Saudi approach in the summer for Mo I see them trying again honestly uh because this is their style they they like to have a Target and then to try and try and try again as they did at the end of August so I think they will try again for players like mosalah maybe other stars but it's also important to say that Salah is very happy at Liverpool the proposal to moala was a crazy proposal in terms of salary at the end of August and he was creating any problem to the club he decided to be super professional he's doing fantastic at Liverpool this season so I don't think he's going to create any kind of problem I think they will try again but it's going to be important to see what Liverpool want to do more than more I think in this in this case okay let's come back to the the Premier League and arando Brer um is is are Chelsea likely to listen to offers for him yes I think this is a possibility this is going to be a busy week for brya and for Chelsea for this for this deal because Chelsea understand that to keep Armando brya at the club and almost never playing on regular basis also Postino in a press conference in the in the recent weeks said he needs to play three four five consecutive games maybe 90 80 75 minutes because it's important for him to be regularly on the pitch and the moment he makes no sense to continue like this so let's see how the conversation will go there is interest historical interest I would say from West Ham they've always been keen on signing Armando is almost two years then uh walls could be another possibility let's see how will be the conversation with Chelsea but for sure for brya there could be some movement in the next days and do Chelsea have concrete targets if brya goes for sure Chelsea have some name in the list but at the moment I'm not aware of anything Advanced or remant or concrete but I think we have to keep it open for Chelsea in general in terms of opportunities in the final days of the window again I'm at the moment I'm not aware of anything Advanced or close but I think if bro leaves they can have some final minute last minute solution for for the new potential Striker or creative player in offensive position let's move on to Manchester United do they still have an interest in Eric CH promoting Bayern yeah more than interest I would say that they considered multiple possibilities for opportunities in attacking positions and chup moting is one of them is one of the names they discussed is represented by agents they know very well and they have a very good relationship they did many deals with those agents in the past so they had a conversation to understand the conditions of the deal for for chup moting the real problem is that Bayern insist on chupo moting staying at the club he's really popular in the dressing room he's considered an experienced player who can always help in the second part of the Season even if you have harri Kane you can need some rotation we know the situation in the Bundesliga is not easy for Bayern this season so a player like chupo motin could be really important for for them and this is why may United are informed on every single point of the conditions for Eric CH promoting deal but at the moment Bayern are still not giving an a green light so let me say also the May United have not activated this negotiation yet it's just about B informed but not starting any concrete talk with Bayer now a name that's rear its head at the Emirates there's a possibility he might go is Emil Smith row is any truth in that yes this is a concrete possibility to see Emil Smith row being approached by clubs in the next days and weeks because it already happened last week with uh with West Ham uh for example westm tried to make the deal happen on loan for a m m row not even a by option close included and Arsenal are never going to accept that for Arsenal make no sense to make the player leave alone so my feeling is that at the end it's going to be complicated for midlow to leave in the generally transfer window because Arsenal could only be open to a permanent transfer is it's also about the financial for play if you sell a player likes mro you can have maybe space to bring in a new important player for your squad but if you send him on loan it makes no sense also Metta is very happy with the player so they're not desperate to let him go and also him is very happy at Arsenal so if they reive an important proposal on permanent transfer that could be a possibility otherwise I see mro staying at Arsenal we've talked about Calvin Phillips uh quite a lot during this window and before it now what is his likely destination West Ham are in the frame now aren they yes I see West Ham as favorites in this moment again nothing is is closed nothing is AG great but West Ham are in direct contact with Manchester City for Calvin Phillips so there is a conversation taking place and also with player side because we always mention Man City and the conditions of the loan but it's also important to get the green light from the player he has to decide what's the best option for him so West Hammer speaking to both club and player to try to find a solution they really want Calvin Phillips they believe they are the perfect club for him in the next six months so the conversation is ongoing between all parties at the moment despite all the rumors we had in the last few days I'm not aware of any negotiation between Man City and Barcelona for for Calvin Phillips they're looking for a midfielder they're looking for an opportunity but Calvin is very expensive and also because of the financial for play I think it's going to be difficult to bring in a player like Alvin Phillips for barel uh let's talk about another person who who might be leaving Pierre hyberg exit from Spurs still possible possible but he has to be a permanent transfer for Tottenham nothing has changes since the summer transfer window in the summer it was fulam in the final days Atletico Madrid for a long time trying to sign hyberg on loan with by option and Tottenham always say no and it's the same now Tottenham as of today are not accepting any loan with by option proposal it has to be a permanent transfer or a loan with obligation otherwise the player will stay at Tottenham this is the message he would like to go he would like to try a new chapter Tottenham know that but at the same time they can't accept a loan for an important player like hyber that's why at the moment the situation is still quiet if they receive a permanent transfer proposal it's very possible to see hyber leaving otherwise he's gonna stay at the club and finally Fabricio the former juuve and Bayern star Douglas Costa uh to Turkey you've now reported he is off it looked like he was going he's a free agent but that Deal's collapsed is it yes it was done it was verbally done because they prepared all the contast the player had to travel to Turkey today for medical test and Contra signing then whated happened is that after having new conversations with the with the club Samson sport he decided not to join the club because he believes they need a player who is 100% rea