The Summer Transfer Window Thread 2014/15

[TCO]

So what you're saying is that Balotelli is clinically insane?

I guess so. They are only the second best team in England. Stupid Mario.

Also; Sturridge, Sterling, Coutinho and Balotelli for less than £40m combined. Ridiculous.

You were saying, literally 6 hours ago, that Balotelli is a striker who doesn't score and isn't better than Rickie Lambert.

[Gazz]

You signed Sterling when he was about 6 years old for a box of crayons and a tube of smarties, you can't count that.

That's like saying Alf Common for £1000 was a ripoff because Man United got Beckham, Giggs and Scholes for free.

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

I make it 42m.

[Colly]

So what you're saying is that Balotelli is clinically insane?

I guess so. They are only the second best team in England. Stupid Mario.

By that logic surely you were the 8th best team when he actually signed.

[Nerf]

So what you're saying is that Balotelli is clinically insane?

I guess so. They are only the second best team in England. Stupid Mario.

Also; Sturridge, Sterling, Coutinho and Balotelli for less than £40m combined. Ridiculous.

You were saying, literally 6 hours ago, that Balotelli is a striker who doesn't score and isn't better than Rickie Lambert.

I'm still not totally on board with this signing, but those four for £40m is crazy.

And Jericode... £12m (Sturridge) + Sterling (£1m) + Coutinho (£8m) + Balotelli (£16m) is not £42m.

[Gazz]

Sterling was £600k rising to £5m based on appearances.

[Ant]

I think you forgot the court fees for Sterling

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

Sterling was up to 5m based on appearances, and since he probably has around 100, I'm assuming those are all paid up.

[Hobo]

Lol. That was the same guy who categorically ruled it out this morning. Not a chance, he said.

And while I imagine this one is pretty much going to go through, "fee agreed" means bugger all on twitter. We've agreed a fee for Di Maria about 63 times now - he's still on the flight to OT, apparently. Has been for days now.

Did you miss the part where I said that the tweets Nerf quoted were a few days old? (It even says 16 August on the tweets Nerf quoted)

Or the bit on James Pearces profile that says he works for the Liverpool Echo? It says it right in his username!

[Gazz]

You're using 'works in the media' as an argument for accuracy in reporting?

[Nerf]

You're using 'works in the media' as an argument for accuracy in reporting?

He's not wrong, tbf. Like I said earlier, Pearce is briefed by sources within the club.

I think you forgot the court fees for Sterling

Poor form.

[Gazz]

I hope Mario still has his camo Bentley.

Living in Liverpool, he's going to need it.

[Ant]

They have trees and bushes in Liverpool now?

They'll steal anything won't they

[Hobo]

You're using 'works in the media' as an argument for accuracy in reporting?

To be fair, it's not like it's the BBC. They'll put any old rubbish on their website!

I tend to use Tony Barrett and James Pearce barometers of Liverpool news reporting to be honest. They're usually good sources for information.

[DavidMarrio]

Least he's been to the strippers in town before so he has a good idea about certain parts of the city.

[Nerf]

Milan have announced that Balotelli has said his goodbyes and left the country. That escalated quickly.

[Jimmy]

We haven't had anyone steal a move yet have we? Until someone says Liverpool have agreed a fee I'm choosing to believe he could be going anywhere in England.

[Roster Depth Sicko No. 2]

We haven't had anyone steal a move yet have we? Until someone says Liverpool have agreed a fee I'm choosing to believe he could be going anywhere in England.

This is plastered all over the BBC Sport website:

Mario Balotelli: Liverpool agree £16m fee for AC Milan striker

[Gazz]

Yeah, but that's the BBC, they get their transfer news from Nerf.

[Hobo]

We haven't had anyone steal a move yet have we? Until someone says Liverpool have agreed a fee I'm choosing to believe he could be going anywhere in England.

I posted a link to a tweet from the LFC reporter for the Liverpool Echo saying it!

Liverpool Echo

Mario Balotelli is closing in on a return to the Premier League

Liverpool are this afternoon closing in on a deal for striker Mario Balotelli after agreeing to pay AC Milan £16million.

The Reds have been granted permission by the Serie A outfit to discuss personal terms with the controversial Italy international, who is now expected to fly to Merseyside.

Balotelli has confirmed to Sky Italia that he expects to imminently complete a transfer as he said: “This will be my last day at Milan."

Negotiations progressed quickly after Liverpool made their surprise move for the 24-year-old former Manchester City frontman.

Their pursuit of Balotelli represents a remarkable U-turn after the club dismissed any interest in signing him earlier this month.

Liverpool have been searching for a new striker since a deal to sign QPR's Loic Remy collapsed last month after the Frenchman failed a medical.

The Reds enquired about the availability of Monaco’s Radamel Falcao, Paris Saint-Germain’s Edinson Cavani and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema but were frustrated in their attempts to land a marquee signing.

Brendan Rodgers had also considered signing Samuel Eto’o with the veteran striker a free agent after parting company with Chelsea at the end of last season.

However, the Cameroon international was always viewed as a last resort and Liverpool have been actively pursuing other options. That extensive search has led them to Balotelli, who is set to return to the Premier League 18 months after Man City sold him to Milan for around £16million. Then City boss Roberto Mancini showed Balotelli the door after growing tired of the striker’s antics.

He was involved in numerous incidents during his three years at the Etihad Stadium, including setting fireworks off in his house and throwing a dart at a youth-team player.

Balotelli also clashed frequently with team-mates and his manager on the training ground, running up a £340,000 fine.

He scored 30 goals in 80 games in all competitions for City but only managed three in 20 matches during his final season there. Since moving to Milan he has scored 30 goals in 54 appearances and has 13 goals in 33 games for Italy.

If Balotelli signs for the Reds it promises to be a major test of Rodgers’ renowned man-management skills. The Northern Irishman turned Luis Suarez into a world class performer and has helped the likes of Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling realise their potential.

Rodgers prides himself on the team spirit and camaraderie he has established over the past two years and will want guarantees from Balotelli that he will toe the line before any transfer is rubber-stamped.