The Summer 2025 Transfer Window Thread

[Tyrannosaurus Dan]

Shocking from Wolves. RAN should be going for closer to £50m.

 

[Woburn Wolf]

40m euros is poor. Don't know why we've bent over there.

Especially as they reportedly wanted to sign him by next Tuesday so that he could play in the CWC.

 

[Carrotdude]

Ait-Nouri is in the same position as Mbeumo at Brentford. One year left but club has an option, wants to join the other club. Watch them actually have a backbone and get the money they want for him as opposed to bending over and saying thanks to the first bid that comes in.

 

[prawnking]

When you're literally dealing with one of the richest clubs in the world, it's a bit weird

 

[Lycan]

Can't even explain this away as some kind of Mendes favour either as he's not represented by Gestifute any more.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Under £100m for RAN and Cunha is so poor

it really is.

Less than 20mill profit on Cunha
Less than 15mill profit on RAN

 

[wanderer89]

Matt Jackson off to a blinder of a start.

 

[darlowolf64]

Matt Jackson off to a blinder of a start.

Maybe already agreed by Hobbs, hence him getting the boot?

 

[wanderer89]

Maybe already agreed by Hobbs, hence him getting the boot?

If that's the case then never mind the boot, he deserves the entire foot.

 

[Alan]

£35m for Rayan doesn’t make me bat an eyelash tbh, he has defensive deficiencies that aren’t hard to spot IMO. But then I’ve never rated him as highly as most here.

 

[sycophantia]

£35m for Rayan doesn’t make me bat an eyelash tbh, he has defensive deficiencies that aren’t hard to spot IMO. But then I’ve never rated him as highly as most here.

This simply isn't true. He has the most ball recoveries of any defender in the Premier league. Yes he occasionally gives the ball away when trying something fancy, better that than the horseshoe of doom.
He's also got the most goal involvements of all full backs in the league.
He's still young and can improve. City want him asap. It's a ridiculously low fee.

 

[prawnking]

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/jun/02/manchester-city-rayan-ait-nouri-wolves

£50m rated a few days ago

 

[Jinky]

Could RAN have kicked a bit of a fuss up and asked for a move?

Can't see it, but could explain the low fee if we don't want to lose out on a potential deal and the player has asked to leave we might be more inclined to accept what's on offer?

I'm probably giving them WAY too much credit and don't believe this - but just throwing out an idea. Really, though - it's a shocker of a fee from Wolves and I'm pleased someone like Percy has called it out.

 

[prawnking]

Doesn't say much for 5 years of development and investment, really.

Like Alan, I'm not the hugest RAN fan, but he has attributes a club like City should be paying through the nose for

 

[sycophantia]

It all seems very odd, City don't usually play hardball do they?

 

[prawnking]

I thought the model was; we invest the initial time and money in these players, and then the big guns with all their financial and commercial muscle and their European football etc pay a premium to take them as they're proven in the PL.

It's a lot less risky for City than buying someone of RAN's age and profile from a French or Dutch club

 

[Lycan]

Could RAN have kicked a bit of a fuss up and asked for a move?

Can't see it, but could explain the low fee if we don't want to lose out on a potential deal and the player has asked to leave we might be more inclined to accept what's on offer?

I'm probably giving them WAY too much credit and don't believe this - but just throwing out an idea. Really, though - it's a shocker of a fee from Wolves and I'm pleased someone like Percy has called it out.

He definitely forced a move in one way as he changed his agent and turned down a contract offer. Hardly the same as moving your belongings out of the training ground like Ratheus though. Crazy that the Aït-Nouri fee is less than that one.

 

[Alan]

This simply isn't true. He has the most ball recoveries of any defender in the Premier league. Yes he occasionally gives the ball away when trying something fancy, better that than the horseshoe of doom.
He's also got the most goal involvements of all full backs in the league.
He's still young and can improve. City want him asap. It's a ridiculously low fee.

Well this is the bit where I think he loses value; he’s downright atrocious as an outlet in the defensive third. And as a defender you need to be able to hold the ball in those areas. For whatever reason he seems incapable of doing so.

In fairness to him, at a bigger club he won’t face that high of a press nearly as often. But in a vacuum I’d have a hard time rating him higher than £35-40m.

 

[sycophantia]

Well this is the bit where I think he loses value; he’s downright atrocious as an outlet in the defensive third. And as a defender you need to be able to hold the ball in those areas. For whatever reason he seems incapable of doing so.

In fairness to him, at a bigger club he won’t face that high of a press nearly as often. But in a vacuum I’d have a hard time rating him higher than £35-40m.

Hardly atrocious, it happens sometimes when you're prepared to try stuff. I get as frustrated as the next guy when it happens but you have to look at the whole package over the season, not just individual moments, we'll I do anyway.

 

[Elephant Pyjamas]

Well this is the bit where I think he loses value; he’s downright atrocious as an outlet in the defensive third. And as a defender you need to be able to hold the ball in those areas. For whatever reason he seems incapable of doing so.

In fairness to him, at a bigger club he won’t face that high of a press nearly as often. But in a vacuum I’d have a hard time rating him higher than £35-40m.

Bit of recency bias here, the mistake v Brentford?

He's been a fantastic out ball for Toti and works well with Cunha in that defensive third, our half regularly. Can you back up that statement with stats?