Villa Signs for Madrid [or not]

[ronanm]

Can't help but think it'll be another poor transfer window for us

[PTP]

Can't help but think it'll be another poor transfer window for us

maybe it's hope or blind faith but i am not too worried - yeas of course i'd love us to be able to go and spend £30m on Villa and £25m on Silva - but it ain't going to happen and i've made my peace with that now - there is only the likes of real madrid, Chelsea, Man City who are defo going to be bidding silly money for every cunt under the sun - with maybe united and barcelona in positions to compete for a big money signing tho i would sya that both united and barca would be a bit more 'sensible' ie - they will only go for players they actually want where as the other three just want to throw their cocks on the table to see who has the biggest - guarenteed if chelsea were interested in a random centre back from Angola for £15m, then both Real and City would make £20m bids without actually knowing if they want the player

**** it - let them each outbid the other! At the end of the day imo we have two of the top five in the world (torres/gerrard) along with some very very good top players - yes we need a little bit more class or another option or two but I reckon with a bit of luck rafa can bring in the right players under the radar if you like without paying silly money.

fingers crossed i'm right

[Tee]

I was thinking about where David Silva would play for us, and tbh I really want to give Riera another long run on the left-side because I have a good feeling that next year he could really shine. No doubt Silva would be a fantastic addition, but I just hope it is not as a direct replacement for Riera.

[Exiled_red]

The mirror claim the scum are bidding for him

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...5875-21441262/

Manchester United to make record £45million bid for David Villa

Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is making a British record £45million bid for Valencia striker David Villa.

Ferguson will take on Real Madrid for the signature of the Spanish star who will be sold by his cash-strapped club.

Villa has been on the United manager’s radar for several years and now he has the money from the £80m sale of Cristiano Ronaldo to Real to fight them for Villa.

Ferguson has been given a £100m war chest – the whole £80m from the Ronaldo transfer plus £20m extra.

Fergie’s priorities are a proven scorer like Villa and a right-wing replacement for the Portuguese star, Wigan’s Luis Antonio Valencia.

Villa will definitely be sold by his club, with Real boasting they should land him this week.

But Ferguson has already started his moves to beat them to it. Chelsea tried for Villa last week but were told he was going to Madrid.

But Fergie won’t be put off and he has the financial muscle to back it up.

The United chief thinks he can win the race for Villa if he can pitch the right case to him, backed up by cash. He is masterminding the move from his South of France holiday base.

[Craig_H]

Not saying he wouldnt do well for them, but Villa would've been much more suited to the mancs teams of a few years ago. Last couple of seasons, they havent created bucketloads of chances and they've relied on Ronaldo to score goals of his own making out of nothing, or from free kicks. Villa's a superb finisher, but he'll need chances, which they'll need to learn how to create again. Similar to how they created chances for RvN.

[PTP]

aye as i have said since news of ronaldo to madrid for £80m broke - it's a huge gamble for united and £80m or not they won't replace him and it could go tits up -

they may well sign villa and he might go and score 30 for them, but there is just as much of a chance that he struggles in the prem and scores less than 10! - it's not a simple and as black and white as say football manager - he may come here and not settle, he may find the prem to quick/strong etc etc

in my eyes - if United lose ronaldo and tevez for £80m and replaced them with Villa and Valencia for around £60m i think they would be considerably weaker!! - then ok they may have another £20m plus to spend but who else do they buy, baring in mind that van der, giggs, scholes look to be very much at the end of their careers, along with rumours that hargreaves is finished and nani could be sold and on top of that it's not like their other £30m recent striker berbatov is much to be concerned about.

I ain't writing them off - but i do think it's that huge a loss (ronaldo/tevez) that there it could go tits up! - ie what happens if they sign the above, they flop or get injured, united don't win anything and ferguson retired!

[Guest]

I really think we're in for one of those big guns, not Villa but certainly Silva. Could explain why we've been fairly quiet on the transfer market. Waiting for bigger fishes to be available or the confederations cup?

[Shaggy]

Villa won't go to United, no way.

[wiw]

25% tax and sunshine vs 50% tax and er, Manchester. No contest really is it. He's always said he wants to stay in Spain

[Guest]

25% tax and sunshine vs 50% tax and er, Manchester. No contest really is it. He's always said he wants to stay in Spain

50% tax!

That's ****ed up, but judging by the quality of your services there that's legit.

[Leyton388]

50% tax!

That's ****ed up, but judging by the quality of your services there that's legit.

That is what is going to sink the prem as the worlds best league as no ****er is going to want to join. Greedy MP'S getting their corrupt hands in the sugar bowl.

[Chrono]

That is what is going to sink the prem as the worlds best league as no ****er is going to want to join. Greedy MP'S getting their corrupt hands in the sugar bowl.

To be honest mate, the fact is that the change in tax is not that big a difference to how it was previously. The only thing that is likely to sink the Premiership from a financial point of view would be less than favourable exchange rates on the pound but even that looks to be very slowly improving.

[Rich]

To be honest mate, the fact is that the change in tax is not that big a difference to how it was previously. The only thing that is likely to sink the Premiership from a financial point of view would be less than favourable exchange rates on the pound but even that looks to be very slowly improving.

10% isn't big?

[wiw]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/5517209/Premier-League-clubs-losing-out-to-Spanish-tax-system.html

Premier League clubs are losing out to La Liga counterparts in the chase for top overseas players because of Spain's more generous tax system, a leading agent has warned.


By Henry Winter
Published: 7:49PM BST 12 Jun 2009

Premier League clubs losing out to Spanish tax system


“It’s deadly serious,’’ said Phil Smith. Foreign players considering transfers to England this summer have noted Alistair Darling’s plan to raise the top rate of income tax to 50 per cent from April in contrast to Spain, where the top rate of income tax is 27 per cent (plus a local tax). Overseas players have also expressed shock at the level of National Insurance contributions here.

Stars of the quality of two France internationals, Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery and Lyons’ Karim Benzema, are being linked to English clubs. Although both are well paid by their clubs, Ribery (on roughly £130,000 a week) and Benzema (£100,000 a week) know they can increase their salaries elsewhere. Both have also been connected with moves to Spain, where they would save a minimum 15 per cent in tax compared to England.

Given the Chancellor’s pending tax hike, Cristiano Ronaldo is certainly leaving Manchester United at the right time financially; spread over the period of his six-year Real Madrid deal, the winger will save roughly £15 million in tax on wages. Income from image rights would also be taxed at a less prohibitive rate than here.

Such savings have been seen by other players, who may resist Premier League charms for La Liga’s more tax-efficient lure. Smith, the chief operating officer of sports agency First Artist, said: “There will be players who won’t be coming here because of the tax. You will see come April.

“In Spain they pay less tax and there are also loopholes. Overseas players can get a 15 per cent saving of taxing by going to Spain rather than England – and that’s just on the surface because there’s image rights deals to consider.’’

The Prime Minister’s tax increase could make wages inflate even more as players seek to factor the increase into deals, a move that could put off clubs. “There will be some players who just add 10 per cent,’’ said Smith, who fears some short cuts being taken. “It’s back to the bad old days of money going underground.’’

Good players will still move for sporting reasons, like Andrei Arshavin, who went to Arsenal from paying 13 per cent tax in Russia while at Zenit St Petersburg. “He wasn’t surprised about the 40 per cent tax,’’ said Smith, who was involved in the deal. “But he was not expecting the National Insurance. Now he’s found that tax is going up 10 per cent. But there’s nothing he can do about it. He’s got to live with it.’’

Arshavin has warned players moving to England to be aware of the pending tax rise. Some leading players have discussed with their accountants the possibility of clubs paying them in interest-free loans, which attract lesser rates of tax, which would then be turned back if and when the old 40 per cent rate was restored.

Compounding Premier League problems, the relative weakness of the pound against the Euro has made it more expensive for English clubs to buy from overseas.

[dom9]

Villa won't go to United, no way.

Why do you say that?