27 Jul 2020 14:37:57
Hi Ed002, was just wondering if there was any updates on Diego Carlos of Sevilla? You say he would be expensive, can you sensibly point to a price that Sevilla would most likely accept?

{Ed002's Note - Diego Carlos (CB) Manchester City had dropped their interest and were looking at others but the age and prices being asked for other players have made them look again as they seek two CBs this summer and they can force through a dealby offering a figure close to his release claus of €75M - key will be payment terms. Real Madrid has a sustained interest but the focus will be getting through the summer with significantly more income from sales than purchases and cutting the squad down - that means their two main priority signings have been delayed to next year. Unless players can be included in the deal, it is most unlikely this summer. Barcelona have Diego Carlos on their list of CBs but money is going to be an issue this summer and they will look to horse trade using Ivan Rakitic and perhaps others. Priority is, like Real Madrid, to make sure they address financial issues first. Liverpool has declared an interest in taking DC in the summer. If this happens, I would think it would be the big move for the club this summer and would leave Gomez picking up pieces across the defence. It was viable for Liverpool to include Xherdan Shaqiri in a deal although that chance has now passed. Spurs' interest will be constrained by a lack of funds and other priorities - again, unless there are significant sales or a player forming part of the deal, it is unlikely - but Spurs are very keen.}

1.) 27 Jul 2020
27 Jul 2020 15:18:20
Thanks for the info. I assume the other CB's for City were Koulibaly and perhaps Skriniar? You mentioned on the Liverpool page that money was still an issue for Liverpool. With the potential sales of Grujic, Shaqiri and obviously Lovren could you see Liverpool attempt to sign the player or rather focus that money on signing ample replacements that would be much cheaper?

{Ed002's Note - Manchester City have a lengthy list of CBs they are considering. I expect Liverpool to add a couple of players but it is unlikely they could stretch to the asking price for DC.}

2.) 27 Jul 2020
27 Jul 2020 16:57:54
Thanks very much for the info. Disappointing about DC. Perhaps Kabak will be the CB signing then.

3.) 28 Jul 2020
28 Jul 2020 07:37:56
Just a question Ed, I know release clauses don’t have any relevance to English clubs but in general, for Spanish or other continental clubs to activate them, do they have to be met with the total upfront cost? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - {Ed002's Note - Perhaps a reminder about transfer related clauses would be apt. This is a horribly complex area not least because they are written under individual national laws. They cause a great deal of misunderstanding with football supporters and the media alike.

The "buy out clause" is legally binding between a club and a player. The "buy out" is effectively what it says - a means for the player to buy himself out of the contract. As an example, if a player wishes to buy himself out of a contract, he pays the applicable FA (on behalf of the club) the amount of the "buy out" clause effectively becoming a free agent. The problem is that in most cases a player would need to obtain that money from the buying club - and this is fraught with issues regarding "tapping up" and, of course, taxation (as it can be seen as income for the player and would therefore be subject to income tax). There was a test case about the taxation issue in Spain about seven years ago which is why they have an exception. All players in Spain and Portugal have a clause that allows the player to buy himself out of his contract without tax implications - the tax implications passing to the buying club - typically at 50% on top of the value of the clause for the higher profile players. This was to address a ruling from around 30 years ago allowing players a way out of their contracts. The other notable point about Spain and Portugal is that the clauses, if invoked by a non Iberian club, need to be paid in full by the player (there are local rules that stop tax being due) but by needing to put up 100% of the money upfront would end many transfers then and there. It works differently in Iberia to elsewhere as the tax implications do not make such clauses viable in other countries. All players in Iberia must have a figure set and agreed with the club. So "buy out" clauses are very rare elsewhere. Related to this is the Webster Ruling but I don't intend to go in to that now.

A "release clause" is far more common in that it gives a figure that the club would accept for the sale of a player to another club - but it is not legally binding except where both parties (clubs) are in the same country (for the sake of argument I should say that football Spain and Portugal count as the same country as do England and Wales) for legal purposes. These are normally unreasonably high figures (Messi at Barcelona for example) introduced to act as a deterrent for hostile bids - and even then the club could easily block a move. However, if a club in the same country does agree to match a release clause then the selling club would be obliged to ask the player if he is interested - there is no obligation on the player to make a move. For interested clubs outside of the country, the selling club may use it as a guide but are under obligation to accept a bid and may demand a higher figure.

There is then the becoming popular "termination clause" which is binding between the player and the club and if met would see an offer from anywhere accepted and the player given the opportunity to make a call on a move. This overcomes the issues associated with "buy out" clauses as the money would be paid by one club to another and about the legal proximity of the buying side.}