So Ivic said they are still looking for a free agent in one position (obviously LB), but only if they are good enough. I figured then there could be clubs out there with a LB they would now be prepared to sell that we would be happy to buy (price being right of course). So what would stop a club telling an agent to set up the following; Player pays club to be released from his contract and then signs for another club with a signing on fee. Is this legal? Or, assuming that isn’t ok / legal, can clubs still release a player like we did with Welbeck and then they get signed up elsewhere? As I’m typing this I’m thinking the rule must be that a player must be a free agent before the transfer window closes. So I think I’ve answered my own question. So I’ll ask another one....anyone know of any half decent LB free agents??
I'm not sure there is a rule but I can't find an example where this happened. It's an interesting one. What's stopping Spurs from releasing Danny Rose to get him off the wage bill (provided the player himself consents?). But I would think clubs which perform a transfer that is functionally (though not formally) similar to a paid transfer (e.g. player pays a fee to their club to get released from their contract, and in return receives inflated compensation from his new club) would be subject to significant scrutiny and potentially sanction from the EFL. In terms of free agent LBs, there appear to be a couple of decent options (probably in order of preference): Kwadwo Asamoah. Very good and 31, which is a decent age for a free agent. May be expecting high-ish wages and reports are that he wants to remain in Italy. Victor Alvarez. Can't say I know too much about him but is 27, doesn't appear to be injured. Was at Arsenal Tola in the Russian League and seemed quite well regarded. Lots of experience in La Liga too. Can't really work out why he hasn't signed for someone yet. Gael Clichy. 35 but played a lot and pretty well last year in Turkey. Jordan Obita - ex-Reading, pretty young. Contract not renewed despite several appearances post-lockdown which followed a long injury lay-off. Don't think he improves us.
Pretty sure it's legal. Otherwise players released from their contracts halfway through the season wouldn't be able to sign until a transfer window. Nottingham Forest did this a few years ago, their owner (who also owns Olympiakos) terminated the players contract, then signing him for Forest on a free transfer after the window had shut: https://www.sportbible.com/football...giotis-tachtsidis-on-a-free-transfer-20180905
From a football manager game many years ago, I thought the rule was that the player can he released and join another club, as long as they haven’t been registered in their teams squad with the league. I could be making that up though...
Since Ken Sema is a completely unknown quantity at left-back, the bar for 'improves us' is 'is he better than Kiko, a right-footed converted winger'. As for the others, Asamoah would be great (wages), Clichy might be an OK punt (but we have reason to be cautious about OAPs coming to us!), and that Alvarez fella would be out of left field, used to play fairly regularly at Espanyol, which is good on paper, but being released by a random Russian club? I'd like to know the story there
Less than a third of Obita’s appearances last season came at LB with the rest coming at LM. Kiko has played LB on numerous occasions in the Premier League and shifting Sema from LWB to LB wouldn’t be so radical. At this stage, I would be more content with either of them playing LB in a back four than Obita. Ivic has repeatedly said that we’ll only bring someone in if they will improve us as opposed to someone to make up the numbers. Can’t see Obita being that person. Agree re Alvarez. Played a lot last season so it seems likely that he wanted a different opportunity rather than the club trying to get rid of him. Strange that no one has taken him yet too.
Ahh so I thought this would be a definite no but seems there is a possibility. If only we had owners who might think of a loophole like this.
You can only sign players that were released before the transfer wondow closed. It's to do with registration. It's why loads of players are released or negotiate releases on deadline day.
Have to be far more mobile as a LB than a CH. 2 years ago maybe, but 35 in the championship on presumably a decent wage, he’d expect to be a starter which moves Sema too....
"Gael son, we are offering a squad rotation contract on X grand a week, if you play, and if you are shyte\pull a hammy we reserve the right to pull the plug , do you want to sign or not ?"
