#transfer-strategy

#transfer-strategy

Once Eric Garcia finalizes his extension, Deco is said to plan to open talks with Torres about a new deal that would keep him at the club well beyond his current 2027 contract. The 25-year-old forward has become a key piece for Hansi Flick, leading the line during Robert Lewandowski's injury absence, until Torres himself was injured. The potential renewal signals a clear intent from Barcelona to continue building with players already in the system.

One of the burning debates following last weekend's derby was why Manchester United did not sign goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma in the summer.

Chelsea tried to cancel the loan over the weekend after Liam Delap's injury against Fulham, but the striker refused to return to London as his agent and Bayern worked desperately to schmooze the Blues. Agent Ali Barat vowed to 'fight with everything I have' to get the move over the line, and eventually Chelsea caved in and let him go, two years after he joined for £32m.

Plenty of factors go into determining a transfer fee: wages, length of contract, age, position, whether a club has a need to acquire a player or has a need to offload, what the budget is, and how far along the player is in his development. Galleni says there's a premium for upside: an exceedingly athletic player might be able to improve technically and therefore be worth the investment. (The opposite -- a very technically gifted player who becomes a better athlete -- is far rarer.)

Ange Postecoglou's Tottenham lifted their first silverware since 2008, winning the Europa League, but they sit precariously at 17th in the Premier League.