[NOT HAPPENING] Josef de Souza

Not a bad shout and I’d be surprised if it hadn’t been considered. He is on a free after all.

 

Read a bit on SSN website that says he was, and still is to an extent, marked for big things in German football. He has run his contract down hoping to get a big move but his demands have put clubs off. Suggestion is that he needs to drop these demands but any big clubs have been put off getting him at all due to his arrogance in negotiations.

Given that information, I doubt we’d be in with a shout.

 

Plus Meyer is one position we really don't need any cover. This guy certainly looks fighting fit.

 

I would agree that other positions should be a priority. But Gracia has indicated he wants another deep lying midfielder/playmaker and that’s where Meyer played all last season after his manager moved him back from being a No.10. Sounds similar to Cleverley in that respect.

 

And, as we learnt later in the thread, Philip Cocu is the Fenerbahce head coach.

 

Big clubs like Palace?

http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11706/11455279/crystal-palace-in-talks-to-sign-max-meyer

 

Where and when was this?

 

http://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/sp...t-for-premier-league-opener-says-javi-gracia/

‘It is a position we need players...’

Now, granted he could be saying once everyone is fit, we have enough. But the wording to me screams that he doesn’t think we are strong enough in CM. And he’s talking about a deep lying position where Wilmot and Hoban filled-in...so I’d not be wrong in assuming that we may want another player in there.

 

We have certainly bid (and it would appear more than once) for De Souza so clearly we want a midfielder. This may be partially because of injuries, but even with Doucoure and Cleverley fit over the New Year we still took a CM on board - he just didn't play.

I really hope we get De Souza. He would be a straight out of the box starter and settle things while Chalobah and Cleverley get back up to speed.

 

That's how I understood it as well, so if we are still definitely wanting to bring someone in it will be because we're not confident enough that Doucs, Clev and Chalobah will all be fit again for a while.

 

De Souza off to Palace apparently

 

Disappointing. We will be left with the crumbs from the table.

 

All is not lost We have Wilmot and Rodwell vying for a spot.

 

I think you mean Krumbs, german defensive midfielder. Known for being a bit of a fruitcake.

 

Used to play with Lord Louis Mount Battenburg I think?

 

If Doucoure stays, then I don't care. If we sell Doucoure in the next 8 days, and this bloke was meant to replace him....

 

Surely Rodwell is the replacement?

 

That would look great business on a spreadsheet but nowhere else.

 

If we really did want him, then it'd be disappointing if Palace have managed to pick up both of him and Meyer.

 

Bigger club. Proper London club.

 

Is Doucoure also out long-term? Garcia was very evasive about the injuries to our midfielders and why (Cleverley apart) when they are likely to feature.

 

Source?

 

http://www.hltco.org/2018/07/31/report-palace-agree-12-million-deal-fenerbaches-josef-de-souza/

 

They've just signed Kouyate, as well as Meyer. Surely they won't be going for three CMs at a decent cost in one window? Perhaps they saw de Souza as a back-up transfer option if they couldn't complete the other two deals.

This article from later in the day yesterday says that, despite earlier reports, Palace haven't actually agreed a fee. The whole thing sounds like Fenerbahce trying to push his price up:

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/08/0...alace-told-to-increase-josef-de-souza-bid-as/

 

Fenerbahce wanted Meyer. So not inconceivable that they would have been trying to entice Palace with De Souza leaving the route to Meyer clear for them. Doesn’t seem to have worked though.

 

Apparently he's now been transfer listed by Fenerbahce...

http://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2018/08/0...palace-target-josef-de-souza-transfer-listed/

 

It's seemed pretty clear that they've been keen to shift him from the get go.

 

They may have mucked about too much with this situation as far as Watford and other EPL clubs are concerned so late in the window. It was clear they are cash poor as previously reported but seemingly they think they are in a strong bargaining position.

 

A good summary of how this transfer window is playing out. Teams from abroad are looking to fleece English clubs, and as the deadline approaches they are becoming more desperate. Think its why there's been so little in the way of movement

 

Josef de Souza, a player Watford & others were linked with throughout the summer transfer window, has finally found a move to his liking.

Yesterday Al Ahli'ye put in an offer for the Fenerbahce player but it was turned down.
A second offer has now been accepted and de Souza, who was in the final year of his contract, has signed for the Saudi Arabian side.

This statement from Fenerbahce confirms the transfer.

https://www.fenerbahce.org/detay.asp?ContentID=61440

About Josef de Souza's transfer to Al Ahli

Our footballer Josef de Souza has made the necessary negotiations with the club of Saudi Arabia, Al Ahli SC, after the agreement of our club and he has reached a consensus for the transfer.

As it is known, the necessary information was made to the public yesterday in response to reports that the Al Ahli club transmitted the club proposal for Josef de Souza, and that the proposal, which was not accepted by our club, was accepted. Following the second proposal from the Al Ahli club, the necessary talks were initiated in the direction of our transfer strategies, considering the high benefits of our club.

In this context; the football player's contract was due to arrive 10 months later and it was decided that the next club will have a chance to negotiate with the club without any consent. Josef De Souza showed his commitment to Fenerbah*e and completed his negotiations with the club that Fenerbah*e agreed on in line with this point of view.

I thank Josef for all his services to Fenerbahce and I wish him eternal successes in his next career.

FENERBAH*E SPORTS CLUB

 

I have no idea who this player is. I was just hoping that Gino had found some kind of loop hole/swap deal/temporary trial/loan that would allow us to sign somebody now. Just to wind up the pundits and see them explode with indignant rage!

 

Ox, fantastic & tireless work, as ever, on the info gathering front.

And never a hair out of place.

 

Might cause indigestion among some of our own esteemed members.

 

Thanks RD. I won't lie, it's costing me a fortune in hairspray.