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Free Interview Episode - January Transfer Window Special With Jacque Talbot (Ep. 284)
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The Italian Football Podcast interviews transfer market expert and journalist Jacque Talbot ahead of the January transfer window, who stays, who's sold, who extends and who leaves on a free transfer.
Every Monday as well as all interview episodes of The Italian Football Podcast are free for all.
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Transcript
Introduction and Overview
00:00:02
Speaker
Welcome to the Italian Football Podcast. Hello everybody and welcome to another interview episode of the Italian Football Podcast.
Serie A Resumes and Transfer Market Insights
00:00:11
Speaker
I'm Carlo Garganese joined as always by Nima Tavalli and with the World Cup now over we can begin focusing again on club football with
00:00:21
Speaker
Serie A back in less than a fortnight's time and not only the football on the pitch but the transfer market of course as the January transfer window opens next week.
Interview with Jack Talbot: Career and Transfers
00:00:32
Speaker
On today's show we're going to take a little look at the transfer market and explore some of the business that could be done in January and to help us do that we're delighted to welcome onto the show a good friend and colleague of mine Jack Talbot
00:00:46
Speaker
Jack is a football correspondent, just about to start as the football correspondent of football transfers, and one of the best transfer journalists around this past summer. He broke a number of big transfer exclusives, including Darwin Neuneb's move to Liverpool, Jed Spence's move to Tottenham, and Rean and Lodi's shock transfer to Nottingham Forest from Atletico Madrid. So he's got a good pedigree. Jack, thanks so much for coming on to the show. How are you doing?
00:01:15
Speaker
Thank you very much for having me. Very well, I know you've talked to me up so well. Yeah. Well, you deserve it. Thank you very much. Hi, Jack. Hi, Jack. It's an email and thank you again for coming on. Before we ask you some transfer questions, I mean, first of all, congratulations on your new job at football transfers.
Key Transfer Speculations and Player Movements
00:01:34
Speaker
We're going to be the football correspondent, as Carlos said. Can you just tell everyone what you will be doing and where everyone can find you?
00:01:40
Speaker
Yes, absolutely. So I'll be the correspondent there. I've freelance for football transfers for about a year or so. And now I've been offered a full-time job there as a result. It's a growing site. It has big ambition. So it's great to sort of be the first correspondent there and relatively be the face of it. I'm quite new in the industry, really, in terms of transfers. I'd say it's only sort of been a year. But I feel that if I progress to the site, big things can happen with it. That's the idea anyway. But I'm delighted to be a part of it.
00:02:10
Speaker
I'm ecstatic, to be honest, and I just hope I do a good job. I'm sure you will. Before we look at Serie A players, let's cover some players in clubs that are mainly your specialist areas, and let's start with Enzo Fernandez's future. I mean, he was one of the stars of the World Cup. He was named the young player of the tournament, and now he's wanted by many major clubs in Europe. What do you see in his future?
00:02:38
Speaker
Yeah, he was linked to wolves even last summer, but they didn't pay his £18 million release clause at the time, which was a bit of a silly one in hindsight. But yeah, now I think the World Cup's brilliant, isn't it? It's sort of propelling these names into stardom.
00:02:53
Speaker
but yes I feel with him you know Portugal and as big as sort of Benfica rather they're a bit of a selling club. I know Liverpool's name has been thrown to the wall but that sort of comes I think that was from Argentina but it seems that it's probably going to be Real Madrid who will get him. I think Benfica are asking for his release clause to be met of 120 million euros but I mean I'm a Newcastle fan and I have to say I would really really like him at Newcastle but I think
00:03:22
Speaker
that may take a couple of years before we even consider spending that amount of money, but I am preying on it.
00:03:29
Speaker
OK, I get that. I think Real Madrid seems like like the kind of club Bruno G would be an amazing him. Bruno G and Enzo Fernandez, that would be a that would be some sense. Yeah, for sure. That'd be amazing. Gonzalo Ramos was another breakout star, if only for that hat trick, of course, against Switzerland, replacing Cristiano Ronaldo. And he also he's also doing great at Benfica, just like
00:03:56
Speaker
like Enzo's doing. So what does the future hold for him? Have you heard anything?
00:04:02
Speaker
Yeah, he, again, wolves were linked with him again over the summer. Then Newcastle were linked for a bit. And I think a reporter said in Sky Sports, they're going to make a bid, but that didn't turn out to be true. And then he sort of went under the radar a little bit. And then obviously the World Cup of the hat trick and that, you know, what a way to announce yourself. And so, yeah, now I think, you know, there's been members of Maine United, but I did go to the guy I have in Portugal today.
00:04:30
Speaker
and I asked him, you know, who's interested in this player? How much? And he just said, well, it looks like he's going to go in January, but he's kind of shot down a little bit that may not be the ones to get him. So I don't know how much there is in that. Or maybe that's just coming from Portugal and Maynard are interested.
00:04:45
Speaker
obviously when you go to different places for sources it's all about sort of weighing it up really and speaking to a number of people before you can sort of get a rounded story but I'd imagine it'd be January I'm not sure where exactly I think even Southampton were linked to him a bit last season during the summer as well so it'd be interesting to see I mean Newcastle got their striker now May 9th do need a striker and it does make a lot of sense they got that Portuguese contingent there
00:05:11
Speaker
So he's not a Mendez client, but sometimes Mendez will take over and get the mandate and bring them across. But it'll be a Premier League move for what I hear and it'll be in January. I mean Arsenal need a striker with Gabriel Jesus injured. Do you think he would be an option for them?
00:05:33
Speaker
Yeah, absolutely. I mean, you know, I don't think Arsenal suspected they would be where they are at this point. And it's a good dilemma. And then, you know, it's so unfortunate having Jesus getting injured out for the rest of the season, I think. So they're going to have to look to the market. It might pose a little bit of a risk. I think last season he did OK. He wasn't amazing. He wasn't a world-beater Ramos, but this season he's done tremendously well in the World Cup as well. So I'm sure these on their radar, but
00:06:01
Speaker
It's not as highly sure on him. Roman Lodi, as we mentioned at the top, you broke the story, his loan move to Forrest from Atletico Madrid. What does 2023 hold for him? He's someone who was heavily linked with Juventus and the Serie A before he joined Nottingham Forest.
00:06:20
Speaker
Yeah, his ambition is to stay in the Premier League. He was delighted with the move. I think he's a bit cut up about missing out on the Brazil side. I think for him, it's probably going to come down to whether forests survive or not. And if they do survive, then they'll activate the clause. I think it was an obligation loan to obligation.
00:06:42
Speaker
if they go down then
Premier League Interest in Serie A Players
00:06:43
Speaker
I suspect he'll want to stay in England. He does have an Italian passport and he has his agent does have links to UVA as well. Funnily enough with uh he's the client uh alexandra is his client so be two left backs at UVA and they're the same agent which might be a bit counterintuitive but yes I think he'll be in England.
00:07:00
Speaker
So another Atletico Madrid-owned player, Joel Felix, there's lots of rooms around him. He wants to leave Atletico and will he leave in January and what clubs are interested in him? What's the status there?
00:07:16
Speaker
Yeah, I think with Himi, he's had a very sort of public falling out with the manager there and he wants to move on. He's another Mendez player. I think for me, I think he's probably gonna be someone like Chelsea or something like that. PSG are in there.
00:07:32
Speaker
may unite it as well. I know Newcastle or anyhow has him on his radar a little bit but that might take some doing. Although you think Mendez was probably trying to strike up a bit of a relationship with Newcastle considering there's a trajectory at the moment. So if I had to put money, I'd probably say Chelsea, especially with Brozier going out injured and stuff, the fact that they can do a loan deal and pay a future fee in the summer.
00:07:59
Speaker
But yeah, you know, young talent. I know he's been a little bit stagnant perhaps this season, but still very young and on his day, world class. Speaking of your Newcastle, they are the richest club in the world in terms of who their owners are. And you do have quite a bit of connections there. I mean, can we expect them to spend big in January and 2023 as a whole?
00:08:21
Speaker
They are Newcastle have a habit of briefing reporters one thing and doing another and they always do it. They're very shrewd because of the label of being the richest club in the world. I think they've just they try and reign that in a little bit because otherwise people raise the price and stuff. So they're trying to at the moment, I think.
00:08:39
Speaker
come across as not a club that's going to overspend, that's not going to be bullied into overpaying for someone because they have the money there. So I feel that with them they have said they want to spend in the summer. It's kind of similar to Arsenal really because
00:08:58
Speaker
I would have thought they would have come maybe 8th or 7th in the season, but they're further than the Premier League. The Champions League is a viable thing now, like hugely viable, so surely they'd want to spend. They were after a right-winger, but Miguel Almorón has sort of turned into a Grinchia this season for some reason, and now I think that maybe they'll just look for a number 10 or something.
00:09:22
Speaker
That makes sense, that makes sense. One final player, I may also say Premier League player, but he's not playing the Premier League, he's probably England's best player at the World Cup, Jude Bellingham, who is maybe the hottest transfer property at the moment. I see that you put out a tweet earlier today about Jude Bellingham.
00:09:45
Speaker
And the rumors of Bellingham choosing Real Madrid are really still quite speculative. Do you see Bellingham leaving in 2023? And if so, who are the favourites right now? Is it still Liverpool?
00:10:06
Speaker
Yes, I think that, you know, there's an understanding that he's going to leave then. Typically, Dortmund just do that sort of one big marquee sell-off a year. They did it of Harland last year, the year before that was Sancho. So, yeah, I'd imagine in 2023 he's going to go and he's going to have so, so much choice. Real Madrid are amongst it and obviously Liverpool, Man City are there. They do want to play out, I think,
00:10:32
Speaker
I think Kevin De Bruyne is getting a little bit older now so they do need that number 8 to come in. If I had to put money I think Liverpool, I think there's definitely contact there and I feel that his family look after him as in like represent him and there's a good relationship there between Liverpool and Bellingham so I would presume it would be Liverpool
00:10:51
Speaker
But it's just perhaps maybe down to what I get champions league the season they probably will can I offer him a big enough pay packet to rival that of any other club like a chelsea or man city or real Madrid I didn't see strike me as a type of person who'd care that much about that there is always a factor as well.
00:11:10
Speaker
I like to see him go to Liverpool being quite like a into my Premier League and stuff but you know Real Madrid draw is there but yeah again you kind of think well the Enzo, Enzo Fernandez it's like if he's likely to go to Real Madrid they're probably not gonna and they want him back but he looks like again I think he'll be wanting to spend that much on Bellingham.
00:11:31
Speaker
Yeah, Juventus had the chance to get Birmingham a couple, two or three years back when he was at Birmingham and they missed out on him. So, yeah, it's a shame there. That's a shame for Juve. Moving on, though, to Sarajas, more specifically, and Juventus, Dusan Vlawovic, he's somebody that was wanted by Arsenal in January 2022, transfer window, and he ended up joining Juventus instead.
00:11:56
Speaker
And things haven't gone particularly well for him or the club, especially the club, since then. And Juventus are in a bit of an institutional crisis right now. And Blavitch is now being linked with a move to Arsenal again and also Man United. I mean, do you think there's anything in this? Yeah, I think so. I think, you know, that his goal record at Florentina was absolutely astounding. I think it was
00:12:22
Speaker
proved him to be one of the best goalscorers in the world at the time. And okay, Juventus, being at Juventus, it hasn't gone too well. We know Mane either after a striker, we know Arsenal are as well. And especially if Arsenal have had prior interest as well, I'm not entirely sure what the situation is around Juventus in terms of selling players, whether they other clubs will know they would have to sort of sell at a lower price, I'm not sure. So yeah, certainly that could be feasible, yes.
00:12:52
Speaker
Adrian Rabio is another Juventus player. His contract expires at the end of the season and he was very close to joining Man United in the past summer. It was very advanced and then he started demanding too much money and Speronique Rabio started demanding a lot of money as well.
00:13:11
Speaker
Man United are still said to be interested, but they aren't the only Premier League club. A lot of Premier League clubs are now being heavily linked. Chelsea as well. Can you see Rabio come into the Premier League on a free transfer at the end of the season, or potentially even in January?
00:13:29
Speaker
I think with him, yeah, if he was to come, it would be, you know, if he's a competent player, I think he gets a bit too much stick. I think he looked quite okay in the World Cup. I wouldn't say he looked brilliant, but he did a good job, I think. And yeah, certainly, you know, a free transfer, someone of his calibre to come in. I don't know what sort of
00:13:48
Speaker
he's like his own personality and that I mean that that's going to be weighed up a lot as well but you know if he was to go to a big club like that like main either Arsenal I can't imagine being a first team starter I think he's been linked to Arsenal I remember him being linked to Arsenal maybe even like oh don't know eight years ago and stuff he's always been there it's like one of them players that always gets linked to the certain club but um yeah for sure I mean I don't know what's happening if you've entered this entirely but
00:14:13
Speaker
I feel that perhaps he could go and do a job at Man United, be playing every so often. I personally think he's going to move to the Premier League in 2023. I don't think it will happen in January because Juventus have to get in that top four and he's probably been Ube's best midfielder this season.
00:14:34
Speaker
Is he really? Yes, which says a lot to be honest, but he has actually, to be fair to me, he has actually had a good season. He has a good season. He's been scoring goals, he's adding goals to his game and you know, so I think you'll be able to keep hold of him and if they can't sign him up, he'll just go on a free.
00:14:53
Speaker
I think he gets a lot of unfair stick. I think he's a very decent player. I think he's a good player to have in a rotation. If he's your starting player and you claim you want to win trophies, then maybe he's not that guy. But I agree with you. I think the stick he gets is a little bit unfair.
00:15:15
Speaker
Well, she is the way she is. Yeah, I mean, she is the way she is and the way that she talks and treats people, journalists and the way that she, you know, and the way that she, you know, the matching outfits.
00:15:29
Speaker
The buying of matching outfits for herself and her son. It becomes a little bit of a parody. I don't know if you guys remember that film, Throw Mama Off the Train with Danny DeVito in the 80s, 90s. I've never heard of that. It sounds amazing though. Danny DeVito has got this abusive relationship with his mom, who's a complete battle axe.
00:15:58
Speaker
And he hires, he asks Billy Crystal to throw his mother off the train and kill her. And he'll, because he's killed Billy Crystal's ex-wife and he expects, you know, it's kind of like a comic remake of the Hitler, sort of the Hitchcock classic of Hitler.
00:16:18
Speaker
Where is this conversation going? No, no, the Hitchcock. It's like an amazing plot. I can't have ever heard of it. It's one of those like Christmas comedies that you see. It is a bit of a cult classic. It's kind of bad, really bad in some places, but you can't set your eyes off it, bad. Have you heard of it? You've seen it, Karla. You've seen it, yeah, I've seen it, yeah. It's funny, it is funny. You like it. You used to go on TV during Christmas.
00:16:46
Speaker
It goes on TV during Christmas time. It's a fun movie, but I've always felt that she immediately, the first time I set eyes on her and saw her as she talks, I was like, he reminds me exactly of the mum and throw mum off the train. Love it.
00:17:04
Speaker
Well, moving on from throwing Mama Rabia off the train, another Juventus midfielder, Weston McKenney, he's been heavily linked to Tottenham. We know the Spurs transfer chief, Fabio Parrata, she used to work at Juve, brought McKenney to Juve actually in 2020. Is this a deal that you can see being done in January or in 2023?
00:17:28
Speaker
Yeah, I think with Spurs, it just seems that there'll be a bit of a crisis going on behind closed doors with what Conte wants and what Levi wants. There seems to be that Levi is not willing to splash the cash really in January at all. And Conte very much is passionate that they should be. So I'm not sure. It's so funny. Whoa, dear, those two.
00:17:58
Speaker
But I don't know if his value, would he be sort of like 30 million euros or something for McKinney? Would that be reasonable? I hope so. I think Carlo would run naked down the streets of Bedford if that were like, if you've ever got paid around 30 million for Western McKinney, I think Carlo would like, I don't know, I think Carlo would like dissolve into the universe. I'd throw in a million myself to get that.
00:18:21
Speaker
I think he was supposed to be quite a good player. He misjudged entirely. Well, I guess I have quite high standards for you, but he's not my kind of player. To be honest, I think in the Premier League, he'd probably do okay because he's quite athletic, he gets up and down, he scores goals. Kontor would love him. I mean, I can understand why Kontor wants him.
00:18:45
Speaker
Yeah, I mean concert gets the best out of everyone. I think it's a deal possible probably because I think Juventus have got too many midfielders and they need to get rid of one at least, I think, maybe even in January. So I do think that's a deal that possibly could be done if, as you say, Jack, maybe is willing to spend a little bit. Yeah, basically.
00:19:10
Speaker
It could even be a loan, I guess, with an obligation or something in the summer, possibly, because we must spend it straight away. Right. OK, we'll move on to Inter now. So, Nimmo, you can take over on Inter. Yeah, I wanted to ask you a little bit about Stefan Defray, because his contract expires at the end of the season. It doesn't look like he will sign a new deal. It seems like those contract talks haven't really unblocked yet, as we're hearing reports from Italy on that. And he's been heavily linked to Premier League for some time.
00:19:40
Speaker
and we know that Spurs have been linked with
Future Prospects for Top Players in Serie A
00:19:45
Speaker
them as well. Can you see him moving to the Premier League and do you think Spurs are the most likely destination if he does?
00:19:52
Speaker
Yes, I'd imagine so. They had a bit of rotten luck, I suppose, of trying to get players over from the Serie A last season. I know they're after Bastoni. I've pretty remodeled how the pronunciation of that name, Bastoni, but that didn't come to fruition. But again, he just boils down to what's going to happen behind closed doors with the budget and stuff.
00:20:12
Speaker
and also with the manager as well, because it looks quite tentative of whether Conte's going to stay on or not. I know there's been rumblings of even Pochettino coming in, so I don't know if Spurs will be willing to pay them out and then bring players in when another manager could take over. But it's possible.
00:20:30
Speaker
And I mean, his center back partner, Milan Scrinha, is on an expiring contract. We don't know what happens there, because Inter have offered him a contract extension. It's been confirmed by everybody. I mean, Piero Aucilio, the Inter sporting director, Inter CEO, Pepe Barota, all have said they have offered him an important contract. This is what they can do. But if he doesn't sign, and he's taking his time, we don't know what's going to happen there. He hasn't given his response yet.
00:21:00
Speaker
Are PSG still to be considered favorites to sign him, or do you know of any other teams that would be interested in signing him?
00:21:08
Speaker
I haven't heard of any other teams, but PSG have been linked to this man for probably about four years, I think. I mean, the whole summer, I've seen him going there, not going there, going there again. PSG, if they're that intent on getting a player, I mean, imagine eventually that they would get him if the contract's coming to an end and stuff, and he's being a bit funny about it. So, yeah, I think
00:21:33
Speaker
With the pulling power PSG have and their financial muscle, it probably seemed likely that he would go there and
00:21:41
Speaker
Yes, just our new venture in League Un. Another player, Inter player, or not really an Inter, but Chelsea player Romelu Lukaku is on loan at Inter this season. He's had a really torrid time at Inter and this season generally. Or he's had a torrid time in his career since he left Inter to go to Chelsea. Do you expect him to stay on at Inter over like
00:22:03
Speaker
past this season or do you think he'll return to Chelsea and will Chelsea even have him back given that, you know, Thomas Tuchel is no longer there, Graham Potter is there, what are your thoughts there?
00:22:13
Speaker
I think fundamentally it's the relationship he has with Chelsea fans now. I think it would just be such an unnecessary risk to take the interview he did with Sky Italia. I think it was probably lost in translation a little bit and also probably came out at the wrong time. But it was, you know, and fans online can be a little bit sensitive to this kind of thing. And I know and he was, I think he was still is their record
00:22:40
Speaker
transfer. I think it was just under 100 million pounds and it just went terribly wrong. His goal record wasn't as bad as you'd have believed. I think it was something like 12 and 30 or something throughout the season but you know sometimes that can be deceiving because if a player can get sort of like two goals, three goals against like a late in orient or something and then be rubbing for the rest of the season. So no, I cannot foresee a way where Lukaku and he seems to adore Inter Milan. He absolutely adores it there and it's been a
00:23:07
Speaker
It's been a hard season for him. But for me, I think if it doesn't work out into Milan, it'd probably maybe be like a move to the MLS or Saudi Arabia, which is a crying shame because he's still relatively young. I'm not sure if he's even 30 or maybe he is just 30. But I can't see another Premier League club coming in. I know he's changed agents now. I don't know what knock on effect that's going to have at all. But, you know, he'd probably ask for a certain amount of money as well.
00:23:36
Speaker
I don't know what he's getting on at Chelsea. Is it like 300 grand? It must be at least 300 grand. Big wages, yeah. Big wages, no. He's going to have to reduce that. For game time he's going to have to reduce that substantially. So any only clubs who could pay that, offer him game time and would want him, would be Saudi Arabia clubs or possibly into Miami or something like that.
00:23:58
Speaker
One thing that I've seen, I don't know if either of you know about this, but I was reading, and I'd totally forgotten about this, that there are new fee for rules that have come in place whereby if you take a player out on loan for a season, then you can't extend the loan. You can't have a player on loan for multiple seasons.
00:24:23
Speaker
You can't loan over two seasons is what I think it is, but you can loan two, you see two years, but one year at a time, if that makes sense. Right. Okay. So that, so if we... You mean the initial contract? Yeah.
00:24:36
Speaker
Yeah, the initial contract, if it is one year, you're saying it can't be, are we going to add another year on? Is it permitted legally for Inter just to say at the end of the season, rather than loan you again for another season? Yeah, they can. They can. They absolutely can. It's just that you can't, before you could have loans that went past, that were in the contract, the loan contract was over 24 months or something like that. I think that's what's been stopped here. You can loan as many times as you want.
00:25:04
Speaker
but 12 months at a time. Right, okay, that's fair enough. That's what I wasn't sure about. I wasn't sure whether that was still committed. Inter are interesting. There's been talk of that as well, but the problem has been that he's been so bad this season at Inter and he's been so injured that Inter are thinking, well, given his wages, is it worth it? And that's why they're looking at Marcos Taram, who is a player they were linked with before. And he was going to sign, but then he injured himself that weekend and they went after Joaquin Correa and
00:25:32
Speaker
Well, you know, that's that one. That one's smashing. Smashing, isn't it? Yeah. Okay. Well, let's look at another big star in Serie A, Rafael Liao and Milan. His contract expires in 2024. Milan had hoped to sign into a new contract before the World Cup. That hasn't happened. And there are now understandably fears that
00:25:56
Speaker
you know, maybe it's going to be another Donna Ruma situation or another Chalanogli situation, or Kesier situation where the player isn't really intending to sign a new deal. And as a result of that, Milan will sell him in 2023. Lots of Premier League clubs, plus PSG, Madrid have all been linked with him. Chelsea were
00:26:19
Speaker
they were reported to have made a bid for him in the summer and they still have been until recently considered favourites but they've now signed in Kunku so will they still be interested? I mean how do you think Rafael's situation will play out?
00:26:34
Speaker
Yeah, I think, you know, he's such a talented individual that I imagine all these big clubs are going to have a lot of proposals on the table for him and he'll eventually find somewhere. And Konku going to Chelsea might put a spanner in the works. You're right in terms of him going there.
00:26:51
Speaker
I think, you know, sort of a club like PSG. I think he's another Mendez client as well. So you got that as well. I wonder if there's anything in Athletico there while Felix goes, but Real Madrid are another one, really. But I feel like probably something like PSG. I think Chelsea have got their man now. So it might be a bit tricky.
00:27:09
Speaker
for them to get them. But also, you know, Man United, you know, they do need that. I mean, Tenhar talked recently about signing more world class players and stuff. And I know he likes to bring in players who are young and who can develop and be sort of molded under him. So, you know, Man United would be quite feasible for him as well, I feel. OK. Napoli, the two stars of the season, Khvadat Scalia and Kim Minjae, you know, both have been heavily linked to the Premier League. Kim especially has been very, very heavily linked to Man United.
00:28:00
Speaker
Yes, no. He seems to be a tremendous talent and Napoli are absolutely flying right now and it'd be a tremendous shame if anything happens like January time to rupture that because I do like to see clubs like Napoli do extremely well and keep hold of their players. But in terms of them two players going forward, yeah, unfortunately in the climate of football nowadays, it's one big league which sucks all the stars out of all the other leagues and stuff. I'd imagine one of them, the centre back there could be work at Man United,
00:28:02
Speaker
Do you think there's anything concrete here with either of these players?
00:28:29
Speaker
But I'm not entirely sure really. I don't have anything concrete on that, but I know Kim's been sort of linked to a lot of Premier League clubs, which you can kind of presume it's his agent flying it around or something like that. But yeah, it'd be interesting to see, but as I say, I hope it's not January. I hope Napoli can win the title and then in the summer, I don't know, they stay, hopefully.
Transfer Stories and Failed Deals
00:28:52
Speaker
I don't like Premier League dominance kind of just irks me a little bit. I don't know why, but it just does.
00:28:59
Speaker
Yeah, same for us. Vic to Osseman, another Napoli player, known quite publicly to love the Premier League and a lot of Premier League clubs, as you've said, already need a new striker in 2023. Can you see any of them coming in for Osseman in 2023?
00:29:20
Speaker
Yeah, again, you know, it's never so well-class striker. May and I had comes immediately to mind. I think you said they'd like it. He wants to see out and win the League of Napoli first, but he's been linked to move away for at least two years. I think the club he was linked to most last summer was Arsenal, but they end up going for Jesus. I think Napoli wanted above 100 million euros for him at the time. So yeah, like a club like getting in a May United or
00:29:48
Speaker
Chelsea or something like that, perhaps. I don't know if Arsenal will revisit it. I think they'll probably wait for Jesus to come back and just play for someone a little less expensive, I reckon. Yeah, and also it saves you headache from dealing with Aurelio dell'Arantes, which is, I mean, if we're talking about painting the butt Italian football president, he's like the last level boss.
Quickfire Q&A with Jack Talbot
00:30:09
Speaker
I mean, he doesn't he doesn't mess about if he says he wants 100 million, he will get 100 million. He doesn't mess about.
00:30:16
Speaker
as many have found out with his players when they want to buy them. Let's talk about Tammy Abram. He had a really good first season at Roma, but so far the second season has been dreadful and he looks a bit unhappy as well. And there's been talk that he will leave Roma in 2023 and maybe even in January and return to England. Do you know anything about this?
00:30:38
Speaker
Tammy Abraham, it's been wonderful seeing the influx of English talent thrive in Syria, it really has been, but it's unfortunate obviously that this season has just been a bit stop-start with him. I think Chelsea were mad to sell him to be honest, but if there's rumours of him leaving perhaps Roma, then you know, I don't know if Chelsea would be interested or even like maybe a
00:30:58
Speaker
mid-table club like in England going to get him. I know he's a hugely talented individual but there's one day, he's just sort of flown under the radar really in terms of the links and stuff. You don't really hear much about Tammy Abraham in terms of possibly moving to this club, all that club kind of thing.
00:31:15
Speaker
nothing at the moment but you know he certainly wants to keep an eye on. I hope he stays with Roma personally but um yeah and again you know I just keep saying Man United all the time but you know Man United and Alstra and you know I think there was an interest there in eventoni and arguably are they kind of a relatively similar sort of model I suppose with Plow quite tall quite strong um so that's that's you know
00:31:37
Speaker
now with Tony and the issues he's got, alleged issues with gambling and that kind of thing. So yeah, I mean that could be a feasible replacement perhaps. A few Atalanta players have been linked with moves away. Malinowski, Ruslan Malinowski to Spurs, Jeremy Bogard to Leicester, Scalvini the central defender to Man City. Have you got anything on them?
00:32:04
Speaker
No, unfortunately, I don't. But I mean, Malinovska, I just feel he's one of the most underappreciated attackers in Europe for the past sort of three years now. I think he's absolutely amazing. And it's a shame, I know he's must be approaching sort of 29 years old. Yeah, about 29 now or something like that. And I just felt like he could have done wonderful. I know he's done wonderful things about Atlanta, obviously, but I love to see him in the Premier League for selfish reasons. And, you know, a club like Spurs would be tremendous, I feel. Yeah.
00:32:32
Speaker
Yeah, and moving on. Sergei Milinkovich Savage, he's, well, possibly will belatedly be sold by Lazio in 2023. His contract runs out in 2024. Every single summer he gets linked to a big move away and then every single summer he ends up staying. Do you think this could be the summer 2023 that he finally leaves Lazio and could he move
00:32:59
Speaker
to, I mean, where do you think you could potentially move to? There were rumblings that you'd go to May United, just when Tanharg joined, so it was about May time that he was going to go there, and there was a price of like 70 million euros, I think, but it never really materialized into anything, and you're right, it has been linked to the move away for so long.
00:33:19
Speaker
I don't know, he's sort of like a number eight, isn't he? He's got quite a versatile player. He's sort of box to box. And I know Maynight are off to sort of like a marquee central midfielder to bring in in the summer. But I think that's going to be probably more likely to be like Declan Rice or someone like that. I know Frankie Dion has been well liked by 10 Hogsbury. Football's worst kept secret, really. So, yeah, I'm not entirely sure, but I suppose, you know, he's been linked for some time away from Latio. So, you know, it has to come eventually.
00:33:51
Speaker
And finally, Marco Inaltovic, very, very close to joining Manchester United in the summer. What is the truth on why the move fell through to Manchester United? Was it down to fan pressure, as has been reported?
00:34:08
Speaker
Well, it's difficult, isn't it? Because, you know, you can go to talk to a football club and they can tell you a certain thing, but it doesn't necessarily make it the truth. It's like, oh, yeah, that, you know, we looked at the fan reaction and we turned him down because of that. But also, you know, the players saying, no, actually, I turned it down for this reason. So it's hard to gauge, isn't it? Because even if you have sources close to a club or a player, they'll have their own agenda and stuff. So it's one of life's great mysteries, I think. I think we'll never know.
00:34:38
Speaker
a monster or something like that. His career is a bit like that, isn't it? Generally, like his career is a bit like an enigma, just like a mystery, like the Loch Ness Monster. For sure. He'd been doing quite well this season, is that right? I know he was a top scorer. That was about a month ago when I checked, or two months ago. But yeah, he's been doing quite well. So Maynard may be a Mr. Trick, really, because he wouldn't have done bad, especially with Ronaldo going. Absolutely.
00:35:05
Speaker
Right, just before we let you go, we do this with all the guests we have the first time. We'll have this rapid-fire game. I'll give you a few options. You just let me know which one of the ones you prefer. You don't have to give an explanation if you don't want to, but you can if you want as well, okay? Right, yeah. Is it like present kind of thing? Well, it can be anything. I'll do it now. So the first one, very simple. Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi?
00:35:34
Speaker
Oh, Messi. Maradona or Pele? Maradona. Roberto Bajo, Francesco Totti, or Alex Del Piero? Del Piero. Franco Baresi or Paolo Maldini? Maldini. Who's your all-time favorite Serie A player?
00:35:53
Speaker
my head I've got del pierro in my head but I feel there's another one but del pierro because he used to he's sort of like a second auxiliary striker and he used to sort of do this trademark goal where to get it sort of curl into the top corner I used to love that so aesthetically pleasing very these three things were wonderful yeah there could be another option there but I think
00:36:14
Speaker
Del Piero is the one that comes to my head, yeah. I mean he was, everything he did was aesthetically pleasing. Del Piero was just such an elegant player. Apart from his suit, did you see that? Oh yes, he got ripped about that, yeah. That sounds wonderful but he's a little bit lacking.
00:36:31
Speaker
He usually dresses really well. I don't know what happened there. Maybe, I don't know, maybe he was gifted it. Yeah, maybe he was gifted it or something. Or he got lost. He left his suit at home or something. I don't know. An M&S one along with England team maybe. Who's your favourite Serie A club?
00:36:54
Speaker
Atalanta. Atalanta of the past four years, but before that it's been in Smilán. I used to love it in Smilán. I'm not the same as Cepigio. I used to love Ronaldo there, Cambia so I know they didn't play at the same time, but yeah, a big in Smilán. Right, and who do you think will win the Serie A this season?
00:37:16
Speaker
I'm going for the easy one, so Napoli's going to win it because they're tough. And finally, the most important question we've asked you today, pineapple on pizza, food heaven or food hell?
00:37:26
Speaker
Oh, well, I don't... It's kind of, like, okay. It's fine. I know, is it bad to say it's nice, right? That's the wrong answer. But I'm not even aware. It's just, like, very... Yeah, I'd have some. But I wouldn't be my first choice. I'd probably have a barbecue-based Domino's. I don't know what it'd taste like that. That's tech village on this podcast, isn't it?
00:37:48
Speaker
You're just digging deeper, aren't you? You're not the only one, to be fair. There's been a lot of people. I've got to be surprised. When Joe Caltaghe said he liked pineapple on pizza, that surprised me the most. Yes, and me. I did not see that coming. Right. Thank you so much for coming on, Jack. And if people want to follow you on Twitter, what's your handle? And also if you've got something else to plug that's coming out, then the floor is yours.
00:38:13
Speaker
Yes, you'll just Twitter it at then J-A-C underscore Tolbert, T-A-L-B-O-T. Be wonderful if you could drop us a fellow. And if you've got anything else coming out, any, you know, if you've got any stories or anything else that you say, like, watch out for or want to plug, then feel free. Unfortunately, no, I wish I should have come a bit more prepared, to be honest, but no, I don't. But if you go on my Twitter, you know, you'll see it in live, you'll see it in real time, stories come out.
Conclusion and Farewell
00:38:40
Speaker
That's the best way.
00:38:41
Speaker
Right, that's all we have time for this week. We will be back in January. We will be taking a little bit of a break over Christmas. A much deserved break, if you ask me. We will be back when the serría kicks off and we will be focusing on the transfer market full on. Until then, take care of each other and yourselves. And until next time, ciao.