The end is nigh... (and other transfer news)

[BonnieShels]

Seriously... €180m for Mbappe?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0725/892857-real-madrid-set-to-seal/

[Eminence Grise]

If that goes ahead, it's an obscenity.

[DeLorean]

Factoring in the money they got (will get) for Danilo, Morata and James I suppose it's not that huge an outlay for arguably the hottest property in world football.

Okay, it's still obscene, but I think it can be justified far more than some of the other figures we've seen recently for other players.

Real haven't done much damage in the transfer market over the past few years in terms of extravagant, wreckless spending.

James was their last very big signing three years ago and that was pretty much offset against the money they recieved for Di Maria. Similarly, the year before they financed the Gareth Bale deal by selling Ozil and Higuain for big fees.

They're undoubtedly top of the pile now in European football with three Champions League titles in four years, it can be dangerous to rest on your laurels.

Ronaldo isn't getting any younger, Bale hasn't hit the dizzy heights yet, Benzema is very good but not quite mind-blowingly good and also turns 30 this year, Morata and James two brilliant forward options gone from the squad now too.

Obviously it's hard to know at this stage how good Mbappe will turn out to be but it's yet another statement that shows they can get the players that everybody else wants (and can even afford!).

Who else is out there that is more proven than Mbappe and would also potentially improve Real Madrid over the next few years? I don't think there's that many options.

Football has gone nuts, clearly, but I think this particular transfer makes a certain amount of sense in the overall context of things.

[DeLorean]

So Manchester City are spending €65m on an uncapped centre back.

[BonnieShels]

Seriously... €180m for Mbappe?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0725/892857-real-madrid-set-to-seal/

How naive was that?

[DeLorean]

Mourinho looks to be somewhat vindicated by saying that the Pogba fee would look cheap in a short space of time (ignoring the fact that Manchester United had let him go for peanuts previously of course).

[OwlsFan]

Ronaldo to Juventus for €100 million. Not bad for a 33 year old https://metro.co.uk/2018/07/03/real-madrid-decide-accept-88m-offer-cristiano-ronaldo-juventus-7680223/