Richarlison and Brazil forced to cede spotlight on Messi' night

Arsenal must be kicking themselves for gifting Villa a world class goalkeeper for next to nothing. Martinez has carried on from an excellent season with Aston Villa and he must be one of top goalkeepers in the world right now.

If DCL gets to play tonight, we would have had 2 Everton forwards playing in 2 international finals on the same day! Good luck to England and Pickford and DCL - it promises to be a fascinating game.

I know people are talking about transfers but we should have Calvert-Lewin, Kean, Richarlison – on current form, not a bad front three. Then chuck in James Rodriguez and all is not lost if the manager can get the team to gel together and play as a team with discipline.

Anyway, commiserations to he and his team mates, but few non Brazilians begrudge Messi a long sought after major international trophy for Argentina. International football is not my thing, but I'm genuinely happy for him to finally win something for Argentina, and against all the odds and in the heart of enemy territory as well.
This tournament triumph would have been extremely cathartic and satisfying, congratulations to he and his team mates again.

That leaves another gaping hole in the forward positions.

I'm hoping this issue will be resolved ASAP with 2 or 3 quality signings.

I think Rich is off. Why would we release him for the Olympics?

It'll be Real to follow Carlo, or another "big" club.

We need to get a small fortune for him.

Money wise, £75M plus for Rich.

Still think so.

Have people slept through the last 18 months and not kept abreast of the dire football finances of the continental clubs most likely looking to sign him for the double-our-money fees mentioned? They're brassic. Penniless. Skint.

That's why none of them have, or will, lay out serious money for any player. All are shopping in the free transfer market, looking to generate monies (not for purchases, but to pay their considerable debts).

Only England's PL clubs could possibly come close to the money we would want for Richy, but who of our rivals would be in the market for his 'skill set'?

And if the idea to let him play at the Olympics is to put him in the shop window, if he plays as he did in the now completed Copa America and for the most part of last season with Everton, clubs will be looking to buy him at a discount, NOT at double-our-money fees.

Real Madrid wanted the ESL for a reason. They are in serious debt.

So unless the Spanish Royal Famiy bail them out again, then they will need to sell too. Or maybe offer players in return??

I don't know if that's true about the Royal Family by the way. Just something that used to get floated around years ago. Dodgy as hell if there's anything in it. That would be a club being propped up with the public purse right? Surely one of those urban myths?

I agree there doesn't seem to be the market for Richarlison. There is though for his strike partner, and I think a big money bid will be incoming. In view of the fact his relationship with Richarlison seems to have gone in the bin, I suspect it will be Calvert-Lewin who heads off. Kane's move I reckon will spark it off, I reckon both Man Utd and Spurs will be in for him, and from the noises he and Rio have been making, I reckon he's ready to go.

I would imagine the player's priorities were Copa America, Olympics and World Cup and a big move will follow as he wouldn't want to put those at risk.

Suits everyone all round.

As for DCL, I don't think he would be a regular at one of the current big (rich) 4 and I can't see him going abroad. Spurs would be a really bad move for him simply because he'd be replacing a better player and club legend in Kane.

Suspect both will stay and do well for another season at least.

Jay #25, there's always money out there. Maybe not at RM or Barca, but I've never believed those rumors anyway. The Romas and Leipzigs of the world have some transfer cash. And as you pointed out, Rich hasn't played consistently well in at least a year, so I assume Everton is realistic about what they could get for him right now, and it isn't 50 million.

Just idle speculation anyway. Nothing behind it, except I can't think of a better explanation for allowing him to go to Japan.

It's 2 years and counting since Real paid for a player, signing Eden Hazard from Chelsea.

Barcelona nearly similar since buying Griezmann from Athletico. Last summer it was player trading, swapping Arthur with Juve (another seriously cash-strapped club) for Pjanic. To date this summer, Depay, Aguero and Garcia, all frees.

It's a buyer's market, not a selling one for prime assets.

This from a nation that once had Zico up front!

And when I speak of realism in player transactions, I was thinking swaps. As you point out, it's a trader's market too.

My primary point, however, remains that there appears to be no rational reason to allow Richi to go to Japan... unless it's to showcase a player Rafa wants to move on. If he's not trying to attract suitors for the guy, what other explanation is plausible?

I'm open to other interpretations.