12 Aug 2024 14:30:40
Is the Zubimendi deal happening? Does anyone know?
{Ed002's Note - ONce the two criterioa have been met.}
12 Aug 2024 14:34:41
The main thing at the moment is that it is not 'not happening'.
12 Aug 2024 14:39:03
According to Joyce Sociedad will not negotiate with Liverpool and Zubimendi has to pay his buyout clause himself if he wants to leave. Is that just additional pressure on him or they are convinced that he will stay, what is your opinion on the matter, Ed002?
Also are Liverpool eager to trigger it and pay it all at once?
{Ed002's Note - My opinion is that the transfer can go ahead if the two criteria I have told you about are met. If Real Sociedad are adamant that they do not wish to negotiate with Liverpool then the player has to pay his own buy out clause - and of course he does not have €60M to do that. Don't use terms like "trigger it", it is made difficult if the club refuse to negotiate.}
12 Aug 2024 14:42:09
Sorry Ed I know you’ve said it’s been discussed but any idea what I can search to find! Appreciate you don’t need or want to repeat yourself over and over.
{Ed002's Note - They have to agree the payment with Real Sociedad and persuade the player to make the move.}
12 Aug 2024 15:14:41
You’d have to hope that Zubimendi doesn’t stumble on to this site (or any other social media actually) and see how our own so called fans slag off their own players constantly.
We ask for unconditional loyalty from our players but then the knives are out the minute they have a bad spell.
12 Aug 2024 14:49:57
How does a player get round having to stump up 51m?
{Ed002's Note - He doesn't.}
12 Aug 2024 14:53:41
Well, it is difficult for sure on club to club level but did not PSG do the same with Neymar's clause back in the day, that is what I meant by trigger? I mean I guess it is all on the player now and if Liverpool can persuade him to join and give him 60 million for the clause.
Thank you again for your detailed knowledge.
{Ed002's Note - There are numerous cases where the buy out or release clauses have been met. But clubs can make it very difficult if they do not wish to sell.}
12 Aug 2024 15:07:05
If the player wants the move and the buying club agrees to meet the release clause in full, surely Sociedad can't refuse to negotiate and insist that the player pay the fee himself, ed? Or am I missing something?
{Ed002's Note - You are missing something.}
12 Aug 2024 15:33:42
Wow. It’s messy now, surely just move onto another target.
12 Aug 2024 15:32:00
Ed002 if Zubimandi has to pay his release clause and doesn't have the money Can liverpool give him the money? Or now is impossible to sign him?
{Ed002's Note - No, Liverpool cannot give him the money, it would count as unearned income and therefore need to be taxed. The transfer can go ahead when the two criteria have been met.}
12 Aug 2024 15:39:51
According to Sky Sports’ Melissa Reddy on X (formerly Twitter), the process in question is standard in Spain.
Theoretically, should Zubimendi opt to pursue a change of environment, the amount [£51.7m] would be paid to the player to deposit to La Liga.
Buy-out clauses (typical in Spain and slightly different to a release clause) legally requires a player to 'buy out' his contract at the specified amount. The purchasing club still pays the amount to the player (complex process due to tax implications and logistical challenges), … Melissa Reddy (@MelissaReddy_) August 12, 2024.
{Ed002's Note - So she does finally understand then.}
12 Aug 2024 15:41:28
Liverpool would have to lend the player the money and the player to buy out his contract effectively which can be a tricky process.
My take is if we have to pursue a player to join then don't sign. I am sure there are player out there that would die for the chance to play for us.
{Ed002's Note - Then Liverpool would need to pay another 50% on top of the fee - so €90M.}
12 Aug 2024 15:49:58
€90 million? No bother just use the caicedo money everyone’s obsessed with, looks like it’s not happening doesn’t it. He would of been our Rodri, for people saying move on players of this calibre are hard to come by.
12 Aug 2024 15:53:07
shame he cannot just wack it on is American Express card!
12 Aug 2024 15:49:58
€90 million? No bother just use the caicedo money everyone’s obsessed with, looks like it’s not happening doesn’t it. He would of been our Rodri, for people saying move on players of this calibre are hard to come by.
{Ed002's Note - It will happen if the two criteria are met.}
12 Aug 2024 15:53:07
shame he cannot just wack it on is American Express card!
12 Aug 2024 17:07:54
Imagine the air miles.
12 Aug 2024 17:14:31
I’d imagine a Spanish speaking Zubimendi regularly visits English speaking banter and transfer websites in his spare time.
Nunez is another who despite not speaking English loves to Read up on all his English comments.
12 Aug 2024 16:26:25
Can the player take a peronal loan, (bank or something) pay his club and then close the loan by taking a loan for Liverpool?
{Ed002's Note - Of course not. How could he pay Liverpool back?}
12 Aug 2024 16:32:22
Ed002, slight change of discussion but can you help understand what happened to Luis Suarez’s buy out clause? Arsenal offered £60M + £1 and Henry refused it - asking what they’re smoking.
What happened there? Similar story? Players money versus Arsenals money?
{Ed002's Note - Arsenal offered £40M and one pound because they did not know if his release clause was for an offer of £40M or an offer over £40M. The response from FSG was embarrassing and made them look rather stupid. Suarez looked to taking legal action. The rules in this country are very different.}
12 Aug 2024 16:35:31
Who does the extra 50% go to?
{Ed002's Note - The Spanish taxman for unearned income. This is the reason for the first of the two criteria.}
12 Aug 2024 16:46:34
Ive just read that since 2016 the laws where changed in spain and buyout fees payed to a player are no longer subject to tax?
{Ed002's Note - They have changed on multiple occasions and would be liable to a legal challenge. The transfer of Neymar impacted the situation and then the transfer of Partey changed it again. It remains complicated. Liverpool need to talk again to his club.
12 Aug 2024 17:19:53
Praying that this whole saga ends swiftly for you ED002. This must be tiring.
{Ed002's Note - I hope so.}
12 Aug 2024 17:32:50
My understanding was that a 2016 tax ruling by the Spanish authorities treated payment of a buy out clause from the buying club to a player as a Capital gain rather than income, and the paying of the clause as a capital loss, so the net effect is nil and therefore there are no personal income tax liabilities above the buy-out amount?
{Ed002's Note - See previous answers - or perhaps there is a way to lose even more respect in the football community.}
12 Aug 2024 17:50:55
How can the two criteria be met if Sociedad refuse to negotiate with Liverpool?
Can we still offer the money and trigger his release clause if they are refusing to negotiate with us?
Very confused why we haven't just triggered the release clause already if we want him that much.
{Ed002's Note - Offer the money to who?
12 Aug 2024 17:58:54
Google translate.
12 Aug 2024 18:15:19
As of 2016 the law has changed and income tax is no longer applicable for instances where a player receives 3rd party money from buying club to pay his release clause so this headline from today is just unnecessary clickbait drama. Liverpool would always be paying this fee either directly or indirectly and there would be no significant tax implication, as in standard transfer fee tax would be due as it always would be and yes this would be levied against the player not Liverpool and would need to be reimbursed ( the same as the transfer fee) however the overall transfer fee would not be increased with additional taxes as is being reported ( previously 48% prior to 2016). Take this hardline stance by Sociedad as a positive and ask yourself why would they be playing ‘hardball’ if the player wanted to stay?
12 Aug 2024 18:19:17
Not sure if it is accurate but am reading that the law was changed in 2016 and that the buyout fee advances to the player is no longer taxable.
12 Aug 2024 18:22:50
Just move on. This is getting silly for everyone.
12 Aug 2024 19:21:27
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question Ed002 and the many others.
{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}
12 Aug 2024 20:11:53
So it looks as though Sociedad don’t want to appear to be selling the player
If he buys out his contract then it looks like he has engineered a way out of the club
Given he was born and raised in the area and it’s the only club he’s played for- can’t see it happening
Move on.
12 Aug 2024 20:31:48
In my uninformed opinion, Liverpool just need to work better with other clubs.
Why do we have to unsettle players or invoke possible clauses to get our business done?
12 Aug 2024 20:55:17
Apparently he’s not interested in joining us and has said no. That went well.
12 Aug 2024 21:06:36
Surely the cost to the player to buy out the contract would be tax deductible?
12 Aug 2024 20:35:42
I have to say, I know ed002 doesn't like explaining things like this over and over. But i really enjoy reading it.
It actually does help when you realise how different things are in reality to what we. as fans, perceive them to be.
Nice one Ed.
12 Aug 2024 22:58:35
Am I missing something or could a lot of nonsense been avoided had Sociedad been clear that the only way he'd be allowed to leave is via the buyout clause, effectively blocking a move. Was there ever a point where they seemed willing to let him go and would have negotiated a fee in the amount of the buyout clause. I'm not impressed with them, find it to be bad form, and I'm not impressed with Richard Hughes for seemingly being naive that the Spanish club could very well go about their business like that.