Declan Rice

[Bebestation]

Surely if that's your main trait then spending potentially 70m on Rice isn't the best answer though?

I find it quite a rare specific type of player to find.

You will find nearly everyone flying around like Kante these days.

How many really can control the shape of their team like Fernandinho, Casemiro or Fabinho?

There maybe some but not in comparison to the players that play like Kante and Bissouma.

The one I know and wouldn’t mind is possibly Marquinhos but I’m not sure if he is exactly available or why he would want to join us - good because he is also a great CB at the same time to improve the squad.

Rice is not worth 70 million as a player, but that doesn’t really bother me because it’s more the value of him to us that matters - as we saw the Maguire transfer.

 

[MadMike]

Looks really good keeping possession and helping out the attack. But how does he do defensively? I thought we need a strong DM to support our fine AM. With Hannibal we already have a future no.8 who is pretty decent on the ball, but we need a DM.

He's decent defensively. For AC he plays with another CM (Meite or Bennacer) in a double pivot of sorts, with an AM in front of them (Brahim Díaz or Calhanoglu). He's not a pure destroyer like a Matic for example. As a style of player he's more like Fred or McT but of better quality. He'll mark, he'll intercept, he'll fight, he'll win the ball back. But he won't just sit on defence. He will join the attack, he will chip in with the odd goal and assist. He has 14g and 6a for the season, though 12 of those goals are pens and only 2 from open play. He's the penalty taker for AC.

He's comfortable on the ball as all videos will demonstrate. He's more press proof than Fred simply because he's a taller, stronger lad who won't be pushed off the ball while also being good with his feet and dangerous on the turn. He's less ambitious with his passing in his half, whereas Fred attempt lots for through balls and cross field passes for example.

If we still want to play the double pivot and looking to improve our option he's a good player for that. But if we want someone who will just sit in front of the defence, then he'll be under utilised and I'm not sure he'd be disciplined enough for that too.

 

[Lash]

I find it quite a rare specific type of player to find.

You will find nearly everyone flying around like Kante these days.

How many really can control the shape of their team like Fernandinho, Casemiro or Fabinho?

There maybe some but not in comparison to the players that play like Kante and Bissouma.

The one I know and wouldn’t mind is possibly Marquinhos but I’m not sure if he is exactly available or why he would want to join us - good because he is also a great CB at the same time to improve the squad.

Rice is not worth 70 million as a player, but that doesn’t really bother me because it’s more the value of him to us that matters - as we saw the Maguire transfer.

I think there's more than the Rice proponents would have you believe.

In the Matic Replacement thread, a poster did a good post on quite a few options just in Europe.

The price for Rice is just extortionately high, relatively to the numbers he puts up and for me, even the eye test on some of his performances I've watched. I don't see a huge difference between him and say Kamara at Marseille and there's no way we'd spend 70m on him.

 

[Bebestation]

I think there's more than the Rice proponents would have you believe.

In the Matic Replacement thread, a poster did a good post on quite a few options just in Europe.

The price for Rice is just extortionately high, relatively to the numbers he puts up and for me, even the eye test on some of his performances I've watched. I don't see a huge difference between him and say Kamara at Marseille and there's no way we'd spend 70m on him.

I mean that’s fair and I’ve not really seen this Kamara guy play - but say we bought him and only him and Ole failed to win the league; would you say he deserves to lose his job?

What about the opposite with Rice? I’m not saying Rice is a guaranteed success because there is every chance he turns a Schneiderlin- but I can see why we as a club and the manager we have goes for Rice than this Kamara guy. If he then fails to reach his expectations then he has clearly gone as far as he can go after getting the player that are proven, he wanted and cost a bucket load.

It’s more straight to the point and if a success then a success for a long time of nearly a decade of dedication likely to be towards us.

I don’t know this Kamara guy but can he hold Pogba and Bruno in a midfield 3 even if that’s not your preferred tactic. You just feel with rice that he comes and is able to do that job without settling in arguably better than anyone else in the current team.

When I was watching stat man Dave’s video about him on YouTube he seemed one of the best in the league in his position maybe except the best out of the best that are already playing for a top club.

 

[RedRonaldo]

He's decent defensively. For AC he plays with another CM (Meite or Bennacer) in a double pivot of sorts, with an AM in front of them (Brahim Díaz or Calhanoglu). He's not a pure destroyer like a Matic for example. As a style of player he's more like Fred or McT but of better quality. He'll mark, he'll intercept, he'll fight, he'll win the ball back. But he won't just sit on defence. He will join the attack, he will chip in with the odd goal and assist. He has 14g and 6a for the season, though 12 of those goals are pens and only 2 from open play. He's the penalty taker for AC.

He's comfortable on the ball as all videos will demonstrate. He's more press proof than Fred simply because he's a taller, stronger lad who won't be pushed off the ball while also being good with his feet and dangerous on the turn. He's less ambitious with his passing in his half, whereas Fred attempt lots for through balls and cross field passes for example.

If we still want to play the double pivot and looking to improve our option he's a good player for that. But if we want someone who will just sit in front of the defence, then he'll be under utilised and I'm not sure he'd be disciplined enough for that too.

If you ask me, I'd prefer to have 1 very strong DM to sit back and support the likes of Pogba and Bruno to do their thing.

 

[golden_blunder]

Surely if that's your main trait then spending potentially 70m on Rice isn't the best answer though?

I’d spend 50m + Lingard

 

[OrcaFat]

fair enough. I'll be studying him under a microscope at the Euros.

Yeah me too. If he’s really “worth” £90m I’m expecting him to be astonishingly good... if he’s crap it’s a lucky escape.

 

[Lash]

I’d spend 50m + Lingard

Yeah, same thing though right. You'd expect to get 20m for Lingard if we're to sell him.

 

[MadDogg]

We must have watched a different game then, because I thought he bossed the midfield against us at OT.




He's also been instrumental in AC Milan's resurgence in the 2nd half of the season and their 2nd placed finish. He's in with a great shout to being voted in the team of the season in Serie A.

From memory he was very good for the first half against us at Old Trafford, but that was against a midfield combo of Matic and McTominay. For the other three halves of football spread over the two games he wasn't particularly impressive, and if anything our own (much-maligned) midfield was on top for most of it if I remember correctly.

Admittedly that's the only time I've watched him play over the last two seasons so I've got no idea how he's been the rest of the time.

 

[MadMike]

If you ask me, I'd prefer to have 1 very strong DM to sit back and support the likes of Pogba and Bruno to do their thing.

I mean, it's not for me to disagree with that to be honest. It kinda depends on what Ole wants mostly.

I'd like that too, but I think we'll be hard pressed to find a DM that would be able to cope with all the work that Pogba and Bruno will create for him. And by that I mean that both of them are very profligate with the ball, losing it often while trying to create openings. Pogba in the middle very often tries to dribble his way through midfield, it some times works and sometimes it backfires. He's a very risky #8, not a Modric or Gundogan who will keep it simple with possession in his own half. I look around and not many teams play with two midfielders that take so many risks as Fernandes and Pogba. Not unless they're chasing and throwing caution to the wind anyway.

It'd take a bit of a superman to mop up after these two and whoever we bring in he'd be made to lose worse defensively than he is as result.

 

[Lash]

I mean that’s fair and I’ve not really seen this Kamara guy play - but say we bought him and only him and Ole failed to win the league; would you say he deserves to lose his job?

What about the opposite with Rice? I’m not saying Rice is a guaranteed success because there is every chance he turns a Schneiderlin- but I can see why we as a club and the manager we have goes for Rice than this Kamara guy. If he then fails to reach his expectations then he has clearly gone as far as he can go after getting the player that are proven, he wanted and cost a bucket load.

It’s more straight to the point and if a success then a success for a long time of nearly a decade of dedication likely to be towards us.

I don’t know this Kamara guy but can he hold Pogba and Bruno in a midfield 3 even if that’s not your preferred tactic. You just feel with rice that he comes and is able to do that job without settling in arguably better than anyone else in the current team.

When I was watching stat man Dave’s video about him on YouTube he seemed one of the best in the league in his position maybe except the best out of the best that are already playing for a top club.

I'm not really in favour of trying to fit Bruno and Pogba in a midfield 3 as I don't think it would work, but assuming I did, Kamara is a similar profile to Rice in the regard as he has played CB as well. From what I've seen he positions himself deeper and acts Infront of the back 4. I think they're similar passers as well, tidy, but nothing expansive.

My real point being, you're paying too much for Rice, especially when it comes with little guarantee he'd work in our set up or the proposed set up, would he be overly exposed.

 

[RedRonaldo]

I mean, it's not for me to disagree with that to be honest. It kinda depends on what Ole wants mostly.

I'd like that too, but I think we'll be hard pressed to find a DM that would be able to cope with all the work that Pogba and Bruno will create for him. And by that I mean that both of them are very profligate with the ball, losing it often while trying to create openings. Pogba in the middle very often tries to dribble his way through midfield, it some times works and sometimes it backfires. He's a very risky #8, not a Modric or Gundogan who will keep it simple with possession in his own half. I look around and not many teams play with two midfielders that take so many risks as Fernandes and Pogba. Not unless they're chasing and throwing caution to the wind anyway.

It'd take a bit of a superman to mop up after these two and whoever we bring in he'd be made to lose worse defensively than he is as result.

Don't think that's much a problem with France when they won the WC with Pogba and Kante in midfield. Maybe if we have a DM as strong as Kante, it would work perfectly for us too.

 

[MadMike]

From memory he was very good for the first half against us at Old Trafford, but that was against a midfield combo of Matic and McTominay. For the other three halves of football spread over the two games he wasn't particularly impressive, and if anything our own (much-maligned) midfield was on top for most of it if I remember correctly.

Admittedly that's the only time I've watched him play over the last two seasons so I've got no idea how he's been the rest of the time.

My memory was that he was individually good in both halves against us at OT but he didn't leave a mark in the game in Milan because after we scored there, we were comfortable.

Generally speaking control of midfield was 50-50 in both games (well, 49-51 on either direction) with not too many chances being created in both games. Milan generally have a problem with creating and scoring goals in the Serie A too (worst attack among the top 5) and that showed in our tie as they only scored 1 goal in two games and that from a corner. Their centre mids performed their duty fine though for an arguably tough tie. They never got overrun and they tried to support the attack well enough. They didn't dominate either though.

 

[MadMike]

Don't think that's much a problem with France when they won the WC with Pogba and Kante in midfield. Maybe if we have a DM as strong as Kante, it would work perfectly for us too.

...and Matuidi. Unless you think Matuidi was playing as LW because that's where he was on the teamsheet. They clearly had two players providing foil and cover for their more attacking players.

 

[Mr Smith]

If you ask me, I'd prefer to have 1 very strong DM to sit back and support the likes of Pogba and Bruno to do their thing.

I think most posters would agree with you; put up a poll and I would expect the majority of the CAF would prioritise a world class DM who can allow us to switch to a 4-3-3 with Pogba and Bruno as 8's. The problem is, where is this world-class DM in the market? Effectively you're looking for the next Casemeiro or Fabinho. Is there a player like that currently available? I don't see one. I'm not convinced Rice is that player, but how many better options actually exist?

 

[golden_blunder]

Yeah, same thing though right. You'd expect to get 20m for Lingard if we're to sell him.

15-20m yeah
But it’s not cash if we’re giving them a player we no longer want is how I look at it. It remains to be seen if we would get that for him in the open market.

definitely not proposing we spend 100m on him but if maguire is 80m then Rice is worth 70 in a deal.

 

[MadMike]

I think most posters would agree with you; put up a poll and I would expect the majority of the CAF would prioritise a world class DM who can allow us to switch to a 4-3-3 with Pogba and Bruno as 8's. The problem is, where is this world-class DM in the market? Effectively you're looking for the next Casemeiro or Fabinho. Is there a player like that currently available? I don't see one. I'm not convinced Rice is that player, but how many better options actually exist?

Casemiro and Fabinho have a much, much easier job than a DM would have at United with Fernandes and Pogba in front of them.

Liverpool play with Wijnaldum and Thiago in front of Fabinho, while Casemiro plays with Modric and Kroos. These CM and AMs are very good keepers of possession and take few risks with the ball especially in their own half. Both Pogba and Fernandes are profligate risk takers and not the best at keeping possession.

 

[MadDogg]

Don't think that's much a problem with France when they won the WC with Pogba and Kante in midfield. Maybe if we have a DM as strong as Kante, it would work perfectly for us too.

France always play a third central midfielder (normally Matuidi or Ndombele) on one of the wings when they have Pogba in there, so it's really not just Pogba and Kante. And that''s in the international scene, where the opposition is normally weaker and the tempo tends to be slower. Doing it in the PL is even more difficult.

If we want to drop one of our attacking wingers and play someone like McTominay or Shaw on the wing to give the two midfielders a lot of help, maybe we could make it work as well. But is it really worth it?

 

[Mr Smith]

Casemiro and Fabinho have a much, much easier job than a DM would have at United with Fernandes and Pogba in front of them.

Liverpool play with Wijnaldum and Thiago in front of Fabinho, while Casemiro plays with Modric and Kroos. These CM and AMs are very good keepers of possession and take few risks with the ball especially in their own half. Both Pogba and Fernandes are profligate risk takers and not the best at keeping possession.

Fair point, which kind of emphasises the problem. All the talk has been about a proper DM solving all our problems, but does it? We almost need a DM and a proper passer beside him (unless someone finally coaches some positional discipline into Pogba... when hell freezes over).

All in all, it just kind of feels like for what Rice is and the job he'd have on his hands, we'd almost need another player beside him in a double pivot (which is what he's played as for West Ham incidentally), which really makes it hard to justify the mooted price tag. I really want Rice to be the guy, but the more I think about it, the more I'm worried he's just not the right fit. And yet, who are the genuinely viable alternatives?

 

[golden_blunder]

Casemiro and Fabinho have a much, much easier job than a DM would have at United with Fernandes and Pogba in front of them.

Liverpool play with Wijnaldum and Thiago in front of Fabinho, while Casemiro plays with Modric and Kroos. These CM and AMs are very good keepers of possession and take few risks with the ball especially in their own half. Both Pogba and Fernandes are profligate risk takers and not the best at keeping possession.

Wijnaldum is free now right? Replace Fred with him and McT with Rice

 

[MadMike]

Wijnaldum is free now right? Replace Fred with him and McT with Rice

Wijnaldum was a target for Koeman at Barca. However Koeman's completely disastrous last 4 weeks in charge (which saw them lose at home to Granada and Celta, draw at Levante after being 3-1 up and fail to beat Atletico at the Camp Nou) saw them finish 3rd when they were favourites for the title and now he might not survive the summer. If he does though, Gigi will sure end up there. I'm not sure he'd be interested in moving to Liverpool's arch rivals and sullying his legacy with the Anfield club though. He'll probably want to try his luck at another league.

There's plenty of other good options if we want to persist with a double pivot that doesn't involve Pogba, to be honest. The problem is the conundrum of Pogba and Bruno and whether we can fit both in the middle with a better DM. And if so who is that DM that can provide adequate cover for these too.

 

[theklr]

The way we play nowadays , with more and more of the possession, I think that Rice could be a lone DM with Pogba and Bruno in many games IF we get a fast CB like Varane.

My reasoning for this is that Rice is a very positionally intelligent DM that will force any counterplay through the middle to the least dangerous areas , and with a fast CB they can effectivly work together in a high line defence.

Also, with Rice I think McT could be the more offensive box to box as he should be.

 

[MadMike]

Fair point, which kind of emphasises the problem. All the talk has been about a proper DM solving all our problems, but does it? We almost need a DM and a proper passer beside him (unless someone finally coaches some positional discipline into Pogba... when hell freezes over).

All in all, it just kind of feels like for what Rice is and the job he'd have on his hands, we'd almost need another player beside him in a double pivot (which is what he's played as for West Ham incidentally), which really makes it hard to justify the mooted price tag. I really want Rice to be the guy, but the more I think about it, the more I'm worried he's just not the right fit. And yet, who are the genuinely viable alternatives?

I don't think that DM exists really.

Matic is/was a very good dedicated DM at Chelsea and also at United when Mourinho first brought him over in 2017. He also had a couple of very good seasons for us before his legs started going. But still, the Matic-Pogba midfield duo was problematic whenever tried in a 4-2-3-1 (usually with Lingard at #10) and Pogba was probably one of the most complained-about players during Mourinho's reign. Mourinho ended up playing 2 out of Herrera, Matic and Fellaini to create the foil for Pogba and we played a 4-3-3 without a #10 more than we played a 4-2-3-1 with a #10.

In other words, 28yo Matic could not alone provide a foil for Pogba and Lingard. 4 years later we have swapped Lingard for Fernandes but we still have the same core problem. We tried to replace Matic with the younger and more energetic Fred and/or McTominay but we still struggle to make it work with a #10 and Pogba in the midfield trio. It invariably creates too much work for the DM when Pogba plays like a #10 and starts trying to dribble out of the press in the middle, risking being dispossessed.

Is Rice so much better than 28yo Matic that he will solve the problem the latter couldn't? I personally don't think Rice is even as good yet as Matic was at his peak. I don't think such DM exists. I think playing Pogba and Fernandes in the middle is best left to games where we're expected to completely dominate, or games we're desperately chasing. Not for the majority EPL or CL games (especially away from OT) where we can expect periods of opposition pressure.

 

[croadyman]

You don't really buy a defensive midfielder for their goal threat though. If they can be creative from deep that's a huge plus, but expecting goals is a bit pointless. You have the more attacking mid next to him, then the front 4 to get the goals. The defensive midfielder we need to get should be based on being able to hold a midfield defensively and provide cover for the back 4 enough to partner Pogba with Bruno up top. Ndidi would be great at that, Rice can grow into that though he's nowhere near Ndidi as of now. Fabinho is another one. Fred and McTominay are both box to box players, Matic is the only true DM we have and he's well past it by now.

Yeah could do with him, Ndidi or Bissouma but the midfield could still do with a tempo controller UNLESS Donny can show a bit more of what we saw from him yesterday and provide that solution in there alongside one these highlighted DM's

 

[croadyman]

I honestly think we'll go for Rice and if we can't get him buy no one else for the midfield, unless Pogba goes that'll change things.

Yeah looks that way to me as well, think if there were serious alternatives in this position then we would have heard of them by now much like the CB situation with Varane, Torres & Kounde. I think it's a very similar situation with the RW position as well where all the talk is about Jadon so seems we are all in for two positions.

 

[sport2793]

I don't think that DM exists really.

Matic is/was a very good dedicated DM at Chelsea and also at United when Mourinho first brought him over in 2017. He also had a couple of very good seasons for us before his legs started going. But still, the Matic-Pogba midfield duo was problematic whenever tried in a 4-2-3-1 (usually with Lingard at #10) and Pogba was probably one of the most complained-about players during Mourinho's reign. Mourinho ended up playing 2 out of Herrera, Matic and Fellaini to create the foil for Pogba and we played a 4-3-3 without a #10 more than we played a 4-2-3-1 with a #10.

In other words, 28yo Matic could not alone provide a foil for Pogba and Lingard. 4 years later we have swapped Lingard for Fernandes but we still have the same core problem. We tried to replace Matic with the younger and more energetic Fred and/or McTominay but we still struggle to make it work with a #10 and Pogba in the midfield trio. It invariably creates too much work for the DM when Pogba plays like a #10 and starts trying to dribble out of the press in the middle, risking being dispossessed.

Is Rice so much better than 28yo Matic that he will solve the problem the latter couldn't? I personally don't think Rice is even as good yet as Matic was at his peak. I don't think such DM exists. I think playing Pogba and Fernandes in the middle is best left to games where we're expected to completely dominate, or games we're desperately chasing. Not for the majority EPL or CL games (especially away from OT) where we can expect periods of opposition pressure.

He's more athletic than a 28 yo Matic and can cover more ground to be able to play as a single pivot, allowing Pogba and Bruno to play as double 8s. You can't win the PL having a double pivot.

 

[Mcking]

I think sometimes players can catch the eye because of the way they dribble in certain areas of the pitch or under a pressure.

This is kind of all I saw with Kessie - I don’t really see why he should be our one and only central CDM.

If it was a replacement for Fred then I could understand it more but I guess that’s with alot of these Bissouma or maybe even Ndidi like players - they are more a replacement for Fred than a pure Matic replacement in our squad.

We play with two in midfield though, so they wouldn't need to replace Fred. I like Rice, but if we are sticking with the set-up we have used the whole season, then I don't want him, because I don't see where he'd fit in.

We should be looking for a partner for Fred, and I think players that are similar to him in skill set are who we should be looking at. Not a big fan of looking at Ndidi because of his ability on the ball, but Bissouma is an interesting one.

 

[Mcking]

Rice in my opinion does the job of both fred and MCT thus freeing up an opportunity for a more creative central midfielder.

Rice is quick, industrious and physical.....whilst being good on the ball too. If we could do a deal involving Lingard we should do it

He doesn't do Fred's work. He doesn't progress the ball, and that is Fred's biggest strength which he rarely gets recognized for.

 

[theklr]

You can't win the PL having a double pivot.

What? So if we had Kante with Pogba, we still couldnt do it?

 

[Hammondo]

Don't think that's much a problem with France when they won the WC with Pogba and Kante in midfield. Maybe if we have a DM as strong as Kante, it would work perfectly for us too.

Yes but their competition was pretty damn poor.

 

[OrcaFat]

He's more athletic than a 28 yo Matic and can cover more ground to be able to play as a single pivot, allowing Pogba and Bruno to play as double 8s. You can't win the PL having a double pivot.

We also won’t win the PL with double eights if they are Pogba and Bruno.

The term double pivot seems to be liberally applied with no consideration of what those two players are (or should be) doing. If we go down the route of one specialist no6 with two others in midfield, at least one of them has to be more defensively savvy than Bruno or Pogba.

That’s not necessarily to say it must be a double pivot but Bruno and Pogba will not provide balance no matter who you have at 6. Better to play 6-8-10 with a proper all-rounder at 8. We don’t have such a player but the closest we have is McT.

 

[MadMike]

He's more athletic than a 28 yo Matic and can cover more ground to be able to play as a single pivot, allowing Pogba and Bruno to play as double 8s. You can't win the PL having a double pivot.

More athletic than Matic doesn't mean he can do the job of two players. He plays in a pivot at West Ham as he is next to another CM/DM in Tomas Soucek. He's not covering for two attack minded central midfielders for them. What tells you he could do it for us, because it can't be based on seeing him do it.

Plenty of teams have won the EPL with double pivots, including us.

 

[Adnan]

We also won’t win the PL with double eights if they are Pogba and Bruno.

The term double pivot seems to be liberally applied with no consideration of what those two players are (or should be) doing. If we go down the route of one specialist no6 with two others in midfield, at least one of them has to be more defensively savvy than Bruno or Pogba.

That’s not necessarily to say it must be a double pivot but Bruno and Pogba will not provide balance no matter who you have at 6. Better to play 6-8-10 with a proper all-rounder at 8. We don’t have such a player but the closest we have is McT.

Completely agree.

 

[sp_107]

Saul/Soumare/Zakaria are few alternatives I can think of and I guess Saul is a better opption as he got more techical ability.

If we sell Pogba, then better go for Rice and Saul ....so we can have a balanced midfieled of Rice/Saul/Bruno

 

[MadMike]

Yes but their competition was pretty damn poor.

The answer is no, not yes.

In 2018 France played with Matuidi and Kante in midfield alongside Pogba. Matuidi played LW only on paper, never in reality. Even the LB, Hernadez, was showing more advanced heat maps than Matuidi. The most advanced of the 3 MFs was always Pogba.

France played with Mbappe, Griezmann and Giroud in attack and Pogba, Kante and Matuidi in midfield. Whenever Matuidi was being subbed off he was replaced with N'Zonzi or Tolisso, both of them DM/CM players.

 

[OrcaFat]

Saul/Soumare/Zakaria are few alternatives I can think of and I guess Saul is a better opption as he got more techical ability.

If we sell Pogba, then better go for Rice and Saul ....so we can have a balanced midfieled of Rice/Saul/Bruno

Now that looks a very good midfield indeed. Pogba is brilliant sometimes but I can’t wait for him to leave if we can end up with that trio.

 

[TheReligion]

Saul/Soumare/Zakaria are few alternatives I can think of and I guess Saul is a better opption as he got more techical ability.

If we sell Pogba, then better go for Rice and Saul ....so we can have a balanced midfieled of Rice/Saul/Bruno

Better call Saul...

And Rice if he'll return our messages.

 

[croadyman]

Better call Saul...

And Rice if he'll return our messages.

Think we would definitely be interested IF he actually gave indication of wanting to leave Atletico which unless I have missed it somewhere he still hasn't actually done yet but maybe he does fancy a fresh challenge. Gut feeling is that the reason for little talk of Saul/Camavinga is because it looks like Paul will be here until next summer

 

[MadMike]

Saul/Soumare/Zakaria are few alternatives I can think of and I guess Saul is a better opption as he got more techical ability.

If we sell Pogba, then better go for Rice and Saul ....so we can have a balanced midfieled of Rice/Saul/Bruno

Saul isn't a realistic alternative. He has 5 full years on his contract (till 2026) and he's an integral part of the team that has just won the Spanish championship. He's playing in his home country, in a beautiful city, in a new stadium and for a very competitive team.

It's extremely unlikely he'd want to come. Literally the only thing we have to tempt him and Atletico with is money. If we even have that this year, that is. Also since Ole took over we avoid targeting players that would move only for the money.

 

[Ali Dia]

I think Rice would eventually be pretty a major upgrade on McT in the double pivot. If he is able to start passing a bit more adventurously and getting forward more often i think he could be developed into a very good box to box and he could also sit at DM in bigger matches. The thing is if Camavinga is going for less than 50 that’s who we should get if he’d come here. Sell lingard and 20/30 million quid. Bargain. He already suits the system we play here and we could use the money we’ve saved on other pressing positions.