I know that you’ve probably got stats to back it up but Gabriel has always looked useful in the air scored a few from corners.
Todibo, I have an issue with pairing him with Martinez in the PL. unless we are moving to 3 at the back with someone in the middle of them who can win those headers. Otherwise it will always be a vulnerability for us
I personally feel you can work around individual vulnerabilities in the air by beefing up other positions to compensate when it comes to controlling or containing aerial bombardment into our own box.
You're correct about Gabriel being useful in the air and he has contributed by scoring a fair few goals. But if we take a closer look at Arsenal and how they go about containing threats aerially, then it's clear to see that they don't just rely on their CBs, but they also have a midfield player in Declan Rice who is aerially strong, along with two fullbacks/CBs in Ben White and Tomiyasu who are also aerially strong. White, Tomiyasu and Rice are aerially very strong.
So I agree that we do need to maintain our standards when it comes to handling aerial threats, but I feel we don't need to place all that responsibility on the CBs and instead create a team where our fullbacks and deeper midfielder also contribute towards quelling the airborne threat posed by the opposition. But I feel we need to do this without compromising on technical quality on the ball. And if I'm to use Arsenal as a example again, then their CBs and fullbacks contribute in a big way to how they go about controlling the game in possession aswell as controlling the game out of possession.
Why alot of our fans were against the signing of Declan Rice was because they felt he didn't provide the creative spark from midfield. But the way Arteta is developing his team, he doesn't need individuals in midfield to control the game in possession because he has multiple weapons at CB and at fullback who have the capability to penetrate the opponent's defensive lines and support the midfield as far as progressing play is concerned.
Eventhough my preference would be to sign Ousmane Diomande or even Leny Yoro. I feel if we go with a CB pairing of Todibo and Martinez, I feel we can compensate for their aerial vulnerability and in the process significantly raise the technical level of the team in-possession.
I feel the player from Everton that we should prioritise is Amadou Onana because I feel his physical presence, athletic ability and under rated technical ability will have a bigger impact on how we control the game both ways. But If Everton price us out of a move for him then I feel there's still numerous players that we can target to potentially improve the team and create a system of play where we don't necessarily depend on one or two individuals.
So I'm going to try and be realistic and provide some names that I feel won't be costly and are of the right age and ability profile to have a similar impact to how Arsenal have gone about developing their team. And it's taken them several years but what they've done is very basic imo.
I think Diogo Dalot has potential as the RB and his ability on the ball this season has been very good. I think for the LB position there seems to be noise about United wanting to sign a player and we've been linked to the Wolves player Ait Nouri who I like and the lad from Bournemouth who I don't know too much about. But in this position I feel they should look to sign a LB who can also play as the CB. If this player also has the technical game in possession along with the aerial ability then he would be on my list. And also sign a deeper lying midfielder with good progressive ability on the ball, duel winning capability both on the ground and on the air.
I would hope we're seriously looking at the Bologna LB/LCB Riccardo Calafiori. He's recently turned 22, very comfortable in possession with potentially high progressive capabilities in possession and he's also a strong dueller out of possession where he's strong on the ground and in the air. He's about 6'1 tall and a player who I feel would be a very interesting signing for us.
So if we did get priced out of a move for Amadou Onana, then I feel the Feyenoord midfielder Mats Wieffer would be a interesting option. He's showing a very high level when it comes to winning aerial and ground duels. His progressive passing is also of a high level and being 6'4 tall, he covers ground really well and I don't feel he will have a problem with the physicality of the league. I've watched him play against strong European opposition like Atletico Madrid and his level didn't drop. The pie chart below basically backs up the eye as far as his monster capability in the air and on the ground with his progressive passing being also of a very high level.
https://x.com/bethlimb/status/1790323269624557585?t=DFU1ZzZL1yZRn050ZJCpbw&s=09
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