It’s perfectly reasonable to consider him over 9cm taller than Eric Bailly though as Koulibaly extends his neck and shoulders when he jumps for a header rather than ducking.
Kalidou Koulibaly
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It’s perfectly reasonable to consider him over 9cm taller than Eric Bailly though as Koulibaly extends his neck and shoulders when he jumps for a header rather than ducking.
I don’t disagree, largely because of age. I do disagree that he’s massively reliant upon pace and power. He’s a classy defender, with good reading, tackling and good on the ball.
The hilarity of this cliched post being liked by someone whose tag says ‘Don’t Sign Old Players’
We're good enough in defence already. If we can stop turning into a circus every time a cross comes into the box, we'll be even better. Would rather his massive fee went towards upgrading the midfield and attack.
.....we’d be ‘good enough in defence’.
We're good enough now, we've got a defensive record up there with the best in Europe. We just concede bizarre goals sometimes. It's a matter of coaching is what I'm saying, it doesn't really call for new signings.
A record which is inflated by the Europa league this season.
Typically due to individual errors — i.e. a lack of quality in our defenders.
he's not a priority by any means but hey if we can get him for a reasonable fee then why not.
I don't think it is, I blame zonal marking and just poor organiation. That comes with time and coaching.
We still need to dispose of several CBs even without signing Koulibaly - there are Smalling and Rojo (both on loan, but may return) and Jones (doesn’t make the bench anymore).
Then, we have 3 CBs remaining for 1 spot (Maguire is a guaranteed starter of course) - Lindelöf, Bailly and Tuanzebe. We would need to sell some of those as well - Koulibaly won’t come to be a squad / rotation player, so ...
Then, we have 3 CBs remaining for 1 spot (Maguire is a guaranteed starter of course) - Lindelöf, Bailly and Tuanzebe. We would need to sell some of those as well - Koulibaly won’t come to be a squad / rotation player, so ...
Just saw a clip of Kulusevski making him look like Phil Jones.
This transfer doesn't seem very likely in any case.
This transfer doesn't seem very likely in any case.
Koulibaly would be at a first teamer. He is way better from all our options
Linked to Newcastle, 80m.
£80m on a 29 year old centreback in the current financial climate and there would be a fairly tight FFP limit n what newcastle can spend - sounds like some bullshit journo clickbait to be
I'm convinced that Di Marzio's lost the plot. Would be amusing seeing Spurs go for an £80m ageing CB though, proper peak Mourinho signing.
Don't see what's so outlandish. Doubt he cost £80m.
He turns 29 this summer.
Napoli has missed a big opportunity of getting a sizeable fee over the past few years, they would be lucky to get £50m for him this summer - serves them right for being too greedy
Napoli has missed a big opportunity of getting a sizeable fee over the past few years, they would be lucky to get £50m for him this summer - serves them right for being too greedy
“Ageing” is a bit much. He’ll give you about 3 years at the top level, minimum. How much more do you want?
van Dijk is a the same age! Would Madrid be crazy to sign him?
van Dijk is a the same age! Would Madrid be crazy to sign him?
Especially as Levy came out pretty much saying their ability to buy a player will take a hit due to covid AND their whole furloughing staff debacle
I don’t know how this is even a thread.
Absolute zero chance we have any interest as soon as we brought in Harry.
One of the reasons why VVD was so expensive was because he is really good in England.
Journos have no shame and will run any story and this is a prime example.
Absolute zero chance we have any interest as soon as we brought in Harry.
One of the reasons why VVD was so expensive was because he is really good in England.
Journos have no shame and will run any story and this is a prime example.
Hmm...
Would love it personally as it would give us arguably the strongest CB pairing in the country but I don't see how if we're in for Sancho this summer
He was really awful this season.
Napoli overall as a side have been really poor this season and he's been injured quite a bit. I'm sure he'll look a lot better healthy and coming off the layoff
I don’t care if it’s an unpopular opinion and no one agrees with me but I don’t want Koulibaly and happy having Maguire over him, I think Napoli know they should have sold him last summer at his peak value and using us as a way to up the price for any other potential suitor.
I agree with this. Firstly, they are going to demand a fee of £60m+ which is crazy considering he will be 29 later this month. Secondly, we have seen CB's take 6 months minimum to settle into the PL. We just cannot afford such transfers.
Alot of clubs will wish they sold their players last summer / Jan.
It is annoying that Manutd is named in most of these transfers where we may never even be interested.
Napoli as a whole. They have been trying to get the title for years and after constantly falling short the whole team just deflated.
Koulibaly would easily be the 2nd best centre back in the league after Van Dijk.
Save this tweet, he will never go to a top team. Napoli has priced him out of reach, no one is paying top money for him at his age and with the current economic situation.
United already own the best centreback in Serie A: Chris Smalling.
Ironic isn’t it. Not as useless as many would have you believe.
I would bring back Smalling over signing an ageing Koulibaly for big money.
If he was foreign and hadn't played in the PL there would be clamouring for us to sign him for €60m+.
I would have him if Napoli accept Rojo + 5m euros.
Koulibaly would replace Lindelof not Maguire
Koulibaly would replace Lindelof not Maguire
Koulibaly is at his best on the left side of the pairing the same as Maguire, it may be a small thing to some but that’s the whole reason Rojo was signed as our centre backs were all right sided.
Either way we don’t need Koulibaly as from what I’ve seen of Serie A which granted isn’t lots is Koulibaly has been poor most of the season and Smalling has been one of the best centre backs in that league, do you want to part with £70-£90 million for a centre back who’s been poor all season and would no doubt take time to settle when we’re stocked at centre back ?
I’d much rather look at a young centre if we’re going to spend big money like Upamecano or Konate or I’d be happy looking at Rodon at Swansea as all three fit the profile we seemingly are targeting, all three would be half the price of Koulibaly and have much more upside.
We’ve got Maguire, Lindelof, Bailly, Tuanzebe, Smalling, Jones and Rojo and even if (as I’d like us too) we got rid of Jones and Rojo we’d still have a stronger group of centre backs than anyone else is the league. We need a right winger (Sancho) and a pure defensive midfielder as priority signings though and not centre backs.
Personally i'd have kept Smalling in the first place, and I actually like Bailly when he's fit. I'm not a fan of Lindelof at all as you can probably tell.
While yes they both play the LCB role Koulibaly is right footed so i'm sure they could make it work.
Upemecano has great potential but if you saw the Leipzig game last night he has a lot of work to do still. Caused their 1st goal conceded, and made a miskick which nearly gave away a penalty also.
Saying that though his passing and dribbling are very good, he's great in the air and extremely quick/strong. He'd be good in England but would make some mistakes.
nice one
You can only judge a CB when you watch him. There were alot of fans on here earlier in the season saying Maguire was a mistake and there are players like Upemacano who are better and available but really, until you actually watch them play you cannot make judgements on a CB.
That is why Maguire has been a good buy. We could not afford to sign another Bailly / Lindelof where they take a season to adapt.
Ideally, yes Koulibaly seems like a good option, but do we need to spend another £50m plus on a CB at the moment?
A lot of people do not give enough credence to this aspect of the Maguire transfer.
Over the past few seasons, there has been a trend, buy the best PL talent and you will do well.
Chelsea won the title after signing Kante
City went for Walker, Mahrez, Stones, Sterling
Liverpool with Robertson, VVD, Ox, Mane.
Ofcourse you add a few international signings with it as well due to the PL players being over priced.
Players that know the league is crucial. It isn't a surprise that AWB, Maguire have done well.
Would be a big mistake to go for him. Two years ago, the picture would have been different, now quite a lot has changed.
The Napoli owner would suck us dry all summer long, paired with smaller funds after Covid and CBs being alright currently, i don't see it. Rather would go for one of the Leipzig CBs, who are cheaper. Harry is the leader and we don't need an expensive Koulibaly to partner him.
The Napoli owner would suck us dry all summer long, paired with smaller funds after Covid and CBs being alright currently, i don't see it. Rather would go for one of the Leipzig CBs, who are cheaper. Harry is the leader and we don't need an expensive Koulibaly to partner him.
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