Very much looking forward to watching him plying his trade in the Prem. I really do believe that he'll be a top signing for them
Kalidou Koulibaly
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Very much looking forward to watching him plying his trade in the Prem. I really do believe that he'll be a top signing for them
I think he's brilliant and will help to continue your superiority on set pieces at both ends.
he’s not managed 30 or more league games for over 3 years now. Age catching up with him or just unfortunate?
He isn't that great in air. Screams like a panic buy to me.
These days the price for a top class CB seems to start at around £60m. So Varane (if he stays fit) and Koulibaly will both be steals.
Buying any player is a risk.
As for scattergun can you honestly suggest that since SAF retiring there has been any sort of obvious plan when it comes to Utd signings ? That’s the irony of your comment
As for chasing everyone I think you are taking too much that’s appeared in the press as gospel.
I have no doubt whatsoever some of the names you list have been enquired about but more often than not the clubs keep their targets very much to themselves and yes Chelsea just like most clubs have probably have enquired about quite a number but it really only gets real when an offer is made if. How many of the players you say we have been after we’re the subject of official offers from us ?
I still think koulibally comes ake may not be our option any more. City may ask too much money for him. Just i think any one of them not both. We will look kounde more or quality RWB to play Reece in rcb rotation with chalobah.
Most annoying club in the world
That Napoli chairman is a lunatic. Him negotiating with broke ass Barcelona is a match made in heaven.
Most annoying club in the world
Barcelona just hijacking transfers with their non existent money.
Most annoying club in the world
Barcelona have an agreement with Kounde. That news is not believed by anyone. Simply for Chelsea to pay more.
I still cant believe Napoli did not sell Koulibaly few years back. I am sure people would have paid a lot of money for him in his prime.
Does anyone know if there is any other reason for not selling him few years earlier? Does owner like the player a lot or just stupid. It's just very illogical from a business point of view.
I'm sure they could've gotten 80-90M€ for him at some point but if they finally sell him now at 31 for 40M€ with a year left on his deal and have been able to enjoy the player's best years, can you really blame them for not taking the money 3-4 years ago?
Koulibaly would have been incredibly difficult for them to replace so I don't think they mind losing out on 40-50M€ to get many more years out of him. Seemed like the player's been happy to stay as well.
Just checked, he played 25 in 2019/20, 26 in 2020/21 and 27 in 2021/22.
By the time he's Thiago Silva's age he'll be playing 39 out of 38 league games.
Pleased if we get this guy, big personality on the pitch and we'll miss that with Rudiger gone.
Yeah he was playing 35 each season before that.
He's only 31, just a baby nowadays with modern training and recovery methods. Gone are the days when 31/32 meant you were done.
Look at Thiago Silva, 37 years old and played 32 league games last season (48 in total). That's the first time he's played more than 30 league games since 2011.
Think it's a fair point - but in part his appearances have been affected by having COVID twice as well as AFCON. Certainly he's no spring chicken and he's unlikely to be as durable as Rudiger (who post-knee injury was an absolute iron man), but I don't think he's likely to be hugely injury-prone.
Also worth pointing out that he turned 31 last month - so on a 3 year deal his contract would end with him aged 33. This is probably the most pedantic thing I've ever posted on this site, but I do think it's noteworthy!
Silva was playing next to Rudiger who had an absolute stormer. He was good mind when he settled.
I think it’s safe to say Koulibaly is not in his peak years and as I said he doesn’t play 30 games a season anymore (not sure if there’s been reasons why or if he’s been unlucky)
Stop gap signing.
3 year deal is wise. He can be the old head in place of Silva next season and perhaps allow Colwill to slot in if he gets a good loan?
We have plenty of gaps so I have no problem with that.
Long terms signings are all well and good but if we get 2 good seasons out of this guy, awesome.
He's playing in a back 3, he's going to be good for Chelsea as long as he stays fit. They probably need another CB due to their system, but he's an experienced CB and talented.
You need money to hijack a deal lads…
I do think it’s always a concern bringing in players from the slower paced Serie A especially in their twilight.
He should do okay but I don’t think it’s a signing that causes much concern. De Ligt or Kounde would have given their potential.
Does feel like he’s a back up signing but he’s needed and will do a job I imagine.
I'm hoping Colwill stays with the first team to be honest. Malang Sarr played far more frequently than I was comfortable with - and as you rightly point out Silva and Koulibaly's minutes should be managed next year. A CB core of Silva, Koulibaly, Ake(?), Chalobah, Colwill, then potentially James for emergencies seems adequate.
Personally I think De Ligt and Kounde will have to do extremely well to ever get to Koulibaly's level. De Ligt's potential is massive but for me there's no doubt that Koulibaly is a significantly better player in the short term - though again as you say the extent to which he can maintain that level is a question mark.
He's pretty poor aerially and not as tall as the oft-quoted figure - he's actually c. 187cm (about the same as Eric Bailly, for example).
Anyway, aerial prowess aside, he's a very good CB and a decent signing for Chelsea.
I think if Colwill can get guaranteed first team minutes to develop then yes keep him. If not then it would be wise to give him another loan to build on last season otherwise he will go stale.
Similar position to United with Garner really. Needs minutes.
Agreed. Chalobah's minutes last season should be the baseline expectation for Colwill this year in my opinion.
Jesus, this guy's value has gone down the toilet. Napoli should have cashed in ages ago.
He has 1 year left on his contract and is 31.
Martinez is legit tiny for a CB, though. Especially a CB in the PL.
Koulibaly isn’t this 6’5” monster that he’s mistakenly portrayed as but he’s still built like a tank.
Yeah but Koulibaly is woeful in the air
Expensive for his age. No resale value. But he'll probably be great for chelsea. We should have signed him instead of maguire. But that ship sailed long ago.
Be interesting to see if he lives up to the hype
We are not in the stage to look resale value and all. We need defenders who should have the experience and have the ability to play ball from the back. Koulibally tick all the boxes and two footed too.
Will always be expensive because of our situation losing two defenders for free especially rudiger. All knew our situation and we couldn't able to play penny pinching wait and watch game.
In fact I expected lot more money needed to bring him in. But having one year left on deal allowed us to get him for the money quoted.
And again we still not get him though and Barca are trying to stir the pot.Hope we concluded the deal soon.
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