They don't really need a player like him, but he's joining Chelsea.
Saúl Ñíguez \ Joins Chelsea on loan
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This doesn't excite me for some reason.
Could he play with Fred? Two good tacklers who can win the ball with Saul better at passing it forwards?
Don’t get why Chelsea want him.
Probably because it’s BS, he clearly looks like he’s joining Chelsea.
Personally prefer Neves or Camavinga so i’m not fussed if he goes to Chelsea, in fact i hope he goes there instead. But there’s no concrete or solid enough links with the first two!
We are bit lean in that central midfield department especially kante has some injury concerns. One suspension away from looking to play defender there.
He's nothing special but he's more solid than Fred technically and positionally, if it's just a loan then that's even better and better than nothing.
I like the idea of a technically competent player but not sure he’s exactly what we need especially if we’re keeping Pogba.
I guess they could use him in terms of squad depth, but yeah, if you look at it from his perspective and it is between Chelsea and us, he shouldn't think a lot.
Looking at it from our point of view I have reservations as he stagnated in the last year or so, but if it's a loan am all for it. There aren't many options out there (with us probably not loaded with cash), so this could be a shrewd move.
Diario AS doesn’t seem to be a reliable source right? I checked in atletico madrid reddit and the last time they posted Diario AS news was 2 years ago.
I know this might not be a popular opinion but I think Saul and McTominay have some potential to work together as midfield 2 since Saul and Partey worked well when they were in the team. Mctominay has lot of similarity in his style of play with Partey. Not exactly a DM and likes to carry the ball.
I know this might not be a popular opinion but I think Saul and McTominay have some potential to work together as midfield 2 since Saul and Partey worked well when they were in the team. Mctominay has lot of similarity in his style of play with Partey. Not exactly a DM and likes to carry the ball.
I'd happily take him as a competent CM, but I'm really not fussy at this stage of the window.
We need bodies. Injuries to McFred and we’re done as things stand.
Not the type of player we need. He'd be a small upgrade on McTominay in the box-to-box role but that's it. Fred is more of a DM than him.
Can we just put a cheeky bid in for Koke instead?
Yes please. I really like that player. I hope it's something in it
Oh is he now? You got evidence of an accepted bid or is it the CAF special of once a player is linked with a rival it’s an immediate sale and all hope is lost?
Given we're currently operating with McFred as our first-choice midfield pairing, apparently felt the need to play Matic when one of them was unavailable and have shown no signs of signing the sort of midfielder who would fundamentally transform our midfield in the way people want (if they even exist), I can't imagine how anyone would object to a loan move for Saul.
Yeah agree.
Regarding our use for him, he's not going to transform us but at the same time we are desperately short on quality in midfield. He only needs to put a decent shift and will likely become a mainstay, especially if Pogba remains on the left.
Matic is done, was shocking on the weekend and Fred went to bits without his preferred partner in Scott. It desperately needs another option in there who can provide some quality on the ball. If he can recapture some of his previous form for Atletico it would be a great option for us. But there is no guarantee that will happen.
I can't see how anyone would object to any sort of midfielder that can be relied to pass the ball 5 yards competently without shitting themselves.
Anything above that is a bonus.
Beggars cannot be choosers. I will take any upgrade on McFred at this point.
Suspicious that we are being used here, but if it's legit I'm all for it. Strictly speaking he's not exactly what we need, but I don't believe that player is even available in the market, so a loan move to improve on what we already have is the next best thing. Saul may not be what he was but he's a huge upgrade on Fred, so it's a yes from me.
Is he really an upgrade though? Or just simply a case of anyone new is better than McFred? I’m not always on the side where the grass is greener
It looks like he's been offered to both Chelsea and United. With the United links stronger in Spain.
Anyone with a bit of passing ability and composure in midfield would be welcome, in my opinion. A loan move seems like a smart option. Hope it happens.
Liverpool have Thiago, Henderson, Fabinho and Keita. Any two of those can play together without it significantly affecting their team.
We saw at Southampton, we saw at various stages last season, our midfield is glacial without McTominay. That is an unacceptable state of affairs. If the chance exists to upgrade midfield we cannot allow it to go begging.
Matic's performance at the weekend might just be rustiness, or it could mean his legs are truly gone. In which case we're going into this season with Fred, McTominay and maybe VDB as our midfield options. Even if Saul doesn't look like he'd solve our DM problem, at least he'll be another option for us to use in midfield.
I’ve no idea if this guy is the answer, but we definitely need a midfielder. Sunday was just glaring evidence of that fact.
I wonder if it would make sense to send Donny the other way on loan?
Not sure how serious our links are with Saul though, and whether or not there is even space in Atletico’s side for Donny.
Not sure how serious our links are with Saul though, and whether or not there is even space in Atletico’s side for Donny.
I know nothing about him, but why are Atletico willing to loan him out if he’s good enough for United and Chelsea?
No it wouldn’t
DVB wants to fight for his place at United and so he should, definitely the mindset we want at the club
He is not even better than McFred, but we need a body.
I watch very little La Liga so can't comment on whether he's an upgrade, but I think we also need depth as well as options better than we currently have. We seem to only have Fred, McT and Matic for the 2 CM positions, since Pogba is mostly likely going to play further forwards, and I have no idea if VdB is here to be a CM or a #10 at this point, but I'm assuming the latter. 3 CMs for potentially 50+ games isn't going to be enough.
The reason we’re linked with a midfielder is pretty clear to those of us who watch Chelsea every week though it does seem strange to non Chelsea fans. In simple terms, we would in trouble if Kante picks up serious injury. And over the past 2-3 years he has repeatedly picked up niggling hamstring injuries and has to be managed carefully. Jorginho is extremely slow and unathletic so he is no good against top opposition in a 2.
All that being said, I’m not sure Saul makes sense for us. We need more of a holding mid whereas Saul is much more in the Kovacic, box to box mould.
All that being said, I’m not sure Saul makes sense for us. We need more of a holding mid whereas Saul is much more in the Kovacic, box to box mould.
We need another CM. Matic didn't play well and idk who Donny has offended, but he's not getting chances.
It stinks of when we were rumoured to be leading the race for Thiago last year.
I don't particularly rate the player and have no issue with him joining Chelsea (he's not better than any of Kante, Jorginho or Kovacic and does not improve their side).
Why don’t we just share him? This outdated idea of players being exclusive to one club needs binning.
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