You spend big on what you need. Chelsea need better wingbacks. Alex Sandro would be a game changer for them, so it stands to reason that they're willing to spend big on him. If there was a right WB that good, it would make sense for them to spend big for that as wellSo yeah, I'd be hugely hesitant to spend 70m on a lb, and would definitely consider selling one for that amount, if I had anything approaching a competent scouting network. Case in point, Luke Shaw/Ryan Bertrand.
You spend big on what you need. Chelsea need better wingbacks. Alex Sandro would be a game changer for them, so it stands to reason that they're willing to spend big on him. If there was a right WB that good, it would make sense for them to spend big for that as well
€70m for sandro (apparently)
£35m for bakayoko
We look close to selling Ake for £20m and Traore for €20m+ and Begovic was sold for £10m. If we do sell Ake and Traore (which look quite likely) then Bakayoko is paid for off profits from those sales. if we buy Lukaku for say £80m then sell Costa for £40m then we only really spent £40m on one of the best young strikers in Europe and arguably 2nd best striker in the PL.
We still have a kitty of close to £200m to spend on another CB (possibly Van Dijk) and Sandro (if we get him) so that's really nice business with money still left over to strengthen another key area.
You spend big on what you need. Chelsea need better wingbacks. Alex Sandro would be a game changer for them, so it stands to reason that they're willing to spend big on him. If there was a right WB that good, it would make sense for them to spend big for that as well
The perfect RWB is out there and will almost surely move clubs this summer. Unfortunately, he plays for Spurs and they'd never sell him to us.Yeah Alves would be perfect for them. Tides them over until a massive option becomes available. Semedo might also be a top shout.
You spend big on what you need. Chelsea need better wingbacks. Alex Sandro would be a game changer for them, so it stands to reason that they're willing to spend big on him. If there was a right WB that good, it would make sense for them to spend big for that as well
Please take the argument elsewhere.Let's use one currency so it's not confusing.
IN:
Sandro 63m
Bakayoko 40m
Lukaku 90m
Van Dijk 60m
OUT:
Begovic 10m
Ake 20m
Traore 16.5m
Costa 40m
So a 175m net expenditure which barely improves your first xi. Mainly because you already have a really good team, but
Sandro > Alonso
Bakayoko = Matic
Van Dijk > Cahill/Azpi?
Lukaku < Costa
You add some great, but very expensive depth. And the Costa situation is just weird, because he's a complete nutter, so not much to be done about that.
You forgot that we also just sold Oscar for £60m and didn't reinvest any of that yet.Let's use one currency so it's not confusing.
IN:
Sandro 63m
Bakayoko 40m
Lukaku 90m
Van Dijk 60m
OUT:
Begovic 10m
Ake 20m
Traore 16.5m
Costa 40m
So a 175m net expenditure which barely improves your first xi. Mainly because you already have a really good team, but
Sandro > Alonso
Bakayoko = Matic
Van Dijk > Cahill/Azpi?
Lukaku < Costa
You add some great, but very expensive depth. And the Costa situation is just weird, because he's a complete nutter, so not much to be done about that.
Only buying "top players from top clubs" is not a counterpoint to my "seriously flawed logic" but instead itself indicative of unimaginative and somewhat unsustainable recruitment. Look at our last two brilliant back fours, and where we signed them from:
Brown (academy) Ferdinand (WHU), Vidic (Spartak), Evra (Monaco), VDS (Fulham). Only one signed for big money.
Neville (academy), Stam (PSV), Johnsen (Besiktas), Irwin (Oldham), Schmeichel (Brondby). Again only one for big money at the time.
Even our prospective back 5 for next season:
Valencia (Wigan), Bailly (Villarreal), Lindelof (Benfica), Darmian (Torino) and De Gea (AM). None really signed for what is considered big money today.
So tbh of all those players, maybe only DDG came from a top club, and only Ferdinand and Stam demanding big, big fees for their respective eras.
So yeah, I'd be hugely hesitant to spend 70m on a lb, and would definitely consider selling one for that amount, if I had anything approaching a competent scouting network. Case in point, Luke Shaw/Ryan Bertrand.
Restricting signings to a pool of established top players at top clubs, is an incredibly expensive way to pursue success. Whereas more innovative thinking has proven successful time and time again. There are plenty of top players who have yet to establish themselves at big clubs, but are just awaiting discovery/opportunity.
Completely get what you mean. I think Chelski will always have an element of that tbh whilst Abramovich is in charge. I'd like to see how they'd cope without him first before ditching that view of them completely.
Bernadeschi is second choice to Perisic? Feck me, that's like Adrianna Lima being second choice to Rebel Wilson. Sign him up.
Maybe José is interested in giving Martial a chance. I'd love it if we signed him. Dembele is still the muppet dream though. LolBernardeschi is a great talent. I'd definitely be in favour of pursuing a deal there. I'm not exactly clear how he'd be an alternative to Perisic though; Bernardeschi plays through the middle or on the right and is a #10/inside forward, while Perisic plays on the left and is a more of a conventional winger (these days anyway).
Completely get what you mean. I think Chelski will always have an element of that tbh whilst Abramovich is in charge. I'd like to see how they'd cope without him first before ditching that view of them completely.
Valencia, a failed winger with no end product
Lindelof, feck knows
Darmian, a shame to the United shirt
Hardly an advertisement for 'savvy recruitment'. It's better to buy top players every time when they are available.
Before someone brings up our defensive record, let's not forget the style of football we played, even against trash like Ajax, Anderlecht and Celta.
What club is he at?
Meh, i hate Darmian. Irrationally of course. He embodies shit football.Catch a grip of yourself for feck sake.
Got it, so a sizeable bid would certainly tempt themFiorentina
Got it, so a sizeable bid would certainly tempt them
To be fair, I'm starting to feel less and less like this about Chelsea and City simply because the entire PL seems like this now. Yes, TV money isn't exactly a sugar daddy, but every team spends loads of money, and it doesn't feel natural to see Bournemouth bid £19m for Nathan Ake either. Newcastle spent £60 odd million in the Championship last summer.
They have had longevity now and have had battles with ourselves and City, have had some history now and some long serving players. They dont have that ready made feel to them anymore to me.
According to 'Mediaset Premium' which may have some truth to it.I call BS.
Football Italia ran with the same story last year.
http://www.football-italia.net/80360/united-join-bernardeschi-chase
Believed it then?
Please make this happen!!! He's going to be a top player
Mate, you've been slacking with the tweets this yeah! Wa gwan?According to 'Mediaset Premium' which may have some truth to it.
You don't watch Euros and World cups?Why the hell is he not the primary target? This guy looks like he's going to be a superstar.
I'd never even heard of Perisic 3-4 months ago, which isn't something you'd expect of a £50 million 28 year old.
According to 'Mediaset Premium' which may have some truth to it.
Anyway I looked who is posting the most here, and congrats to @el3mel, he's on top with whopping 482 posts.
You don't watch Euros and World cups?
Anyway I looked who is posting the most here, and congrats to @el3mel, he's on top with whopping 482 posts.
It's a bizarre one. He was excellent in Belgium but absolutely out of his depth in a higher league like Portugal.Laurent Depoitre: Huddersfield sign FC Porto striker for record fee - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/40389894
Over 10m for someone who has played 13 times last season and 2 goals (oh, and one assist!!)
And people scoff at what we're expected to pay for Morata.
You forgot that we also just sold Oscar for £60m and didn't reinvest any of that yet.