2022/2023 Defenders Rumours Thread

ADRossi said:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1663365163871764486

We never sign Spanish players. I'm still trying to repress all memories of Borja Valero.

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There was one called Javier Farinos. He came as a hot name from Valencia but became an utter failure. Several players from that Valencia team failed to live up to the expectations after leaving that team: Gerard, Mendieta, Claudio Lopez, Kily Gonzales...

meh, not a fan

I feel like we are only interested because he is free, not because he would fit us

What makes you feel so?

Yep, that's one thing I wouldn't worry about our transfer policy. Didn't these guys basically blue balled Dybala, who was free, and signed Lukaku because they thought Lukaku would fit us better?

in defense of that, whilst free Dybala is clearly an attractive option, Lukaku is actually a more frequent goalscorer than him this season (1/134 vs 1/147). If Lukaku can keep up his end of season form, too, and fitness, then its a whole different ball game. Dybala's best spell 10 match spell was probably... matchday 1-10, where he scored 5 goals in 10 games, and missed two. Lukaku's best 10 match spell is 7 goals, 3 assists in 10 games and being benched for one of them, starting every single game.

The fitness and consistency levels are just a different ball game, if Lukaku can maintain his current level - which is a 'reversion' to his normal playing level, rather than unprecedented. During this most crucial phase of the season, Dybala's out injured, having not started since the start of April, whereas Lukaku has hit peak form just in time for us


Clearly Dybala still is an attractive option, but I'd argue that - cost aside - the history books show we probably got this one relatively right. Only just, though, not clear cut right or wrong. If Dybala does have a 20m release clause, I think we could do a lot worse than exercise it - though I dont think its likely, if we plan to keep Lautaro, Lukaku and Dzeko next season, I cant imagine Dybala coming in as a 4th striker even with Inzaghirotation.

Before Lukaku started scoring again, Dybala-Lukaku looked terrible. Because it went the other way around with the injuries Lukaku missing many months and not getting back to fitness.

Now that Dybala is at his expected injury spell, missing games when he's badly needed, while Lukaku is scoring and able to start, the decision doesn't look so terrible anymore.

Dybala coming in NOW doesn't make any sense. Too expensive given his injury-record, again proved this season.

edit. Also completely wrong thread to talk about Dybala. Next post should be posted to different thread with quote from this thread or something.

ADRossi said:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1663365163871764486

We never sign Spanish players. I'm still trying to repress all memories of Borja Valero.

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No, but Martin Montoya was a great signing lol

Luis Suarez is our most prominent Spanish player in history but that's 50+ years ago

The main issue with Nacho is that coming from Real he would probably expect to be a starter. I would like a younger and faster defender for starting rcb.

Pavard wants to leave and has 1 year left in his contract. Please...

CafeCordoba said:

What makes you feel so?

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Well we do have a track record of looking at older, out of contract players ever since Marotta came here.

I don't like we would be giving a 33 year old CB that wasn't a starter a 3mil contract. And it's not like he is that good on the ball to be a good RCB for us. He'd be like an older, worse Skriniar.

He'd be okay as a CB, but we are also getting Acerbi and De Vrij is probably staying. Why have 3 30+ year old players that are the best at one specific role (altho Acerbi is showing up as a LCB too).

After a few seasons we will have REPLACE all of these players. So if we are keeping De Vrij and also getting Acerbi, can't we rather try to get a younger player? I know, we need money for that.

Exactly. We need money. Nacho is 1.5 years younger than D'Ambrosio and if Nacho is better than D'Ambrosio on the pitch and the salary cost would be the same, I see no problems with this signing.

If anything, our management have proven they can sign older (usually out of contract) players who then end up being effective players for us. Are there any opposite examples in addition to Kolarov?

qb4ever_2k said:

Pavard wants to leave and has 1 year left in his contract. Please...

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I dunno what price he'd fetch, but this is the sort of signing I'd love to see us do. Bastoni, Acerbi and Pavard with Scalvini and Pirola feels like a great defense, with development opportunities and a clear path to the first team as well.

I guess with that being said, though, if we're keeping De Vrij it doesnt add up - eg its a lot of 'money' in the defense. Is De Vrij definitively staying now?

CafeCordoba said:

Exactly. We need money. Nacho is 1.5 years younger than D'Ambrosio and if Nacho is better than D'Ambrosio on the pitch and the salary cost would be the same, I see no problems with this signing.

If anything, our management have proven they can sign older (usually out of contract) players who then end up being effective players for us. Are there any opposite examples in addition to Kolarov?

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If Bayern is really totally imploding right now, getting Pavard would be huge for us. Again, I know, money is the issue.... but the opportunity is huge.

We have to get another CB in any case.... probably even if D'ambrosio leaves or not, two CBs are coming (so that Darmian doesn't have to play there all the time). So okay, let's say I'm open for Nacho to come here, we still need to find a starter for us, I would love Pavard here.

I'm just scared who would be sacrificed... Lautaro? Brozović (wouldn't bring a lot of money)? Onana? Barella? Bastoni?

wera said:

If Bayern is really totally imploding right now, getting Pavard would be huge for us. Again, I know, money is the issue.... but the opportunity is huge.

We have to get another CB in any case.... probably even if D'ambrosio leaves or not, two CBs are coming (so that Darmian doesn't have to play there all the time). So okay, let's say I'm open for Nacho to come here, we still need to find a starter for us, I would love Pavard here.

I'm just scared who would be sacrificed... Lautaro? Brozović (wouldn't bring a lot of money)? Onana? Barella? Bastoni?

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Broz would bring decent plusvalenza, that's the thing. With a new sponsor, we could take a risk and spend his plusvalenza on like 2-3 new signings and hope we get CL QF regularly.

Pavard shouldn't be unrealistic for us. He's not really that highly rated, last year of contract apparently was close to joining us on loan in Jan.

He has also been stuck in the RB-CB limbo for years and not many clubs in the world can offer him that balanced option of RCB. Inter make a lot of sense for him honestly.

Fitzy said:

Selling Onana is ridiculous, so it's obviously something we'll be looking at doing.

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While using the funds to extend de Vrij and D’Ambrosio.

I don't think the extensions of those guys cost us 50-60m.

Speaking of Pavard:


The problem isn't dealing with Bayern. We could probably find an agreement for 20-25m. The issue is he has attracted lots of interest from top clubs. Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Barcelona and even Real Madrid are linked with him.

qb4ever_2k said:

Pavard wants to leave and has 1 year left in his contract. Please...

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If he's gonna cost the same or less than Scalvini definitely go for him.

Il Drago said:

Speaking of Pavard:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1663460467317112832

The problem isn't dealing with Bayern. We could probably find an agreement for 20-25m. The issue is he has attracted lots of interest from top clubs. Liverpool, Man Utd, Chelsea, Barcelona and even Real Madrid are linked with him.

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From the teams you mentioned, only Liverpool seem to be in real need of a CB. Luckily, they also missed out on CL next season so we may have some advantages here.