2024/2025 Defenders Rumours Thread

[pier]

Skysport reports Giovanni Leoni are about to join Parma for 5m + 3.5m bonus.

 

[Il Drago]

Shame. From what i have read he has high potential. But tbh it makes more sense for the kid. He needs to go to a team to get playing time and grow.

 

[CafeCordoba]

Something happened between Inter and Sampdoria? This Leoni case but also Stankovic. He was ready to go there, Pirlo apparently wanted him but then they acquired another goalie.

 

[Il Drago]

Something happened between Inter and Sampdoria? This Leoni case but also Stankovic. He was ready to go there, Pirlo apparently wanted him but then they acquired another goalie.

I haven't read it anywhere but if i have to guess we probably wanted to link Leoni deal with Stankovic while Doria wanted only cash for Leoni and Stankovic just on loan. Just a thought.

 

[pier]

Kinda makes sense for Samp to ask for cash since they just redeemed him instead of a loan swap.

Perhaps we have decided to use all of our remaining transfer budget on Palacios.

 

[.h.]

shame, would have been nice to have signed him then lend him out, but there we go

maybe its a budget reflection because we havent got rid of correa/arna/etc

 

[thatdude]

Skysport reports Giovanni Leoni are about to join Parma for 5m + 3.5m bonus.

Smart move, they’re showing they aren’t afraid to play youngsters. They had a 20 year old CB starting against Milan.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

Shame. From what i have read he has high potential. But tbh it makes more sense for the kid. He needs to go to a team to get playing time and grow.

Yeah, it's a tricky balancing act, isn't it? The best way to get any undervalued talents is to get them before they break out. But they need playing time to increase their chances at breaking out, which isn't likely to be something Inter can offer. By the time they do break out, they aren't as undervalued anymore and they'll have more suitors.

To me, this is where Oaktree is gonna have to put their money where their mouth is. They want to emphasize 25< players in the transfer market? Not really the smartest approach but whatever, if that's gonna be your plan then make it a point of emphasis. But that doesn't just mean buying a bunch of €1-3M scratch off tickets from who knows where the fuck and expecting to hit on most of them, it better mean that if there's someone who can be had in the range of €25-30M or whatever that they're going to be willing to put some investment in to improve the squad. Otherwise (as my fear is), "emphasizing youth" is just a positive spin for "we're doing the absolute most bare minimum possible".

 

[Rodani]

what a shitshow....just let beppe & ausilio cook, theres still a lot of free agents.

 

[Besnik]

what a shitshow....just let beppe & ausilio cook, theres still a lot of free agents.

Being a free agent still at this time, while transfer market closes in a few days, means that you're either demanding too much, or you're a scumbag.

 

[Ffi201zi002tlis]

just sign Hermoso ffs

 

[Il Drago]

@Materazzi_23 thoughts on Devyne Rensch? He got linked with Inter on a free transfer.

Granted it's Tuttosport so it's probably bs but it's international break. It's not like we have anything to talk about.

 

[RotterdamNerazzurri]

@Materazzi_23 thoughts on Devyne Rensch? He got linked with Inter on a free transfer.

Granted it's Tuttosport so it's probably bs but it's international break. It's not like we have anything to talk about.

Let’s hope it’s bullshit. Rensch is utter shit. Anton Gaaie is starting above him, and that really is one of the baddest defenders in a Ajax shirt i’ve seen. Rensch had quite a promising start a couple of years ago, but is one of the lesser liked players in Amsterdam. Kinda strange, because they normally love their acadamy players. He’s just that bad I’m afraid.

 

[Materazzi_23]

I completely agree with your first sentence. But that Gaeei starts above Rensch is not correct. The new coach has a strange role system which means he sometimes plays. They are not convinced of Rensch because they tried to get Sergi Roberto this summer.

Rensch made his debut at 17 in Ajax 1 and was a regular at 18 and even kept Mazraoui out of the starting line-up for a short period. Then a difficult period with a lot of competition and just bad form. The problem in my opinion is that he has not improved in recent years. Injury-prone, defensively weak and unreliable. I was a big fan of him when he made his debut but he has not shown much in recent years. With the caveat that he has also played in very bad Ajax teams and still is young. He is a completely different type than Dumfries and I do not believe he has the content to play as RWB. I would like to see him play for a sub-topper in Germany or Spain and develop further before this name is even thrown around on this forum. He has no grit or perseverance and is one of the first to drop out when things get tough. Hard pass.

 

[Rodani]

i remember when rensch supossed to be promising and then i lost track of him

 

[CafeCordoba]

Romano links Tah to Inter as free agent next summer.

Of course Tah moving to Bayern is the most likely scenario but let's entertain the idea there is a proper competition for his signature.

Question to @Il Drago, has Tah played as the central CB for Alonso in Leverkusen or how is it? Transfermarkt cannot be trusted with these (I feel, he's usually there as LCB but he's right footed and so on).

 

[thatdude]

Romano links Tah to Inter as free agent next summer.

Of course Tah moving to Bayern is the most likely scenario but let's entertain the idea there is a proper competition for his signature.

Question to @Il Drago, has Tah played as the central CB for Alonso in Leverkusen or how is it? Transfermarkt cannot be trusted with these (I feel, he's usually there as LCB but he's right footed and so on).

I’m pretty sure he has been the center of the back 3 for them majority of the time. He would be 29 when he joins us. Perfect age for a 4 year contract in that position.

Would Oaktree be in favor? Will he age the way Italian center backs tend to?

Either way I think it’s the right idea if we can beat out Bayern and make it work financially. He might still be pissed about Bayern not keeping their word to sign him this summer too.

 

[CafeCordoba]

Oh, he's "that" old. Well not sure if the ownership wants such signings then. I think we'll keep one of Acerbi and De Vrij and sign younger one to replace, younger than Tah.

Although we could sign Tah and then in summer 2026 sign that younger guy.

 

[Kramerica Industries]

If Oaktree aren't being cunts, Tah is an excellent medium-term solution for that position. I've been a proponent of that idea for quite some time.

 

[Il Drago]

Romano links Tah to Inter as free agent next summer.

Of course Tah moving to Bayern is the most likely scenario but let's entertain the idea there is a proper competition for his signature.

Question to @Il Drago, has Tah played as the central CB for Alonso in Leverkusen or how is it? Transfermarkt cannot be trusted with these (I feel, he's usually there as LCB but he's right footed and so on).

You're right not to trust transfermarkt. Tah has never played on the left for Leverkusen. Like ever. I assume they probably have Hincapie or Tapsoba playing in the middle who were their actual LCBs.

Now about Tah. Pre Alonso he had played as rcb due to his speed when Leverkusen had opted for a back 3. But it didn't really suit him. He was often caught out of position. Alonso moved him to the middle of the back 3 and he was immense. Beast. Must buy for Inter imo.

But it won't be easy to sign him. Bayern still seem interested. They will never say no to signing a quality German on a free. The thing with Bayern is they can't give him guarantees about playing time and even the entire management isn't really convinced about Tah. Only Eberl really wanted him there. And that's why they decided against a late move, even after selling De Ligt. But they have a very good relationship with his his agent, Zahavi, and Bayern will always be an attractive destination for a German. They're probably the favorites to sign him right now but many things could change in a year.

I expect Barcelona to be interested for sure. They always try to sign free agents even if they don't make sense for them from a sporting aspect. Clubs from EPL could also show an interest. They will certainly like Tah physicality.

So if Inter want Tah they have to act fast. I don't think meeting his salary demands would be a problem. We can also offer him a guaranteed starting spot which no one else can. It's really about convincing him about the destination.

Re Oaktree, i could party understand their decision to block Hermoso. It was a lot of money for someone who was only expected to be a backup and had no resale value. But the situation is different with cbs next summer. We have De Vrij and Acerbi with expiring contracts so we're certainly going to need at least a new cb, if not two. And De Vrij departure would free up a big chunk of money in terms of salaries. So blocking Tah solely because of age it would make no sense. Signings like Palacios and Bisseck aren't going to cut it. When you want to replace starters you need quality, not gambles. If they aren't willing to make big investments on quality youngsters but they're also blocking quality experienced players, then we have a problem.