Virgil van Dijk

[razman]

Doesn't start again today for Southampton.

Would be a great signing.. Only question is will he happy on the bench?

 

[J_MCFC21]

Would be a great signing.. Only question is will he happy on the bench?

Maybe they are just getting him ready for it now at Southampton :D

 

[mcfc482]

Would be a great signing.. Only question is will he happy on the bench?

Wouldn't be on the bench for long..... Hes very very good.

 

[cjn]

Can folks stop repeating the "cut price" Bonnuci. He went for what he was worth. Saying City or Chelsea would have paid more is simply conjecture.

This was widely, widely reported. If Bonucci was open to moving to England he would've easily gone for 60 million, I can't believe that is even up for debate.

You seem to be trying to explain away everything. But there on likes the point. You can get fantastic quality for less than 45 million. I.e Practically everyone who moved.

The players you listed weren't in the same league (literally and metaphorically) as VVD at the time of their transfers. That was the purpose of going through the list.

That you all have explanations for why the prices were low is simply your conclusory positions. I'm just staying the facts.

We're trying to get the best players, there are only a few at the very top level and scarcity drives prices. I can't tell if you're being intentionally obstinate or not but your "facts" are either completely false or irrelevant.

 

[Dipsis_LTU_MC]

He will be sold in January. The question is which club will buy him. Liverpool I reckon.

 

[Dax777]

So it looks like either we are getting Virgil. Hope the price is fair.

 

[Sir peace frog]

So it looks like either we are getting Virgil. Hope the price is fair.

if he's coming to us we are going to have to pay the going rate from an English club ,fair has got nothing to do with it.

 

[J_MCFC21]

If he does come, he could become one of the best under Pep, having seen how he's improved Ota and Stones in 1 year is crazy. Anyone who comes in will be improved in this team. Exciting times.

Indication from him being benched at Southampton is he is moving sooner rather than later.

 

[Dax777]

This was widely, widely reported. If Bonucci was open to moving to England he would've easily gone for 60 million, I can't believe that is even up for debate.

A lot of crap get reported. I only believe what actually happens. Not made up newspaper stories.

The players you listed weren't in the same league (literally and metaphorically) as VVD at the time of their transfers. That was the purpose of going through the list.

Literally, sure. Metaphorically? What league exactly is VVD in? A good defender who plays for a midtable team? I'd say so. Rudiger? Bonucci? Skrinnier? Lindelof? All played at higer levels
I'd say they are categorically of similar caliber or better. This is not to say I don't rate VVD higher than all those players, I do. But this is irrelevant to whether or not they ( the top.players to move in the summer) and VVD are of similar caliber. Juve, Roma, Benfica, Atalanta, are all of similar or better caliber to Southampton.

And Virgil hasn't ripped up trees. He is not the Messi of defenders who just somehow unconscionably has been so dominant as to deserve a 20 million hike on the current CB record.

We're trying to get the best players, there are only a few at the very top level and scarcity drives prices. I can't tell if you're being intentionally obstinate or not but your "facts" are either completely false or irrelevant.

What facts are false? You all keep saying this. But backing up your claim you with nothing but rumors and opinions. The facts are clear. Point out a CB who has moved for over 50 million. There isn't one.

 

[Dax777]

If he does come, he could become one of the best under Pep, having seen how he's improved Ota and Stones in 1 year is crazy. Anyone who comes in will be improved in this team. Exciting times.

Indication from him being benched at Southampton is he is moving sooner rather than later.

He wasn't just benched. He was removed from the game day squad. That's literally a "he is gone" move.

I think we will go back to 3 at the back when he come and Mangala will be moved.

Stones is back soon and Capt is back now. So there will be a good core at CB come January.

 

[Jesus Cheekbone]

Well, nothing you said opposes my position.
1. I never said the market didn't get inflated. I said it didn't any more than usual.
2. And that no one moved for over 50 suggest there was no unusual inflation.
3. Lots of top CBs moved. And they didn't cost 50 or more. Not to suggest a player can't move for over 50 million. But that should be the exception, not the rule.
4. If the world best CB wanted to move from one top club to another, Perhaps!

But I'm.sorry Southampton is on no position to be demanding 20 million above the the world record price. That's just silly!

Didn't inflate more than usual my ass :)

Lukaku, Morata ,neymar, Mbappe, Walker, Mendi, Bakayoko, that guy Liverpool bought from german club for next summer, Chelsea were willing to pay 60m for Sandro etc, etc... none of these would be half of what they were 2-3 years ago.

And 3. is so awful argument it's appalling. Only Bonucci from top class CB's moved and it was mentioned many times why he went for less than he could in normal circumstances. If he went to England he would cost easily over 50m.

 

[BlueCityfan]

Was fit but didn't play today. No way is he NOT getting sold. And i suspect we are the team the Saints would prefer to sell to.

 

[Dax777]

Didn't inflate more than usual my ass :)

Lukaku, Morata ,neymar, Mbappe, Walker, Mendi, Bakayoko, that guy Liverpool bought from german club for next summer, Chelsea were willing to pay 60m for Sandro etc, etc... none of these would be half of what they were 2-3 years ago.

And 3. is so awful argument it's appalling. Only Bonucci from top class CB's moved and it was mentioned many times why he went for less than he could in normal circumstances. If he went to England he would cost easily over 50m.

Cool. Let's all just belief what we want. It won't be the first time in here.

 

[J_MCFC21]

He wasn't just benched. He was removed from the game day squad. That's literally a "he is gone" move.

I think we will go back to 3 at the back when he come and Mangala will be moved.

Stones is back soon and Capt is back now. So there will be a good core at CB come January.

Ah Yeh, my mistake just seen the TS :D

When we do get another CB gives us so many more options in different games.

 

[Thaksinssoldier]

This one shouldn't drag out now, whoever it is has agreed to sign him. Us or chelsea methinks.

 

[Cityfan]

The facts are clear. Point out a CB who has moved for over 50 million. There isn't one.

Mmm, we paid around £50M for Stones over a year ago, since when the transfer market appears to have inflated. We have paid the same for two full backs who are generally less expensive than centre backs. We have paid a near record amount for a goalkeeper.
VVD is sought after by Liverpool, Chelsea and ourselves, he has many years left on his contract, I would be amazed if he didn't command a premium price.

 

[cjn]

Mmm, we paid around £50M for Stones over a year ago, since when the transfer market appears to have inflated. We have paid the same for two full backs who are generally less expensive than centre backs. We have paid a near record amount for a goalkeeper.
VVD is sought after by Liverpool, Chelsea and ourselves, he has many years left on his contract, I would be amazed if he didn't command a premium price.

Yeah but Milan Škriniar, who no one had ever heard of before a few months ago, moved from Sampdoria for significantly less, so ergo it's way too much. The facts are clear.

 

[Dax777]

Mmm, we paid around £50M for Stones over a year ago, since when the transfer market appears to have inflated. We have paid the same for two full backs who are generally less expensive than centre backs. We have paid a near record amount for a goalkeeper.
VVD is sought after by Liverpool, Chelsea and ourselves, he has many years left on his contract, I would be amazed if he didn't command a premium price.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-city-sign-van-dijk-14074584

The above articles does a nice job of expressing my clearly unpopular view on the issue.

Conditions that causes players to be unduly expensive simply does not exist here. VVD is simply a talented defender at a midtable club.

He is not English (So he doesn't get that premium)
He isn't from a rival club. So no premium for weakening a rival
He Doesn't have Champions League Pedigree. Yes I know he played with Celtics. But you know what I mean
He isn't an attacking player. Who generally cost more than defensive players.

But either way. I'm going to stop with this argument, as I now believe he is coming to us and generally try to support any player once it's apparent they will become a blue.

So happy to concede :)

 

[lonestay]

I don't understand why he seems to want to go to dippers ? From a career point of view coming to us is the only logical step, worlds no 1 coach with track record of improving players , arguably the best training facilities in world football, not a guaranteed position but, with Vincent now unreliable then as close as your gonna get to a guaranteed starting position , going to a team that is on the Apex of greatness that you could help reach that goal, a club that does right to it's playing staff and protects them what do the dippers and klopp have to offer against that? Oh apart from a season ticket to Blackpool pleasure beach and a candy floss ! The only reason you wouldnt from a career point of view go to city is if you doubt your ability in that team .

 

[Dax777]

Yeah but Milan Škriniar, who no one had ever heard of before a few months ago, moved from Sampdoria for significantly less, so ergo it's way too much. The facts are clear.

Yes! he only listed Milan Skrinnier.
Bonucci
Sanchez
Lindelof
Rudiger
Conti
Sule
Keane
Ake
Howedes
Mustachio
Maksimovic
Wimmer
Toprak
Benatia
Zouma
Maguire
Ginter
Kongolo

Lots of CBs moved. From lots of variety of clubs and lots of different talent levels and club levels. None of them cost over 50 million.

The point here is not hard to see.