Nathan Ake

[cjn]

If we don’t sign Koulibaly we will be in the shit , I am presuming we are as Ake is an average player who will not be a regular , may as well keep stones & Garcia as back up , don’t see the point .

The "point" is that Otamendi and Stones are twin calamities who both need to be replaced and we can't spend 200m on centerbacks this summer. Why is this difficult? One will be cheap (Ake) and one will be expensive (hopefully Koulibaly).

 

[Astrozombie]

Yep, and given the circumstances I think we have done well on both deals.

Well than it's me, but I dont think he's worth 35m as a backup.

 

[blueparrot]

If we don’t sign Koulibaly we will be in the shit , I am presuming we are as Ake is an average player who will not be a regular , may as well keep stones & Garcia as back up , don’t see the point .

Why is Koulibaly the only centre back around, Garcia will be right sided back up but still needs to develop. Ake is better than Stones and is left footed for Laporte back up so theres the point.

 

[blueparrot]

Ake would allow Mendy to play more freely higher up while help covering against the counter attack. I think Ake can with Laporte even if Laporte is left footed because it would be more like a back 3 with Walker dropping back as well.

Could easily see a back 3 of Koulibaly, Laporte, Ake with Cancelo and Mendy as wing backs being used sometimes.

 

[ballinio]

The "point" is that Otamendi and Stones are twin calamities who both need to be replaced and we can't spend 200m on centerbacks this summer. Why is this difficult? One will be cheap (Ake) and one will be expensive (hopefully Koulibaly).

We have to sign Koulibaly, I may view it differently if that happens. We have signed too many average players recently & this is another . Not a good way to go imo.

 

[WRicko]

Zinchenko and angelino are worth 25,30m each, respectively, easily. Young, versatile, on long term contracts.

Wolves offered us 15 for Zinchenko but he did not want to leave his value has gone down since then Corona plus this season and RB won’t pay the 20 odd million in there option so how do you get to those figures

 

[Gabriel]

Doesn't Sandler play on the right?

Yes. We could have the Netherlands’ second centre-back pairing in a couple of years. Both good footballers but not at the same level as van Dijk and De Ligt.

 

[lmhblue1]

He's missed only 14 games through injury in the last 6 years - that in and of itself makes him more valuable than Stones.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Has decent pace and can actually defend 1 v 1. Think he would suit our style of play tbh.

I don't like this talk of him being a back up LB though, all our LB's are bang average, we need a new starter in that position, no more making do with a player who is half the player we bought and a converted attacking midfielder or a 3rd choice CB.

 

[Ezzy]

When you really think about it, these recent "news report" ask more questions then they answer.


"Youth. Passion. Desire."

 

[Gabriel]

Wolves offered us 15 for Zinchenko but he did not want to leave his value has gone down since then Corona plus this season and RB won’t pay the 20 odd million in there option so how do you get to those figures

Could be used as a makeweight. Ancelotti was managing Napoli when they were interested in taking Zinchenko. If he’s not heading to the Stadio San Paolo as part of the Koulibaly deal, then it might be an idea to give Carlo a ring and see if he still rates him.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

Could easily see a back 3 of Koulibaly, Laporte, Ake with Cancelo and Mendy as wing backs being used sometimes.

Do you think Cancelo and Mendy are good enough? Because I don't.

 

[Delphinho]

Could be a brilliant inverted LB IMO. The same role as Zinchenko but has way more pace and strength, while also being great on the ball

 

[PrezIke]

Will be a really good signing for this fee for a HG player of his quality and the position that has so few who can meet the required standards.

Chelsea had a 40m buy back clause, and I recall we were quoted 60m(?) last season when rumours were swirling.

Maguire would be 55m more. That's bananas.

Sad for Stones. Wonder where he will wind up assuming he's off.

I'd say Arsenal because he fits their style and Arteta knows him, but the mistakes are something that they are going to be wary of.

Maybe back to Everton?

 

[blueparrot]

Do you think Cancelo and Mendy are good enough? Because I don't.

As wing backs , yes.

 

[Larry Stranger]

Could easily see a back 3 of Koulibaly, Laporte, Ake with Cancelo and Mendy as wing backs being used sometimes.

Yes, but not only a standard back 3. We play these pseudo formations a lot of times.
When we are attacking in final 3rd down the left, Mendy is usually always on the wing anyway. This season we had Dave where Foden is joining in the attack up front and Rodri or Gundogan holding in back. When Laporte wasn't there then Otamendi would be which is a far cry. So we could see this.

Mendy_________Sterling_____________Kun/Jesus___________________
____________Foden_______________________KDB____________Torres
______________Rodri/Gundo______________________________________
_______Ake_______________Laporte______________Walker____________

Laporte being left footed is only a problem when we play out from the back where he has to shift to the right. However, he's one of the best with the ball at his feet and I think he could adjust even though it's not ideal.

 

[Mattyc55]

I think it’ll turn out to be a really good signing.

He fits the system and 35mil is a very fair price for him.

 

[The Stockport Iniesta]

As wing backs , yes.

If we play with wing backs we might as well keep Angelino who looks top class in that position in Germany.

 

[Mayor West]

Wolves offered us 15 for Zinchenko but he did not want to leave his value has gone down since then Corona plus this season and RB won’t pay the 20 odd million in there option so how do you get to those figures

I would argue his value has in fact risen with the amount of games he has played for us this season.

 

[Cheadle_hulmeBlue]

Don’t really rate him. He’s another one who’s good on the ball, but not very good at defending

I think stones is a better player