Nathan Ake

[Taylor]

I would be happier with that grouping than if Stones was sold Garcia stays

Ake and Garcia wouldn’t be physically up to it as our second choice pairing , they would be fine if paired with any of the other two though

Although it would be weird if Garcia left now with all the game time he’s been getting?

It would be werid but unless he pens a new deal then he could well return to barca

 

[TFC]

Hull conceded 80 goals in 2016/17 and were relegated.

Liverpool then bought a player called Andy Robertson off them.

Coincidentally, he's a massive ****.

 

[willipp]

You're welcome .

In all seriousness. As with all transfers time will tell.

I hope Garcia stays and the rumours of him wanting to go back to barca aren't true as he looks like he could develop into a good CB.

Huge question marks over Stones and Ota now. Stones to me is lacking confidence, can he turn it round?

Otamendi needs to go now in my opinion.

I dont think there are any question marks over their futures now. Neither have a future at the club.

 

[Gabriel]

And at 41m thats a steal compared to other prices we may have had to pay previously for the likes of McGuire (75m?)

Think you might want to temper that, Croesus. ;-)

Maguire was their first choice, and can anyone really be a steal at 41 million? We are reportedly about to lavish out even more on Koulibaly, so Ake would be our third choice defender, which does make it sound rather expensive. His name appeared regularly in the 'picking at the carcass' thread, but I didn't expect us to be paying Michelin Star prices for the privilege. That said, such reported figures have a habit of being grossly inflated or linked to a range of conditional clauses, so time will tell.

 

[Taylor]

Not every signing has to be a superstar. The criteria is to find a deputy to Laporte, a left footed centre back who can play and organise he defence and accepts he’s likely to be second choice with a fully fit squad.

He fits that criteria perfectly has bags of premier league experience and homegrown status as bonuses. Look at Liverpool, they’ve got Vvd and his backup has been Lovren until this summer, is Ake better than Lovren? Unquestionably. Let’s see who they bring in to replace him as vvd’s understudy, they’ll be hard pushed to find somebody better than Ake.

Liverpool are partial to hacking our scouting system, before you know it they will be matching our bid

 

[Aussie!]

We still need a proper left back. Mendy is a woeful footballer and not the answer. I expect Ake to play LB until we can find a replacement.

I feel PEP still has faith in Mendy (and not seeking replacements, unless it is for Zinchenko)

 

[andyhinch]

It would be werid but unless he pens a new deal then he could well return to barca

He’s got 2 years left on his contract ?

 

[cjn]

I'm excited for this signing. The price is probably 5-10m too high but if its between signing him now for 40 or spending the next month haggling them down to 35 I know what I'm choosing. Also homegrown premium, other clubs sniffing around, etc. Good job just getting it done.

 

[cleavers]

Not every signing has to be a superstar. The criteria is to find a deputy to Laporte, a left footed centre back who can play and organise he defence and accepts he’s likely to be second choice with a fully fit squad.

If he's coming here and "accepts" being back up, then its another reason not to sign him imho, every player that comes here should come here wanting to be first choice, and nothing else.

 

[Jonsilfab]

How the fuck is that relevant?

If he cost them £40 would he have been worth it? Yes.

Because at £10m it's not much of a risk. Even if the player flops they can recoup that. The price for Aké, in a similar situation, is quite a lot more.

 

[01cravend]

Will be our quickest CB since Distin...huge asset with our highline.

 

[Taylor]

He’s got 2 years left on his contract ?

Yeah most people think 2022 but pep said recently his deal expires 2021 so not entirely sure.

 

[OrigamiNinja]

About the only positive I can see, we could spend nothing and keep Stones, he can do that too.

I'm done with Stones and have been for a long time, so it is difficult for me to think that Stones remains an option.

As I say, I am not blown away by the signing of Ake but I am not against it. I think that is because like most on here, I don't see him as 1st choice. My views on the signing are based solely on him being a better back-up than Stones and Otamendi, whether you pay £40m for a better back-up is another question entirely.

What I will say is, if we start the season and our starting pair is Laporte with Ake alongside him, I will not be happy.

 

[andyhinch]

Yeah most people think 2022 but pep said recently his deal expires 2021 so not entirely sure.

Signed a year’s extension as far as I know

 

[Taylor]

If he's coming here and "accepts" being back up, then its another reason not to sign him imho, every player that comes here should come here wanting to be first choice, and nothing else.

I think it's better to assume he recognises he's in a squad.

With the talent we have at our disposal rotation is a given.

Not many players are Guranteed starters unless its a huge game.

 

[simon23]

Think you might want to temper that, Croesus. ;-)

Maguire was their first choice, and can anyone really be a steal at 41 million? We are reportedly about to lavish out even more on Koulibaly, so Ake would be our third choice defender, which does make it sound rather expensive. His name appeared regularly in the 'picking at the carcass' thread, but I didn't expect us to be paying Michelin Star prices for the privilege. That said, such reported figures have a habit of being grossly inflated or linked to a range of conditional clauses, so time will tell.

there is no such thing as third choice - its a squad game. He may also play in a 3 at the back with Laporte and Koulibaly or Laporte and Walker for instance. He may also play left back aspart of a normal back 4 (especially with Mendy's injury record)

Ake will get plenty of game time and that before injuries to other players as well

 

[domalino]

Because at £10m it's not much of a risk. Even if the player flops they can recoup that. The price for Aké, in a similar situation, is quite a lot more.

What risk? The kid has played 150 premier league games. Pep has seen him play against us at least 8 times.

There's no risk here. He's a good young player who covers lots of positions. He's not going to be starting every game from day 1, he's not expected to be the greatest defender on earth. All he needs to do is what he's already done for Bournemouth and the Netherlands but in our side.

This isn't a risky transfer. He's not coming from a foreign country, he's not 18 and unproven, he's not a mystery that the club's only scouted a few times.

 

[Gabriel]

If he's coming here and "accepts" being back up, then its another reason not to sign him imho, every player that comes here should come here wanting to be first choice, and nothing else.

Even the goalkeepers? Carson out...

 

[Taylor]

Signed a year’s extension as far as I know

Gives us time then to hopefully get him to sign for even longer.

 

[Zin 'messiah' Zimmer]

Will be our quickest CB since Distin...huge asset with our highline.

Glad you made this point, he has electric pace and the high line, high risk, has needed looking at, I’m quietly confident that with Peps ability to elevate players, we have a rough diamond who has already sparkled in a shit team!