But Stones does tend to have a lot of injuries and by the WC this year we will have played 7 games more than this season. Only way I'd be happy is if the club think Mbete is capable of the step up.Explained why I don't think we would need to.
Stones and Dias.
Stones and Laporte.
Dias and Laporte.
One player covers absences for either side.
You would need Stones and Laporte to be injured at the same time for an issue to arise.
Didn’t we go into the 19/20 season with 3 centre backs? That didn’t end well lol
Well that has happened before and Stones is a little bit injury-prone.Explained why I don't think we would need to.
Stones and Dias.
Stones and Laporte.
Dias and Laporte.
One player covers absences for either side.
You would need Stones and Laporte to be injured at the same time for an issue to arise.
All very true. But Stones is prone to an injury. Laporte just had surgery. Dias is a beast but had a reoccurring hamstring injury this season. Pretty risky imoWithout a World class, both-sided Dias!
Laporte is happy again, Stones is, Dias is.
That's important in the equation of not bringing in another quality CB to rock the boat.
But Stones does tend to have a lot of injuries and by the WC this year we will have played 7 games more than this season. Only way I'd be happy is if the club think Mbete is capable of the step up.
£50m each for Raz and Ake is a fair price imo. Slightly more for Ake due to length of contract and lower wages
Do you have any knowledge of how highly Mbete is rated at the club by the way? Usually we hear about Palmer, Mcatee or Delap. Mbete’s name is rarely mentioned.Exactly, Stones picks up injuries, so Dias is cover and happy still getting games on the right when not on the left.
Laporte is happy because he is getting more games.
If he wants to go we can't price Ake out of a move either no matter how useful player he is. We probably could get £65m max out of them for Ake.Chelsea are desperate for top quality players and home grown too so rinse them
Phillips can play centre back, can't he?
If Zin stays and Cucurella comes in, we are covered left side.
It would placate Laporte and Stones, with Dias more comfortable on the left of the pairing.
If we can get £60m it would be a great deal all round and would wish a very decent person all the best.
Imagine getting £120m just from Chelsea for Raheem and Ake?
£50m for Jesus, £50m Torres, £12m Bazunu, £8m Porro, £5m for kid going to Leeds, potentially £10m for Steffen.
£250m brought in must be a record of some sort in one year?
If he wants to go we can't price Ake out of a move either no matter how useful player he is. We probably could get £65m max out of them for Ake.
Agree with this. One 4-6 weeks injury on any CB and we would basically be forced to play the same two guys twice a week for a month (or play a DM from one of the worst defensive teams in the league out of position), which greatly increases the risk of them picking up injuries as well. Only way I can see it make sense is if Pep thinks Mbete is ready to be 4th choice and see him as a real first team option this season. That or if we keep Harwood-Bellis around as the 4th choice CB, again depends on if Pep thinks either of them can handle it. Think I read that THB captained the England u21s a few weeks ago, so maybe he could be an option.We can’t rely on 3 CBs when it’s 2 games every week.
I love Stones but it isn’t strange for him to be out injured pretty frequently
Then they will have to cough up £75 mill :)Yes he did. But things do change and Chelsea are now desperate.
Reece James is Chelsea regular player; Ake isn't our regular defender, Chelsea could realistically ask for more if he were to become available. Although we can get more than we had paid Bournemouth we can't really take the piss (although I don't want him to go). £65m is probably the limit65m minimum but we should be playing hard ball like all clubs do with us! If we wanted Reece James how much do you think Chelsea would ask for?
Ake is worth what Chelsea are willing to bid.Reece James is Chelsea regular player; Ake isn't our regular defender, Chelsea could realistically ask for more if he were to become available. Although we can get more than we had paid Bournemouth we can't really take the piss (although I don't want him to go)
I don't think Chelsea will match our valuation to be honest.Ake is worth what Chelsea are willing to bid.
City will have a minimum valuation that would need to be met for Chelsea to buy him.
The same applies with Reece James and us.
Exactly, Stones picks up injuries, so Dias is cover and happy still getting games on the right when not on the left.
Laporte is happy because he is getting more games.
Who knows?I don't think Chelsea will match our valuation to be honest.