Interesting. He's the player I wanted more than any other this summer. Given his age and the way our CBs have have started it's unlikely it will ever happen now. It would be interesting to know whether we were in for either Bonucci or Stones or both. With hindsight, if it was one or the other, I wouldn't swap Stones for him now.Pretty sure he's talking about City here, rather than Chelsea:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-tempted-Pep-Guardiola-s-Manchester-City.html
Suggests that we came close to landing him.
Pretty sure he's talking about City here, rather than Chelsea:
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-tempted-Pep-Guardiola-s-Manchester-City.html
Suggests that we came close to landing him.
Maybe we were willing to let Otamendi go but Pep sees his "qualities" now.
Don't think letting Otamendi go was ever part of the plans, with doubts remaining over Kompany's fitness. Think the Bonucci boat has sailed, but wouldn't be surprised if we went back in for Laporte next summer.
not only that, but his release clause is now something like 15m higher as well.I'm not sure we will go in for Laporte again now mate. We placed a huge amount of faith in still pursuing him after his ankle break, yet he left us hanging and eventually signed a new deal.
Curiously, I wonder what he thinks of his decision to stay at Bilbao now, especially after seeing our superb start to the season.
matters not. we will go back for him 100%not only that, but his release clause is now something like 15m higher as well.
Ah! The Bonucci wankfest. Yup still haven't changed my opinion. Don't want no aging CB from the Italian league. Sorry. Bad decision dodged if you ask me. :)
I was the biggest anti-Mangala advocate that summer. But oh well. :)How about another 20 something from the Portuguese league with shed loads of talent for £40 million? That should work.
Just being a fool, obviously. :)
Gimme Otta any day!We should be looking at Gimenez at Atleti, young and would suit our style very well IMO.
has a £50m release clause I think, bit steep, but given the prices nowadays and the £47.5m we paid for Stones, £50m price doesn't sound too bad for a young defender who is also comfortable on the ball + can defend. But we definitely need another CB given Kompany's reliability issues + Kolarov is not a long term solution either given he is 31 in November.We should be looking at Gimenez at Atleti, young and would suit our style very well IMO.