This season Zaba has missed only 3 PL matches. His overlapping (and underlapping) runs are vital to our attacking style and he deserves to be numbered among our world class stars on whom we depend. Fortunately he has not suffered with injury this season, and the only games he has missed were WHU (away), Fulham and Palace (both home). He was put on the bench for Sunderland away, but had to come on with 20 minutes left. Micah has been injured for most of the last two seasons and shows few signs of getting fitness and form back. Zaba needs cover and bringing someone in who simply isn't up to his standard is not necessarily strengthening the squad and is certainly weakening the team. The choice is small, and Alves is one of very few who can step in for Zaba. If he's available and if Pellegrini is sure he'll work his whatsits off for the team, fit in in the dressing room and "share the load" with Zaba, I'd pay £15 million for him like a shot.