Declan Rice

[domalino]

28 in November

So he'll be 27 when we buy him.Younger than bother Yaya and Fernandinho when they arrived and played 8 or 9 seasons.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Ward-Prowse would be the English midfielder to get this summer.

He can play 6, but also as the box-to-box next to a proper Barcelona style 6 (as he does with Romeu) and he could play 8 because he has the touch of creativity Rice doesn't.

Massive work rate, very technical, presumably wouldn't mind being on the bench often because he's making such a big step up and has a little bit of X factor in his set pieces and penalties. I actually think box-to-box is a role we really miss in this squad, which is why Bernardo is doing it. JWP could be a good option to rotate with him and keep him at his best.

He's 27, so would be a nice bridge to replace Fernandinho in the squad then in a year or 2 Gundogan will move on and we could line up a massive transfer for Bellingham.

I think this is a pretty good shout. Think he's a clever player and might revel in our set up. Relatively cheap compared to Rice, won't demand to play every week and as you say, great setpieces

 

[Deleted member 87819]

So he'll be 27 when we buy him.Younger than bother Yaya and Fernandinho when they arrived and played 8 or 9 seasons.

I don’t have an issue with his age. Both Yaya and Fernandinho had played in Champions League when they got here.
He is not used to playing as many games as we do in a season. Granted, you envision him not playing too much for us anyway so that wouldn’t be an issue

 

[Pedestrian]

I wouldn’t say occasionally. His passing is incredible, not just the accuracy (which immediately makes him a contender for our team) but the quality. And his tackles are next level too. I guess my outsider view is a little different than part of the English posters here… for me he is one of the few English players that actually lives up to the hype

I don’t doubt he’s a good player. Not good enough for us and far too expensive.

 

[jaseisblue]

Ward-Prowse would be the English midfielder to get this summer.

He can play 6, but also as the box-to-box next to a proper Barcelona style 6 (as he does with Romeu) and he could play 8 because he has the touch of creativity Rice doesn't.

Massive work rate, very technical, presumably wouldn't mind being on the bench often because he's making such a big step up and has a little bit of X factor in his set pieces and penalties. I actually think box-to-box is a role we really miss in this squad, which is why Bernardo is doing it. JWP could be a good option to rotate with him and keep him at his best.

He's 27, so would be a nice bridge to replace Fernandinho in the squad then in a year or 2 Gundogan will move on and we could line up a massive transfer for Bellingham.

Bellingham will be 17 by then and hitting his peak. Good shout.

 

[domalino]

I think this is a pretty good shout. Think he's a clever player and might revel in our set up. Relatively cheap compared to Rice, won't demand to play every week and as you say, great setpieces

To be fair I don't know how much Southampton would want. <45m would seem like good value, they might try and demand more because he's their captain and best player - but hopefully they'd recognise he's stayed longer than he could have and it would be a massive advancement in his career.

 

[vincent]

Ward-Prowse would be the English midfielder to get this summer.

He can play 6, but also as the box-to-box next to a proper Barcelona style 6 (as he does with Romeu) and he could play 8 because he has the touch of creativity Rice doesn't.

Massive work rate, very technical, presumably wouldn't mind being on the bench often because he's making such a big step up and has a little bit of X factor in his set pieces and penalties. I actually think box-to-box is a role we really miss in this squad, which is why Bernardo is doing it. JWP could be a good option to rotate with him and keep him at his best.

He's 27, so would be a nice bridge to replace Fernandinho in the squad then in a year or 2 Gundogan will move on and we could line up a massive transfer for Bellingham.

Yep. Great shout that. I remember posting in the JWP thread a year or so ago saying we should be in for him. Surprised no top club has been in for him. Would be a great squad player and then we go for Bellingham next summer.

 

[EL APACHE TEVEZ]

Decent player but his price tag is ludicrous and a significant portion is the British fee.

We should stay well clear.

That’s the going rate for English players I’m afraid

 

[vincent]

That’s the going rate for English players I’m afraid

Yeah think he signed a big contract recently which wouldn’t help.

 

[mat]

Slimey is bored