Another of Kovacic's strengths is that he has the technical ability and nous not to need a year coming to terms with the system, and we desperately need someone that can come into the middle and lift some of the burden from their shoulders in August.
This is not a joke. KDB and Gundo are not 26 year olds. Bernado has been a phenomenal workhorse and sacrificed his favoured position just to make it possible for us to continue. I mean, We've played Alvarez there enough times this year. He's ok, he can sacrifice himself and turn in the leg work - but it's just a stop gap. With Rodri that's 4 players where as most elite teams would have five or six ready to go. It's hard to say Philips is ready to go.
It's been that way for as long as I can remember. Those three being run into the ground. Sacrificed over and over. We're always talking about Foden moving there, season before it was Grealish. It just isn't happening. Pep needs stability and presence in those positions.
KDB, Gundo and Bernado have earned someone to share the burden - a hundred times over. It should have happened last year and even the year before. As Gabriel says, Kova is able to play in either role, right now. This one has to go through.
I imagine it likely means the end of Bellingham but in fact it puts us in a strong position. If it breaks down with Real, we might be able to nip in. Otherwise, we might consider that Bellingham is a loud and demanding presence for a 22 year old, and it would be good to think very carefully about the effect of adding him to our dressing room, the mix is brilliant right now, everyone is stepping up. Haaland is more or less an innocent, so is Phil. Jack has found his place. Bernado is David Silva with devil's smile. Stones is living up to his hype and lifts everyone's spirits. Dias is every inch the driven leader. Any and all of these guys has found their place, earned it over several years, and it would actually be foolish to risk upsetting things. When people like Walker find redemption and renewed vigor beyond anyone's expectation... when everyone who was ever doubted kicks on to become essential.... when our best football of the year, the best goals, are scored in the final few weeks - you know you've got something special brewing.
We might have started out making one thing. Saturday night, in the kitchen. Let's do a luxurious italian meat sauce! At some point, we've changed tack and are on the verge of a fantastic chilli con carne. You don't just reach for the finest ingredient, even if it is 'the best'. Save the home-grown artisan purple basil - the one that explodes with taste. What we need here, is more black pepper. As much as you can get your hands on.
