Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

[@BluePhil8]

How do you think we will play him, striker or a winger?

Think it'll be

Sterling --------------------Aguero-----------------------PEA

 

[Danny_Johnson4]

With the genuine concrete interest in Stones and Laporte, and the pool of centre halves we already have, people need to realise we are about to attempt something that has been tried/tested and failed numerous times in england and stick with 3 at the back,

Peps fall back formation over the past 2 years has been - 3 versatile CBS (In some instances one of these was alonso) - 3 ball playing midfielders with energy and 4 (yes 4) forwards,
People saying how can Auba and Kun play in the same team, has everyone been asleep for 3 years..?
He has started Muller and Lewandowski (Along with 2 x direct wingers) in borderline every game

Its about how you set up and encourage the players to play - not what position they are told to stand in

I see us setting up (In an ideal world)

Hart
Stones VK(If he has any legs left) Laporte
Fernandinho Gundogan KDB/Nasri (Or another signing)
KDB/Silva Aguero Auba Sterling

Hency why full backs dont seem to be a priority right now,

Anyway, I hope this one happens, its the kind of move that sends ripples through the footballing world as he was seen as un-obtainable to most (Bar real madrid)

I am told we have met his demands RE Wage/Bonuses and guarantee of a chance to play up front, not on the wing (Not sure anyone can give him this besides Pep, so dont be surprised if they had spoken in germany at some point prior to his bayern tenure coming to an end)
He was actually who was first inquired about at Dortmund. This has been in the pipeline prior to the Gundogan deal (Not saying Ilkay wasnt a priority)

 

[kupest]

Definitely someone we should have in our team. Remember we were at our best with 2 upfront and with only Aguero upfront we have lost a lot of directness. Add to that, Pep played Lewandowski and Muller in his team and from what I have seen of his team they played a lot of early crosses and cross field balls. Pep needs someone bigger in the box (Lewandowski) than Aguero. Before the season ended I was adamant we need a striker which fits that criteria and I could only think of Cavani who would be attainable and having similar attributes. However this would easily trump that. We are too one dimensional with only Aguero upfront and the other teams know they can let our wingers cross and cross and we won't score 19/20 times. With Aubameyang that would definitely change.

I am guessing we will have much clearer ideas from our ITK's today. Hopefully the fees quoted are right and we get a deal around the 50 mark (more like 45+bonuses), would be a great value at that price.

 

[warpig]

City are courting him intensively and talks are at an advanced stage.

Voted Player of the Year by the German PFA. He came to Dortmund in summer 2013 from St. Etienne and has a contract with BVB until 2020.

Last paragraph is about Ilkay.

Thankyou

 

[Taylor]

Let's hope we sign him quickly if we are going to.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Sounds like City have no agreement with Dortmund. It would take a huge fee to get him. > £60m based on De Bruyne fee and way the market has gone.

The comments about sub striker are wide of the mark. I think we could play 3 forwards. Barcelona play that way.

I agree mate and I think thats why Pep is interested...There is some great strikers in europe but not many would give us the flexibility he offers....as you say, he'd be the perfect option for the 3 forwards system, like Barcelona use....after the price for Kev last summer, it would make sense that 55-60mil is the going rate....

 

[Lkzerinho]

https://www.flightradar24.com/HHN202/9f5117a

maybe its nothing but could it be him??

 

[Ric]

More likely he puts out what the club asks him to, so he can stay onside and get other information first from them.

Yep. Simon Mullock and Martin Blackburn are both well connected at City, so presumably these denials were done at the club's request.

Suspect we don't want to piss Dortmund off whilst we're yet to agree a fee with them. Getting an agreement with the player is easier than with the club, as we saw with De Bruyne last year.

 

[adrianr]

Flight trackers, the official start of summer! :D

 

[@BluePhil8]

Yep. Simon Mullock and Martin Blackburn are both well connected at City, so presumably these denials were done at the club's request.

Suspect we don't want to piss Dortmund off whilst we're yet to agree a fee with them. Getting an agreement with the player is easier than with the club, as we saw with De Bruyne last year.

Hope it's not as protracted as dealing with Wolfsburg...