Virgil van Dijk

[Lancet Fluke]

I agree but I think 4 centre backs is overkill, better to have a utility player who can slot in at CB but again they are hard to find. As someone else said, Yaya?

Most people wouldn't think it was overkill to have two players for each position, having 4 centre backs is only doing that really. Assuming that we might well play 3 centre backs at times next season then having 4 centre backs in the squad would be necessary IMO. Anyway, whatever happens we need someone who can defend properly and organise things at the back when Kompany isn't there so even if 4 centre backs is over kill, getting rid of one of the existing centre backs and replacing them would be better than just assuming that we are fine as we are. I just don't see the point in spending huge money all over the rest of the pitch and still being one injury to Kompany away from being flaky as fuck and potentially losing big matches that are often tight and require a bit of steel at the back.

 

[wattle]

Had he signed for the dippers yet? No? Well theres a surprise lol. Media bull shit AGAIN

 

[Tugay One Cup]

Either all these reports are quoting the same source or we've leaked this to the press to clear up the issue over Dijk.

James Robson‏Verified account @JamesRobsonMEN 1m1 minute ago
City were not willing to meet Southampton's valuation of Van Dijk. Definite interest, but couldn't justify £60m

James Robson‏Verified account @JamesRobsonMEN 5m5 minutes ago
World record fee for a CB, without premium of being English didn't make sense. No bid placed - but know valuation & what Liverpool would pay

Sounds like us just trying to save face tbh.

 

[sky_blue]

Sounds like us just trying to save face tbh.

Sounds like a bit of both.

 

[abu13]

On the plus side it does appear that we would have been in fkf him at ghe right price and therefore we must want a CB.

 

[TonyM]

James Robson‏Verified account @JamesRobsonMEN 5m5 minutes ago
World record fee for a CB, without premium of being English didn't make sense. No bid placed - but know valuation & what Liverpool would pay

The premium of being English. Again and again and again I say don't buy English. There is no premium. It's all hype.

Buy 17 top top foreign players and pepper in the academy developed youth.

It's madness that the club buys into this "need English players" idea. What a waste of time, energy and money.

 

[Cityfan]

Sounds like us just trying to save face tbh.

We might also be letting other clubs with whom we are negotiating that we will not dramatically overpay which is probably pretty sensible when we are trying to land a lot of players.

 

[Tugay One Cup]

We might also be letting other clubs with whom we are negotiating that we will not dramatically overpay which is probably pretty sensible when we are trying to land a lot of players.

Fair point but I think we will always overpay for a few targets. On top of that, if Van Dijk ends up at Liverpool then it shows that other clubs will overpay for the top talent. As admirable a stance as it is (although a bit late in the day to start), if everyone else overpays for the top talent then we're left paying reasonable sums for mediocre talent.

 

[Cityfan]

Fair point but I think we will always overpay for a few targets. On top of that, if Van Dijk ends up at Liverpool then it shows that other clubs will overpay for the top talent. As admirable a stance as it is (although a bit late in the day to start), if everyone else overpays for the top talent then we're left paying reasonable sums for mediocre talent.

Yes and No, we have landed both Ederson (presumably) and Bernardo allowing some targets to slip between our fingers through not overpaying is probably advantageous,if the player is persuaded the club will often follow.

 

[Blue warrior]

Martin Blackburn saying city had some interest but felt for the money he would cost not HG and no CL experience not worth the risk.