This is a very good point, it’s the athleticism in that unit that has perhaps suffered in the last couple seasons. Gini leaving, Henderson not quite able to sustain the same levels game after game, Milner still defying his age but no way you’d put him in with the thought of 90 minutes. Ox seems to have suffered with his injuries and lack of game time and I don’t think Keita has physically been the player we saw in Germany, possibly again down to the cumulative effect of injuries.
We’ve a lot of bodies and a lot of players who can do a lot of good things but perhaps what we’re missing is that real engine room type player. Tchouaméni is the one for me. Can play DM so gives us the chance to rest Fabinho or cover for him if he’s injured but can also play as more of a centre mid so he’d get loads of game time. Absolute beast of a player and far more likely to be in our financial reach than Bellingham.