But why would 2 established centre backs come into wait thats the point im making. Unless you are Man U teams don’t rotate centre backs.
We don’t need to have 4 “Virgils” at CB. But it’s an absolutely natural discussion if we need more with Virgil’s age, Konate’s situation Gomez and Quansah behind them. And if it’s Gomez mostly competing with/backing up Bradley at RB, then yes a CB is a bloody must.
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I wouldn’t go so far as to call two 19 year olds ‘established’. Perhaps they would be keen to understudy and learn from our main CBs. Huijsen’s already spoken admiringly about Virgil.
Of course, if Konate extends then that simplifies things and we only need to buy one CB.
But I think we would still need to have a fourth CB option in the event of emergencies. If it’s Quansah, then going on what’s happened this season he wouldn’t get much game time. So maybe a loan would be best for him. Would we then want injury-prone Gomez as the back-up? And would he want that? So we might have to buy two CBs in the end.
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I do think we should be signing a CB, even if Gomez stays. We’ve relied in him too often and he’s usually either injured or struggling for form due to recovering from injury.
I’d like to see a new young CB come in behind van Dijk to play the LCB role. Preferably someone actually left footed. Then you have Konate and Quansah for RCB, van Dijk and NewCB for LCB. Gomez could either be a deep utility for across the backline or leave if he wants to.
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Since Virgil is our best CB and playing all games (we could rest him a bit more), I think it makes more sense that our 4th option is his direct backup and the new guy competes mostly with Konate. That doesn’t mean the 4th option wouldn’t also compete for the other spot. I actually prefered Quansah at LCB more than at RCB last season. Konate for me even if able to do a job at LCB, should remain a RCB.
But we’ll see also if we have a left footed player in mind who can play LCB and LB. That is not Kerkez though.
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The deals for Virgil and Salah really break the summers business into a couple of essentials and then a lot of options. It was looking like a summer where we’d need six or seven essential. Now I think it’s three or four, and then a few opportunistic/luxury moves.
I think the essentials are now a pair of fullbacks, and a top drawer forward. Then, slightly less of a priority, a versatile midfielder to add to the four we have. Slot clearly doesn’t want to play Elliot in midfield, and see’s Endo only as an option to close down the lask five minutes of Games. So we need a fifth option - as we are now the midfield looks shattered.
I think we need to get those four done really early, and then we can be a bit more exploratory with the rest of the summer.
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Yep. We should be doing everything we can to renew him & maximise that established partnership with Virg. Our 4th best/most consistent player this season behind Virg Grav and Mo.
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Do they play regularly now for there teams yes.
Makes a degree of sense. Get the feeling Joe is keen to play more and whilst he didn’t make a public fuss about the Newcastle interest last summer you could see him thinking maybe he’s lost a year of his career sticking with us
Quansah I’ve always felt could do with a PL loan move like Colwill had at Brighton to really get tested week in week out. He’s just not going to get that here right now and I worry it’ll hamper his development.
Huijsen and Hato would be great additions. Question would be whether that’s Hato plus a left back? I think it would have to be but would also give us some wiggle room next summer when Robertson’s deal comes to an end. Essentially you’d have a left sided Gomez getting some game time at both CB and left back for a couple seasons with the possibility of succeeding Virg in a couple years.
Perhaps a bit too much upheaval, especially with the uncertainty around Konate but maybe it ends up Konate and Gomez out, Huijsen and Hato in and all three young lads are basically fighting to partner Virg with Quansah and Hato covering as third choice options at fullback.
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I could live with that.
And to go one step further, if Konate won’t sign a new deal, I would sell him this summer and retain Quansah, giving a CB group of Virg, Huijsen, Quansah and Hato.
Hato takes the versatile Joe Gomez role, able to cover fullback too.
Edit:
Arguably it has too much youth, but they can all play, and in a way, I like that they can all learn from Virgil Van Dijk, who is imperious, and good as he is, his best gift might be in leaving behind the next crop of defenders for the club to benefit from for years to come.
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Yes, they do so yes they’re established. But they’re still just teenagers.
Mmm… I wonder which club he’d prefer right now …
Manchester United and Liverpool are among the clubs interested in signing Lyon’s 21-year-old French forward Rayan Cherki this summer. (Mail - subscription required)
Oh, it seems we’re buying multiple forwards …
Liverpool are considering a move for Eintracht Frankfurt’s 22-year-old French striker Hugo Ekitike this summer. (Caught Offside)
Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea are leading the race to sign Real Betis’ 19-year-old Spain U21s winger Jesus Rodriguez. (Caught Offside)
I could not imagine this ever happening …
Chelsea explored the idea of signing 33-year-old Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk this summer, before he signed a new contract with Liverpool. (Mail - subscription required)
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They may have explored it but he went no.
Maybe he didn’t fancy 8 years more.
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Gomez such an interesting one. He loves it here but wants to play a bit more, but equally he can’t be relied on to play a bit more.
After the injuries this season I doubt anyone is gonna pay us what he’s worth so it wouldnt surprise me if he ends up seeing out his contract then moving on, no idea how long that is like.
2 more years, he’ll be 30 then.
I’d like to see Konate sign a new deal or be sold in the summer and take 20-30m towards a replacement now.
Surely the club can hurry along negotiations and put up their best offer before that date with the understanding that if he doesn’t sign we will need to bring so-one in and so he’ll slip down the order and hence be willing to go.
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The thing with Ibou… he is always going to be the apprentice to the wizard known as VVD. Maybe he himself feels at this juncture in his career, he wants to lead the pack in a way VVD is doing… Hence - PSG temptation..!
Ibou is an excellent player, one we could use… but if his mind begins to wander to pastures new for reasons that are important to him… leaves us in a weakening negotiating position as time moves on - Tie him down sooner rather than later is what I say, or last minute contract discussions will again become evident, and probably, irrelevant in a lost cause.
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PSG with a young and dynamic team at the moment must also be a draw.
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I expect Gomez to leave in the summer, to be honest. Newcastle might be out of the picture and other interesting parties probably won’t offer anything close to what Newcastle were willing to offer last summer but I think that something in the region of 30 million pounds wouldn’t be unrealistic for a player who’s had the career he’s had and who has a lot to offer. Come to think of it, he’ll also be eligible for a testimonial, which would be a nice send-off, aside from all the trophies he had won here.
Maybe a side like Palace could be in for Gomez, especially if Guehi leaves.
3 at the back would suit Joe, he could play in all of those CB positions, bring experience + they are a bit light in that department even if Guehi stays. Sometimes they have to play Lerma at CB.
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