Yes, but I think Jacquet, Leoni and Ndukwe potentially offer us a future core to build around.
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Iām very optimistic about Jacquet. I still think Leoni, Ndukwe, and Ndiaye are mysteries.
Leoni had one abbreviated appearance for us before he got hurt, and he signed for us as a promising developmental project who had huge potential but also some clear deficits that needed to be improved.
Ndukwe looked great at points during preseason, but he was absolutely roasted in the one match I saw him play in person against Leeds once they brought on Calvert-Lewin.
Ndiaye also is young and has a lot to learn.
I donāt think we can credibly go into next season with three kids at the back. Iād be open to keeping Van Dijk for another year just to give them more time.
Players sometimes do fid themselves on a completely different developmental trajectory so I wont rule anything out for Ndukwe, but I think people are letting their expectations for him get way out of whack for a guy who came to us at 18 with one senior appearance in a third tier league.
Itās a savvy move to have found him, but there is a huge gap between taking a punt on an unknown player from the U17 world cup who looks encouraging to planning to have him take an important role in the first team squad after 1 year.
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He was the main figure behind winning the leagueā¦.by signing Chiesa?
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They do, but also all of them are unknowns for now. So I think itās a curious situation in terms of possible recruitment; what the situation might be, what weāll need to pad around Jacquet and Leoni.
Itās an impossible question to answer at the moment, Iād love to know what theyāre thinking internally at the club.
yeah, I probably didnāt word my comment properly. By core, I was more thinking that they are 3 players who we can assess and plan around rather than automatically having them as 3 CBs in the first team squad.
I think we need to see if Leoni has been seriously affected by his injury and whether or not he and Jacquet can develop the chemistry to play together or if we need a left footed CB to come in to replace virgil.
Likewise, we will hopefully learn more about Ndukwe during his loan spell and whether or not he needs another one next season and what his pathway to the first team may look like, if one is still appropriate.
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Can I say Cnut?
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I think thatās most likely, but Iād also be amazed if we donāt also take up the option on Quansah at that point too. Heāll be 24.
In answer to @RedArmadaās question about sensible business, extend Ali and Van Dijk, buy Quansah (buy back), Rayan (release clause), Camara (get the spade work done this season, possibly agree a deal in January - but if we are interested in him, we should have that ready to go on 1st June). Marmadashvili, Macca and Gakpo leaving at that point to bring some money back.
When I say sensible transfers it isnāt the money thatās the issue. Itās not overcomplicating things and just addressing the issues in the squad.
Yeah, that was the price we paid for the league.
There were some stories in the summer that heād been bought to fast track into the first team, and it was the failure to secure a work permit that put the brakes on that, and necessitated the loan for Araujo.
He certainly looked the business in pre-season, and I would be happy to have him as an option working with Van Dijk for one more year before we let the big man go.
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Realistically we will need to buy 2 cbs next summer, I think we can safely assume.
Likely that one will have to be a very good CB who is ready to give big performances right now and replace Van Dijk. The other might be Araujo if he does well but otherwise another senior figure that can be reliable immediately.
Bit ironic heās wearing a top that says āPalace for lifeā
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I donāt think there is any chance of that. Not with how the club have invested in young centre backs over the last twelve months.
If they canāt extend Van Dijk another year, theyāll go with Leoni, Jacquet, a new one (maybe Quansah) and Ndukwe. They might look at a cover loan, like they have with Araujo. But I think the aim is to bring the lads they have brought through.
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Seems very risky. Jacquet would be 22 but thatĀ“s still very young and the other two barely 20.
3 of your 4 CBs being young prospects to some degree and one of those being a kid who has never had a season here. Relying on your new experienced CB to really have a big impact. IĀ“d say it would even be pretty reckless.
If we bring back Quansah he should be the leader of the CB corps. That should be enough. Plus sign Araujo if he does justice to his undoubted talents.
Really though? Is he good enough to be our main senior CB?
Assuming Van Dijk continues dropping off and leaves of course.
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He has absolutely everything to be a world class CB. All he heeded was regular playing time and experience. Two seasons starting for Leverkusen plus being part of the England setup should definitely shore him up. And he knows the PL well. I see no problem here.
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Is it even a collapse?!
We put an offer in that was rejected. We tried again and it was rejected. We walked away.
All the fking dramaā¦
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The trust people are putting in Ndukwe boggles my mind. Pre-season is one thing but youāre talking about a teenager with one senior appearance to his name to date maybe needing to play Champions League football if heās one of your four next season.
That is a genuinely mental projection for him. Last summer people did the same with Ngumoha and whilst heās flashed some good moments itās clear he still needs some development. But we think Ndukwe is coming back from a loan at a mid-tier Spanish team ready to step in and be a senior option. And a senior option next to two other young lads with less than a couple seasons under their belts each.
Iām all for positivity and giving youth a chance but it canāt be just chucking them in the deep end with no safety net.
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Hmm. I think heĀ“s a good player but I canĀ“t see him being world class. HeĀ“d perhaps be a good option to be signed alongside a top class cb in my view.
And for me, ending next summer having him as the senior CB with Jacquet, Leoni and Ndukwe as our remaining options would be quite nuts really.
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