Even then it would take ridiculous money for Juve to even consider. He has a long contract still.
As an Italian club surely they would be fine with us taking him on a loan deal including an agreed price we have no intention of ever paying 
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Probably.
The good thing is he didnĀ“t really have a great world cup.
Do find it odd that Amorim would say about defence and then that would come out.
Maybe I jinxed it by saying I would be happy with just a new coach, though I said that at a time when it looked like Konate might stay.
I joke that Chelsea have a blind spot on keepers, we seem to have it on defence.
Slight difference being Chelsea have 8 goalkeepers who arenāt particularly good fighting it out for one place, LFC have 8 defenders most of which arenāt particularly good or are out injured for 4 positions
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To my mind we really need to be buying another CB to go into the new season. ASAP.
The way I would see it, if we didnāt especially want to go big on the position because we have a lot of young talent in the pipeline, is that we should be looking to replace Joe Gomez in the pecking order.
So at the least we need someone around the level of a Tomori (debate if he is the right one or not, but that sort of profile is what I mean). i.e. experienced, fairly cheap, of an age to come in and do a job as needed, while also of a level that itās not the end of the world if others go above him in the pecking order.
So, if Tomori (or the likes) was here right now it could be ranked something like this:
VVD
Tomori
Jacquet
Leoni
Gomez
Based on injury and availability, Tomori could start alongside Virg, but I would easily have him falling down the pecking order as Jacquet and Leoni get going.
Longer term, Tomori could replace Joe Gomez as a fourth choice centre back. Joe has a year to go and anything we get from him at this stage should be seen as a bonus.
If we decide to go bigger on the position this window, e.g. with a Zabarnyi level signing, I wonāt complain. The Tomori shout is based on making a modest move.
Either way, a central defender is urgently needed. Letās go!
Well, Alan Hansenās famous comment largely holds true for CB position.
You absolutely should not play a pair of junior CBs as full starters, especially the gap in our defense is at the minimum Konate 2024-2025 edition.
Also, letās not forget that Arsenalās decision to stack defenders in their team had paid off incredibly well.
On top of that, we have only one international-level fullback (Kerkez) right now, and Kerkez is no world-class. Hence my preference for buying Spence.
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I agree with you. I would not want to start Leoni and Jacquet together right now, even if both were fit. Or Ndukwe and Ndiaye, if we go younger again.
Iām calling for a seasoned defender who can help Virg bring the young breed through. If and when the young breed prove superior (and I would back them to do that) then they start to get the nod.
We are vulnerable right now.
Djed Spence would be a good fullback to buy as he can cover both sides. I would be in favor of that, so long as Spurs didnāt want stupid money, and I fear they might as he had a decent World Cup.
Itās interesting to look around the league. Among the contenders I donāt yet see anyone that I think really moves the needle.
Arsenal: Hincapie, Tzolis, Meslier.
A defender they already had (and is a backup at LB), a winger from the Belgian league who was moved on by Norwich not long ago - and is expected to replace the highly efficient Leandro Trossard - and a 3rd choice GK. Guimaraes is looking like he will come in, does that drop Zubimendi already or is the idea to move on from Odegaard and have Zubimendi, Rice and Guimaraes as a midfield? Iāll say this for them, they have a gameplan and theyāre doubling down on it.
Chelsea: Rogers, Lacroix, Palestra, Quenda, Barco, Emegha, Denner, Welbeck, Henderson, Satpaev
A couple of really good players here but Iām curious how this all fits together. Most of Rogers best work has been in the centre but it looks like theyāre going to move him to the left. If he does play central what does that do to Palmer who also does his best work there? Lacroix joins a crowded CB room probably, is it 3 at the back confirmed then? Palestra comes in at RB but they already have James and Gusto there, is James being moved to midfield? Welbeck and Henderson are experienced players to give some humility to a dressing room with a poor attitude but are they going to be registered, and if so in place of who? Lots of questions and I think they still havenāt addressed their needs - a starting striker and a goalkeeper.
Man City: Anderson, Detourbet, Monga, Charles
Anderson goes in as a starter obviously but midfield wasnāt really a problem area for them anyway, and in a Maresca system which is likely to be even more slow passing based than Guardiola was does he really suit the style - he looked very uncomfortable playing for England when they had complete control of possession. I do feel heād have been a much better fit here where could do what heās good at. The other guys are young players who will probably never wear a 1st team jersey.
Man Utd: Tielemans, Santos, Darlow
Tielemans is a lovely player but I think you need to have the right structure around him due to his low intensity style. Heās also already 29. How do you get Tielemans and Fernandes in the same midfield and keep it functional? Or is he a backup? Santos, I genuinely thought he was frozen out at Chelsea last year then checked the stats and found he played over 2500 minutes. A completely anonymous player in a bad Chelsea team. Is He a starter? Darlow is just living the life as 3rd choice goalie.
Villa: Manzambi, Gomes, Cisse
Cisse is a kid straight in from the Austrian league so unlikely to play much. Manzambi had a good World Cup but preseumably Villa knew about him before that. Looks a good prospect at only 20 years old but heās now replacing Morgan Rogers which is a big ask. Gomes could be a really smart signing although he doesnāt have the quality of Tielemans either. This could just be a very downgraded midfield for Villa overall.
Liverpool: Jacquet, Munoz
Jacquet pencilled in as the starter if he is fit for the opener but absolutely no depth at this position is a big concern. Munoz not a guaranteed starter although his signing was necessary just for numbers. Still not addressed key weaknesses in the squad.
As things stand itās a strange looking season. I think there is an argument to be made that every single one of the top 4/5 clubs have gotten worse this summer.
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DidnĀ“t Man Utd sign Ederson from Atalanta as well? He could make a big difference for them.
But otherwise I agree that nobody has made big moves except Spurs.
Regarding CB, we have Virg, Jacquet, Leonie, Ndukwe and Mor Talla.
Good numbers but wrong age and lacking experience, 2 coming off long term injuries and 1 according to reports ineligible to play for us this season.
Ideally we should get 1 seasoned CB to come in and help them out.
All I can see, if they donāt, then they are positive, that even due to their age and fitness issues, they can come through positively. However, there will be a lot of pressure on Virg to help them and at his age he needs to also focus on his game.
I do see that the talent is there and for me age and lack of experience can be overcome through having the right vision for seeing the game and experienced team mates.
If Joe wasnāt made of marshmellows and matchsticks he would have been massive in helping Virg shoulder the role in helping them through games.
My main worry are injuries.
Just keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes to plan.
But atm the moment it sounds more like Baldrick plan.
Apparently he will cost around 40-60m, which is acceptable for an England international who just had a good World Cup and can play on both wings.
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No, the move fell through so they moved onto Tielemens.
I think he played against them in the Europa league final for Freiberg?
Ah cheers.
Good news. Ederson is a good player I think.
We needed a senior experienced centre back before Konate left, fuck me weāre thin now. Jacquet might go on to prove his worth as may Leoni, but itās a hell of a gamble for a club aiming to win the league. I hope we get a top centre back and a right full back in. Defensively we look to be in very bad shape. Next season Alisson is moving on too, god help us if we donāt sort the back line out now.
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Ndukwe isnāt ready to start even if he had a work permit. Calvert Lewin made him look like, well, a kid - which he is. He needs a couple years of seasoning and reading opposing attackers before Iād consider playing him. We have no clue with Leoni, either, as his only action last season came against a Championship side and his season ended before it was over, and he still hasnāt returned to first team training.
We basically have Van Dijk, Jacquet, and nothing much behind them. One gets hurt, and weāre stuck with Joe Gomez (during a rare healthy period) or weāre relying on question marks and out of position players.
Itās a deeply unserious central defense for a top tier side. We need to sign at least one central defender - even taking someone on loan.
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Completely agree. We absolutely need a defender.
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We have 2 young CBs who have not been fit enough to make it onto the pitch in pre-season yet, one of whom is still weeks away from even training with the squad. We have one who is on extended leave because heās 35 and accrued the most miles of any CB in europe last season, and Gomez who is a break glass in case of emergency option who you cannot even use in an emergency because he breaks down immediately amplifying your emergency.
I am never in the ābuy more playersā camp, but this is utterly absurd.
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Werenāt we all parting ourselves on the back in the thinking that Iraolaās reputation of getting more out of the squad than anyone else?
And we did spend big last Summer.
Just saying. Maybe 2+2 does equal 5?