Matthijs de Ligt

[Ron Burgundy]

Eurgh - we're in a tricky spot this year

The only way we can improve is by buying the very best players. But we're competing, for those players, with the biggest, richest teams in the world who operate on a totally different level to us.

This could (let's hope not) end up being a very frustrating window

 

[Japhet]

£50-60m would seem on the high side for De Ligt, but if he's the top target, so be it. Aside from the mention of a mystery CM from Germany (per Herc), it seems there are no concerns about budgeting for CM or WF targets, so why are people getting so hung up on pricing?

It's all about Poch getting his top targets for once.

If we get hung out to dry on deLigt and probably Sessegnon we won't have much to spend on CM where our real need exists. The ridiculous thing is that the way prices are rocketing, 60m or whatever for deLigt will look like the 40m bargain we paid for Sanchez (which seemed excessive a year ago). My earlier point was that we have Foyth and Dier who both have masses of potential at CB and that would also give Wanyama a clearer idea where he stands in the bigger picture. I'd have deLight in a heartbeat if the deal was right, but once City get involved it starts getting silly very quickly.

 

[SpartanSpur]

If we get hung out to dry on deLigt and probably Sessegnon we won't have much to spend on CM where our real need exists. The ridiculous thing is that the way prices are rocketing, 60m or whatever for deLigt will look like the 40m bargain we paid for Sanchez (which seemed excessive a year ago). My earlier point was that we have Foyth and Dier who both have masses of potential at CB and that would also give Wanyama a clearer idea where he stands in the bigger picture. I'd have deLight in a heartbeat if the deal was right, but once City get involved it starts getting silly very quickly.

This post was prior to Trix post in the ITK thread btw, but prior to this, Herc had not suggested there would be too many knock on issues for our other targets, aside from a mystery target from Germany. I'm sure we went into the summer expecting De Ligt to be expensive anyway. It seems Ajax are happy with instalments and add-ons which suits us. If City go hard there is nothing we can do, but I'm not convinced yet.

Aside from extremely unlikely Milinkovic-Savic, I don't think our CM spend would go much higher than £40-50m for the Ndombele or Diawara types we are linked too, or even Kovacic, so I think they would be achievable regardless of an overspend on MdL. Sessegnon is a different story, but that may be void if Fulham win the playoffs anyway.

None of us know the true budget or financials, but I highly doubt Poch would be happy on missing a CM because of an overpay on De Ligt, so if Levy does indeed pay up, I wouldn't be too concerned about it personally. Just have to wait and see how it plays out.

 

[TheVoiceofReason]

I would love this guy, but it does feel kind of mental, potentially splashing half our budget on a central defender who may or may not start, in a position that, as it stands, is arguably our strongest area...

 

[Hercules]

Don’t want to switch on wrong thread. But imagine had Foyth been playing at Ajax, what his value would be now?

 

[T-Love92]

good point herc ... think Foyth deserves to get more time, same as KWP

But if there is a chance to get de Ligt we should take it obviously
Let's see how it pans out

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

don't know if this was posted - but this was De Ligt against Portugal in March:




Dutch won 3-0, De Ligt with 2 assists.

Was he moved to RB in the second half of that match? Seemed to be central first half but hugging & roaming down the line in the second half?

 

[mill]

Was he moved to RB in the second half of that match? Seemed to be central first half but hugging & roaming down the line in the second half?

They played a back 3

 

[George94]

Don’t want to switch on wrong thread. But imagine had Foyth been playing at Ajax, what his value would be now?

Perhaps we could save ourselves a load of money and give Foyth a chance? De Ligt is a little stockier and has two years of first team football under his belt, but Foyth is very highly rated by Poch and the club, is he not? Poch said in a press conference last season "Foyth will surprise you" or something along those lines...

 

[Univarn]

Perhaps we could save ourselves a load of money and give Foyth a chance? De Ligt is a little stockier and has two years of first team football under his belt, but Foyth is very highly rated by Poch and the club, is he not? Poch said in a press conference last season "Foyth will surprise you" or something along those lines...

We would still be short a CB. Sanchez, Jan, Foyth, and a shared Dier is not enough (I am assuming no matter our business, Toby is leaving and we need to expect that collectively). Last year we did not have adequate cover for Jan and did not look good in those matches because none of our CBs were good LCB player. De Ligt or someone else who can play that spot is crucial in my opinion.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Perhaps we could save ourselves a load of money and give Foyth a chance? De Ligt is a little stockier and has two years of first team football under his belt, but Foyth is very highly rated by Poch and the club, is he not? Poch said in a press conference last season "Foyth will surprise you" or something along those lines...

I applaud the intention, but I have some concerns

1) 'a little stockier' underplays the difference in physicality between the two - Foyth is pretty light weight for now
2) Poch occasionally says these things for various reasons i.e. CCV can become the best CM in England

I think it would be a big risk to do that, though obviously it would be great if we could.

We have a limited budget, and we need CM reinforcements far more (worst case scenario, we move Dier to CB and play Foyth, which is workable) so if it comes to it it's a scenario we may have to accept, but it's cleatrly far from Poch's first choice and I don't want him going into the new season frustrated that we've not got the depth or quality.

 

[coy-spurs1882]

Perhaps we could save ourselves a load of money and give Foyth a chance? De Ligt is a little stockier and has two years of first team football under his belt, but Foyth is very highly rated by Poch and the club, is he not? Poch said in a press conference last season "Foyth will surprise you" or something along those lines...

i would like to see a de ligt-sanchez-foyth back three though...

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

They played a back 3

Ah thanks Mill.

 

[George94]

I applaud the intention, but I have some concerns

1) 'a little stockier' underplays the difference in physicality between the two - Foyth is pretty light weight for now
2) Poch occasionally says these things for various reasons i.e. CCV can become the best CM in England

I think it would be a big risk to do that, though obviously it would be great if we could.

We have a limited budget, and we need CM reinforcements far more (worst case scenario, we move Dier to CB and play Foyth, which is workable) so if it comes to it it's a scenario we may have to accept, but it's cleatrly far from Poch's first choice and I don't want him going into the new season frustrated that we've not got the depth or quality.

The point I was making was really, is there a £60m difference in talent between Foyth and De Ligt? I'm sure there are other, more experienced, centre backs out there who would be available for less than the £70m quoted for De Ligt.

 

[T-Love92]

We won't pay 70m for de Ligt so no point in that... Of course ajax will set the bar high and see who bites

All these figures, whether fees or war chests are pointless because pure speculation until the contracts are signed

As we all know... transfer windows are a constant rollercoaster - that's what gets our adrenaline pumping

 

[Gbspurs]

Don’t want to switch on wrong thread. But imagine had Foyth been playing at Ajax, what his value would be now?

Let the spin begin!

In all honesty no shame in being priced out by the worlds richest club and in5 Foyth we got a brilliant deal last year and he has looked good so certainly wouldn't mind seeing more of him.

 

[jonnboy]

Don’t want to switch on wrong thread. But imagine had Foyth been playing at Ajax, what his value would be now?

On what ur thinking , maybe five Foyth a chance instead , unless De Ligt is going straight into the 1 st team ??

 

[CoopsieDeadpool]

Just in case some haven't seen what Trix said............



J

 

[dtxspurs]

Man City's transfer madness has to stop. De Ligt, Jorginho and Mahrez? How can that continue to be allowed?

 

[mark87]

Just in case some haven't seen what Trix said............



J

"Now fuck off!"