Matthijs de Ligt

[mil1lion]

This always happens when we sign a player from Ajax. They always show some resolve. It makes sense that they don't roll over and show their fans that they fight to keep their star players. In the end though they always sell to us.

 

[Haddock]

This always happens when we sign a player from Ajax. They always show some resolve. It makes sense that they don't roll over and show their fans that they fight to keep their star players. In the end though they always sell to us.

I can see the exact same post on the Red Café except we are Ajax.

(Banter)

 

[dirtyh]

This always happens when we sign a player from Ajax. They always show some resolve. It makes sense that they don't roll over and show their fans that they fight to keep their star players. In the end though they always sell to us.

may be different this year. kluivert is about to go to roma and they've allegedly just told barca to forget about de jong. Sounds like they're desperately trying to stop too many leaving in one go....

 

[Vulcan10]

may be different this year. kluivert is about to go to roma and they've allegedly just told barca to forget about de jong. Sounds like they're desperately trying to stop too many leaving in one go....

I can understand that, they won't want a fire sale.

How many key players did they release last season or was it just Sanchez?

 

[Univarn]

I can understand that, they won't want a fire sale.

How many key players did they release last season or was it just Sanchez?

Him and Davy Klaassen was it of their first XI I think.

 

[freeeki]

A Naby Keita-style deal may well be the best solution for all parties here.

Ajax will know his leaving is an inevitability at some stage in the next 2-3 years, especially if he keeps improving as rapidly as he is already. They won't hold on to him forever and they know it, but at the same time they don't want to get to a point where his contract is running down and he can leverage a move on the cheap.

If we lost Toby this window and signed De Ligt with a one year deferral in place, I don't think it would be the end of the world for us, and it gives Ajax a year to get what they can from him and line up a replacement. He'd still only be 19 when he joined us.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

A Naby Keita-style deal may well be the best solution for all parties here.

Ajax will know his leaving is an inevitability at some stage in the next 2-3 years, especially if he keeps improving as rapidly as he is already. They won't hold on to him forever and they know it, but at the same time they don't want to get to a point where his contract is running down and he can leverage a move on the cheap.

If we lost Toby this window and signed De Ligt with a one year deferral in place, I don't think it would be the end of the world for us, and it gives Ajax a year to get what they can from him and line up a replacement. He'd still only be 19 when he joined us.

I don't think I can see this deal - this summer.

De Ligt would be one of our bigger signings, and one of the points of big signings this year is to create excitement leading into the new stadium. Selling Toby, and then getting his replacement in a year later is probably the opposite of generating positive PR.

 

[freeeki]

I don't think I can see this deal - this summer.

De Ligt would be one of our bigger signings, and one of the points of big signings this year is to create excitement leading into the new stadium. Selling Toby, and then getting his replacement in a year later is probably the opposite of generating positive PR.

Then we can use another deal as our positive PR, if needs be. The need for a marquee signing should not offset the importance of securing the signature of the world's hottest teenage defensive talent who could realistically have a 10-15 year career with us.

Also I'm not convinced that signing the relatively-unknown De Ligt would be viewed as a marquee signing for PR purposes. A huge coup, and massively exciting for us, but not one you'd have parading round the new ground like a showpony for the world's media the second he signs.

 

[Luka Van der Bale]

I don't think I can see this deal - this summer.

De Ligt would be one of our bigger signings, and one of the points of big signings this year is to create excitement leading into the new stadium. Selling Toby, and then getting his replacement in a year later is probably the opposite of generating positive PR.

I’m not sure this is entirely true. Liverpool fans have been very excited all season about Keita coming in, paying him huge attention all season. If anything the hype to finally see him playing for Liverpool after almost a year is now bigger than for most new signings.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

I’m not sure this is entirely true. Liverpool fans have been very excited all season about Keita coming in, paying him huge attention all season. If anything the hype to finally see him playing for Liverpool after almost a year is now bigger than for most new signings.

Right - the hype is big now - a year later.

Spurs want the hype this season - to generate excitement for the new stadium (and increased ticket prices). You also have the promises made to Poch, and presumably key players, about strengthening the squad. Players have a limited career - they want to win now, not wait another year for a key signing to show up.

I think Spurs will make a push to get the deal done this year, or move on. The Kieta deal was a bit unique in that Liverpool paid a buy-out clause up front (£48M) - to trigger the clause after the season. Can't see Levy doing anything like that...

 

[SpartanSpur]

Wonder if we've explored the possibility of a 2 year loan back whilst giving Toby a new deal with a clause in 2 years time for a similar amount of money to what De Ligt will cost.

 

[freeeki]

I'd rather we didn't give Toby a new deal, to be honest. *If* the reports we've heard about a £70m bid from Yanited are true, we should snap their hands off.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

If it's a year loan back or not at all, I'd go for it

He's a star this kid and it would mean securing him early next window to allow him to bed in.

We could then look for experienced cover for a year (like we did with Naybet) and rely on a mixture of Verts, Sanchez, Dier and Foyth in the meantime.

 

[freeeki]

If it's a year loan back or not at all, I'd go for it

He's a star this kid and it would mean securing him early next window to allow him to bed in.

We could then look for experienced cover for a year (like we did with Naybet) and rely on a mixture of Verts, Sanchez, Dier and Foyth in the meantime.

I actually think rotating Verts, Sanchez, Dier and Foyth (and maybe CCV) would be sufficient to see us through a season. We managed it perfectly well for most of this season just gone.

It'd also give us the opportunity to allow Foyth a little more game time and see what he's made of.

 

[mil1lion]

may be different this year. kluivert is about to go to roma and they've allegedly just told barca to forget about de jong. Sounds like they're desperately trying to stop too many leaving in one go....

I'm not sure they can turn down such big money from a top Premier League club though. His head may have been turned as well.

 

[Lighty64]

I actually think rotating Verts, Sanchez, Dier and Foyth (and maybe CCV) would be sufficient to see us through a season. We managed it perfectly well for most of this season just gone.

It'd also give us the opportunity to allow Foyth a little more game time and see what he's made of.

really not sure about CCV, the feed back from Ipswich is they were glad to get rid, and if they weren't in need of a CB due to their tight owners he most probably wouldn't of had as much play time.

 

[Univarn]

really not sure about CCV, the feed back from Ipswich is they were glad to get rid, and if they weren't in need of a CB due to their tight owners he most probably wouldn't of had as much play time.

Also CCV, Foyth, Sanchez, and Dier are all really RCBs and not very good LCBs. The couple of times we tried/had to play Foyth, Toby, or Dier at LCB were all real comedies of games. De Ligt may be right footed but has played a ton at LCB. The only reason anyone can convince me Lascelles (who I think is at his current peak level at Newcastle) is worth his price tag is we simply need a capable Jan backup/deputy that doesn't sacrifice so much defensive solidarity.

 

[LexingtonSpurs]

The couple of times we tried/had to play Foyth, Toby, or Dier at LCB were all real comedies of games

Actually - Foyth played decently at LCB - when Poch had to switch Toby back to RCB, because Toby looked poor at LCB.

I think it was Rochdale.

 

[SwedishSpurs]

Actually - Foyth played decently at LCB - when Poch had to switch Toby back to RCB, because Toby looked poor at LCB.

I think it was Rochdale.

I may be wrong, but I think Foyth played a bit at LCB back in Argentina as well.

 

[JB_Spurs]

really not sure about CCV, the feed back from Ipswich is they were glad to get rid, and if they weren't in need of a CB due to their tight owners he most probably wouldn't of had as much play time.

Huh?? From who?