Don't think he could cover Dembele in our system.This is precisely the type of player I've been hoping we'd be linked with to round out the squad.
Versatile, capable of providing cover for Dembele (so we aren't completely dependent upon the academy CMs who were all, for one reason or another, unreliable last season) and in the AM3 (to provide rotation given the fixture congestion we will face).
I had hoped, given our CL qualification, that we would go in for a better player (e.g. Kovacic) but if we end up with Wijnaldum I'll be reasonably satisfied.
He was the player of the year in the Eredivisie in 2014-2015 playing primarily from central midfield. If Tom Carroll can play in CM for us (although tbf that is debatable), so can Wijnaldum.Don't think he could cover Dembele in our system.
This is a very sensible option. I have to say i'm pretty impressed with our signings this summer.
However, i really feel we need a 'star' player in our midfield to take us that one step further. A Payet type.
He played CM in a 4-3-3. That's very different to playing as a CM in a 4-2-3-1.He was the player of the year in the Eredivisie in 2014-2015 playing primarily from central midfield. If Tom Carroll can play in CM for us (although tbf that is debatable), so can Wijnaldum.
I'm merely stipulating, but does he have some kind of a release clause which makes him a bargain? Something connected to an incoming offer following relegation or anything? If so and he is kind of on a cheap, it would certainly account for some of the interest, if the reports about Spurs' interest are factual. Newcastle paid not a small fee for him.
I suppose so but I don't think he's completely incapable of providing the same degree of defensive contribution as Carroll or Mason. He certainly has the requisite athleticism for the pressing game if he applies himself, and I trust Poch to be able to coach him into the role. Paired with Dier or Wanyama I think we would be just fine. We won't be able to find a like-for-like replacement for Dembele, he's truly unique in world football.He played CM in a 4-3-3. That's very different to playing as a CM in a 4-2-3-1.