- Jan 16, 2019
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MadnessShame as we would have surely been interested in Arthur but clearly they prioritized Pjanic.
MadnessShame as we would have surely been interested in Arthur but clearly they prioritized Pjanic.
Yeah sure, Dan is one of the best for us. But every news of any swap with Barca is funny. Didn't expect Sess in that rumour too.
Mourinho swapping a 23 year old mega talent who just needs a bit of love for a 28 year old is just too perfect.They obviously fancy Ndombele though. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends up there and this is just part of negotiation. There or PSG
To me I'd also much rather buy players ascending in their career path than descending. Buy the best players off PSV, Ajax, Lyon, Lille, etc. Not the worst players off Barca, Real, PSG, etc.I wouldn't take a single one of their cast offs.
You rarely get anywhere by accepting players others don't want in exchange.
Unless its De Jong for Ndombele, even then I'm not sure, we should be telling them to do one. We need to buy players who fit what we require not a RB (Semedo) or CB (Umtiti) just because we need in those positions.
FYPSissoko forPuigtheir no. 10 then
Everyone says Rakitic is past it.Rakitić would be perfect here, he covers for RB like Sissoko but it doesn't take away from him controlling the midfield and making killer passes. Coutinho could be great in Mourinho's system similar to Oscar in Chelsea but we need to sort out defence and FBs first. And DM, secondary striker etc.
People said worse about VdV before he joined us. Rakitić played more professional matches than any other footballer 2 years ago and then started most matches the year after, never getting any rest and being tasked to play as a secondary RB in defensive transition at times. Barcelona has plenty of good midfielders so they won't be upset to lose him but he can find room in any other club easilly IMO.Everyone says Rakitic is past it.
VdV was 27... Rakitic is 32.People said worse about VdV before he joined us. Rakitić played more professional matches than any other footballer 2 years ago and then started most matches the year after, never getting any rest and being tasked to play as a secondary RB in defensive transition at times. Barcelona has plenty of good midfielders so they won't be upset to lose him but he can find room in any other club easilly IMO.
Where's the problem?VdV was 27... Rakitic is 32.
We got a few good years out of VdV, whereas Rakitic is on the precipice of being finished. Moreover, VdV was a bargain whereas here we'd be swapping a generational talent. If we're going to sell Ndombele there are surely far better options available.Where's the problem?
Just take a look at the list of good players over the age of 32.. There aren't a ton of them.Where's the problem?
Doubt there are better options out there and playmakers can play well for a long time, like Xavi, Modric, Pirlo etc. And we are getting linked with Willian, Thiago Silva etc, looks like Mourinho wants some experience. I'd rather keep Ndombele but I doubt we find anyone better than Rakitić.We got a few good years out of VdV, whereas Rakitic is on the precipice of being finished. Moreover, VdV was a bargain whereas here we'd be swapping a generational talent. If we're going to sell Ndombele there are surely far better options available.
Messi is allegedly unsettled according to Balague in a BBC Sport article...If Barca are really interested, take them for as much as possible. Their recruitment team are absolutely clueless, they'd probably give us Messi if Levy turned up in his serious negotiation loafers.
Gotta be honest, there aren't a ton of players in that Barca squad I would realistically want in exchange. I'll gladly gamble on the upside of Ndombele over Coutinho. They're not getting rid of Lenglet, De Jong, we don't need Dembele... Doesn't make a ton of sense to me but seems like its all setting up for a Coutinho/Ndombele swap.