Still seems expensive, but I thought I read Reg has a deal done on Italy? Maybe Chill’s what we have left. Does Frank have a bit of English bias?
Frank has wanted Chillwell since forever and his friend Ashley Cole also likes him. Fits our MO of young, sell-on value. I reckon Chill and Havertz with some sales in there to hopefully fund a CB who can handle clearing balls.
Me too but one thing that can be said as a fact is that Chillwell is EPL proven quality. There won’t be concern about him adapting.
Not that interested in their defenders tbh. I mean obviously Messi, but the rest? Alaba scored a lovely [own] goal though and I would certainly take him.
Read an interesting article earlier today (will try to find again to cite) how Oblak though talented is more a product of his great defense and low line D, which is not at all what we do, so might not be a good spend. Rather see us spend (yes ad nauseam) 25-30 on the Ajax or Turk, keep Kepa and see who wins the job this season.
I cant see us having two #1's and paying them #1 money. Improve the defense and the GK stats get better. Consequently, so the defensive stats.
I agree, if we get a quality CB, Kepa can be given another year to come good. best case scenario is we get a cheaper option that can create competition for him. How's our youth look in the GK department? I know we sold Bułka to PSG last year. Anyone else with potential?
Michy Batshuayi has been offered to Leeds. Crystal Palace may offer an option - Marseille would do but they have FFP problems and other issues to deal with first. Fenerbahce will look to a loan or a very cheap buy. Leeds, Aston Villa or Newcastle may provide a solution.
Well, first, Kepa won't "come good." He's already very good behind a terrible tactical defensive setup with a rotating cast of average to poor to rookie CBs. By comparison, Liverpool (if they are the bar now) has had VVD, Robertson, and TAA play 36-38 matches together. Gomez and Fabinho have split other time due to injuries but both have at least 28 appearances. "Coming good" implies that he's bad. (Also, a good defense inspires confidence in the GK as well as vice versa.) Nathan Baxter is our loan GK of note. He's dealt with some bad injuries. He's 22 but set the goal of being in the first team by age 24. He's very good and I think his next step should be a Championship loan. Jamie Cumming is only 20 and has been our #3 this year. I just cant see how either of these two make it to the #1 shirt if we buy Onana, Oblak, etc. GKs live forever if they train right. In other words, Kepa is on the bottom of his upward slope. Peak is around 27-30.
I think there is a Bielsa connection at Leeds somehow. Would love to see Michy go and play as I think he's a good striker if given reps.
As long as we take care of the defense, I’m ambivalent on Kepa. I appreciate BH’s analysis of actual goals. I get that people can become a prisoner of narrative, but Frank’s obviously not a fan anymore and I have to wonder about why. Even if everybody is wrong, there becomes a point of no return on a player. We have to be close on Kepa.
Well we ain't going to dump Kepa for much so I would yeah bring in an up and comer early for 30 million -ish like the Ajax keeper or the young Turk or Pope (more $) and if they convince Lamp by the transfer deadline then we can loan Kepa to a Spanish Club and hope he regains some value and Marketability. Rather take that risk than again spending 70 million plus, still being left with the Kepa value issue, for a top keeper who is still unproven in our League and system. Keeping Kepa alone as the top GK with CAB not a viable solution or good for Kepa or our mental health.
Ha! In all seriousness, we like to bring the ball out and play a high line. It's why Onana would be a good fit for us. Oblak isn't the right keeper for that system and Atletico like to sit deep.
Keeper is a problem. I’d say we go after a proven Champions League winner to provide Kepa competition-someone along the lines of Jamal Blackman. If we can’t get him, maybe Yves Ma-Kalambay. He’s 6’6 and will command the box and come out for crosses.
"Jamal Clint-Ross Blackman (born 27 October 1993) is an English professional footballer who plays for Premier League club Chelsea" -- NaRRatiVE