Lukaku bags goals. Defenders are always paid less. He has every right and that means that we might lose him. But I wouldn’t go too far can cave on all his demands. Age is prob some of it. But I believe it said he wants 200+ and that’s just not happening. He will need to come down in price.
Would it be unreasonable for him to want some kind of package on the level of VVD? Dude is pretty damned good and good center backs are critical to title winning. I get the club can't appear weak in negotiations, but walking on a free already gives him somewhat of an edge. It will be interesting to see how that all works out. I really like what Rudi brings to the team and think he would be difficult to replace.
While I think Rudiger is as every bit as good as VVD, I wouldn't give Ruds 200K for however many years he's looking for. He'll be 29 before the season is over and that's when things go downhill. For top, top defenders you're looking at diminishing returns at 30. (I also think VVD is quite overrated by most.) Defense is a lot about systems. The same defenders we have today, Az, Rudiger, Christensen, all looked clueless under Lampard. New coach, they are Champions League titans. Giving Rudiger more $ also weakens what we can offer Kounde, who is a bona fide stud and could pair with Christensen for the next 5 years. Also, if we give him that much cash, it reduces the amount of teams willing to take him on loan when he's further down the line. I don't know. I guess the risk is - will he be the same level defender in 5 years as he is today? My assessment would be no.
The deal is likely 3 years long so at 32 yes I could still see him as a high level defender. However, I still wouldn’t break it for him. This system protects defenders unlike the last that completely left them out to dry. We clearly can plug and play. Silva/Azpi for 1 spot as the old head. AC locked in. Chalobah is showing he’s more than capable. Sarr can be depth for weak teams in cups. We have young kids coming up all the time. Plus I’m sure we will go out and buy someone else. Likely wrap that deal for Koundé.
Chelsea shouldn't use the age of a player as a reason not to pay the player more money. Zlatan Ibrahimović has shown everyone that age is just a number. He is 39 and still playing great.
Zlatan is the exception to the rule. Yes more and more players are able to play at a high level later into the careers but their usually a special player. Zlatan and Silva were two of the best at their positions for their generations and over a decade. Rudy is very good but he’s never been close to that level.
Giorgio Chiellini [37] seems to be doing okay. I think the days of writing off a player at 30 are gone. Better physio’s and medical care, greater fitness and healthier nutrition are all playing their part. These players have the best care available. Bottles of Scotch are seldom drunk in the dressing room. Some of them don’t even smoke anymore
It's an interesting conundrum. While I agree, paying a striker 250k vs a 28 CB 200k is really quite different. I am a firm believer in not breaking our wage structure. I think offering Rudiger that might be that. I also think Rudiger falls into a similar scenario as Winaldum. I think it's pretty safe to say that Rudiger is likely gone. We'll know for sure in January, but my guess is that he's going to get an offer that's too good to turn down for him from Bayern, PSG, or Real.
Sorry to add, I whole heartedly agree. She should want every damn penny he can get and I'd be disappointed if he didn't.
My concern is that we don't have another CB in our squad that is the LCB in a back 3. Chalobah, Dave, and AC and technically Reece in a pinch all play as a RCB. Losing Rudiger is a big deal. But I also think, he's already made up his mind and is likely to leave. I imagine that while not in the rules, agents are talking to potential suiters behind the scenes and getting an idea of wages etc.
Do we know it's a 3 year deal, I have a hard time seeing a 28 year old asking for 3 when a 5 year deal gets him a crazy amount security. Unless you've heard a 3 year deal, I'm not buying it.
How many players are Zlatan? Paying an older player a crazy amount of wage is ABSOLUTELY the worst idea. Both David Luiz and Willian say hello.
I agree here, but we have to consider that isn't going to be the case for everyone. Chiellini is really a huge talent. Rudiger, while he has been so immense for us this past season, is a player that relies heavily on his athleticism IMO. Prior to Tuchel, he's been a consistently inconsistent player who is often mistake prone a la Luiz. Chiellini never relied on his pace. Not saying Rudiger can't emulate, I'm just not sure it's as guaranteed.
To school, but I dropped out, and left the house 'Cause my mama say I'm good for nothin', so I'm out Since I only got one life to live, God forgive me for my sins Let me make it and I'll never steal again, or deal again
That is a really good comparison. JT read the game well, while having quite a few other positive football traits, his ability to read what was in front of him was immense. Rudiger, is some ways is a flat track bully. He gets in players heads and that is a massive plus for him. He also reads the game well, but has a bit of Luiz in him where he is prone to make a mistake.
The summer is a long way off. It only recently ended. But there are plans in Germany. Timo Werner is seen by Borussia Dortmund as a potential addition for when Haaland leaves. Bayern Munich has a plan to pair Haaland and Werner together to replace the potentially departing Lewandowski and Muller.
If Chelsea will not pay him 200+ for three (3) years, PSG likely will. Some defenders are making that kind of money so is it really excessive given his current form ?
Yes it is. Form goes up and down. He’s a very good player but that’s too much. PSG have the luxury of not worrying about FFP. We on the other hand get hammered by UEFA every chance they get. Not worth breaking our wage structure. I’m sure a middle ground will be found. Prob 160.
Antonio Rudiger declared interest from Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona but all would want a loan to buy deal - the Spanish sides will push. Bayern Munich will look to buy and they have a pressing need. Bayern Munich have spoken with his agent to explore options. Barcelona also have a preferred option and they will have a new coach who will no doubt have his own ideas before long. Real Madrid are a more interesting option as they have sustained interest and the need to add a starting CB. They have identified several but know that a couple are too expensive so a Rudiger transfer might be something they look to. Chelsea have zero interest in selling Rudy and want him to sign a new contract. If he is unwilling to sign he will be allowed to move on. We will need to replace Silva soon. We are looking at CB options. Not only Kounde. There is a rumour that we are after the young Dutch lad at Juventus.
I know its early so we'll see what happens with both players in terms of consistency/form, but imagine having Conor Gallagher as an option instead of Saul. Yes, please.
The thing with Conor is that he is like Kova in terms of engine, but also like Mount in terms of what he offers in the opposition half. If Conor is here next year, it isn't as a 4th choice mid, it's as someone who's gonna eat minutes from Kante, Kova, and Jorginho. I know I have a lot of English bias here, but one of those 3 will likely have to leave this summer if we're going to keep Gilmour, Gallagher, and RLC. I've been a Ruben fanboy since those post season matches against City where he made Yaya look meh. Ruben has had a rough 7 years since then, but holy shit, if he can keep this up, he's everything this team needs. What he brings to the side you can't get from any of the other 3 tried and tested (and really good mids). They just don't score and that's a legitimate problem for us.
Based on the very early running, I think gilmour is further away from the squad. That Norwich are really awful and more likely to lean on veterans could mean his playing time is affected. Conor on the other hand is going from strength to strength. RLC is firmly grasping his opportunity. It's also entirely possible saul could find his old atletico form but I bet many thought he would be above rlc and even ross when it came to opportunities. A great thing about life under tuchel is it does feel like a meritocracy. A pretty good problem to have other than the lack of a scoring threat.