Transfer Rumours | Tactics | Who to buy/sell etc

If this Kante rumour holds up, they will be making 2 of the 3 moves (CF and DM) that were necessary to fill holes from last season.

No word on pursue of Rodriquez, meanwhile they may keep Coentrao for that role!

Kanté is a great addition, but you should also get Pogba IMO.

Then maybe someone like PSG's Matuidi seeing that Modric is not getting younger.
Also you need reinforcement in attack and on the wings, I feel like Griezmann and Martial are clearly the two names to go for here.

In defense, Pepe and Ramos are getting old and are problematic, you'd need someone to complement Varane. I think Koscielny has been one of the best CBs for some time, I'd suggest you go for him, alternatively someone like Atleti's Lucas Hernandez or Bilbaos Laporte, who could also be a more physically strong and defensive alternative to Marcelo.

A solid, no nonsense RB as backup for Carvajal and you're all set IMO. With Pep coming in, maybe Sagna could be pried away from City.

Et voilá. Allez les Blancs.

Thoughts, Sports?

Hapless_Hans wrote:Kanté is a great addition, but you should also get Pogba IMO.

Then maybe someone like PSG's Matuidi seeing that Modric is not getting younger.
Also you need reinforcement in attack and on the wings, I feel like Griezmann and Martial are clearly the two names to go for here.

In defense, Pepe and Ramos are getting old and are problematic, you'd need someone to complement Varane. I think Koscielny has been one of the best CBs for some time, I'd suggest you go for him, alternatively someone like Atleti's Lucas Hernandez or Bilbaos Laporte, who could also be a more physically strong and defensive alternative to Marcelo.

A solid, no nonsense RB as backup for Carvajal and you're all set IMO. With Pep coming in, maybe Sagna could be pried away from City.

Et voilá. Allez les Blancs.

Thoughts, Sports?

Coman wouldn't be bad either

Hapless_Hans wrote:Kanté is a great addition, but you should also get Pogba IMO.

Then maybe someone like PSG's Matuidi seeing that Modric is not getting younger.
Also you need reinforcement in attack and on the wings, I feel like Griezmann and Martial are clearly the two names to go for here.

In defense, Pepe and Ramos are getting old and are problematic, you'd need someone to complement Varane. I think Koscielny has been one of the best CBs for some time, I'd suggest you go for him, alternatively someone like Atleti's Lucas Hernandez or Bilbaos Laporte, who could also be a more physically strong and defensive alternative to Marcelo.

A solid, no nonsense RB as backup for Carvajal and you're all set IMO. With Pep coming in, maybe Sagna could be pried away from City.

Et voilá. Allez les Blancs.

Thoughts, Sports?

I think Griezmann can be the swinger to hold BBC as well

I wish

The only guys I think are ready: Pogba, Kante and Griezmann. The rest aren't good fits.

Matuidi is so rigid in terms of what he can do (one footed and can only play left side B2B) that he would flop massively here. He's not technical enough for La Liga. I think he's going to lose his spot to Kante once Lass is healthy and/or Rabiot takes the next step on NT. Pogba can play the right side well, but the left side is clearly where he shines. We need to put him there.

Mr Nick09 wrote:For the price and need, it's a no brainer. Kante is a super interesting player to have. He has obvious shortcomings in his game, specially since he cant dictate the play but we have to do with.

Key is he can play everywhere:  both B2B positions and DM.  So you have a guy who can cover for everyone.  Remember that he's never played DM before this Euro.  Everyone assumed he could... but nobody knew until now.  He's been a B2B his entire career. Also played right back some I think.

Makes too much sense to be true. This is a no brainer imo. I had my doubt about his ability in DM position since he never played there before but he has been stellar. We can even push him upto to b2b to pretect lead with Casemiro.

futbol_bill wrote:Do you feel, this is the second DM that we need, and does that complete the midfield moves or are we still pursuing Pogba?

The article that I referred to weeks ago suggested Zidane wanted them both.

I read today that Juve is insisting on James or Kroos in any deal for Pogba so that sounds like they still are talking.

I've heard that Madrid has no problem selling them James or Kroos... but we want 80 mil for either of those two  So Juve would only make a net 40 out of the deal.  That's the sticking point.  

We're not going to overpay for Pogba and then give Juve a sweetheart deal for one of our players.  We'll overpay if they pay market value.

Kroos is not for sale lol

For 80 mil he is... and if Pogba is coming in. We'd rather sell James (which I think we will). But buying both Kante and Pogba without 1-2 existing guys going out is unrealistic.

In the end, it will depend how staunch we are about keeping Kroos and how strong Juve stand in asking for him (and Kroos agreeing of course). With these things, it's a game of chicken. Usually doesn't get resolved until very late in the mercato if neither club blinks.

Kroos is 26, we are going to keep him. You dont sell an elite playmaker like kroos when Modric is over 30 and gets injured often. He is not up for sale, this is just speculation from bad sources.

True. I doubt it too. In fact, I don't think we really need Pogba anymore if Kante comes. With Kante and Casemiro, we have that deep playing role covered and Kante gives us the B2B when we need it.

So Pogba goes from a need to a luxury if Kante is bought. It would be put us in a dominant negotiating position.

I hope we sign Kante right away, as for Pogba if Juve is being stubborn let us let them keep their Pogba, I hear Man U is talking to his agent too, well I understand that we need someone with Pogba's skillset but this fellas is way overrated and for people to be this restless because of him its beyond me. With Kante on our books there frankly is no need for Pogba because there will be more freedom for Modric and Kroos to venture further forward.

I'd rather get Vidal than Kante tbh

are you serious? he doesn't want to leave bayern, bayern don't want to sell, he just signed for them like last season, and the club would pay through the nose for such a move to happen. not even remotely in the conversation

as long as we intend to sign pogba, we will never be in a dominant negotiating position...

Signing Kante does alleviate the need for Pogba, but i would still go after him.

What it does is restructure our midfield. There are a couple of players like Isco and James, who long term will simply not cut it.

sportsczy wrote:True. I doubt it too. In fact, I don't think we really need Pogba anymore if Kante comes. With Kante and Casemiro, we have that deep playing role covered and Kante gives us the B2B when we need it.

Not only can Kante cover all the midfield positions but he would also enable us to run a double pivot if needed no? could let Isco or James play in their best position if they stick around for next season.

Also is there any truth to the recent Varane exit rumours?

Zees wrote:

sportsczy wrote:True.  I doubt it too.  In fact, I don't think we really need Pogba anymore if Kante comes.  With Kante and Casemiro, we have that deep playing role covered and Kante gives us the B2B when we need it.

Not only can Kante cover all the midfield positions but he would also enable us to run a double pivot if needed no? could let Isco or James play in their best position if they stick around for next season.

Also is there any truth to the recent Varane exit rumours?

Yes Kante can play the double pivot. In fact, i think that's his best use. I don't think Varane will go with his injury.

sportsczy wrote:

Zees wrote:

sportsczy wrote:True.  I doubt it too.  In fact, I don't think we really need Pogba anymore if Kante comes.  With Kante and Casemiro, we have that deep playing role covered and Kante gives us the B2B when we need it.

Not only can Kante cover all the midfield positions but he would also enable us to run a double pivot if needed no? could let Isco or James play in their best position if they stick around for next season.

Also is there any truth to the recent Varane exit rumours?

Yes Kante can play the double pivot. In fact, i think that's his best use. I don't think Varane will go with his injury.

If we do end up pursuing Pogba, can he play alongside Kante in a double pivot?

Yeah... Pogba and Matuidi played the double pivot in the 2nd half against Ireland and Pogba looked extremely good at it.

sportsczy wrote:Yeah... Pogba and Matuidi played the double pivot in the 2nd half against Ireland and Pogba looked extremely good at it.

Thanks, appreciate the insight.

I'm still unsure if i want Pogba coming in this season, ideally having him come in a year or two when he is a bit more consistent and when Modric starts declining would be for the best. Although Pogba might not want to stay at Juve for that long to wait for us and the transfer ban might force our hand as well. Either way i'm more open to Pogba coming in now since he'd open the door to variety of different options and still has a lot of room for improvement. It's good that he's versatile because i don't want another James scenario.

Kante talks are heating up fast right now, I like him as a player, for 25 mill euros, its a steal.

I don't think they plan on selling Kroos, but if that's what it will take to get Pogba, I think they will.

I fully expect James will be gone, Zidane doesn't rate him and he wants out. Issue is what offers will they receive. None so far. They won't get what they paid for him, but I understand they would let him go for 60M. They might even put pressure on him to not let him go without paying back the club 20M!!! LOL?

But these negotiations have been quiet so far with Perez and Zidane being very careful in what they say, so who really knows what might happen? My quess is they settle for 60M for Kroos and pay 120M for Pogba (mid point) and that James goes to Man U for 60M. Net zero for Pogba. Only issue is cost of another MF, a backup (or keep Kova).

So with Kante being signed (still an IF), that leaves Modric, Isco, Casemiro and Kante. Kova is going out on loan supposedly. I believe plan is to keep Kroos and have some sort of rotation for him. Bottom line is even if they get Pogba, and still retain Kroos, they have to either keep Kova or get another CM. UNLESS! They plan to go with just 5 midfielders. There is enough versatility in the 5 to cover all positions. And all 5 would be starters anywhere else.

And Juve saves face with adding Kroos and getting 120M for Pogba.

If Pogba comes Kroos will leave 99%. A world class player like him the German won't accept a rotational role, he wants to be a full time starter. I can see United coming for him tbh

I think that is a huge point. If Kross will want out, it's better to include him in deal. The only way they shouldn't consider this, will be if they know Kross will accept a secondary role for a couple of years (when Modric is done).

He and club should also take into consideration, how often is Modric injured?

Kante can play right back too btw... he played that as a youth.