Pizy

Thinking more about it, why are Barca (who have already spent a shit load despite their financial issues) going so hard after Koundé when they’ve got Araujo, Christensen, and Pique? They don’t play with a back 3, right? I know Pique is old but it seems stupid for them to go out and spend huge money on a position that’s not a priority. Then again, it’s Barca. They never do what’s sensible.

So, Bayern gonna win the league by 20 points next season? How enjoyable.

Probably panic and go back in for Aké for an even more stupid amount than the £45m we already offered before walking away. I honestly feel like we can’t afford to miss out on Koundé now. He’s the best available for that RCB position. If it takes €65m so be it. We need to beat Barca to this signing.

Wouldn’t be too bothered if Alonso stayed as a backup but Ziyech for me is just a poor fit in the PL. He’s too lightweight.

The Ziyech rumors seem to have completely died. Haven’t heard anything about it in weeks. Same with Alonso. Been seeing stuff about Azpi still but not the others.

If we can land Koundé this will be a blessing in disguise. Koulibaly is best on the left side. Let Colwill be the backup for KK on the left. Back 3 of Koundé, Silva, and Koulibaly is comfortably the best CB core in the league.

Think the only feasible way Timo could go is on loan. And even then we’d probably have to pay some of his wages. But with Lukaku and Broja going we’ll need someone other than Kai who is somewhat comfortable playing up top.

I’m at least slightly more relaxed about the CB situation since we’ve already got KK in. If we were still fumbling around like idiots chasing our first CB signing I’d be extremely worried right now.

Barca apparently have another magical money level to pull soon and are telling Koundé to wait just like they did with Raphinha. Hopefully we don’t burned waiting around for him to decide. Speak to the player and get his word that he wants to come Chelsea or walk away now.

I think he is worth it. He’s top class, only 23, and perfect for our system.

One way or another, after this Koundé saga is over we should never try to negotiate with them again. Whether he comes here or goes to Barca. They’ve been playing games and yanking our chain around for a literal year now.

We could see the 4th player that we’ve been linked with join Barca if we aren’t quick on Koundé. That would be kind of humiliating.

Broja isn’t fantastic right now but it is the potential that’s exceptional I think. It’s rare for a striker to have his combo of size, pace, quickness, and skill. I think in the right circumstance and under the right coach he can be developed into a top class player. For example, if he went to Everton on loan to replace Richarlison and is paired with DCL I think he’d get crazy good experience. Lamps has proven that he will stick with young players and will have a vested interest in developing him. Selling him permanently to a side that can regularly take points off us is just silly.

He won’t. Makes it even more puzzling form his perspective. They ran Antonio into the ground last season because they had no alternative so Broja will certainly get lots of starts, but he certainly won’t be going there to be the main man.

Literally every other report from Spanish media is “he is getting closer to Chelsea” or “he’s getting close to Barca.” They’re just guessing at this point.

There has to come a point when the club puts its foot down, though. He just signed a 5 year deal a year ago. We have the power to sit him down and tell him that he’s staying and that we need him in the squad for a long, grueling season. We could play 60 games again like last season, have 5 subs, and have a midseason World Cup that can cause all sorts of chaos. He’ll be needed if we don’t sign anyone else.

We aren’t even credibly linked with any strikers or attackers at this time. All have either moved elsewhere (Lewa, Dembele, Raphinha, Jesus, Richarlison) or we’ve said no thanks to (CR7). Any that are left are prohibitively expensive like Leão. So let’s say Havertz has an awkward landing in our next preseason game on Wednesday, twists his ankle badly, and is then out for extended time. Then what? Werner up top? Sterling? There’s just no way we can enter then season without another attacking signing. Broja was in line to get LOTS of minutes for us but he apparently doesn’t have the heart to be patient. This is the issue we’re going to have with many of our youth players now. They see some of the lads we’ve sold recently killing it at smaller clubs and will sacrifice their dream of one day playing for Chelsea in order to get minutes right away. Seems that in order for you to break through to our first team as a youth player you have to absolutely crush it out on loan first. Reece, Mount, Gallagher, Chalobah. All had excellent seasons out on loan.

It would be utter insanity to even loan Broja until we sign another attacker, never mind sell him permanently. He’s the only actual striker in our squad, ffs! Are we complete idiots?! Imagine losing our two biggest prospects this summer again a year after having the same thing happen last year. This time both are on very long contracts too so we have all the leverage. So unless we’re being offered silly fees of like £50m we shouldn’t even be entertaining these offers.

Even though all the reliable reporters are still saying Tuchel wants both Koundé and Kimpembe, I too wonder how exactly that would work. In my opinion Thiago and KK are guaranteed starters in our best XI. So if that’s the case we would have a £50m+ CB on the bench at all times? Why would Kimpembe agree to leave the comforts of his boyhood club where he’s a regular starter to rotate in and out of our team? Likewise Koundé. Still only really makes sense to get one of those and in my opinion it should be the one who plays on the right which is Koundé. Koundé/Trev for the RCB position Thiago/Ampadu? for the middle position KK/Colwill for the LCB position I don’t see how you keep everyone happy if you bring in 2 more top CB’s.

If we can land Koundé and plug him into that right side I don’t think we’ll lament missing out in De Ligt. They’re basically the same age, they both have similar skill sets, and Koundé will more easily build a relationship with our other CB’s who may all be French speakers. Keeper, too. Koundé also wouldn’t have the colossal weight of expectation on his shoulders like De Ligt has/will have.

Just get him a PL loan.

I’d rather keep Billy in the squad rather than RLC and Barkley. Ruben may actually be fairly sought after by several clubs because of the flashes of talent he has shown. Perhaps Lamps could take him? Don’t know how we get shot of Barkley, though. His wages have to be pretty high and he already had a poor loan spell at Villa. RLC will show a flash of brilliance in one match and then disappear for several more afterwards. Don’t think he’s ever going to have the consistency to make it here. At least Billy has lots of room for growth.

Nothing we can really do this summer in midfield. Too many bodies there already.

Lots of complaints about Koundé’s height here and elsewhere but United have just signed a genuinely tiny CB for £55m. Koundé looks gigantic compared to Lisandro Martinez.

So many conflicting reports. After Dembele and Raphinha I’m not going to get my hopes up.