Pizy

Arguably the best CB in the league when fit. Has all the tools to become a world class player. Their captain and talisman Kompany was finally fit and in great form at the end of this season so I don't know where the possible signing of VVD leaves him. Or Otamendi who is pretty good. They won't be very happy being bit part players. It's mind boggling to think of the amount of money City have spent just on CB's in recent years. If they sign Van Dijk, Walker, and Mendy they'll have a fucking scary team.

We just so happen to have the best medical department out there. Anyways, it looks like he'll be fit going into the summer so it's not like you'd be getting an already crocked player.

Unless they sell both James & Bale, Hazard would be stupid to go there. Why leave a big club like us who are champions, will be in the CL, can pay him loads, he's a guarenteed starter, and is the star man for Real Madrid where he'd get the James or Isco treatment and be on the bench some games? A fantastic, world class player like Bale isn't even nailed on to start there! There would be outrage (and rightfully so) if we they sell Bale to anyone other than us whilst bringing in Hazard to replace him. Could you imagine if they sold Bale to United and then signed Hazard? We'd be sitting there weakening ourselves whilst strenthening a direct rival. I cringe just thinking about it... Thats the only possible way I'd be fine with selling Eden. If we swap him with Bale.

Insane. Don't think we'll ever be able (or willing, maybe) to compete finincially with the Manchester clubs going forward. Unlike us, they're willing to just pay whatever it takes. We have to be efficient and calculated if we want to remain on top next season.

Real Madrid have some lovely players that I really like watching (Modric, Kroos, Marcelo) but then have some utter cunts (Ronaldo, Ramos) that I cannot stand. Really hoped Juve would win but they just stopped playing after half time.

Arsene and Pep cut from the same cloth. Ignore or put off addressing their most glaring weak areas in order to buy attacking midfielders where they're already loaded. He'd be a good signing for them but does he make them better? Don't think he does at all. Spuds are the ones who should be all over Mahrez.

Linked with Sandro and Jordi Alba as far as fullbacks are concerned in the last couple of days. The sources are complete shit, sadly, but those would be two unbelievable signings.

Excellent player, but why leave Juve?

How was he last season? Didn't really hear anything about him like I did the previous season.

If not Griezmann, I'm just not sure there are that many options for them. Or anyone after a top striker for that matter. Every top team after one will be looking at the same small pool of options. Lukaku, Morata, Belotti... Worst case scenario is they turn their attention to Sanchez.

True. Although he did play Rashford a whole lot this season and he's just as raw as Lukaku is. Maybe they keep Zlatan around for another year and mentor whichever new striker they buy?

What you say is true, but the difference this summer is that they're buying proven, top class talent rather than potential like they did last year. Unlike Sané, Stones, Sterling, the likes of Bernardo, Mendy, and soon Kyle Walker are all established, high quality players. They should be able to slot right in and not have the extreme ups and downs like their previous signings had. Assuming we also have a great summer, I think City will be our biggest threat next season.

He binned Mata as well yet managed to get along with him just fine at United. I don't think he'd have a problem going for Lukaku now.

It just so happens that their interest "cools" just as Atleti's transfer ban is upheld. Sure. Probably not good for our supposed pursuit of Lukaku or Morata, though.

City getting all their first choice targets signed before the window even opens. Christ.

Having just watched a bit of him on the old YouTube and not knowing anything ant him really, he reminds me of Koké. Tidy on the ball, calm, good work rate, keeps it simple. I like him. Looks like there's a whole lot of competition for his signature, though. Seeing him linked with Milan and Juve. Arsenal as well. We all know Arsene the voyeur loves a young, French talent.

This is what I'm afraid of, too. It's why I'd kill for Verratti. I hate going into games against the likes of Man City, Arsenal, Spuds, and United knowing we'll likely be dominated in possession and have our midfielders struggling. We beat all of those sides regardless this season but you can't say we outplayed them all. If we play a midfield 2 of Kante/Bakayoko or Kante/Matic and have to play Barca/Madrid/Madrid/Juve they'll completely dominate us. We 100% need to have another player in there with them.

Bakayoko will be a very good signing. Very young with great potential to get even better. The question I'm asking is whether he's the best midfielder we could buy this summer? Probably not, but if Conte wants him I trust him. I just hope for the other positions we're targeting we go after top tier, A list players who are amongst the best in their positions. I like seeing us linked with Sanchez, Walker, Mendy etc rather than some good but not great players from Serie A.

Just hope we're secretly trying very hard behind the scenes to sign Mendy as well if we're already in negotiations with Monaco.

I just keep asking myself, does a straight swap to our XI of Bakayoko for Matic make a substantial difference? I'm not sure. If we're buying him and switching to a 3 man midfield with Kante & Cesc that would be great. He's a bit better than Matic technically, but simply playing a 2 man midfield of Kante & Bakayoko we'd have a similar problem to what we have already. Two players with similar skill sets and weaknesses.

Jordi Alba? Has he fallen out there or something? I'm out of the loop. Thought he was a nailed on starter for them?

Seeing more and more rumblings about him going to United. Please don't let our our be stupid enough to send a very good player to a direct rival. Matic may not be a first choice player for us next season but he's still far too good to be sold to a team that will surely be challenging us for the title. He would complete their midfield and free up Pogba to roam around more easily. Unless we're bringing in world class players in their positions there's absolutely no way we should even consider sending players like Matic or Willian to direct rivals. These are they quality options a top side needs to challenge on every front.

Everton are a pretty big club with new, rich ownership so they could play hardball over players and hold out for huge money. Not sure Southampton can keep a player if a huge offer comes in and the player wants to leave. I've seen on Twitter today that Klopp really likes him and that he "may be interested" in working with Klopp. Would be pretty bad if we miss out on our supposed #1 choice CB target to fucking Liverpool. Can't imagine he'd choose them over us if we both actually bid.

Yeah, the last thing they really need is another very good attacking player. They're so reliant on Kane for goals. Not sure I can see a player like James ever going there. He'll have offers from bigger clubs.

Not really, no. If he ends up at Spurs it would make them scarier, though. He, Eriksen, and Kane in attack could be extremely tricky to play against.