Pizy

True. I'm just saying that if I were there I'd ask him straight up "are you looking to bring in a couple of defenders?" and just see what he said. Without naming specific players he could just say "yes, that's definitely an area we need to reinforce." I know deals are being worked on, of course. I'm just impatient!

You would think that if he's as good as many are saying and is "the next Neymar" he would've been snapped up by now by one of the Spanish giants or Atleti, or some Portuguese side. Especially if the fee is almost dirt cheap. Why is he supposedly only £15m if he's so super talented?

I mean, it would be nice to hear directly from the manager that he's just as eager to improve the defense as we are. We've heard nothing but weak media links. Doesn't really seem like we're close to signing any thus far.

So I see he spoke with the media again this morning. No one asked about more incomings? Really? Obviously he's not going to mention specific names, but not one journalist could ask if we're at least looking at bringing in players in certain positions?

Yep, all the English journo's I've seen report on it say it's completely false. Seems the Soanish press are desperate for it to happen and are sort of pressuring Diego to agitate for the move.

Better hope the club aren't stupid enough to sell Diego back to Atelti without first having Morata. Real Madrid could royally fuck us otherwise. We'd be taking a player from them and strengthening their direct rival by giving them Costa. They could verbally agree to sell us Morata, we sell Diego, then they change their minds.

Anything under £50m for him in this market and we're idiots. Not that I believe we'd sell him.

Shite. He stays if we want him to stay. Roman doesn't have to "request" anything.

Just like reports that Kante was on his way to Chelsea were "nonsense" 2 days before he signed? Same paper.

Spanish press are more desperate to get him back there than he is himself!

I can sort of understand the club giving them an extended holiday because they went pretty far in the tournament and suffered a pretty devastating loss. But why the fuck are the Spanish players still not with the team? They bombed out ages ago!

Watch Kante's highlights on YouTube. There was a great 17 minute video of him uploaded yesterday that I watched. He was brilliant at transitioning between defense and attack. Lost count of the number of times he won tackles and instantly sprung Leicester's counter attacks. He isn't just a pure DM. He's got very respectable technique and skill on the ball.

Looks made up to me. Don't see anything on The Guardian website or Twitter.

If we're looking at German defenders we should be after Jonas Hector as well. He'd certainly suit what Conte likes in a fullback.

Either way it's an insane team. Too good to be true, probably.

That's sad but true. He'll probably be starting there a significant amount of games.

Imagine the two best dribblers and wide players in the league on the same team with Hazard & Mahrez. And then Willian in the middle who's one of the best as well. How would defenses deal with that? Hazard, Willian, and Mahrez feeding Costa. Insane. Plus it would allow us to play both Kante and Matic in a midfield two without having to worry about creativity. -------------------------------Costa------------------------------- Hazard----------------------Willian-----------------------Mahrez --------------------Kante------------Matic---------------------- Azpi---------------Koulibaly-------Zouma---------------Aina ------------------------------Courtois------------------------------

Agreed, he'd be a massive upgrade. I'd sell Cuadrado to Juve since he clearly wants to stay there and they want him back. Oscar and Cuadrado out, Mahrez in would be insanely good business. Those two sales combined would easily find Mahrez.

Think this is a nonstarter anyways. We'd have no place for him even if we sold someone. We have Willian, Pedro, and now Conte confirmed Cuadrado for the right side. Hopefully he stays at Leicester and doesn't go to a big rival.

I would genuinely feel bad for Leicester and their fans if we "stole" Mahrez too. Is he in the last year of his contract? Can't see them even considering selling him if he isn't.

Evra was dire in the end for United. Their fans were begging for him to move on just as we are with Ivanovic.

He needs to go to a good side in a slower league like in Serie A. Like a lot of once great, slightly over the hill PL players he can extend his career there. Like Evra has done at Juventus. His legs are totally gone and he makes brain dead decisions that gift teams goals. He cannot start games for us this season.

Both he and Matic are so slow in thought. They take an absolute age with the ball to decide what to do with it. This is why our play often looks so sluggish and labored.

Notice how even though it was only the first preseason match and Costa was surrounded by our C team how frustrated he got at them for not working as hard as he was? He was isolated and not really given service. Having a striker partner like Bats should help.