Rumoured Paul Pogba

[robsblubot 3,595]

Makes absolutely no sense to spend 50m or so on Pogba. Having said that though we should totally do it!

20m for a 29yo left back who didn't make this Brazilian squad.

50m for a 21yo star of France and Juventus who's prob not even playing at his personal best...

Sounds about right to me.

Plus, signing Pogba, may put pressure on the other CMs to go look for greener pastures elsewhere.

[The only place to be 11,313]

20m for a 29yo left back who didn't make this Brazilian squad.

£15 million for one of the best left-backs in Europe who didn't make the Brazilian squad because there's an unwritten rule that Thiago Silva is the only defender with actual defensive talent allowed to be selected.

Beyond that I agree that Pogba as a replacement for Ramires and Mikel (£25-30 million between them?) actually makes sense.

[Ryan Fong 2,776]

20m for a 29yo left back who didn't make this Brazilian squad.

50m for a 21yo star of France and Juventus who's prob not even playing at his personal best...

Sounds about right to me.

Plus, signing Pogba, may put pressure on the other CMs to go look for greener pastures elsewhere.

Unfair comment about Luis. Just because Scolari didn't pick him it doesn't mean he is no good. I'm confident he can easily fill Marcelo's boots and deliver a better job.

[robsblubot 3,595]

£15 million for one of the best left-backs in Europe who didn't make the Brazilian squad because there's an unwritten rule that Thiago Silva is the only defender with actual defensive talent allowed to be selected.

Beyond that I agree that Pogba as a replacement for Ramires and Mikel (£25-30 million between them?) actually makes sense.

Brazil historically plays with attacking fullbacks... and occasionally with flamboyant CBs, but it's obvious the defense lacked balance esp with the 2-men midfield sitting in front. This has only worked when playing with 3 defenders and/or 3 sitting CMs (like in 02 which had both). Once again, not saying it's the right way to play... just one way to play. Balance is always needed though.

Ramires can be sold, but I doubt Mikel will want to leave, unless we cover part of his wages for a long time (until his current deal runs out).

Dudes, I didn't say he is no good because Scolari did not pick him... Just his call up wasn't that obvious that pundits and analysts did not fight for him... even freaking Maxwell went. Brazil Played 4231 with 2 attacking fullbacks! How crazy is that?

[Daniel1980 1,425]

Pogba makes no sense unless we sell Oscar and use Cesc as #10, and so far, there have been no signs of us intending to sell Oscar. Oscar will have no place in the same team as Pogba and Fabregas. Alternating Oscar with Fabregas won't work all that well, because with Fabregas on the bench, we're back to square one--little creativity from midfield. Pogba is good, but he's no creative midfielder.

It's also worth remembering that Jose seems especially fond of Ramires. As much as I would have liked it, I doubt Ramires is going anywhere.

Remember what Jose told about Ramires:

"Ramires is staying at Chelsea. He's not for sale," Mourinho told Marca. "I have an excellent friendship with important people within Real Madrid and they know that Ramires is going to stay at Chelsea.

"Cesc is a great player who adds a new dimension to our side. He is different to Matic, Ramires and Oscar. We will have a very complete midfield with him."

Jose clearly thinks we have a "very complete midfield" already. And he's right. I would have liked having Pogba instead of Ramires, but I doubt it's happening. Our midfield is pretty good as it is. We have options, and I want Van Ginkel to be given a chance too.

[J.F. 1,484]

Remember what Jose told about Ramires:

Jose clearly thinks we have a "very complete midfield" already. And he's right. I would have liked having Pogba instead of Ramires, but I doubt it's happening. Our midfield is pretty good as it is. We have options, and I want Van Ginkel to be given a chance too.

jose also said that there is no way that luiz and mata will leave chelsea

[Daniel1980 1,425]

jose also said that there is no way that luiz and mata will leave chelsea

Sure, but it's well-known that Jose loves Ramires. In this case, it's unlikely it's just words.

[dee25 1,044]

Pogba makes no sense unless we sell Oscar and use Cesc as #10, and so far, there have been no signs of us intending to sell Oscar. Oscar will have no place in the same team as Pogba and Fabregas. Alternating Oscar with Fabregas won't work all that well, because with Fabregas on the bench, we're back to square one--little creativity from midfield. Pogba is good, but he's no creative midfielder.

It's also worth remembering that Jose seems especially fond of Ramires. As much as I would have liked it, I doubt Ramires is going anywhere.

Remember what Jose told about Ramires:

Jose clearly thinks we have a "very complete midfield" already. And he's right. I would have liked having Pogba instead of Ramires, but I doubt it's happening. Our midfield is pretty good as it is. We have options, and I want Van Ginkel to be given a chance too.

Exactly this. There's no way the board will spend all that money bringing in Pogba and Cesc only for them not to be starters. So in a 433 you're looking at a first choice combo of Matic-Cesc-Pogba and even in a 4231 Cesc would be first choice in the 10 ahead of Oscar. So if Pogba were to come here, Oscar would see very little playing time in his preferred position.

But I really like the idea of having a dynamic runner next to Cesc. I think that kind of player would compliment him well but I honestly don't know if I trust Ramires. We should be looking to upgrade him. My hope is that during preseason, Van Ginkel can stake a strong claim. If Ramires is still going to be starting games for us then (in my opinion) our midfield hasn't improved all that much from last season.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

The difference between the Cesc signing and this is that it made sense. This doesn't.

But that seems incredibly unlikely. The whole sum is 16m and that is shared between Juve and Torino, so it's 8m from Juve. And the settlement should be less than that obviously, so what? 4-6m? That's largely insignificant in a 60m transfer.

Dude I know you're a Juve fan and think the world of that team but think for a second. Pogba is destined to be a World Star, Juve are not equipped to offer him the sort of wages and exposure Chelsea, City, Madrid and give him, he's got two years left on his contract meaning if he doesn't re-sign this summer it puts Juve in a predicament. They either sell him to the highest bidder i.e Chelsea who they have priors with or run the risk of losing him for nothing or much less the following year.

The shared sum between Juve and Livorno(not Torino) is hard to discern. Some say Juve used them to get around the leagues restrictions, who the brunt of burden falls on is anyone's guess.

[BMox81 193]

Exactly this. There's no way the board will spend all that money bringing in Pogba and Cesc only for them not to be starters. So in a 433 you're looking at a first choice combo of Matic-Cesc-Pogba and even in a 4231 Cesc would be first choice in the 10 ahead of Oscar. So if Pogba were to come here, Oscar would see very little playing time in his preferred position.

I wouldn't even play Oscar for the first couple of months of the season - the boy needs a full rest after what has been a busy few years worth of football. And especially after his total burnout towards the end of the season and the drubbing Brazil got in the semi final.

[Jype 6,398]

Sure, but it's well-known that Jose loves Ramires. In this case, it's unlikely it's just words.

Yes and some of us love our girlfriends but would swap them for Scarlett Johansson without hesitation if it was an option.

Mourinho only 'loves' Ramires because last season we didn't have anyone else with Ramires' skillset but if we had a world class midfielder like Pogba I honestly think Mourinho's supposed 'love' for Ramires would be put to a test.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Dude I know you're a Juve fan and think the world of that team but think for a second. Pogba is destined to be a World Star, Juve are not equipped to offer him the sort of wages and exposure Chelsea, City, Madrid and give him, he's got two years left on his contract meaning if he doesn't re-sign this summer it puts Juve in a predicament. They either sell him to the highest bidder i.e Chelsea who they have priors with or run the risk of losing him for nothing or much less the following year.

Not about Juve at all. He's not ready to move to Madrid or Barcelona or even Chelsea, for his sake, he needs to stay at least another year at Juve. As for us, we don't need him, he's not yet consistent enough to be in our starting XI, he doesn't fit our formation at all, we're already overloaded in his position, his price tag is beyond ridiculous, there hasn't been a single reliable source linking us to him, and he's not the right profile of player we are looking to sign; not the type of signing that conforms with the transfer policy we have been implementing recently and certainly not the profile of player we should sing in terms of what this squad needs for the balance of youth and experience.

On the plus side, he's big shiny name that everyone wants...

[sherry33 234]

Yes and some of us love our girlfriends but would swap them for Scarlett Johansson without hesitation if it was an option.

Mourinho only 'loves' Ramires because last season we didn't have anyone else with Ramires' skillset but if we had a world class midfielder like Pogba I honestly think Mourinho's supposed 'love' for Ramires would be put to a test.

So so true. If we as fans who arent any football expert saw that Ramires was pretty much useless the entire season like Oscar last season than i have no doubt Mourinho thinks the same and wants to improve this aspect.

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

Not about Juve at all. He's not ready to move to Madrid or Barcelona or even Chelsea, for his sake, he needs to stay at least another year at Juve. As for us, we don't need him, he's not yet consistent enough to be in our starting XI, he doesn't fit our formation at all, we're already overloaded in his position, his price tag is beyond ridiculous, there hasn't been a single reliable source linking us to him, and he's not the right profile of player we are looking to sign; not the type of signing that conforms with the transfer policy we have been implementing recently and certainly not the profile of player we should sing in terms of what this squad needs for the balance of youth and experience.

On the plus side, he's big shiny name that everyone wants...

I agree he's not quite at that level yet but what does keeping him at Juve accomplish? Nothing. Here we will be working with a world renown trainer and motivator in Jose. At Juve he'll likely see more games but if he doesn't sign an extension they will lose out on a huge pay day.

We do not yet know how Jose will deploy his team, sure in the past we have played with a 10 but that could change to 4-3-3 as it did on many occasions this past season. I'm not gonna pretend to know what Jose is thinking, I do think we are looking at Pogba though... Too much smoke for there not to be at least an inquiry.

Smoke... Pogba had an okay World Cup yet Jose calls him the young player of the tourney? He didn't even play all the matches. https://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/video/mourinho-best-world-cup-player-004405488.html

[Billy. 2,742]

nothing new then, no surprise there then.