Gianelli Imbula

[lucio 5,418]

Chelsea are reportedly lining up a sensational £20million transfer move for French Under-21 international Giannelli Imbula.

The Blues are keen to add another deep lying midfielder to play alongside Nemanja Matic next season and believe the Marseille star fits the bill, according to The Sun.

Imbula, 22, could have joined Chelsea two years ago for less than £1m but a move was scuppered as the Blues couldn’t guarantee him first team football.

However, a deal looks likely to happen this time around and Jose Mourinho should get his man.

[supporter 3,088]

http://metro.co.uk/2015/04/27/chelsea-line-up-sensational-20million-transfer-for-french-under-21-international-giannelli-imbula-5168859/

Imbula could be the perfect replacement for Obi Mikel, but maybe he is a player for a more offensive role, as Ramires.

I think I finally Jose bet to continue with Mikel because no one on the market that can take its role of ultra defensive to close games with tight player results and, moreover, Mikel is a player who perfectly knows the philosophy of Jose.

Maybe Kongogbia better remplado Mikel and Imbula would be the best replacement Ramires (BTW, I'm not saying we're going to sign them both).

And Koke would be a perfect replacement for Oscar.

Pogba, Bale, Messi ( ) or Thiago Alcantara would signings of football stars.

Regards.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

Good player with very good potential. He really turned the corner in the summer and only this season he started performing on 2012/13 form.

Though he's box to box midfielder and I don't see him sitting deep. And for that role we have Ruben lined up for the next season.

So I would pass on the signing and buy someone with different characteristic. Schneiderlin for example.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

I saw him playing deep for Marseille this season, not to long ago. Few times he was even alone in midfield, in a bizzar formation of 3-3-3-1 when he's the only central midfielder, 3 central backs, 2 wing backs on his sides, and 4 attackers in front. They might still play this way.

Example:

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

Are people really wanting us not to sign him so Loftus-Cheek can play (well Jose says play as in be in the first team squad to take up a HG slot and play maybe 3 or 4 times a season and always with the u21s) when this guy is a big prospect who is more Chelsea ready than Ruben? I get that people want us to bring people through the academy but this guy is much much much better. He has Toure like characteristics, a bit more mobile though.

[LondonsFinest 692]

I personally am against it, because:
1. We need a world class position filler, not a decent talent. I am not saying he can't develop, but considering we can bring a done and dusted midfielder, in the like of Koke/Pogba/Isco, signing this guy would make 0 sense.
2. Ruben. ^ Imbulla may be more Chelsea ready than our young CM, but to be honest, when are we going to have a chance of developing a young midfielder, if not now, when we will probably ship - out one or two midfielders and he will have the opportunity to get minutes. Imbulla wouldn't be a gamechanger. He can't take us to the next level in CL. The first three can.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

I personally am against it, because:

1. We need a world class position filler, not a decent talent. I am not saying he can't develop, but considering we can bring a done and dusted midfielder, in the like of Koke/Pogba/Isco, signing this guy would make 0 sense.

2. Ruben. ^ Imbulla may be more Chelsea ready than our young CM, but to be honest, when are we going to have a chance of developing a young midfielder, if not now, when we will probably ship - out one or two midfielders and he will have the opportunity to get minutes. Imbulla wouldn't be a gamechanger. He can't take us to the next level in CL. The first three can.

I dont think anyone here wants Imbula as the BIG signing for midfield. The talk is about him as Mikel's replacement.

[LondonsFinest 692]

I dont think anyone here wants Imbula as the BIG signing for midfield. The talk is about him as Mikel's replacement.

Wasting a valuable 20 milion of our transfer budget for a player, who's job Ake or RLC can do too, sounds kind of...stupid, for me, that is.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Wasting a valuable 20 milion of our transfer budget for a player, who's job Ake or RLC can do too, sounds kind of...stupid, for me, that is.

First of all, RLC isnt a DM as far as i know, more box to box, i cant see Mourinho giving him the role of Matic in any kind of game. And Im not sure Ake is that good for that role as well.

IMO we need genuine quality in midfield for the bench as well as the first XI, thats one of our main problems in the squad imo. Mikel, Ramires, and probably Cuadrado cant play the kind of football we played in the first half of the season.

I wouldnt go to the next season with Mikel as Matic's backup, and i cant think of a reason to think Ake will do a much better job. I would also like to find a cheap option, the question is if there is one.

[Blue Colored Sky 1,807]

First of all, RLC isnt a DM as far as i know, more box to box, i cant see Mourinho giving him the role of Matic in any kind of game. And Im not sure Ake is that good for that role as well.

IMO we need genuine quality in midfield for the bench as well as the first XI, thats one of our main problems in the squad imo. Mikel, Ramires, and probably Cuadrado cant play the kind of football we played in the first half of the season.

I wouldnt go to the next season with Mikel as Matic's backup, and i cant think of a reason to think Ake will do a much better job. I would also like to find a cheap option, the question is if there is one.

We should not be looking for backup to Matic.

In my opinion we should upgrade from Oscar to Isco/Koke/Pogba.

And turn Mikel and Ramires into 1 but quality midfielder.

Matic dropped the performance in the second half of the season, possibly he has physical issues. On top of that we have Fabregas who has blip in the second part for umpteenth time already.

We need 3rd midfielder who would be treated at the same level as two above not someone who would be doomed to backup role.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

We should not be looking for backup to Matic.

In my opinion we should upgrade from Oscar to Isco/Koke/Pogba.

And turn Mikel and Ramires into 1 but quality midfielder.

Matic dropped the performance in the second half of the season, possibly he has physical issues. On top of that we have Fabregas who has blip in the second part for umpteenth time already.

We need 3rd midfielder who would be treated at the same level as two above not someone who would be doomed to backup role.

You're not reading my posts properly. Im not saying we shouldnt get Pogba/Koke, im talking about it all the time here, im saying we need Pogba/Koke+backup for Matic. Right now when Matic cant play you need to play Mikel or Zouma, thats not good enough i believe.

Idealy our midfield options imo should be:

Cesc-Matic-Pogba/Koke (Ramires, DM, RLC)

Willian-Hazard ( 2 of Oscar/Pedro/D.Costa/Cuadrado/Another AM. Or, if we bring Reus/Isco for RW than Willian as a squad option with Cuadrado/Oscar).

2 options from the bench for central midfield, 2 options for AM +RLC. You could might sell Ramires too, his role would be very small since (lest hope) we'll have Koke/Pogba.

[magic weeds 446]

For me its more like a Matic substitute. Both are very similar in playing style, both left footed.

[Waterfall 893]

Mikel's a perfectly capable backup to Matic already especially if he's playing next to a world class midfield partner in Pogba. Midfield options of Pogba, Matic, Fabregas, Ramires, Mikel, RLC and Zouma (when needed) would be outstanding. I know people want to buy, buy, buy, but we already have a balanced team.

[the wes 7,212]

recording to Squawka Imbula has completed 97 take ons this season more than robben and nemyar this season thats brilliant for a player who plays in the central midfield position if chelsea sign Imbula i can see chelsea sell ramires

http://www.squawka.com/news/chelsea-consider-20m-bid-for-marseilles-giannelli-imbula/364532?

[Leif 6,006]

he doesn't strike me as a goalscorer, but everyone's started saying on here he isn't a sitting deep type of player, so, what does he do when he gets further up the pitch? is he a playmaker? or is Ramires with better passing abilities more accurate?

[LondonsFinest 692]

IF we sell Ramires and/or Mikel, signing him makes sense. Looking at it from a perspective. RLC/Ake, Ramires/Mikel and Oscar is a good bench, with 2 wingers and a striker.
If we don't sell them, I don't see any reason, why we can't head into the new season with Ramires, Ruben and Oscar on the bench. It's not like he's the next big thing - Pogba, so we can sacrifice a young, talented player, who is head and shoulders above his siblings, for another, who has only gotten more game time. Don't get me wrong, signing him may turn out to be good, and if we sign him, I will trust Mourinho and the board, but I just don't believe there is a reason for us to waste a valuable 20 million, when Griezmann and Isco would improve us dramaticlly and cost 55 milion.(We can keep the budget for next season)

I know RLC is a box - to - box mid, but he is still very capable of playing DM due to his physique and athleticism.

[magic weeds 446]

he doesn't strike me as a goalscorer, but everyone's started saying on here he isn't a sitting deep type of player, so, what does he do when he gets further up the pitch? is he a playmaker? or is Ramires with better passing abilities more accurate?

Or maybe a Matuidi type of player!!

[Chelsea Legend 11 4,062]

he's box to box.

[nadavTKL 1,787]

Mourinho could launch a cut-price move for #Marseille midfielder Giannelli Imbula, believed to be available for as little as €12m (L'Equipe)

Can actually see it happening now.. dont know what about the reported cut-price though. Anyone saw him regularly this season?

[OneMoSalah 8,886]

12m euros would be a very smart investment. Allows Jose to then sell one of Oscar, Ramires or Mikel if he really wants to. I think if we get him we can play 4-3-3 a lot more.