Mario Mandzukic

[bushman 2,043]

Chelsea don't need to decide...just sign Costa and worry about fixing our midfield issues

Mandzukic is nothing special.

Costa may not be willing to sign for Chelsea. Him winning La Liga, possible CL trophy, playing for Atletico the club that´s going places, who knows what will happen?

[LAB 1,030]

I would want him if we were about to sell Torres and Ba so that him and Lukaku fill the empty seats. Makes more sense that way.

[Ljpaddock 187]

Lukaku will be sold

[ANDRECHO 432]

Lukaku will be sold

Nahhhh

[pWneR 230]

Offer bayern David Luiz + 20 mil for Lewandowski

I know it won't happen, but it just came to my mind

[Jype 6,398]

Rumour is that the Mandzukic-Luiz deal is on. #CFC

Yep, Bild are saying he has already cleared out his locker at Bayern and that a fee has been agreed by the clubs. Looks like Mandzu is coming, regardless of what happens with Luiz.

[Special Juan 28,188]

As long as Costa is signing then fine.

[quickpassnmove 924]

We have to play total attack, total defense like bayern last season if we want manzukic.

Bayern last season had wingers like us who always came inside, but their full backs always went forward to provide crosses. We have to let our leftback free if we want this guy, and we need a left footed one to put in proper crosses in.

His age doesn't matter because he doesn't depend on speed (see drogba & ibrahimovic) and he is so good in the air and physical so we have to take full advantage of that.

mandzukic

Ribery/hazard. Muller/oscar. Robben/salah/wiliam

In total if we adopt bayern's style of football last season, and I'm hoping that's what we are gearing towards to do next season, I fully support this move.

the 2012-13 season of Bayern... yeah, it's a nice idea generally, which is also the reason I was laughing last year when they switched their manager. good job on that one, Bayern. lmao.

[quickpassnmove 924]

Despite the explosion of Costa excitement in recent months/weeks, I wouldn't mind if CFC just got Mandzukic, brought Drogba back as a player+coach, Lukaku, then spent the money for two good center midfielders and maybe a left back (if one is desired and available for a good price). I guess Patrick vanAanholt and Ryan Bertrand get no chance then; I wonder if this is just 'the way it is at a big club' or there's something wrong with this picture.

[LondonPride1905 236]

Can anybody share some light? Is there anything concrete or only talk...?

[Jype 6,398]

Can anybody share some light? Is there anything concrete or only talk...?

Define concrete.

At the moment it's just reports in the media but as they say, there's no smoke without fire and something is definitely going on here. Guardiola has already wished him good luck in his next team and he has cleared out his stuff from Bayern's training center so it's not a question of whether he'll stay or leave, more like just a matter of where he ends up at and so far Chelsea look to be leading the race to sign him with a fee reportedly having been agreed. Season is now over for both clubs and the player will be going to the World Cup with Croatia so if we're going to get him, I suppose it will be soon.

Arsenal also interested.

[LondonPride1905 236]

Define concrete.

At the moment it's just reports in the media but as they say, there's no smoke without fire and something is definitely going on here. Guardiola has already wished him good luck in his next team and he has cleared out his stuff from Bayern's training center so it's not a question of whether he'll stay or leave, more like just a matter of where he ends up at and so far Chelsea look to be leading the race to sign him with a fee reportedly having been agreed. Season is now over for both clubs and the player will be going to the World Cup with Croatia so if we're going to get him, I suppose it will be soon.

Arsenal also interested.

Things he is leaving, so he can get playing time. If he comes to Chelsea, along with Costa will he get what he wants? He is a beast and will fit great here. IMO. It bothers me, can this mean Costa won't come, or we are going for both and Romelu is going to be sold or loaned? So many thoughts.

[Jype 6,398]

Things he is leaving, so he can get playing time. If he comes to Chelsea, along with Costa will he get what he wants? He is a beast and will fit great here. IMO. It bothers me, can this mean Costa won't come, or we are going for both and Romelu is going to be sold or loaned? So many thoughts.

Should we get both Costa and Mandzukic, the safest assumption would be that Lukaku won't be at the club come August. Whether out on loan or a permanent move, he won't stay as a third option behind Costa and Mandzukic if last year he thought competing with Torres and Eto'o was too much for him to handle.

And yes, I believe Mandzukic would get plenty of games even if we got Costa as well. At Bayern he's had to share the lone striker position with Gomez / Pizarro last year and Pizarro this season with Guardiola also quite often playing Müller / Götze as a false nine. He has still managed to get enough games to be the top scorer of their team in both seasons. Now Lewandowski is coming too and will undoubtedly be their number one strike so sharing the spare minutes with Pizarro and Guardiola sometimes preferring to play without a striker at all definitely means less games than a player of his quality should be playing. Whether he prefers a number one striker spot at a team like Arsenal or an equal role with someone like Costa at Chelsea remains to be seen, but I have a feeling he would be happy to share the place with another striker because after all he did join Bayern when they had both Gomez and Pizarro there and he had no guarantees about his playing time.

[Rmpr 8,977]

Why Mandzukic? It makes absolutely no sense!

Signing Costa, keeping Lukaku and selling Luiz to Barcelona for 30mi (or swapping him for Alexis and Song) is waaay better than doing business with Bayern over this okay striker...

[ChelseaFanUK 1,014]

Telling thing with Mandzukic is neither Matthias Sammer when asked, or Rumenigge have put this story to bed and ruled out him leaving. They say "with Lewandowski arriving it will be hard for Mario." They seem to be telling him he's not wanted without making it too obvious IMO

[LondonPride1905 236]

Should we get both Costa and Mandzukic, the safest assumption would be that Lukaku won't be at the club come August. Whether out on loan or a permanent move, he won't stay as a third option behind Costa and Mandzukic if last year he thought competing with Torres and Eto'o was too much for him to handle.

And yes, I believe Mandzukic would get plenty of games even if we got Costa as well. At Bayern he's had to share the lone striker position with Gomez / Pizarro last year and Pizarro this season with Guardiola also quite often playing Müller / Götze as a false nine. He has still managed to get enough games to be the top scorer of their team in both seasons. Now Lewandowski is coming too and will undoubtedly be their number one strike so sharing the spare minutes with Pizarro and Guardiola sometimes preferring to play without a striker at all definitely means less games than a player of his quality should be playing. Whether he prefers a number one striker spot at a team like Arsenal or an equal role with someone like Costa at Chelsea remains to be seen, but I have a feeling he would be happy to share the place with another striker because after all he did join Bayern when they had both Gomez and Pizarro there and he had no guarantees about his playing time.

I agree to be honest. I hope we see him here and can see your point. I rate him highly and wanted to see another opinion, so thanks for clearing a bit of a fog. (:

[Fernando 6,602]

I'm sorry but I don't know much about this guy.

Not really excited to be fair, but hey I don't know much about him....

Can someone give me a run down of this player?

[Jype 6,398]

I'm sorry but I don't know much about this guy.

Not really excited to be fair, but hey I don't know much about him....

Can someone give me a run down of this player?

Think Edin Dzeko with a slightly worse goalscoring ability but better link-up play.

[Fernando 6,602]

Think Edin Dzeko with a slightly worse goalscoring ability but better link-up play.

Kalou???

[The only place to be 11,313]

Why Mandzukic? It makes absolutely no sense!

Signing Costa, keeping Lukaku and selling Luiz to Barcelona for 30mi (or swapping him for Alexis and Song) is waaay better than doing business with Bayern over this okay striker...

Because he offers something different to Lukaku and Costa. He enables us to change the game (as numerous people have already pointed out in this thread).

From a tactical perspective it makes perfect sense.