Rumoured Alex Song

[The only place to be 11,313]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/chelsea/10836784/Barcelona-offer-Alex-Song-to-Chelsea-as-part-of-David-Luiz-swap-deal.html

Very much a slight rumour and no indication about whether we'd even be interested but he's a midfielder so....yay??

Get past the fact that he played for Arsenal and he was actually very productive in his last season in the Premier League. 11 assists in a role that afforded him more freedom to go forward and there were rumours that if he were to leave he'd be valued at about £10 million which could be something of a bargain for a player who is approaching his prime and has experience of this league.

One more thing - he was registered as homegrown by Arsenal.

[Kieran. 6,317]

Song was great for Arsenal so we know he can play in England, he'll be good next to Matic.

[xPetrCechx 13,563]

So shit At Barca.

[drog.ba 239]

No thanks, love Sanchez to come here though, he's better in my opinion then every attacking midfielder we have bar Hazard, he doesn't really suit Barcelona's style either

[Jype 6,398]

Already said this in the David Luiz thread the other day but I would gladly take him. He was class in his final season at Arsenal and there was definitely a reason why Barcelona even wanted him in the first place.

A reasonable price for a HG player who's only just now nearing his prime and would probably suit our team well, we'd be stupid not to at least consider him. Don't know whether I'd be happy if he was our only signing in midfield but as a Mikel replacement we could do much, much worse.

Got a feeling City might soon be in for him though. Because of the FFP restrictions they desperately need a few more HG players in and at the moment there aren't many better available than Alex Song.

[Superblue 6,370]

If he's only valued at about £10m and we're valuing Luiz at £25-30m they will still have to pay substantial money on top. About £18-20m + Song would be good business and the homegrown status is a massive bonus. If they want Luiz that badly could always ask for Song and Sanchez perhaps?!

[Amblève. 4,995]

I'd only like to get him without giving up Luiz.

[Jusek 2,031]

Yes please, would fit nicely next to Matic.

[Sidzeret 2,257]

We should save up all our money for that creative rock at centre- mid. No creative enough for me.

But this will be a good buy if we can sell Mikel for a good fee.

Rakitic/Kroos/Vidal over him.

[sherry33 234]

He would be great as a backup/squad player but i still want a world class CM.

Mikel OUT - Song IN

Ramires OUT - Vidal IN

[MrExcalibur100 7,124]

Good squad player, nothing more.

[The only place to be 11,313]

He would be great as a backup/squad player but i still want a world class CM.

Mikel OUT - Song IN

Ramires OUT - Vidal IN

We have young players like Chalobah, Van Ginkel, Baker and Loftus-Cheek on the cusp of the first-team. I'd like to see them given a chance before we spend £30 million + on someone else.

This is a player who has proven himself in this league, is probably underpriced because he was apparently bought to Barca as a defender and is homegrown.

[LDN Blue 7,903]

I'm not really sure. On one hand it's hard to deny his positive spell at Arsenal, even their fans will maintain the RvP's blistering form in his last season was mostly down to Song playing in those accurate balls into feet. On the other hand all of his prior interviews have always talked about his love for Arsenal etc and to me that sort of creates a conflict of interest.

The pro's are obvious to me as well, he can play both next to Song and can fill in as an emergency CB if we do get his with an injury crisis. His passing is also quite good and his strong build means next to Matic we'll have a firm wall protecting the CB's

The con's (and I can't speak for his time at Barca) were at Arsenal. While he was successful in assisting attack with RvP he was also very much liable in the stupid goals Arsenal conceded that season. He suffered from Yaya Toure syndrome.. Where he'd love to go walk about in the attacking 3rd of the pitch but was slow and unreliable in getting back into position to due his defensive work. Sure we've got Matic to fill that void, but can we afford tactical indiscipline? Especially when Mata was sold for that reason.

Overall, if he's a squad player than that's not bad business on him arriving alone. Mourinho will obviously do his best to embed tactical awareness into the midfield player. But if he's going to be a regular then I'm sure we can do better from the money we raise from selling Luiz.

[Viper22 2,418]

One of the only Arsenal players I ever really rated. Was a shame to see him go to Barca to waste away on the bench.

He's a good player, and I think would go well with Matic or take on his role if Matic got crocked.

Not entirely sure, but for only £10M it's definitely worth a punt.

[sdrcfc 461]

£10m would be a good price.

[didierforever 7,349]

Song was great for Arsenal so we know he can play in England, he'll be good next to Matic.

how? has no creativity. kind of redundant next to matic.

[The only place to be 11,313]

how? has no creativity. kind of redundant next to matic.

11 league assists in his last season here. That's only two less than Gerrard managed this season. Eden managed 7.

[didierforever 7,349]

11 league assists in his last season here. That's only two less than Gerrard managed this season. Eden managed 7.

and in the past 2 years? essien was a beast in 2007-09. was loaned out to RM as a LB in 2012. 2 years are enough of a time to change a player and for this guy, it has. he is a shadow of a player who played that long, perfect ball to rvp against everton (i think).