mwblue10

His record is just preposterous. 15 of the last 18 seasons he’s appeared in 30+ league games. His fitness is in its own category, but Sterling has always been a fit guy too. No reason to think he couldn’t play into his mid thirties at a high level.

So, the fact that he has been PL quality since he was a teenager and has been durable as hell his entire career (30+ PL appearances every season from 2013-14 onward), is somehow being used as a point AGAINST him? Deary me.

As well as five subs are allowed this season, more minutes to go around

Yikes.

An AFTV loser

Our signings this summer will definitely make the “PL proven” crowd happy. Can’t say I’m disappointed by this one, this is an exciting player who will offer something different to our attack.

Wait, is DT actually in jail??

My printer, no question!!

This rumor has really gained momentum today.

Counterpoint: he’s not the only signing we will make this summer, let alone the only attacking signing, so why does he have to create the buzz? I think we just see the player differently. It’s my belief that he immediately improves our attack and will do what Tuchel needs of him. Hell get on the end of those back post crosses that James and Chilwell send in, and will actually take a man one v one. I agree that he’s not the most buzz worthy signing but buzz worthy hasn’t worked out for us recently. Your comment about it being a West Ham type signing is bonkers. This is a guy who is 27, has performed well on a team who has won 4/5 PL titles, and wants to come to Chelsea. The price is reasonable, too. Sounds good to me. Also, side note, he’s much better than Pulisic. Pulisic had one good vein of form after the restart in 19/20. And 20/21 Pulisic was extremely average.

Fair question. I don’t see how the situation is all that different.

It does seem like de Ligt has become the number 1 priority to sign in defense. Matt Law reporting it now.

He’s one that I think we will eventually be in for. Doesn’t seem to be a lot of smoke about him leaving Leicester this summer though. Maybe due to his bad injury. So, maybe next summer?

You’re going to speak this into existence aren’t you???

Pretty good bet that he’s not on £280,000 then, so that’s good

He’s tailor made for Serie A. His passing and shooting ability combined with the amount of time he will have on the ball is a deadly situation. Nothing is impossible but I would quite shocked if he doesn’t perform there.

Because we don’t really know anything.

The part you are missing in this comparison is the fact that Kounde is 23 and de Ligt is 22. Christensen is 26 and Rüdiger 29, so they are what they are. Kounde and de Ligt have significant potential to reach, higher than what Christensen and Rüdiger offer now, and I believe Tuchel is the man that can get them there.

I think it was £37m we paid for him. So still a loss but he hasn’t performed greatly here. I’d rather get a buy obligation for a loss than drag out loan after loan as we know that’s what Milan would want. It’s a given that he’ll go to Italy and absolutely rip them to shreds, so I do see the angle of no buy obligation and see if you could sell him for more after the loan. He will have miles of space there, I think Serie A fits him perfectly.

It’s unfortunate that Burley has the platform he does with ESPN, especially over here in the states. Fans believe everything they see on ESPN in the US. Between his bitterness and Steve Nicol’s Liverpool homerism, it makes their segments unwatchable for me. Burley is definitely my least liked ex player.

Kounde and de Ligt would really excite me. Both very young but both have significant top league and international experience. de Ligt was bossing it at 18 years old in the CL. If our window ends up being Kounde, de Ligt, Clauss, and 2 of Sterling/Dembele/Richarlison, I think it’s good business. Incorporate Gallagher and Colwill as much as we can. Sell or loan anyone who doesn’t want to be here, if the offers make sense. Ziyech, Werner, Alonso, Azpi, Pulisic can all go, though I’d be ok with Werner or Ziyech sticking around. And obviously Lukaku is already gone. Think we’ve got an exciting July ahead of us!

I wonder how this will change our transfer negotiations going forward. By all accounts, she was our negotiating specialist. Do deals get done quicker now? Do we sell for slightly lower prices rather than loan players out for years at a time? Do we bleed bidding into the late hours of the window only to panic and buy a Drinkwater again?

I swear my printer has been following me around the house…

I think your mate is semi-correct. Silva is better but de Ligt is better than the rest. Not sure how much that is saying though. It’s only Chalobah, Azpilicueta, Sarr otherwise.