Posted May 19, 200915 yr http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/...runo-Alves.html Alves, 27, is seen as the ideal replacement and has been in outstanding form for Porto, both domestically and in Europe. However, Chelsea will have to fend off competition from Real Madrid if they are to sign the Portuguese international. Reports in Spain suggest Alves is one of Real presidential candiate Florentino Perez's transfer targets this summer - should he be elected. Alves has three years left on his current contract with Porto and will not come cheap, the club slapping a £15m price tag on the defender's head. The player, though, is aware of Chelsea's interest, with the club having sent scouts to see him play six times, and has made it known he would welcome a move. What do you think of signing Alves as a replacement for Carvalho? This would surely mean that Mancienne would have to go out on that loan...
May 19, 200915 yr I really can't see the point. If we sign another centre-back then Mancienne might as well start looking for a permanent move away, next season should be the year that he begins to establish himself in the first team squad. If we just keep bringing in experienced players, we're wasting our time with the academy.
May 19, 200915 yr Isn't he the guy who passed the ball back to the keeper without looking which resulted in Man Utd scoring? Possibly not for us...
May 19, 200915 yr No thanks. Carvalho goes, we have JT, Alex, Ivanovic and Mancienne. Quality four there, no need to add to it.
May 19, 200915 yr Saw this too, although with us competing with Inter instead of Real. Makes no sense in my opinion, doubt it's true.
May 19, 200915 yr I've not seen this guy play much to be honest, but if he's going to be a huge step up from Mancienne, Alex and Ivanovic (which I highly doubt) then we should get him, otherwise, we're fine as we are.
May 19, 200915 yr This is perfect. All we need is another central midfielder and another right back and we are good to go.
May 19, 200915 yr £15m for a 27-year-old centre back when we already have JT, Alex, Ivanovic and Mancienne? And it's not as if Percy's a write-off... I'm not convinced.
May 19, 200915 yr I really can't see the point. If we sign another centre-back then Mancienne might as well start looking for a permanent move away, next season should be the year that he begins to establish himself in the first team squad. If we just keep bringing in experienced players, we're wasting our time with the academy. Completely agree - Well said
May 19, 200915 yr Sounds like nothing more than typical agent talk trying to link their client with as many big name clubs as possible to either secure as much money on a transfer fee or to secure a juicy new contract at the existing club. No manager in their right mind would focus any money on a replacement central defender for us and any that did shouldn't be given the job in the first place. We have excellent options already ranging from seasoned pros in their early 30s down to talented youngsters with their careers ahead of them. If managed correctly (and avoiding injuries etc) we could arguably avoid signing another first choice centre half for a further 5 years at least.
