Christensen to southampton would be one of the worst things ive ever witnessed if it goes through. He is suited perfectly for our system and has already proved he can play at a top level in a top league. Not to mention he's young, and the fact Conte is a genius at making average defenders look amazing (David Luiz, Alonso, even Moses) Selling him to get a 1 season wonder would be disgraceful and ridiculous

15 hours ago, JJP said:

Christensen to southampton would be one of the worst things ive ever witnessed if it goes through. He is suited perfectly for our system and has already proved he can play at a top level in a top league. Not to mention he's young, and the fact Conte is a genius at making average defenders look amazing (David Luiz, Alonso, even Moses) Selling him to get a 1 season wonder would be disgraceful and ridiculous

David Luiz was never an average defender. He had a mistake or lapse of concentration in him for sure, but his ability in the air, tackling, aggression and ball skill has always set him into the top tier of defenders in world football. 

51 minutes ago, RMCM said:

David Luiz was never an average defender. He had a mistake or lapse of concentration in him for sure, but his ability in the air, tackling, aggression and ball skill has always set him into the top tier of defenders in world football. 

Exactly, I get so f**ked off when pundits act like he was completely sh*te in his first stint here. 

we would need at least 6 cbs next season to deal with our fixtures, if we buy VvD we would have Luiz, Cahill, Dave, Ake, and one of Zouma or Christiansen, maybe send Zouma out on loan for a season to get him back to full match fitness.

But who would start? who do you drop to allow for Van Dijk? 

8 minutes ago, romansoldier1981 said:

we would need at least 6 cbs next season to deal with our fixtures, if we buy VvD we would have Luiz, Cahill, Dave, Ake, and one of Zouma or Christiansen, maybe send Zouma out on loan for a season to get him back to full match fitness.

But who would start? who do you drop to allow for Van Dijk? 

Probably drop Cahill, although VvD would be better in the middle of the 3.

Edited May 3, 20179 yr by Osgood is Good

 

Edited May 3, 20179 yr by the special one

VVD seems like hes headed to liverpool, verbal agreement reached

There are few links with Naby Keita. 

8 goals and 7 assists this season, every time I saw him playing he was good. Worth a shot.

On 4.5.2017 at 00:57, JJP said:

VVD seems like hes headed to liverpool, verbal agreement reached

Honestly, wouldnt be surprised if theres nothing in it from us. Wouldnt be the first time an avent has used us to get his client a better deal

Rumours about Conte wanting to sign Aymeric Laporte today.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3122650/chelsea-want-to-sign-athletic-bilbaos-aymeric-laporte-sources

 

2 hours ago, comtrend said:

Rumours about Conte wanting to sign Aymeric Laporte today.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3122650/chelsea-want-to-sign-athletic-bilbaos-aymeric-laporte-sources

 

He'd be so much better than VVD if we were signing someone 

Ake can play either on the centre or left of back 3. Whenever he's been given a chance this season, he has put in mature performances. Assuming Luiz and Cahill don't go anywhere and with Andreas back, we have ample depth in the 3 CB positions. Van Dijk makes absolutely no sense to me. It's the wing back positions we need reinforcements, on both wings. 

23 minutes ago, rahul said:

Ake can play either on the centre or left of back 3. Whenever he's been given a chance this season, he has put in mature performances. Assuming Luiz and Cahill don't go anywhere and with Andreas back, we have ample depth in the 3 CB positions. Van Dijk makes absolutely no sense to me. It's the wing back positions we need reinforcements, on both wings. 

I think we have Baba for LWB (would suit him as his defensive issues wont be exposed like in a back 4), but RWB back up is a must.

15 hours ago, comtrend said:

Rumours about Conte wanting to sign Aymeric Laporte today.

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/soccer-transfers/story/3122650/chelsea-want-to-sign-athletic-bilbaos-aymeric-laporte-sources

 

wouldn't make much sense as laporte is similar age to christensen. luiz and azpi aren't going to be losing their places any time soon.

Laporte would be curtains for ake I think. 

Personally I'd stick with ake. I don't think there's enough between them to warrant spending 50 odd mill. 

34 minutes ago, big blue said:

Laporte would be curtains for ake I think. 

Personally I'd stick with ake. I don't think there's enough between them to warrant spending 50 odd mill. 

Ake to me looks like the natural replacement for Luiz in a few years time, technically gifted footballer, wonderful tackling technique, and very composed for his age. People complain about his height but he's got a great leap on him, so that's not everything, especially if he was flanked by a couple of taller defenders. I really really am gunning for him to take his chance here, I think he could be a great player for us. And dat hair. 

I would only buy if zouma went but would still leave it until a couple of years time when cahill leaves we could have azpi/christensen luiz/ake/christensen ake/cahill with ake also able to cover cm and lab has great balance. Laporte would be a great shout for cahills position or Ben Gibson 

Rumours surfacing that we are trying to sign Aymeric Laporte, always rated him as one of the best young CB's before his terrible injury a couple seasons ago, unfortunately havent heard too much about him since then

http://www.espnfc.com/story/3122650/chelsea-want-to-sign-athletic-bilbaos-aymeric-laporte-sources

Edited May 10, 20179 yr by JJP

Daily Mirror: Chelsea leading chase for Germany starlet Jann-Fiete Arp but face fight for young Hamburg hitman

On 2017-5-2 at 14:12, Sindre said:

I have believed for a while Conte is not going to give a sh*t about giving our promising youngsters a chance if we can purchase one who he feels like is a better player. And for that reason i wouldn't at all be surprised if something like Christensen to Southampton so we could buy Van Dijk happened.

No top manager gives a sh*t, I was listening to analysis on sky I think or maybe MOTD and they were saying what I have always said, at this level you can't afford to bring through youth if you are an elite club, too much pressure to win, too much money in the balance, managers get sacked for not winning trophies, you think they are going to "develop teh young lads" at teh cost of their job and a dent to their career,  unless they are a standout like rashford, youth at an elite club isn't going to happen anymore, people need to get over this idea, the best thing you can do is what we do, buy and develop loads of them, make money on them send them out on good loans to develop and if we get a cracking player great if not it is a money making exercise, I'm bored to death of hearing about youth, it i not going to happen at top level in 2017, it's Romantic I see the appeal but it's not reality anymore it's like moaning that "we used to leave our doors unlocked" ok great that was wonderful and the idea is lovely but it's not something that can happen anymore, let's move on. 

5 minutes ago, DonAntonio said:

No top manager gives a sh*t, I was listening to analysis on sky I think or maybe MOTD and they were saying what I have always said, at this level you can't afford to bring through youth if you are an elite club, too much pressure to win, too much money in the balance, managers get sacked for not winning trophies, you think they are going to "develop teh young lads" at teh cost of their job and a dent to their career,  unless they are a standout like rashford, youth at an elite club isn't going to happen anymore, people need to get over this idea, the best thing you can do is what we do, buy and develop loads of them, make money on them send them out on good loans to develop and if we get a cracking player great if not it is a money making exercise, I'm bored to death of hearing about youth, it i not going to happen at top level in 2017, it's Romantic I see the appeal but it's not reality anymore it's like moaning that "we used to leave our doors unlocked" ok great that was wonderful and the idea is lovely but it's not something that can happen anymore, let's move on. 

Spot on.

I think people need to understand that academies at top clubs are first and foremost a revenue stream, great if we get a player come through who can he a permanent first team player, but that's an added bonus for the powers that be.

We have been linked with Mertens this week and Ghoulam earlier this year. Both Napoli players have just one year left on their contract. I'm not sure if we are being used in their negotiations for a new contract, or they want to leave, but both players could be bought at half price if they refuse to sign.

Mertens has scored alot of goals as a striker for Napoli and can play in any of the three attacking positions. I wouldn't mind him for 20 mil, if we fail to sign Alexis Sanchez. 

Ghoulam would give Alonso a fight for the LWB spot, offering more precision and pace when needed, while Alonso is the better at defending.

 

Edited May 13, 20179 yr by comtrend

10 hours ago, comtrend said:

We have been linked with Mertens this week and Ghoulam earlier this year. Both Napoli players have just one year left on their contract. I'm not sure if we are being used in their negotiations for a new contract, or they want to leave, but both players could be bought at half price if they refuse to sign.

Mertens has scored alot of goals as a striker for Napoli and can play in any of the three attacking positions. I wouldn't mind him for 20 mil, if we fail to sign Alexis Sanchez. 

Ghoulam would give Alonso a fight for the LWB spot, offering more precision and pace when needed, while Alonso is the better at defending.

 

Mertens is a quality player, getting on a bit these days but i'd happily take him

Edited May 14, 20179 yr by RMCM

Few rumours knocking about in Italy it seems that Chelsea want Alex Sandro and Juve may be willing to sell as they have Leonardo Spinazzola to replace him.

 

2 hours ago, pacquiao said:

Few rumours knocking about in Italy it seems that Chelsea want Alex Sandro and Juve may be willing to sell as they have Leonardo Spinazzola to replace him.

 

Can't see us signing Sandro, he'd cost a fortune when we already have Alonso

Few rumours (Daily Star/Express) we're looking at Gijon's Jorge Mere (apparently has a £25m buyout clause). Looks a brighter prospect than Christensen imho. Buy Mere and sell Christensen to Juve/Barca (who may be looking for a replacement for Barzagli/Pique??) 

Edited May 14, 20179 yr by the special one