Out of contract next summer, I think it's likely we'll offer an extension but 31 isn't exactly a good age for a RB...

Chances are we'll only offer him a year so this signing makes perfect sense. Can't see him playing for anyone else tbh

Out of contract next summer, I think it's likely we'll offer an extension but 31 isn't exactly a good age for a RB...

There's been some rumours that PSG have been interested. It's unlikely he'll continue with us next summer if he wants money and a longer contract, we'll probably only offer him a 1 or 2 year deal. 

There's been some rumours that PSG have been interested. It's unlikely he'll continue with us next summer if he wants money and a longer contract, we'll probably only offer him a 1 or 2 year deal. 

 

I guess another factor that may influence Brano's future could be that of our Captain, Leader, Legend.

 

I'd like to think this won't be the case but if JT hangs up his boots at the end of this season (or better yet moves to the MLS) I doubt Mou will be happy with just Stones (potentially), Gaz, and Zouma... if Brano signs an extension we'll be covered in every position across the back four for a few years.

Edited July 31, 201510 yr by the special one

We've sold T. Hazard?

 

Yeah, for about 6million pounds.. there is a buy back option, I think.

Edited July 31, 201510 yr by KURT.5

I think he'll turn out to be a bargain!

Only if Jose gives him game time which he hardly does barring injuries and suspensions. Granted we had the best defence last season, however I still think we have a JT & Ivanovic problem. Azpi has to play on the left to offer JT some protection due to his lack of pace, and teams were sticking pacy players on Ivanovic's side to exploit the space he leaves behind when he is caught further up the pitch. I reckon we will be better off if he starts selecting games for both players to allow them to rest and recover, and also because Baba needs games to further develop.

Sidenote: Anyone else reckon playing Azpi on the left has done some harm to his chances for the Spanish team?

Seems things are progressing according to Rahman's agent, “Both clubs are still working on fine-tuning but we hope the agreement will be finalised soon,” Rahman’s agent, Sascha Empacher, told Guardian sport". Granted it's newspaper talk but could be a sign of progress.

Yeah, for about 6million pounds.. there is a buy back option, I think.

That's pretty good considering we bought him for less than a million. Always thought it was abit of a weird signing though.

Sidenote: Anyone else reckon playing Azpi on the left has done some harm to his chances for the Spanish team?

 

It is actually the opposite. Azpi will always be called up since he can play both wings pretty well 

That's pretty good considering we bought him for less than a million. Always thought it was abit of a weird signing though.

Really? I assumed it was because of Eden

Really? I assumed it was because of Eden

Agreed. It doesn't really seem that much of a mystery...he was bought to either help settle Eden or because the hope was that he might have the same talent as Eden. I think I read somewhere Eden said Thorgan was more talented than him. Either why it's not unclear that it was directly related to Eden in some way.

Agreed. It doesn't really seem that much of a mystery...he was bought to either help settle Eden or because the hope was that he might have the same talent as Eden. I think I read somewhere Eden said Thorgan was more talented than him. Either why it's not unclear that it was directly related to Eden in some way.

I heard the same thing about him being more talented, but I think that's just Eden being a good big brother and helping promote jr. for us we assessed him saw he had some potential and for a million helped settle Eden and we could hope he would not only have the same genetic ability but learn from advice his brother passed him down, and worse case scenario if that doesn't work we would get more than what we payed just because of his last name, made decent sense.

Initially I thought it was a Michael-Fredo kind of deal as Thorgan was playing in like the Belgian Second division or something. Turns out, he's pretty good

Initially I thought it was a Michael-Fredo kind of deal as Thorgan was playing in like the Belgian Second division or something. Turns out, he's pretty good

Thorgan will have the chance to impress in the CL this season and I think Favre is doing a great job with the minimal resources at Gladbach. 

Looks like we're closing on Rahman by all accounts. Be good to know we have that depth at fullback again.

Ola Aina will be our 8th defender. Sounds like after this transfer we'll have one more

Ola Aina will be our 8th defender. Sounds like after this transfer we'll have one more

I got the impression he wants to sign Baba Rahman, another defender (Stones), and promote Aina

.

Edited August 2, 201510 yr by Chelsbear

20 mil, ffs, can that be true?

20 mil, ffs, can that be true?

Well that wasn't far off what we paid for Luis last season.

This lad is young and highly rated in Germany so it would take a sizable bid to get him I'd imagine.

20 mil, ffs, can that be true?

 

Mangala £42m 

Luke Shaw £27m 

Lovren £20m

Moreno £12m

Darmian £13m

 

 

Going rate for defenders nowadays unfortunately. 

....

This lad is young and highly rated in Germany so it would take a sizable bid to get him I'd imagine.

That's not true. He was good or rather solid last season. This would have taken most of football fans in Germany by surprise. 

Most Augsburg fans will be happy to sell the player for this money. 

That's not true. He was good or rather solid last season. This would have taken most of football fans in Germany by surprise.

Most Augsburg fans will be happy to sell the player for this money.

Well it is true since he was one of the best defenders in Germany last season....

Is it £20mill or €20mill?

Well it is true since he was one of the best defenders in Germany last season....

Well, behind Rodriguez, Rafinha, Bernat, Alaba, Uchida, you could make a case for him being the 6th best LB/RB. But when it comes to the  best defenders in Germany he doesn't make the Top 10. 

My statement is quite subjective, naturally. Something like one or two months ago there were pieces about him in the sportspages of the papers starting with: "Have you heard of Rahman? Well he is one the most expensive transfer targets in the Bundesliga!" - but many people weren't even aware of him. 

Well, behind Rodriguez, Rafinha, Bernat, Alaba, Uchida, you could make a case for him being the 6th best LB/RB. But when it comes to the best defenders in Germany he doesn't make the Top 10.

He narrowly missed out on being voted the best left back in Germany last season for their team of the season. He finished just behind Bernat in the voting.