Apparently he wants out and we've been linked, albeit by rubbish sources. Would be a dream signing if we could pull it off. One of the best midfielders in the world.

“I believe Conte is the best Coach I have ever worked with.”

“He is a tactician who really focuses on the details and knows absolutely everything about his opponents. This is why it takes a little while to really understand what he’s asking of us. Having Conte as Coach is a big advantage for all of us in the Italy squad.”

-Marco Verratti, Oct 2015; source: Sky Italia via Football Italia

As good as Matic has been this season, Verratti would be a massive upgrade. 

Have championed this move for a while now. As someone else said on here it leaves us a little short on height in the middle but I would love him. If PSG don't win the league and go out in the last 16/quarters of the CL I could see him coming.

28 minutes ago, rtwelch said:

Have championed this move for a while now. As someone else said on here it leaves us a little short on height in the middle but I would love him. If PSG don't win the league and go out in the last 16/quarters of the CL I could see him coming.

Having height in the middle is a bit overstated in my opinion. Matic may as well be 5 11. He's terrible in the air.

Ideal signing.

Chelsea have made Marco Verratti a top target and are prepared to test Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain for the midfielder in January.

Roman Abramovich is willing to bankroll Antonio Conte's push for the Premier League title and Verratti, who played under the Italian in the international team, is wanted.

Marina Granovskaia is Abramovich's right-hand woman and the director tasked with tackling the transfer window, as Chelsea try to deliver the signings that Conte needs to continue his title challenge.  

Insiders have said that Chelsea are confident they can get Verratti, despite the 24-year-old's deal in France running until 2021.

It is understood Chelsea are hopeful that they can get Verratti for less than £40m, though PSG will put up a fight.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4040576/Chelsea-make-PSG-s-Marco-Verratti-January-target.html

 

lol no chance we're getting him for less than £40m, with them knowing we just got some big bucks from the Chinese, would require about £70m minimum just to grab their attention

 

Yeah, probably going to take all 60 million we'll hopefully get for Oscar before they'll even consider it. But my oh my would he be a fantastic signing.

If we could swap Oscar for Veratti that would be some impressive statement.

With Luiz here we have one of his former teammates which would help plus the lure of his international manager is also a big pull.

 

The big issue will be PSG and their valuation, he’s signed till 2022 and is one of the top midfielders in Europe. It’s £40 plus million easily. Maybe with the Luiz deal we have a decent relationship with PSG so that is potentially a plus but at the minute it sounds too good to be true.

Theres no hop eof it happening in January, theres very little hope of it happening, period.

Verratti is one of the best CMs on the planet and it wont be for anything under 60m if he does go, IMO.

Despite playing a different role to Pogba, I think hes better, he just doesnt dab or have fancy hair so hes not as PR friendly but IMO, hes a better player and would be an immense signing if we managed to get our hands on him.

Sadly, I cant see it happening.

An absolutely phenomenal player who should suit us perfectly. On the other hand... is no one else a bit concerned by his injury record?

Conte was asked about it in todays press conference, didn't want to comment on it out of respect to PSG.

Good replacement for Obi John...

2 hours ago, Charles Ryder said:

Good replacement for Obi John...

Some would even consider it an upgrade 

He could be Messi, Ronaldo and Griezmann rolled into one but there'd never be as much anticipation for one of his goals than there would be for a Mikel one.

He's pretty short 

10 minutes ago, Theafonis said:

He's pretty short 

So is kante...and hazard...and pedro...but the rest of our team except Dave and Moses is 6,2 or over we have more than enough height 

Our midfield got bullied by spurs, hate to think what would happen with Veratti in there instead of Matic. I think he's a terrific player but I'm worried about the physical side of our game.

if we worry about height / physical duel on the midfield we could go with 352 with matic kante as dm/b2b and verratti playing more upfront, hazard in a second striker role, that verratti-hazard-diego combination, one two pass galore

besides with kante-verratti surely their defensive prowess, passing ability, and work rates would outweigh the headers they give up, and in 343 one of the cb's would go higher trying to help win the ball in the midfield

or we could go with vince adultman strategy with kante+verratti-matic

34 minutes ago, havelschayes said:

or we could go with vince adultman strategy with kante+verratti-matic

That would be a serious business.

we have no chance to get him in jan. Even in the summer is very unlikely. PSG would never sell.

21 hours ago, PloKoon13 said:

That would be a serious business.

just need to borrow avb's trench coat and we're good to go

One player I would love to see in Chelsea-shirt. Would improve us as well. Verratti-Kante in midfield and no one will ever get past it.

PSG just bought Draxler, so maybe they sell Verratti to balance the books?  Not that they need it but it's a thought.

35 minutes ago, mwblue10 said:

PSG just bought Draxler, so maybe they sell Verratti to balance the books?  Not that they need it but it's a thought.

Maybe they'll sell but not sure he'll leave until next summer. United look a team again with Carrick/Herrera/Pogba so wouldn't come as a surprise if he joined United to replace Carrick.