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

Is this guy any good?

I've watched a few teams across Europe this year but Bilbao isn't one of them

He was very good before he had his big injury, but I haven't seen much of him since then. 

I believe he was touted as being one of the best young CB's in the world a couple years ago along with Varane and Marquinhos

13 hours ago, ozboy said:

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

Is this guy any good?

I've watched a few teams across Europe this year but Bilbao isn't one of them

Pep wanted him at Man City

4 hours ago, kiwi1691 said:

Pep wanted him at Man City

Surely that means we should avoid him like the plague

3 hours ago, PedroMendez said:

Surely that means we should avoid him like the plague

 

Pep is terrible defensively

But Laporte working under Conte could be great, and he could end up being amazing

He's also left footed so would slot nicely into the lcb role with cahill but ake is really impressing me atm IF zouma went I'd be happy to have him. Equally I wouldn't be opposed to Ben Gibson, the one I really like (Italian defender) is Romagnoli

Azpi / Christensen / Luiz -  Luiz / Christensen / Ake - Cahill / Laporte / Ake

 

That's 6 defenders so might be a little excessive but gives great cover of each position also most are very comfortable in possession. 

Doesn't score/assist often enough for me (same with Gibson/Romagnoli). On average van Dijk scores every 9 games, and assists every 21. I have no doubt Laporte would help us keep clean sheets but I think van Dijk would help us win games (something Cahill has done for us this season, and JT in the past)

Edited May 18, 20177 yr by the special one

5 minutes ago, the special one said:

Doesn't score/assist often enough for me. On average van Dijk scores every 9 games, and assists every 21. I have no doubt Laporte would help us keep clean sheets but I think van Dijk would help us win games (something Cahill has done for us this season, and JT in the past)

Cahill rarely scored before this season and definitely wasn't considered a goal scorer at his former clubs. Silly to not sign a defender for such a reason. 

36 minutes ago, RIP Mourinho said:

Cahill rarely scored before this season and definitely wasn't considered a goal scorer at his former clubs. Silly to not sign a defender for such a reason. 

Each to their own, for me goal scoring ability from set pieces is what sorts the wheat from the chaff. Goal scoring centre halves are a rare breed so I think we'd be mugs not to go for van Dijk personally (Cahill's average goal return is actually marginally better than JT). 

 

Edited May 18, 20177 yr by the special one

On 5/18/2017 at 13:46, RIP Mourinho said:

Cahill rarely scored before this season and definitely wasn't considered a goal scorer at his former clubs. Silly to not sign a defender for such a reason. 

Cahill has always scored a few goals for a CB. I mean he's definitely no JT, but excluding him Cahill is one of our top scoring CB's.

45 minutes ago, JJP said:

Cahill has always scored a few goals for a CB. I mean he's definitely no JT, but excluding him Cahill is one of our top scoring CB's.

He's had 3 seasons when he's been a scoring force in his career. The other seasons he hasn't hit over 3 goals

For me the first judgement on a centre half isn't how often they score or assist. Although that might be a nice bonus I'm more concerned about if they can stop the opposition scoring.

 

I remember he was looking a sensational talent before the injury and was touted to be one of the best in the future.

I've not seen much of him since admittedly and I've not heard much about him so not sure if he's progressing as everyone thought he would. 

 

I'm reluctant for us to sign a young CB when we have Christensen coming through but if we were to look at one, I'd like us to go in for Romagnoli, he will be a star in years to come IMO.