19 minutes ago, Kentonio said:

I would be gutted if we sold Rudiger. The lad is sheer class, I loved watching him last season. As much as I love Luiz, he's 31 now, and keeping him while selling a brilliant 25 year old would seem crazy.

 

7 minutes ago, Valerie said:

From this list, I'd only genuinely regret losing Rüdiger. He has proved to be quality for us.

I like Rudiger, arguably was our most consistent defender last season (up with Dave). 

But we look set to sign Rugani from Juventus and that would mean we've got six centre backs (Cahill, Rudiger, Christensen, Luiz, Ampadu) with Azpilicueta also capable of playing there (though I suspect he'll be played at right back), that's two too many and I just have this feeling that Rudiger might be a makeweight. 

Just now, ForeverCarefree said:

 

I like Rudiger, arguably was our most consistent defender last season (up with Dave). 

But we look set to sign Rugani from Juventus and that would mean we've got six centre backs (Cahill, Rudiger, Christensen, Luiz, Ampadu) with Azpilicueta also capable of playing there (though I suspect he'll be played at right back), that's two too many and I just have this feeling that Rudiger might be a makeweight. 

Or maybe sell Cahill and get Ethan a PL loan for the season? Even though he's only 17, he already looks like he should be playing regularly for a top side. I think a full season at a low/mid table PL club could round him off beautifully and then he'd be ready to step straight in for Luiz next year.

1 hour ago, ForeverCarefree said:

 

I like Rudiger, arguably was our most consistent defender last season (up with Dave). 

But we look set to sign Rugani from Juventus and that would mean we've got six centre backs (Cahill, Rudiger, Christensen, Luiz, Ampadu) with Azpilicueta also capable of playing there (though I suspect he'll be played at right back), that's two too many and I just have this feeling that Rudiger might be a makeweight. 

Sounds about par for the course for us lately, move on one of only two truly international class defenders that we have

Schurrle is off to Fulham. I’m jealous to be honest, I think he would have made a better impact sub than Pedro.

2 hours ago, Kentonio said:

I would be gutted if we sold Rudiger. The lad is sheer class, I loved watching him last season. As much as I love Luiz, he's 31 now, and keeping him while selling a brilliant 25 year old would seem crazy.

I wouldn't worry. He will be the last of our CBs we will sell. He is actually the only one who is a real starter at the moment for me.

3 hours ago, Nibs said:

Very difficult situation for Sarri as he has come in and immediately had to fly thousands of miles with a squad of players, MANY who probably aren't in his plans for the coming season. All the big-hitters are on their holidays and he will want to see them up close before he makes some pretty major decisions. Of course he knows how good a player like Hazard is, but there are others he will want to see, not just to know their footballing abilities but get to know them / get a feel for them and their mental strength etc. I feel for a player like Batshuayi. With Sarri coming in he would have wanted to try and impress him early and didn't play a great amount in the WC but has had to take a break anyway.

I do hope he keeps at least a couple of the yongsters involved for next season and there isn't another mass loan exodus. This season I will be happy with top 4, see a few youngsters get more game (NOT 5-10 minutes at the end of a game) and seeing us playing better football. Anything more than that will be a bonus.

 

Yup, Sarri is seriously handicapped by the short space of time he has to assess his squad before the real action starts. He has to make some pretty major decisions because the last thing he wants is a squad of 30+ players. That will only cause him major problems. Apparently he likes working with a small squad anyway. It also looks like we're buying Rugani so that's 7 CBs we now have. Unfortunately, because of the lack of time, I can see another mass loan exodus for the youngsters. For me that would be a disaster. Aina, Tammy, CHO and Ampadu have to stay. I wouldn't be surprised if 2 or 3 of them go on loan however.

3 hours ago, ForeverCarefree said:

My predictions for squad departures. 

Rudiger: I think with the Rugani deal looking like it's going to happen we're overstocked on CBs and Tony ain't going to want to play second fiddle. Luiz might find himself in favour given his ability on the ball and Christensen too will do well in a playing style of ball retention given his high pass success rate. 

Cahill: At 32 he's not got many seasons left and might look to leave in search of regular football. 

Drinkwater: Not getting any minutes in the Perth friendly is as big a confirmation as any that he's not in the manager's plans and I expect he'll be sold (at a loss) after only a hand full of appearances. 

Bakayoko: I reckon he'll be loaned out for the season, I don't think the club are going to want to give up on him given how much they invested in him but I can't see him fitting into Sarri's system when we've got much better options in Fabregas, RLC and Barkley who are all so much better and more composed in possession. 

Willian: He's off to United. Too much rumour surrounding his future (or maybe just wishful thinking on my part), we'll cash in whilst we can knowing any decent offer is too good to turn down for a player about to turn 30. 

Morata: We're clearly pursuing Higuain and for good reason, Sarri wants someone he can trust to lead the line this season and Morata isn't good enough. I think the rumoured move to AC Milan will materialise (possible reunion with Conte), loan with a forced purchase. 

Batshuayi: I think he's going to want regular first team football, especially after his goal scoring exploits on loan at Dortmund last season. We can likely get good money for what is essentially a back up player for us and we'll use it to reinvest in Higuain (or whoever ends up coming in as a new centre forward). 

 

It's a lot of big names but we seem to be pushing for a lot of first team signings, I'm getting the impression that the club wants to give Sarri the best chance possible of implementing the playing style they've bought him in for and are going to try to avoid making him square peg, round holing it.  

 

I'd go along with most of those, not Rudiger however, although maybe in the future, we'll see. I think it will be Zouma, whom you seem to have forgotten.

I don't understand the obsession with promoting youth. Surely it's just a means to an end, no? Or is it important in itself to have the heart-warming story of academy player becoming Captain, Leader, Legend and all that?

Given a reasonably gifted youngster who clearly isn't good enough to be playing for the first team yet - not by comparison with other options - are we meant to give them games at the expense of better players, i.e. make the team worse in order to ... I'm not actually sure what? A slightly increased chance of keeping them long term if they do come good?

Is warming the bench better than getting games at a smaller club for a development of a promising player?

I tell you what, if we managed to shift Morata and one of Willian or Pedro out and bought in Martial and Bailey, I'd be a very happy chappy about our transfer window. 

Unlikely but a boy can dream. 

49 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

Sounds about par for the course for us lately, move on one of only two truly international class defenders that we have

I'm just struggling to see where everyone fits in if we're signing another centre back. Only other thing I can think would be if we sold Zappacosta to Inter Milan as is rumoured and we used Azpilicueta and Rudiger as our right-backs. Moses is used as depth for wingers rather defence. 

 

2 hours ago, Kentonio said:

Or maybe sell Cahill and get Ethan a PL loan for the season? Even though he's only 17, he already looks like he should be playing regularly for a top side. I think a full season at a low/mid table PL club could round him off beautifully and then he'd be ready to step straight in for Luiz next year.

Even if Ampadu goes out on loan I still think you'd need to move on two central defenders if we signed Rugani because those left won't be content playing second string all season. Cahill might go, knowing he's no longer first choice and as I said above only other thing might be if Rudiger is used as a right-back option. 

But we're already unbalanced with how many defenders we have in the squad and I think someone needs to go. Sign someone else and we definitely need to move a couple of player on. 

1 minute ago, ForeverCarefree said:

only other thing might be if Rudiger is used as a right-back option. 

Wouldn't he be CB with Azpi at RB? And then Rugani next to Rudiger with Christensen as third choice.

1 minute ago, Davey Baby said:

I'd go along with most of those, not Rudiger however, although maybe in the future, we'll see. I think it will be Zouma, whom you seem to have forgotten.

Blimey, I'd forgotten about Zouma. Though I suspect he'll be sent on loan for another season to continue his recovery from his ACL injury, can't say he was particularly convincing for Stoke last year, being part of the team with the worst defensive record in the league. 

We're massively overstocked in defence but seem determined to sign Rugani to give Sarri style of defender he must want to work with. 

Seems like we're leaving ourselves with a lot of work to do with only a couple of weeks of the window left, all the while with no director of football to oversee everything. 

2 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Blimey, I'd forgotten about Zouma. Though I suspect he'll be sent on loan for another season to continue his recovery from his ACL injury, can't say he was particularly convincing for Stoke last year, being part of the team with the worst defensive record in the league. 

We're massively overstocked in defence but seem determined to sign Rugani to give Sarri style of defender he must want to work with. 

Seems like we're leaving ourselves with a lot of work to do with only a couple of weeks of the window left, all the while with no director of football to oversee everything. 

 

I'd also be very surprised if we kept Courtois.

Just now, chokosc said:

Wouldn't he be CB with Azpi at RB? And then Rugani next to Rudiger with Christensen as third choice.

Assuming we play four at the back next season our current squad is:

Right-back: Azpilicueta, Zappacosta, Moses (maybe)

Right centre-back: Christensen, Zouma, Ampadu

Left centre-back: Luiz, Cahill, Rudiger

Left-back: Alonso, Emerson

That's eleven players for four postions and that's before Rugani comes in. 

At centre-back you've got six players for two positions as it is, seven if you include Rugani. It's far too many. Even if Ampadu and Zouma left on loan you've probably got one too many (again assuming Rugani signs). 

1 minute ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Assuming we play four at the back next season our current squad is:

Right-back: Azpilicueta, Zappacosta, Moses (maybe)

Right centre-back: Christensen, Zouma, Ampadu

Left centre-back: Luiz, Cahill, Rudiger

Left-back: Alonso, Emerson

That's eleven players for four postions and that's before Rugani comes in. 

At centre-back you've got six players for two positions as it is, seven if you include Rugani. It's far too many. Even if Ampadu and Zouma left on loan you've probably got one too many (again assuming Rugani signs). 

I'd probably let go Luiz and then Cahill (if we have to). One of Moses or Zappa as well (Moses could be backup RW if say Pedro leaves)

1 minute ago, Davey Baby said:

I'd also be very surprised if we kept Courtois.

I've got a suspicion he'll stay this season even if he leaves on a free next year. 

There doesn't seem to be much value in the market for 'keepers right now, the prices being quote are huge and I think the club would rather invest in a new winger and centre forward. 

Courtois has always said he's happy to play for Chelsea next season so the club might keep him to his word on that one. The rumoured £30m we'd be getting for him would be made up from qualifying for the Champions League again and we'd have a better chance of finishing top four with him than with some of the players we're being linked with as a replacement (Butland, Riena). 

1 hour ago, dansubrosa said:

Schurrle is off to Fulham. I’m jealous to be honest, I think he would have made a better impact sub than Pedro.

Pedro is a different level to Schurrle, especially in the system Sarri will be playing.

That Tancredi Palmeri chap is reporting that Pepe Reina is on the verge of joining us for 9M Euros, whilst Courtois is on the verge of joining Real Madrid for 25M Euros. 

 

I'm sort of resigned to the fact that this probably makes sense for all involved. 

2 minutes ago, mclovin83 said:

That Tancredi Palmeri chap is reporting that Pepe Reina is on the verge of joining us for 9M Euros, whilst Courtois is on the verge of joining Real Madrid for 25M Euros. 

 

Hasn't Reina just signed for Milan?

5 minutes ago, chokosc said:

Hasn't Reina just signed for Milan?

Yeah. It would be a bit of a flying visit but who knows...

15 minutes ago, mclovin83 said:

That Tancredi Palmeri chap is reporting that Pepe Reina is on the verge of joining us for 9M Euros, whilst Courtois is on the verge of joining Real Madrid for 25M Euros. 

 

£7m for an (almost) 36 year goalkeeper. 

Jesus wept. 

5 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

£7m for an (almost) 36 year goalkeeper. 

Jesus wept. 

That's basically free in todays market though isn't it..

26 minutes ago, mclovin83 said:

I'm sort of resigned to the fact that this probably makes sense for all involved. 

 

It certainly makes sense for Real Madrid.

 

Not sure about us.

£20 million that get's you a top keeper for a season seems a no brainer for me.

Why take the risk and downgrade significantly for a fee we could make back easily?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/football/who-scored-blog/2018/jul/25/chelsea-maurizio-sarri-line-up-jorginho

Seems a bit weird to read such fantasy football article in the guardian, but for what it's worth. Apparently we "could line up" with Schmeichel, Milinkovic-Savic next season. And Hazard and Willian stay.  :)