28 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

Don't think Milan is in for any big purchase, we aren't going to give Morata away cheaply, doubt Roman is in Milan to do his Minion's job.

Swap for donnarumma has been rumoured today.

13 minutes ago, big blue said:

Swap for donnarumma has been rumoured today.

That's a rumour I could get behind.

Basically we will pay off Juventus' Ronaldo transfer by taking Hiaguin and Rugani for close to 100M. One short term striker fix ( a Big If), and a defender we aren't desperate need. If this is a sign Roman is willing to sign players for the manager, I will get behind it

Still struggling with this one.

He is 31 in 4 months and hasn't been the best at keeping himself in shape a bit like a certain Wayne Rooney who's career rapidly declined once he got to the 30 mark.

I know we have to trust the manager and give him what he wants but for me Higuain is far too much of a gamble, I look at him and I can't see how he will do well in our side in the EPL.

/* Loud whisper */ Somebody should tell him that Juventus is a Turin club. 

Someone on twitter (I know) stated that Milan is like the economic capital of Italy so a lot of business is conducted there even though Rome is the actual capital.

Please tell me that Roman isn't in Milan negotiating a deal for this fat, old piece of sh*t...

32 minutes ago, doctorblue said:

Please tell me that Roman isn't in Milan negotiating a deal for this fat, old piece of sh*t...

That player is a top striker who is only being forced out of the Juve lineup because a litteral machine has just joined. 

Cant remember a transfer I wanted to not happen as much as this one. Hes going to absolutely tank in the PL.

Why not go after Belotti instead? This dude is 31 very soon and epl isnt some retirement home......take this Cash and add 15-20m more for Belotti imo. Much younger, hungrier etc. This old Higuain will only get worse.....bad judgement once Again imo.

The Napoli coach's frank assessment of the striker's work rate played a key role in his breaking of Gunnar Nordahl's long-standing single-season record of 35 goals

In Maurizio Sarri's first meeting with Gonzalo Higuain last July, the new Napoliboss looked his star striker straight in the eye and stated: "You're too lazy. If you don't change your attitude, you won't become the best centre forward in the world."

It was an incredibly bold opening gambit. Higuain has long been known as an awkward character. Even his brother and agent, Nicolas, admit the forward is "introverted". 

Higuain can also be moody and, at his worst, volatile. Nowhere was this better demonstrated than in Ibiza last summer when Higuain become embroiled in an unsavoury exchange with a fan seeking a photo. The Argentine refused, prompting the man to snipe: "You can't even score penalties!" 

It was a snide reference to the fact that Higuain had missed a crucial spot-kick in what was effectively a Champions League qualification decider with Lazio at the end of the 2014-15 campaign and another in Argentina's Copa America final shootout loss to Chile. Higuain flew into a rage. "Delete the video or I'll rip your head off!" It was an ugly incident which confirmed two things: Higuain was hurting, and is a man who does not react well to criticism.

Sarri had, therefore, taken a huge gamble in telling Higuain that he was only paying at "70 per cent" of his potential in that pivotal opening encounter at Napoli's pre-season training camp at Dimaro. This time, though, Higuain reacted to the blunt appraisal of his performances in the best possible fashion. He got himself in peak physical condition and even changed his diet, losing four kilograms before the start of the 2015-16 campaign. 

The results have been sensational. Higuain has never been a slouch - he scored 35 goals in his first two years at the San Paolo. This season, he has topped that tally in a single campaign and broken a record that many believed would never be touched.

In 1950, the legendary Gunnar Nordahl netted 35 times in Serie A. That tally has never been equalled and even looked beyond Higuain, who went into the final game of the season against Frosinone on 33. He scored a hat-trick.

 

Higuain may have even surpassed Gino Rossetti's overall record of 36 goals (set in 1928-29, the season before Serie A became a round-robin league rather than a competition divided into regions) had he not been banned for three games for his furious reaction to being dismissed in a crucial 2-1 loss to Udinese at the start of April. 

Higuain's petulance that day proved that he remains a combustible character but there is no denying that his mindset has changed. Rafael Benitez once described the No.9 as like "a hungry lion in a cage", yet the Spaniard never managed to get the absolute best out of Higuain because he did not understand him. Sarri most certainly does.

"Gonzalo can be a bit sensitive and it shows," the ex-Empoli boss explained. "But it's enough to to strike the right chord with him. A champion of his ability sometimes just needs to feel close to those around him."

Those words certainly ring true when one considers Higuain's time at Real Madrid. The River Plate prodigy signed for the game's richest club just days after his 19th birthday. He scored freely at the Santiago Bernabeu, playing his part in three Spanish title triumphs, yet was never considered a Galactico.

As a result, he felt slightly out of place; an outsider, unloved and underappreciated. As his brother recently acknowledged, "Gonzalo grew up as a footballer and as a person as the world's biggest club, surrounded by champions. But now he is reaching maturity."

It's hardly surprising. In Naples, Higuain is viewed as something akin to The Second Coming, a worthy successor to his compatriot Diego Maradona, who transformed the Partenopei from Serie A also-rans into two-time champions. Higuain has thus far failed to fire Napoli to a third title but he could yet emulate Maradona as the best player in the world.

"If he doesn’t win the Ballon d'Or in future then it'll be all his fault," Sarri has claimed. "He'd be a right ****head." And Sarri knows that Higuain is anything but that. 

"Up until now, he has projected an image which isn't in line with his character," he argued. "He's not only the best striker in the world, he's also man with genuine feelings."

Essentially, Higuain is a player that just wanted to feel loved. By his club, his fans and, most importantly of all, his coach. "I am happy I decided to stay," he admitted earlier this season. "Sarri has given me peace of mind." And with it, a place in the history books.

4 minutes ago, atomis said:

Why not go after Belotti instead? This dude is 31 very soon and epl isnt some retirement home......take this Cash and add 15-20m more for Belotti imo. Much younger, hungrier etc. This old Higuain will only get worse.....bad judgement once Again imo.

No doubler that Belotti is younger - amd hungrer. But he’s simply not Chelsea material. Since last summer’s rumours regarding Belotti I’ve been begging for us to not get him.

Sure, he had a brilliant season two years ago, but if you look at him playing for whole games - and not just on YouTube, you’ll notice how much of shoot-and-pray player he is. He kinda just smashes the ball towards goal. It’s not as if he’s clinical.

He’s physical, sure - but so is Morata, Batsman and Giroud.

This does not mean, however, that I want fat, almost 31-year-old Argentine from Juve either.

Personally I believe that we should stick with the ones we’ve got. Maybe get rid of one and give Tammy a chance. 

If we HAD to buy someone, it would either have to be a Lewandowski or some rapid young guy, like Martial - or some Barzilian/Argentinian youngster - like we did with Oscar.

2 hours ago, BordeauxBlue said:

That player is a top striker who is only being forced out of the Juve lineup because a litteral machine has just joined. 

And why are we paying for their Ronaldo deal? The biggest waste of money ever buying Huguain...

Hardly, if Sarri thinks he can get more out of Higuain than any of our current strikers then I'll trust his judgement.

 

51 minutes ago, atomis said:

Why not go after Belotti instead? This dude is 31 very soon and epl isnt some retirement home......take this Cash and add 15-20m more for Belotti imo. Much younger, hungrier etc. This old Higuain will only get worse.....bad judgement once Again imo.

Because they're a radically different type of striker?

1 hour ago, enigma said:

Essentially, Higuain is a player that just wanted to feel loved. By his club, his fans and, most importantly of all, his coach. "I am happy I decided to stay," he admitted earlier this season. "Sarri has given me peace of mind."

 

Within a few weeks he had signed for Juventus.

1 hour ago, Hanzen said:

No doubler that Belotti is younger - amd hungrer. But he’s simply not Chelsea material. Since last summer’s rumours regarding Belotti I’ve been begging for us to not get him.

Sure, he had a brilliant season two years ago, but if you look at him playing for whole games - and not just on YouTube, you’ll notice how much of shoot-and-pray player he is. He kinda just smashes the ball towards goal. It’s not as if he’s clinical.

He’s physical, sure - but so is Morata, Batsman and Giroud.

This does not mean, however, that I want fat, almost 31-year-old Argentine from Juve either.

Personally I believe that we should stick with the ones we’ve got. Maybe get rid of one and give Tammy a chance. 

If we HAD to buy someone, it would either have to be a Lewandowski or some rapid young guy, like Martial - or some Barzilian/Argentinian youngster - like we did with Oscar.

Im with you on Martial and keeping Morata for one season more........Higuan will be too old, in a new demanding League, will get ass f**ked by the refs and opposition every sec.

1 hour ago, BordeauxBlue said:

Because they're a radically different type of striker?

I just threw a name out there......why not cavani or Martial......much rather Martial than Higuain for me......wont cost more either I bet.

Just wish this rumour would go away. Can’t wait for the start of the season and we haven’t signed Higuain.

2 hours ago, BordeauxBlue said:

Hardly, if Sarri thinks he can get more out of Higuain than any of our current strikers then I'll trust his judgement.

 

I think Sarri could work with Morata and make him a better striker but if he himself doesn't want that responsibility then it's official that signing Morata has been a big flop overall.

Worth a read, the daily fail leading with this

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5969707/Chelsea-owner-Roman-Abramovich-Milan-seal-89m-double-swoop.html

Really don’t want Higuain. It would be an admission of mediocrity. He is no better, indeed inferior, to Gironde  just to start with.

I'm struggling to think of a 30 year old striker moved to EPL and became a hit. Zaltan did a good job, but he's a better player than Higuain. I honestly don't think he will make it here, even with his favorite manager in charge.

I think we have to begin to accept that we're going to sign Higuain and sell Morata.

Short-sighted and a mistake, but that's CHelsea for you.

35 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Really don’t want Higuain. It would be an admission of mediocrity. He is no better, indeed inferior, to Gironde  ?just to start with.

Do you mean Giroud?

54 minutes ago, icecoolguy22 said:

I'm struggling to think of a 30 year old striker moved to EPL and became a hit.

Zola?

Suker was probably 30 when he joined Arsenal.

Larsson when he joined United, although he was mostly used as a sub.

Slim pickings I’ll give you that.

6 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Zola?

Suker was probably 30 when he joined Arsenal.

Larsson when he joined United, although he was mostly used as a sub.

Slim pickings I’ll give you that.

Zlatan did well and he was 34. 

There's probably been more misses than hits though.

Higuian doesn't look like a player that will age particularly well either, but he has scored goals every where he has played, he has a good touch, and I think will score goals this season, not sure what he will be like in 1 or 2 years time though.

 

1 minute ago, big blue said:

Zlatan did well and he was 34. 

There's probably been more misses than hits though.

Higuian doesn't look like a player that will age particularly well either, but he has scored goals every where he has played, he has a good touch, and I think will score goals this season, not sure what he will be like in 1 or 2 years time though.

 

Given the condition the likes of Ibra and Larrson kept themselves in it's a bit more understandable they have kept their form going into their 30's.

Guys who are frequently yo-yoing in terms of fitness and weight like Rooney and Higuain then the body tends not to react so well when you enter the twilight of your career.