20 hours ago, Malcolm9 said:

We can trigger his loan extension if we want to keep him for a further season.

Only if the ban doesn't stick though.

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

Only if the ban doesn't stick though.

We can keep Higuain no matter what.

5 minutes ago, Argo said:

We can keep Higuain no matter what.

I just read up on it and apparently it's true, fair enough then. I wouldn't want us to keep him though.

41 minutes ago, Argo said:

We can keep Higuain no matter what.

Interesting, I didn’t know that.  If I had to guess then: with a transfer ban we will keep him for sure; without a transfer ban he is gone.

1 hour ago, Scott Harris said:

I just read up on it and apparently it's true, fair enough then. I wouldn't want us to keep him though.

I would if we have a transfer ban.

For all his faults he's done more in the league in 6 months than Giroud has all season, infact probably 18 months if you take out the Southampton comeback. Now we're out of the only competition Oli's performing in keeping him next year would be painful. Out of the current options i'd choose Higuain and Tammy as both offer different skillsets that could compliment eachother.

If he's staying, there's no way he'd be a backup striker, which means we are unlikely to spend big on another striker. He's getting a little better lately, but I reckon its a bit too late. Given a couple of months break, god knows what physical shape he will be in next season.

12 hours ago, Argo said:

For all his faults he's done more in the league in 6 months than Giroud has all season, infact probably 18 months if you take out the Southampton comeback. Now we're out of the only competition Oli's performing in keeping him next year would be painful. Out of the current options i'd choose Higuain and Tammy as both offer different skillsets that could compliment eachother.

In defence of Giroud he's only had 7 league starts all season and his total played minutes equals less than 10 full matches.

He's got 2 goals and 4 assists, contributing to a goal every 138 minutes. 

Higuain in his 13 appearance has 5 goals, no assists, contributing to a goal every 202 minutes. 

We still have Morata and Batshayaui contracted to the club as well. I'm guessing Atletico will want Morata permanently, but Bats is likely to come back.

2 minutes ago, Zeta said:

We still have Morata and Batshayaui contracted to the club as well. I'm guessing Atletico will want Morata permanently, but Bats is likely to come back.

Morata is on an 18 month loan with an option to buy at the end of it. 

I doubt we have a recall clause as part of that agreement. If he ever kicks a ball for Chelsea again I would be massively surprised, especially as Costa looks set to leave Atletico as well. 

Michy I'm not sure will come back just because Sarri seemed pretty quick in moving him on once he arrived as coach. 

What's the issue with keeping him? It isn't as if we are overloaded with striking talent. Having Higuain as an option is a no brainer for me.

13 minutes ago, EmeraldBlue said:

What's the issue with keeping him? It isn't as if we are overloaded with striking talent. Having Higuain as an option is a no brainer for me.

COs we'd have to buy him wouldn't we? Juventus want money. 

42 minutes ago, Zeta said:

COs we'd have to buy him wouldn't we? Juventus want money. 

We've got an option to extend the loan for a second season at a cost of £18m or we can sign him on a permanent deal for £30m. 

EDIT: Double post. 

So I'll add, I don't think we should keep Higuain regardless. He hasn't shown enough in the 6 months to convince me he offers us any more than what we've already got. 

Michy B and Tammy Abraham are already on the books and would at the very least offer us a bit of pace. 

If the transfer ban is upheld though I think we'll sign him because Sarri will argue he needs his experience for the Champions League. 

Edited May 8, 20197 yr by ForeverCarefree
Double posted.

Well, we've lost our appeal so we're up sh*t creek it seems

So should we extend? Ive got a feeling he might get 20+ next season. 

1 hour ago, Blackened said:

So should we extend? Ive got a feeling he might get 20+ next season. 

Pies?

If we are allowed to sign anybody else, a definite NO

2 hours ago, Blackened said:

So should we extend? Ive got a feeling he might get 20+ next season. 

He still a very good finisher but he appears to be past it physically. Taking him on loan was low risk so it was worth a shot, but he's definitely not been an upgrade on Morata/Giroud. I doubt he's got 20 goals/season in him for anybody at the top level.

Would a good pre season restore those levels?

20 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Would a good pre season restore those levels?

No, once the legs have gone, they have gone. He runs and turns like a player that is past it.

20 minutes ago, Ballack & Blu said:

Would a good pre season restore those levels?

That makes me giggle ever since we told ourselves Cuadrado would deliver for us after a good pre-season 

6 hours ago, Blackened said:

So should we extend? Ive got a feeling he might get 20+ next season. 

Based on that first half and the atrocious miss just before half time, nope. 

He’s finished as a top level player and unlikely to score 20 league goals in a season again. 

4 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

Based on that first half and the atrocious miss just before half time, nope. 

He’s finished as a top level player and unlikely to score 20 league goals in a season again. 

I agree, but i think giroud wouldnt be able to either. I definitely dont think bats is right and not comfortable with Abraham being our number 1. 

So what instead? Jovic is off to Madrid surely. 

1 minute ago, bisright1 said:

I agree, but i think giroud wouldnt be able to either. I definitely dont think bats is right and not comfortable with Abraham being our number 1. 

So what instead? Jovic is off to Madrid surely. 

I’d rather Michy as first choice with Tammy as back up. 

At least then you’ve got a bit of pace and mobility up front and we’re not spending big loan fee and wages on a player past his sell by date. 

If the transfer ban is avoided I’d go for Werner who is available this summer from Leipzig, Jovic, Icardi... maybe even Suarez on a short deal!

I think there’s much better options out there than what we’ve got right now. 

6 minutes ago, ForeverCarefree said:

I’d rather Michy as first choice with Tammy as back up. 

At least then you’ve got a bit of pace and mobility up front and we’re not spending big loan fee and wages on a player past his sell by date. 

If the transfer ban is avoided I’d go for Werner who is available this summer from Leipzig, Jovic, Icardi... maybe even Suarez on a short deal!

I think there’s much better options out there than what we’ve got right now. 

I just think michy hasn't exactly set the world on fire in his last two loans, how can we trust him to lead our line. 

Don't know about Werner. I assume jovic isn't available. To be honest I'd prefer higuain / Abraham over michy or giroud paired with him. But if we can sign someone great. 

2 hours ago, bisright1 said:

I just think michy hasn't exactly set the world on fire in his last two loans, how can we trust him to lead our line. 

Don't know about Werner. I assume jovic isn't available. To be honest I'd prefer higuain / Abraham over m?ichy ?or giroud paired with him. But if we can sign someone great. 

I'd take Batshuayi back if we could find the system that suits him. Our strikers often play with their back to goal and our deliveries into the box are awful, Batshuayi would really struggle with that.

Edited May 12, 20197 yr by Scott Harris