No questioning the talent, for me it's fitness that worries me, but getting him on a free seems quite funny considering Barca paid like €120m for him. If TT wants him and I suspect he may be interested then we should at least try. 

Staying at Barca was the right decision for him, it allows him to finish the season in a familiar environment. Where he can showcase his ability (providing he remains fit) and essentially pick from his potential suitors which you would expect would be a larger variety in the summer compared to the Jan window.

59 minutes ago, LongtimerLurker said:

No questioning the talent, for me it's fitness that worries me, but getting him on a free seems quite funny considering Barca paid like €120m for him. If TT wants him and I suspect he may be interested then we should at least try. 

Staying at Barca was the right decision for him, it allows him to finish the season in a familiar environment. Where he can showcase his ability (providing he remains fit) and essentially pick from his potential suitors which you would expect would be a larger variety in the summer compared to the Jan window.

Barcelona got a lot of money for Neymar joining PSG and then they spent so much without even thinking how to integrate those players with Messi. A lot of good talents didn't make it in Barcelona because of it. Probably Dembele is one of them so getting him for free and letting him fight for his spot shouldn't hurt us, after all we're struggling with our attackers.

20 hours ago, Gol15 said:

Barcelona got a lot of money for Neymar joining PSG and then they spent so much without even thinking how to integrate those players with Messi. A lot of good talents didn't make it in Barcelona because of it. Probably Dembele is one of them so getting him for free and letting him fight for his spot shouldn't hurt us, after all we're struggling with our attackers.

Only thing is (and no matter how we slice it we need at least 1 new attacker) I've grown quite attached to all our attackers, I wouldn't want to really lose any. I suspect at least 1 will go in the summer no matter what happens, perhaps even 2.

Was electric when he came on vs atheltic bilbao. a goal and a couple of assists. 

I loved this player when he first burst onto the scene - looked as good as Mbappe. Fast forward a few years and to be honest I'd look elsewhere as he can't stay fit. If Tuchel signs him though fair play - TT knows better than I!

On 24/03/2022 at 16:06, Gordon Bennett said:

I loved this player when he first burst onto the scene - looked as good as Mbappe. Fast forward a few years and to be honest I'd look elsewhere as he can't stay fit. If Tuchel signs him though fair play - TT knows better than I!

From the sounds of things I think we were exploring this option before the recent summer plans were thrown into doubt with the ownership issues. However it seems like we were favouring Raphina I suspect TT would rather have someone who is prem proven, lower profile so less of a superstar ego and most importantly fits with the vision of the club. I'd take them both personally I don't have a preference but definitely a situation to keep an eye on.

Barca themselves are in for Raphina who I guess they see as a Dembele replacement and considering the other big name clubs interested in both of these players it will be interesting to see if their futures end up being linked, one thing for certain is I doubt either stays at their current club come the end of the summer window.

To be fair he looks awesome. I would gladly swap him with Pulisic for example.

1 hour ago, evissy said:

To be fair he looks awesome. I would gladly swap him with Pulisic for example.

Amazing what playing for your next contract does eh?

It's a tricky one. He is head and shoulders an improvement on the wingers we have but there is a question mark over his character/mentality and we already have too many players who struggle to convince that they have the mental strength and right mentality to be regular winners. 

We need to improve on Pulisic, Odoi, Ziyech and Werner and he is that. Whether we should gamble on him probably depends on what other credible options we have. 

 

 

On 18/04/2022 at 16:42, loz said:

It's a tricky one. He is head and shoulders an improvement on the wingers we have but there is a question mark over his character/mentality and we already have too many players who struggle to convince that they have the mental strength and right mentality to be regular winners. 

We need to improve on Pulisic, Odoi, Ziyech and Werner and he is that. Whether we should gamble on him probably depends on what other credible options we have. 

I think you sum it up quite well. I think based on the fact that he would be coming on a free and reports are TT wants him, it’s a gamble worth taking. Sell 2 of the attackers you mentioned and go from there.

Thought he had agreed a new deal with Barca already, part of why they started playing him again.

2 hours ago, mwblue10 said:

TT wants him, it’s a gamble worth taking. 

Pretty much the only thing that should be considered. The guy knows him well and if he wants him then that's good enough. People can lean into conjecture as much as they want regarding his mentality, worth ethic etc but TT knows what's up. 

He has been Barca's best player for a bit and that after he was roundly boo'd by most of their fans. Werner needs cheers every game to get a shot on target. 

I'm pretty sure Tuchel once said he was the most talented player he'd ever coached (though that was before all the injuries).

 

Don't think he could physically hack it in the Prem but food for thought

9 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

I'm pretty sure Tuchel once said he was the most talented player he'd ever coached (though that was before all the injuries).

 

Don't think he could physically hack it in the Prem but food for thought

Think he said sth along the lines "tough question..I had the honor to work with many great players (Neymar and Mbappé the most obvious ones. But maybe Dembele as I have never seen somebody being able to play left and right foot equally brilliant as he did." 

Tbh. Dembele, if in form and good mood, is just ridiculous to watch imo. Give him a little too much space and he's impossible to defend on the wing. Crosses / shots with left or right..pure class. Think the young Neymar (when he still had lots of pace) with less  OTT tricks and a little less clinical. Back then there was a reason Barca paid that huge amount of Neymar-money for him.

Hard to say really, I think we go in for him and if he wants to come and work hard cool, but we're not having him to sit on the bench or the injury table. If he wants to take the next step in his career then he surely moves from Barca. 

He has 4 options Bayern, PSG, Chelsea and staying at Barca. There may be other teams after him, but as far I know these are the main ones. 

Bayern makes sense, but they're full of wingers already, unless Gnabry leaves. Personally I can't see how they can offer Dembele €18m a year as reported, but not resign Gnabry who was instrumental to their last UCL win. 

PSG obvious link,  Mbapps gone to Madrid everyone knows. They need to replace his numbers imo Dembele isn't the answer. Very hard to find someone that will fit seamlessly with Messi and Neymar considering the lack of pressing from the front which destabilises the team. Plus must also provide the blockbuster attacking numbers. 

Stays put not a bad option really he's playing his best football at Barca under Xavi, clearly a manager that can get a lot out of talents. Yet he wants more money to stay, if he truly loved the club it shouldn't be such an issue I don't know how much is on the table of course. 

Come to Chelsea, this is the most intriguing prospect. Bayern and PSG he's guaranteed league titles almost every season. Guaranteed a run in the UCL KOs and won't need to play his best football until UCL games, so he can coast the league to a certain extent. But what's the challenge for him? Getting into those starting 11s and staying there? Winning in a one league team? Trying to win UCL in an all-star team? 

At Chelsea firstly he has to get into the starting 11 ask any of our forwards staying there is difficult. He would need to prove himself in the hardest league which should be a worthy challenge for any ambitious forward or player for that matter. Gets a chance to link up with one of his former coaches who he likes and likes him. Play for the current world champions and try win the toughest league in the world as one of the main stars of the team.

With Barca poaching almost our whole backline I think we should do everything to convince Dembele to leave them. I think that would be justice, you take our defenders we take your €120m signing for free. 

He is immensely talented, but always the injuries are a concern. He has just stayed fit for 4 months, and has the most assists in laliga despite only playing 40% of the minutes. 

A gamble worth taking though for me. He is the player i wanted to replace Hazard, so id be excited to see him here. 

I also think Dybala is definitely worth looking at too, great footballer, no fee, can play false 9, as 10, in a 2 man attack, or in salah esque left forward role. 

I think the problem will be selling players to make room though.

On 18/05/2022 at 12:56, LongtimerLurker said:

 you take our defenders we take your €140m signing for free. 

fixed that! Think that's the amount they paid for him including all the bonuses they had to chalk up.

He'd be immense for us. Crossing fingers.

Tabloids and gossip "ITK's" reporting that PSG will be after him, as Mbappe has requested it (post new contract).

Perhaps at the expense of Neymar.... Should we?

I'm not a fan of him. He gets way too many injuries (like Pulisic).

We need a forward who can perform in at least 80% of games next season. 

17 minutes ago, Deino said:

I'm not a fan of him. He gets way too many injuries (like Pulisic).

We need a forward who can perform in at least 80% of games next season. 

100%, would much prefer Nkunku

2 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

100%, would much prefer Nkunku

Problem is Nkunku will be 3 figures, especially with our bargaining skills. Dembele is available on a free if we can get him.

9 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

100%, would much prefer Nkunku

Nkunku did not look great during the title game on Saturday. He disappeared for large chunks of the game. I don't see him being able to replicate his goal scoring in the premier league. I also don't see him as an effective presser in Tuechel's system. Chelsea needs speed and scoring threqte on the wings such as Diaz of Liverpool. 

5 hours ago, TheGreatestGame said:

Nkunku did not look great during the title game on Saturday. He disappeared for large chunks of the game. I don't see him being able to replicate his goal scoring in the premier league. I also don't see him as an effective presser in Tuechel's system. Chelsea needs speed and scoring threqte on the wings such as Diaz of Liverpool. 

I wonder, with Chilwell back, if TT will play more narrow up front. 5-3-2. The WBs get the width needed and both have offensive prowess.

22 minutes ago, mwblue10 said:

I wonder, with Chilwell back, if TT will play more narrow up front. 5-3-2. The WBs get the width needed and both have offensive prowess.

We never play that way. Chilwell and James acted like inverted attacking midfielders. 

I personally find it utterly ridiculous if we continue to play 5 defenders against bottom half clubs.