Fingers crossed the Ake enquiry is a bluff, designed to encourage Juventus to come back to the table on De Ligt ... (which does now seem to have happened if the Juventus CEO's quotes yesterday are accurate)

28 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

Fingers crossed the Ake enquiry is a bluff, designed to encourage Juventus to come back to the table on De Ligt ... (which does now seem to have happened if the Juventus CEO's quotes yesterday are accurate)

Way we are going with every other player we are after this crap will probably succeed, I really don't know what's happening at our club at present. 

Agree, hopefully this is a bluff and get to see the end of it soon. In our favour. Meaning Ake stays at City. Such a stupid rumour, he is clearly not good enough.

I really don't want Ake. I didn't rate him that highly when we had him and nothing has changed since we sold him.

2 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

I really don't want Ake. I didn't rate him that highly when we had him and nothing has changed since we sold him.

Does leave you questioning if TT is the right man to pick transfer targets.

52 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Does leave you questioning if TT is the right man to pick transfer targets.

Definitely mate.

This will end up being our big signing, ffs.

 

2 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

This will end up being our big signing, ffs.

 

If true we will look proper clowns.

There is merit to this.  I'm not a huge Ake fan, but stepping back and looking at the squad we need to build:

- Rudi and AC gone
- Silva likely in last year and will do well to get as many games out of his as last year
- Dave is past his best, and while a legend, doesn't have the legs (Ivanovic comes to mind when he reached this point)
- Chalobah still young, but works in a back 3
- Colwill - as much as I'd love to see him grow like Reece James, just unproven

De Ligt and Kounde are exciting international quality players, but also unproven in the PL which takes all players some adjustment, and both very young.  Ake offers something different - reasonably priced with PL experience (125+ games), fits nicely in back 3 left side, and knows the club.

Not a headline signing, but to me an upgrade on AC and Dave and a necessary player of quality for a much depleted squad. 

Judging from City fans reaction to this he could actually be a decent defender for us but I can't see how he's a better option than De Ligt or Kounde

23 minutes ago, Drogba1 said:

Judging from City fans reaction to this he could actually be a decent defender for us but I can't see how he's a better option than De Ligt or Kounde

Their reaction is strange for sure.

10 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Ake is short as well isn't he ? Listed as 180cm ... not the greatest idea when the other two at the back are Silva (181) and probably now looking like Kounde (also 181). Sarr is a short centre back as well (182). If Dave or James are playing RCB, they aren't even 180 !!!

I know there have been plenty of top class short centre backs, but given the choice, you'd much rather have the extra physical presence not only for defending, especially set pieces, but also as a goal threat at the other end from corners etc.

De Ligt (189), Chalobah (190) and Colwill (187) for me .... Koulibaly (186) as a stop gap if the club feel Colwill is not ready ... 

Yea, I feel with the way the game has evolved this gets overlooked but remains an important part of the defensive profile, opposing sides would certainly relish a corner against a Chelsea defence composed with the likes of Dave, James, Sarr, Kounde & Ake.. 😅 

I think if it was £20-30m, fair enough. But if we’re talking £40m +, it’s too much. We’d be over paying. 
 

I suppose the difficulty is finding a left sided defender. Not many of them around. 

10 hours ago, Sexyfootball said:

Ake is short as well isn't he ? Listed as 180cm ... not the greatest idea when the other two at the back are Silva (181) and probably now looking like Kounde (also 181). Sarr is a short centre back as well (182). If Dave or James are playing RCB, they aren't even 180 !!!

I know there have been plenty of top class short centre backs, but given the choice, you'd much rather have the extra physical presence not only for defending, especially set pieces, but also as a goal threat at the other end from corners etc.

De Ligt (189), Chalobah (190) and Colwill (187) for me .... Koulibaly (186) as a stop gap if the club feel Colwill is not ready ... 

Atleast half the teams will be looking to go long, if we have Sterling, Mount, Kante, Raphina etc putting pressure on their defenders. Might as well kill that option by putting some big defenders on their target men.

5 hours ago, axman2526 said:

Does leave you questioning if TT is the right man to pick transfer targets.

I would question that of any manager. I want them to have a say, but to have 100% of the say on who joins the club is a risk. I just don't see how any manager would have the time to manage their own team and watch other clubs and basically scout players.

I thought we ripped Everton off getting 28m for Lukaku and haven't changed my mind at any point since.

I thought we ripped Bouremouth off getting 20m for Ake and now we're linked with him for more.

Even when we manage to get good fees for untalented players we bring them back for more years later 🤣

3 hours ago, Drogba1 said:

Judging from City fans reaction to this he could actually be a decent defender for us but I can't see how he's a better option than De Ligt or Kounde

De Ligt and Kounde are options for the right hand CB side. Ake if he signs will be for left.

I understand the skeptism towards Ake but he's as relevant to the pursuit of MDL/Kounde as he is to the pursuit of Raphina, totally separate entity.

1 minute ago, Argo said:

De Ligt and Kounde are options for the right hand CB side. Ake if he signs will be for left.

I understand the skeptism towards Ake but he's as relevant to the pursuit of MDL/Kounde as he is to the pursuit of Raphina, totally separate entity.

De Ligt is left sided is he not?

Just now, axman2526 said:

De Ligt is left sided is he not?

@Term_Xmentioned earlier that he's he's solid on the right hand side but error phrone on the left.

5 minutes ago, Argo said:

@Term_Xmentioned earlier that he's he's solid on the right hand side but error phrone on the left.

If that is accurate then fair enough. Thought he was on the left when we played juve both times.

4 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

If that is accurate then fair enough. Thought he was on the left when we played juve both times.

I can't remember tbh but one of those games he had Lukaku up against him and the other he shipped four so....

Just now, axman2526 said:

If that is accurate then fair enough. Thought he was on the left when we played juve both times.

His best performances have come from the right.

He may have been POTY there but the patches when he was poor and what has contributed to him not being as revered now has a lot to do with being deployed on the left. The move to Italy has multiple factors to it of course, usually rhetoric about mentality or acclimatising etc but being clumsy and error prone on the left is a more logical way of identifying where things have gone wrong. Not suggesting to watch back full games but even a look at any youtube compilations reflect where his best moments come from.

https://www.juventuz.com/threads/matthijs-de-ligt.44089/page-116

Juve fans were onto this back in 2020

 

 

 

This could also link into the cooled off interest of Kounde for RCB now Marina is gone. 

14 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I think if it was £20-30m, fair enough. But if we’re talking £40m +, it’s too much. We’d be over paying. 
 

I suppose the difficulty is finding a left sided defender. Not many of them around. 

I agree that £40m is a high price for Ake, but thats what City paid for him 2 years ago and objectively there isn't really any reason why they should value him at a lower price than what they paid, even if he is just a squad player for them, other than maybe they think that he isn't good enough and want him gone.

 

I don't think that it is really difficult to find a left sided central defender, the question is what kind of profile does Tuchel want. Of the players rumored Koulibaly would probably be the best value for money if we could get him for £30m, with his contract expiring 2023, even if he is already 31 and has no PL experience. If we plan longterm with Colwill who many have high expectations of, a 3 year contract with Koulibaly would make sense to me.

If we look at other players for this position some are rumored with transfers this summer:

Bastoni (23, Inter): Has said that he will stay at Inter. Question about his suitability.

Pau Torres (25, Villarreal): Has a rumored release clause of £50-55m. Question about his suitability.

Lisandro Martinez (24, Ajax): Ajax would probably sell for around 40m. Good versatility. Question about his suitability. Man United and Arsenal interested, Arsenal seems to negotiate a transfer for him.

Clement Lenglet (27, Barca): On a downward form in the last few seasons, Barca want him gone. Will probably be loaned to Tottenham.

Evan Ndicka (22, Eintracht Frankfurt): His contract expires 2023 therefore is probably gettable for 20-25m. Question about his quality, but other PL teams seem interested, so could be worth a gamble.

Presnel Kimpembe (26, Paris): Is on high wages at Paris, they don't need to sell, value for money would probably be bad.

Caglar Söyüncü, (26, Leicester): Contract expires 2023, could be worth a gamble for the right prize.

Josko Gvardiol (20, Leipzig): Seems a big talent, but Leipzig would probably just sell for a crazy fee as he has a longterm contract.

Marc Guehi (21, Palace): I know we just sold him last summer, but he played a good season and I don't know for which price Palace would sell, but objectively if he would like to come back and we could get him for £50m, I think it would be a good transfer.

Other players in this position who could be worth keeping an eye on: Marcos Senesi (25, Feyenoord), David Carmo (22, Braga), Goncalo Ignacio (20,Sporting), Piero Hincapie (20, Leverkusen), Edmond Tapsoba (23, Leverkusen), Benoit Badiashile (21, Monaco), Mohamed Salisu (23, Southampton), Castello Lukeba (19, Lyon), Arthur Theate (22, Bologna), Attila Szalai (24, Fenerbahce), Facundo Medina (23, Lens), Isaak Toure (19, Marseille)

Some of these players were linked to us in in the past and yes I just looked on Transfermarkt for players who play primary as left sided centerbacks, some in Backfour systems others in Backthree systems, but the point is this, that if a club does it's homework in the scouting department there are more than enough players out there for every position to choose from, so let's be honest if any club get's mugged by other clubs for obscene fees or by players and agents for obscene wages it is out of lazyness and a lack of preparation or negotiation skills. Plus this are mostly players with top league experience or some kind of international recognition, so they should all be known to the club.

 

 

 

 

 

Just a feeling that this one has legs too it. 

I dont believe City were actively looking to sell Sterling or Ake, nor do I think they are opposed to selling them either. 

Ake must know at City he is very much the forth choice behind Diaz, Laporte and Stones. It seems like TT has let it be known he would receive a good crack at making Rudigers spot his own, and so Ake has let City know he is keen on the move. While they are not keen on selling him they won't make him stay, especially as he is a back up.

Personally I like the idea of Koulibaly more. Given his physical nature, greater height and understanding with Mendy. However he may have done what Raphinha has done, and let it be known we are not his first choice. Speculation on my part but he has been settled in Italy for years and, much like top German league talent goes to Bayern, often top Seria A talent goes to Juve, where he has been heavily linked.