7 minutes ago, AlwaysRight said:

I agree he's not Cole level, not sure we will ever have a LB/LWB like him, but Chilwell was in top form before his injury. We can only hope he get's back into that form, he's not a player we should be looking to replace when we're so weak up front and could do with another CB.

He was also playing better than James before the injury, who was also in top form at the time. 

44 minutes ago, HazardousChoice said:

But Ben himself is nothing special, he's very much on the same tier as Tierney, Shaw, Reguillion, Digne etc.  Decent but certainly nowhere near the likes of Cancelo or Robertson which Is the standard of our competition.

He's far more Wayne Bridge than Ashley Cole.  Good but not necessarily untouchable

Chilwell is another one that we have ended up paying way more salary than he's probably worth ... £190K a week (vs the other full backs £150K Dave, £100K Alonso, £75K Emerson, £58K James). Marina tripled his salary (was on £65K a week at Leicester) which really shouldn't have been necessary to persuade him to move

Fortunately, he's turned out to be a better buy than Arrizabalaga and Werner, but I agree he's not quite top drawer, albeit he may eventually get there. Last year's strong start was only for a small sample of 7 PL games. Shame the injury got in the way of seeing whether he was able to maintain that level for any significant duration. The previous season with us, he started really well, but then declined to a much lower level.

Suspect Cucurella, if he joins us, won't be coming to be a back up ...

Edited August 1, 20223 yr by Sexyfootball

5 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

He was also playing better than James before the injury, who was also in top form at the time. 

Not so sure. James from October - November was another level. People had him above TAA before his injury. 

I’m surprised, I think Chilwell is a really good left back and he has a knack of being in the right place at right time to shoot. Before his injury I was very happy with him and didn’t think we could have asked for a better left back. Really surprised to see a few say they don’t rate him that highly, I do. I think Cucurella is probably a squad player, he’ll play most games but here and there, being a versatile player.

Contracts were being exchanged and reviewed on Monday with a view to #Chelsea finalising a £50M transfer for Marc Cucurella from Brighton.

The fact Brighton have started to look at l/b options/targets suggests to me they expect Cucurella to go....#cfc

[via @Matt_Law_DT]
 

Matt Law with this news. Maybe we’ve agreed to pay the asking price?

Edited August 1, 20223 yr by JM7

14 minutes ago, BordeauxBlue said:

I said a long time ago that I liked the cut of his jib. 

I'd be over the moon if we signed him, he's mustard. 

If only he was French the we could finally have a French player you wanted us to sign. Lol

1 minute ago, Sexyfootball said:

Chilwell is another one that we have ended up paying way more salary than he's probably worth ... £190K a week (vs the other full backs £150K Dave, £100K Alonso, £75K Emerson, £58K James)

Fortunately, he's turned out to be a better buy than Arrizabalaga and Werner, but I agree he's not quite top drawer, albeit he may eventually get there. Last year's strong start was only for a small sample of 7 PL games. Shame the injury got in the way of seeing whether he was able to maintain that level for any significant duration. The previous season with us, he started really well, but then declined to a much lower level.

Suspect Cucurella, if he joins us, won't be coming to be a back up ...

I agree and whilst it's a strange area to focus on he is a player that I have wanted us to get.

I like the Barcelona link. I do think the best players for us to go after are the ones that are already at Barcelona.  They're the players those fakers can't afford to pay and as they are buying every player we're after, then let's go after theirs

Chilwell was scoring goals before he was injured and those goals really helped. He developed his attacking skills heaps with the opportunities the Tuchel system provides and requires from wingbacks. Cucurella is probably a better defensive fullback or wing back but he is too short for centre back, Even so he would make the squad stronger but not as much as a de ligt, or fofana or similar would.

To me there are some residual questions about chilwell fitness, just like there are  about Kante's ability to play 60 games a season.

All that said at this stage I'll take quality players as they can be had and fit the system around them.

Cucurella is probably being brought in as LCB. He has played there for Brighton as well. 

I can’t believe people are so down on Chilwell. We missed him massively last season. 

Still don’t get where Koulibaly will play if we sign Cucurella

Edited August 1, 20223 yr by JM7

1 minute ago, JM7 said:

Contracts were being exchanged and reviewed on Monday with a view to #Chelsea finalising a £50M transfer for Marc Cucurella from Brighton.

[via @Matt_Law_DT]
 

Matt Law with this news. Maybe we’ve agreed to pay the asking price?

Even if this is true how does it address our main immediate needs?

Yes it gives us a really talented wingback to compete with Ben, in theory so as would signing Dumfries to compete with Reece.

But our biggest issues our central defence and midfield steel/creation and a quality link up forward who is not also a donkey.

A rotation wingback? Sure important but those other spots have to be more concerning?

How can TT think of him as a main LCB when he is 2 inches shorter than Kounde who he turned down for being too short and, unlike Kounde, Marc C is a none entity in the air?

Just now, axman2526 said:

Even if this is true how does it address our main immediate needs?

Yes it gives us a really talented wingback to compete with Ben, in theory so as would signing Dumfries to compete with Reece.

But our biggest issues our central defence and midfield steel/creation and a quality link up forward who is not also a donkey.

A rotation wingback? Sure important but those other spots have to be more concerning?

How can TT think of him as a main LCB when he is 2 inches shorter than Kounde who he turned down for being too short and, unlike Kounde, Marc C is a none entity in the air?

Romano just reported we are heavily involved in other players not including Cucurella. 

 

3 minutes ago, WhiteWall said:

I agree and whilst it's a strange area to focus on he is a player that I have wanted us to get.

I like the Barcelona link. I do think the best players for us to go after are the ones that are already at Barcelona.  They're the players those fakers can't afford to pay and as they are buying every player we're after, then let's go after theirs

I admire the sentiment, but Cucurella plays for Brighton not Barcelona ! He is someone Barcelona stupidly let go ... to Getafe, and thereafter to Brighton.

2 minutes ago, JM7 said:

Still don’t get where Koulibaly will play if we sign Cucurella

LCB, or in the middle when Thiago needs time off, which he will.

4 minutes ago, JM7 said:

I can’t believe people are so down on Chilwell. We missed him massively last season. 

We're not down on Chilwell - we rate him ... we're just saying that he's not quite in the same bracket as Ashley Cole, Cancelo, Robertson etc etc.

If Cucurella arrives to compete for Chilwell's place, then I think that can only be good news for us ... a return to Ranieri's "two champions for every position" if you will ... 

3 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Romano just reported we are heavily involved in other players not including Cucurella. 

 

Would that be the same Romano who said Kounde to Chelsea was basically a done deal when you, @mojo and @Gol15 all said no he is not he is going to Barca?

5 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Even if this is true how does it address our main immediate needs?

Yes it gives us a really talented wingback to compete with Ben, in theory so as would signing Dumfries to compete with Reece.

But our biggest issues our central defence and midfield steel/creation and a quality link up forward who is not also a donkey.

A rotation wingback? Sure important but those other spots have to be more concerning?

How can TT think of him as a main LCB when he is 2 inches shorter than Kounde who he turned down for being too short and, unlike Kounde, Marc C is a none entity in the air?

Matt law saying we’re still after one more defender AFTER Cucurella. Presumably Koulibaly can also play on the right. 

Work in progress for Marc Cucurella deal. Chelsea are on it on both club and player side, waiting to complete full agreement with Brighton. Deal well advanced. 🚨🔵 #CFC

No issues on player side. Man City confirm they have no intention to improve their £40m bid.

@FabrizoRomano

 

Sounds like it’s happening and close. 

I can’t see this not happening given that he has handed ina transfer request. Brighton aren’t going to want to keep a player that wants to leave - especially if we’re able to meet the asking price. 

7 minutes ago, axman2526 said:

Would that be the same Romano who said Kounde to Chelsea was basically a done deal when you, @mojo and @Gol15 all said no he is not he is going to Barca?

Work in progress for Marc Cucurella deal. Chelsea are on it on both club and player side, waiting to complete full agreement with Brighton. Deal well advanced. 🚨🔵 #CFC

No issues on player side. Man City confirm they have no intention to improve their £40m bid.

@FabrizoRomano

15 minutes ago, Sexyfootball said:

I admire the sentiment, but Cucurella plays for Brighton not Barcelona ! He is someone Barcelona stupidly let go ... to Getafe, and thereafter to Brighton.

I know that. The two comments were not meant to be linked. You would hope that there would be less chance of these fckers gazumping us if its for their ex players.

Romano doesn’t get everything right. Who does. But he has a high frequency of news and most of what he says is well grounded. A great source. 

15 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Work in progress for Marc Cucurella deal. Chelsea are on it on both club and player side, waiting to complete full agreement with Brighton. Deal well advanced. 🚨🔵 #CFC

No issues on player side. Man City confirm they have no intention to improve their £40m bid.

@FabrizoRomano

I would like us to get him, but we're winning this, if we are winning this, because we're paying over the top.

4 minutes ago, ozboy said:

Ornstein doesn’t get everything right. Who does. But he has a high frequency of news and most of what he says is well grounded. A great source. 

FTFY