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Kalidou Koulibaly

GutBucket

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2013
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Ideally we get KK, DM and RB but if we have to pick better use ~80m on DM and RB combo. One good thing with KK would be possibility of playing with 3 at the back, Sanchez next to Toby and KK would be much better but we aren't getting anyone in January (except for Fergusson) anyway probably.
 

Ionman34

SC Supporter
Jun 1, 2011
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I agree that we need to fix the spine, but I'm not sure which DMs would be available in January? Is it worth signing a player that might not be good enough long term, or is it better to stick with what we've got for now and address that position in the summer?
That may have to be how we proceed. I don't know who JM sees as the ideal recruit for DM, but my point was that there seems to be one dimensional thinking on here. KK seems to be available and the consensus seems to be that we are focussing on him and him alone. I don't think this is true.

I don't recall any time where JM has gone into the market for just one player when setting up his team after arriving, and I don't for one second believe that, after the weeks he's had now, he hasn't now identified exactly where he needs to recruit. The fact that he's no longer persevering with Dier tells me that he's no longer in his plans, and I'd be amazed if he hasn't already identified his replacement. Whether he can get him now or in the Summer remains to be seen.

But I'd bet my left testicle that he's identified the spine as his first priority and I highly doubt that he's said they must be bought in a particular order. So long as he's able to get them in, he'll look to get the best available when they're available.
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
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That may have to be how we proceed. I don't know who JM sees as the ideal recruit for DM, but my point was that there seems to be one dimensional thinking on here. KK seems to be available and the consensus seems to be that we are focussing on him and him alone. I don't think this is true.

I don't recall any time where JM has gone into the market for just one player when setting up his team after arriving, and I don't for one second believe that, after the weeks he's had now, he hasn't now identified exactly where he needs to recruit. The fact that he's no longer persevering with Dier tells me that he's no longer in his plans, and I'd be amazed if he hasn't already identified his replacement. Whether he can get him now or in the Summer remains to be seen.

But I'd bet my left testicle that he's identified the spine as his first priority and I highly doubt that he's said they must be bought in a particular order. So long as he's able to get them in, he'll look to get the best available when they're available.

Yeah, there's no way that we're just focusing on one position. I think most peoples misgivings are to do with the transfer fee as they think signing him will prevent us signing other players. I'm not so sure this is the case. The fact that Jan hasn't been offered a new contract means that Levy has known for a while that he will need to be replaced. Likewise the fact that he tried to sell Rose and Wanyama in the summer means he would have been planning for their departures as well.
 

Ionman34

SC Supporter
Jun 1, 2011
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Yeah, there's no way that we're just focusing on one position. I think most peoples misgivings are to do with the transfer fee as they think signing him will prevent us signing other players. I'm not so sure this is the case. The fact that Jan hasn't been offered a new contract means that Levy has known for a while that he will need to be replaced. Likewise the fact that he tried to sell Rose and Wanyama in the summer means he would have been planning for their departures as well.
Absolutely mate. So many on here see a number quoted in the media and assume that it's set in stone, it's not. They also assume that that we only have a set limit on our funds, based on what? I'm on here daily, read all the itk, see all the releases from the club and I haven't a scooby what funds we have available, so I'm making no assumptions.

What I'm seeing atm is what appears to be a change in our procurement strategy. Whilst we may not have bought over an 18 month period, all of the itk we've had suggests that this was due to Poch not wanting what was available. When players became available that he did want then we got them (NDombele and Lo Celso). We spent circa £100m I believe over the Summer, with little or no recoup. This is a fundamental change to our buying strategy from the previous decade or so. Yet many on here dislike DL so they ignore that completely and state with absolute certainty that he won't spend.

My personal belief is that he's been waiting until the foundations were in place before he started committing income to player acquisition. As I stated in another post, there are no excuses for him now as we have everything in place, including an elite manager. I believe he knows this and will bring in the players JM identifies that he needs. I believe he'd have done this further for Poch too if the wheels hadn't completely fallen off, last Summer was the first indicator of this.

There's a lot of players we need to get off the books, but I believe that will be more to open squad spots than to balance the books. What DL needs to ensure is that the removals don't hamper the incoming, it's great that he can squeeze max value for them, but he needs to be pragmatic about that.
 

carpediem991

Well-Known Member
May 31, 2011
8,836
20,308
Obviously KK is class and would improve us but realistically we all should know it is not a transfer we can seal. Past has told us many many times. If he really is available in Winter (probably very unlikely for a start), Chelsea and City should be all over this and blow us financially out. (I don't believe the new stadium suddenly allows us to offer similar stupid money)

I'd rather hear we spend time and chase some players we can really sign. Spending this kind of money on a CB would probably mean not much left for RB and CM, and I feel there we need quality signings much more (and we need to have a look on Eriksen replacements soon as well). I have not written of Toby and Sanchez as a starting Duo and think they would improve with better and more reliable players around them.
 

spursfast

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2017
1,324
992
Ideally we get KK, DM and RB but if we have to pick better use ~80m on DM and RB combo. One good thing with KK would be possibility of playing with 3 at the back, Sanchez next to Toby and KK would be much better but we aren't getting anyone in January (except for Fergusson) anyway probably.
Furgesson in Jan, don't think there's anyone levy will sanction, bucks stay in the bank
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
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Obviously KK is class and would improve us but realistically we all should know it is not a transfer we can seal. Past has told us many many times. If he really is available in Winter (probably very unlikely for a start), Chelsea and City should be all over this and blow us financially out. (I don't believe the new stadium suddenly allows us to offer similar stupid money)

I'd rather hear we spend time and chase some players we can really sign. Spending this kind of money on a CB would probably mean not much left for RB and CM, and I feel there we need quality signings much more (and we need to have a look on Eriksen replacements soon as well). I have not written of Toby and Sanchez as a starting Duo and think they would improve with better and more reliable players around them.

City have said that they won't be signing another defender in January. I'm not sure why Chelsea would need another CB now when they've got Rudiger, Tomori, Christensen and Zouma? Unless they're planning on selling on of those players I can't see him going there. I could see United trying for him, but if he really is available now it could be great timing for us.
 

spursfast

Well-Known Member
Jan 23, 2017
1,324
992
City have said that they won't be signing another defender in January. I'm not sure why Chelsea would need another CB now when they've got Rudiger, Tomori, Christensen and Zouma? Unless they're planning on selling on of those players I can't see him going there. I could see United trying for him, but if he really is available now it could be great timing for us.
but will D Levy want to; spurs are not in this market
 

carpediem991

Well-Known Member
May 31, 2011
8,836
20,308
City have said that they won't be signing another defender in January. I'm not sure why Chelsea would need another CB now when they've got Rudiger, Tomori, Christensen and Zouma? Unless they're planning on selling on of those players I can't see him going there. I could see United trying for him, but if he really is available now it could be great timing for us.

When you argue Chelsea has these four some can argue we have Toby, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Foyth and Tanganga in our books.
Where is this thought coming after all the false hopes in the transfermarket (and the very ineffective Winter windows ) that we pay even nearly what Napoli would want for him?
 

nailsy

SC Supporter
Jul 24, 2005
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When you argue Chelsea has these four some can argue we have Toby, Sanchez, Vertonghen, Foyth and Tanganga in our books.
Where is this thought coming after all the false hopes in the transfermarket (and the very ineffective Winter windows ) that we pay even nearly what Napoli would want for him?

Vertonghen looks to be leaving in the next six months so there's a space there, especially if he has to play at full back until Davies is back. Tanganga doesn't have a first team appearance yet so you can't really compare him to the Chelsea guys I mentioned who have all been playing this season. Tomori is the least experienced and he's got an England cap now.
We (the fans) don't really know how much Napoli want for him. If it's the £90M that's been mentioned in the press then I doubt we'd pay that much. If it's closer to the fees we paid for Ndombele or Lo Celso then I think we'd be interested. As for previous winter windows I don't see how relevant they are to our current circumstances - new stadium with increased revenue, new manager that we've probably promised to back with new signings, a box office manager who has been tracking this player for years, etc. I don't think we're favourites to sign him, but I don't think it's impossible either.
 

Japhet

Well-Known Member
Aug 30, 2010
19,232
57,387
Obviously KK is class and would improve us but realistically we all should know it is not a transfer we can seal. Past has told us many many times. If he really is available in Winter (probably very unlikely for a start), Chelsea and City should be all over this and blow us financially out. (I don't believe the new stadium suddenly allows us to offer similar stupid money)

I'd rather hear we spend time and chase some players we can really sign. Spending this kind of money on a CB would probably mean not much left for RB and CM, and I feel there we need quality signings much more (and we need to have a look on Eriksen replacements soon as well). I have not written of Toby and Sanchez as a starting Duo and think they would improve with better and more reliable players around them.


I agree that it's highly unlikely we land Koulibay but there is mileage in the argument that really top notch players aren't often available, and it appears that he might be, so we should try to snap him up. He's a typical Mourinho signing who, on the face of it, requires no effort to slot straight in and it will be interesting to see if Levy is expected to open the cheque book for what would almost certainly obliterate our transfer record. There may also be scope for Vertonghen going the other way which could grease the wheels. Levy would also have to contend with little or no sell on value, although we've seen that this can happen with younger players at their peak if they play the contracts game.

I'm firmly of the opinion though that a mobile, aggressive and competent DM is where we should be spending the big bucks but we've had zero links to anyone who really fits that template (although Soumare could maybe make the transition). In all honesty, I wouldn't be at all surprised if we did no business in Jan which would effectively bin the season.
 

WalkerboyUK

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2009
21,658
23,476
The whole point of obtaining the infrastructure we now have is to be able to compete with the bigger spenders. It's not a bottomless pit of monet of course, but wringing every last penny out of every buy and sell, should not be the main aim any more. Sell on fees should be far less important that they were and trophies bring support and merchandising. That should be the priority now.

That's ultimately the mentality of the club that Poch was challenging at the end of last season isn't it?
 
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