Transfer Rumours 2017 Summer Transfers gossip thread

That's really good news. Lukaku could still add to his game and having Zlatan at the club can only help him.

 

What is 99% dead? Is that like Arsenal's title challenge come 1 March every year, or is it like Liverpool's year come mid-season?

 

If that is the case, then we really didn't want him that badly. A club like ours isn't going to let the small matter of £4m get in the way of signing a player if we really want to sign them.

 

Unless the idea was he'd play left wing back, which with a bit of coercion Shaw could do anyway, I never saw the point.

Play Martial off the left, simple. Perisic was never needed.

 

Martial isn't really a old school traditional winger - plays like he is which is a converted striker. Perisic is and runs the line, puts in crosses and helps out the defence.

Basically he is the foreign Marc Albrighton - the creative players will get all the plaudits while he just carries the water.

 

I wonder if when Zlatan gets fit we could play a 442, or a 4222. I know it's not normally the Mourinho way, but if Zlatan gets himself fit and he's playing well, then you can't have him on the bench.

 

Zlatan has to be a bench player for me used to give Lukaku a rest when needed.

 

As long as Lukaku is scoring, he is in. But as soon as he hits a rough patch, he is on the bench and Zlatan gets his chance.

 

If we have to play with 1 up front, then the player who is playing the best plays.

Zlatan is a top player, and should never be dismissed as just a back up.

 

Some pundits (who are always invariably wrong) claim that Zlatan coming back would disrupt the team as he would insist on playing when he is fit. They are clearly talking out of their backsides as Zlatan is an intelligent footballer- a rare breed I know. He will want of course to win the title and therefore he will want the team to do well. I cannot see him disrupting the team when Lukaku is doing well. The best way for him to achieve his so called objective of winning the title wherever he's been is to do everything he can to optimise the club's harmony and performance

 

No I don't think Zlatan will take it the wrong way if he's on the bench, as he knew when he resigned that we had just signed Lukaku and he'd hit the ground running. From what I've heard he is happy in Manchester and enjoys being part of the team. He could have got a lot more more money elsewhere but it's not really about the money when your as wealthy as he is. The injury he had was also a very bad one, so he's probably well aware he can't be playing 3 matches a week.

Only slight concern I would have is how it affects Lukaku. Lukaku as he showed in his early years at Chelsea didn't play well when there was competition for places. So having Zlatan on the bench could apply some unwanted pressure on him.

Some strikers do thrive under that sort of pressure but others play better when they can relax more and aren't concerned for their place in the team every game.

 

I think Zlatan will accept that at his age and after such a serious injury he cannot expect to be the main man. He is intelligent and he knows that a key reason for his re signing is what he brings to the dressing room and as an iconic figure ala Cantona who the youngsters can look up to.

Lukaku will need to put that performance yesterday especially the penalty miss behind him. It will be up to him to get into good areas and keep scoring. As long as we are scoring that's the point.

 

Zlatan will be determined to add a premier league to his honours, that can only be a good thing.
He doesn't strike me as a bloke who will make it all about him, I reckon he'll play whatever role and do whatever it takes to get that medal.

He'd be a menace to come off the bench if we need to go route 1! He's a game changer in every respect.

 

For a holiday in the international break?

 

Having watched last night's La Liga game between real Madrid and Valencia I really do hope there is no substance to the recurring reports that we might yet go after Bale. He was rubbish, not at all match fit and had a terrible first touch.