Who would be a realistic option to join in the summer? Real- coentrao, morata, marcelo? Bayern- kroos, shaquiri? Atletico- Felipe Luiz, mario suarez, turan? Chelsea- probably no one with Jose there. Other teams like bvb where we have talked schmelzer or gundogan , zenit with criscito or axel witsel, porto, etc I will merge with summer transfer after a bit. Think it is important to add at least two players with cl experience to the team.
never know with Real and Kroos has been on the fringes a bit, not so much in playing time, but with words from Pep and him wanting a more cemented place ( Tough with Muller, Gotze, and Thiago all in the same space).
The question that precedes OP's: "If we buy a star player, which position on the first-team sheet should we want him for?" Who were the best LB and best DM in the Champions league this season? DM: Schweini (too old for FSG, Bayern won't sell) Busquets (fu*k him) J.Martinez (don't like him) M.Suarez (disqualified by his last name) Sahin (errrm...) Matuidi (hmmm...) LB: Coentrao (can give it shot) Alaba (don't see him leaving Bayern) F.Luis (28 yro) Alba (fu*k him) Schmelzer (hmmm...)
I thought we needed a CDM in January but BR's CDMless formations with Gerrard as deep-playamaker make me less sure. I think pressing, passing and intelligence are more important now than just being destructive
We need to start preparing for Gerrard phasing out anyway, being the only starter well over 30. Tbh Gerrard has been a deep-lying playmaker in only a handful of our games. Pirlo and Alonso for instance do it more consistently, though Serie A and La Liga are slower leagues. I don't fault Gerrard. He sits deep because he senses the shaky defence needs him there. But I agree, a deep-lying playmaker is a gem if stumbled upon.
Ramsey? surely with him in top form he'll want to be testing himself at the top level in the CL and coming to a club that wont try and get him injured for 4 months each season. Reckon a bid of XX plus £1 would do it? All jokes aside, think he'd actually be a bloody good signing. Fit very well into our team with his passing and movement and has added goals to his game.
I like Ramsey too. He'd be an improvement over Hendo and Allen. But Arsenal would sell him for no less than £40m. So, not worth it.
Arsenal like to whinge about the Ramsey injury derailing their season but after it they went on to win the next 6 PL games While we've hand injuries/suspensions for almost all our outfield players this season
Kroos has played more games than any other Bayern player this season (inc Neuer!) He's going nowhere.
Coentrao is a good shout but he's defensively suspect at times (like many modern fullbacks). To be honest if Enrique's mysterious knee injury ever clears up we still need backup. I would do it and Real may not ask for a pound of flesh, if they have their eyes on a younger replacement - given Marcelo's preference under Ancellotti. I'd get Xhaka or a young CM from the Bundesliga to play in Gerrard's classic role. I'd get Matuidi or a good DM for replacement/rotation with Lucas. (Unlikely but I'm sure they have other targets). A RB is a good shout but I'm not sure who at this point.
**** ya. RB may be OK for next year with Wisdom coming back too and Flanno pushing GJ. LB though needs some work for sure. Kovacevic ( sp) from Inter would be a good young CM too but Inter rate him pretty highly.
From what I've seen Xhaka would tick all the boxes and is more Gerrard-like than Henderson. I am not sure about our fullback situation but I trust Rodgers. Don't know how Wisdom has progressed to be fair, he's had good and bad performances. It could be Johnson and Flanno alternating more, with Wisdom providing backup. Otherwise Flanno could step in at LB too if needed but I'd rather have an established one come in. The only reason Inter gave up Coutinho was because they had Kovacic coming through but he's also not getting the minutes he needs. Can't see him coming.
