I see we have been linked with Lens again in Saturday's Sun. I personally really wished we had signed him in the summer. I immediately took to youtube and looked at a few videos and was very impressed. He looks superb and I noticed he scored for Holland in the qualifiers a few days ago. I know we were linked with him in the summer and The Sun is quoting £5.5 million in January but I am sure he would cost more this considering it would be January and prices are often inflated. It says he would prefer a move to Germany or England so fingers crossed this rumoir has some legs in it as this is the kind of player that would really get my mouth watering. However, I would still like to see a few million being thrown around on some top quality defenders
Was dismissive when I saw the initial rumours, then when it got a little more real I got excited before crushing disappointment. Gaston more than made up for it though. Have seen more of him than youtube and can assure you that he is a very dangerous player. Lightning fast, skillful, rocket of a shot. The kind of fees being discussed for him would be an absolute bargain. Would happily see us pay 10 or 12 million for him. And PSV don't even want him! He's there for the taking! That's the thing that makes me doubtful of the whole thing. Either the whole thing is nothing more than rumours and we're nowhere near him, or there's something stopping the deal from getting off the ground because I simply can't believe that Cortese isn't willing to pay 6 or 7 million for him. Would be very disappointed if he is actually there for the taking, nothing stopping us and we just haven't gone and got him, but maybe Nicola knows something I don't, well I'm sure he knows plenty of things I don't, but still... *EDIT* Also, I hate to be THAT guy, but it's a common mistake, and if he's gonna be a Saints player we should really know his name, I mean it's not like we have any players who's name we pronounce wrong or anything... But anyway, it's actually Jeremain Lens, not Jermaine, pronounced like Jeremy but with an -ain instead of an -ee and a soft J.
It's a left back we desperately need followed by a DM in the mould of Yaya Toure that is more important ATM. But agree he would be a great addition.
We are scoring so I can't see our attacking options being improved. It's leaking goals at the back which needs addressing so I think it'll be a CB and maybe a LB in.
We'd be a terrifying prospect offensively if this is true, but I'd imagine left back and centre backs come first.
If it's true I guess we would have to drop Puncheon to play him, seems a little harsh with the start to the season that he has had. I think it is more likely to be lazy reporting on the Sun's behalf - Lens says he would like PL move - Sun look to see who was in for him in the Summer - 2+2=5. I reckon it's more likely that we got Mayuka when the original deal for Lens went belly up.
I think defensively we need 3-4 additions. X2 CB X1 LB X1 DM - still think Reo Coker could have done that short term at least!
Puncheon's done pretty well but his habit of holding onto the ball for too long really annoys me. The rest of the team play quick simple passes but he always slows things down. Needs to sort that out.
Agreed. I am chuffed he has come back and has been putting work in to prove he's good and prove he wants to play for the club, but other than his work rate I haven't been entirely impressed. His left-footedness makes him easier to read than The Hungry Caterpillar, too often he'll receive the ball in a good position, jink backwards and forwards, do a few turns, step-overs, whatever, will make absolutely no ground in beating the opposing player and then either lose the ball or just pass it back to our right-back. He's a had a few moments where he's looked dangerous and that he could make things happen, but too often all he does is kill the tempo of our passing, or pass the ball back into a less dangerous position than he received it in, or just lose the ball altogether. Still our best option and back him, but with no disrespect to him, Lens would be a huge step-up. Despite that, like others said, our priority needs to be the defence. Think we're OK at CDM with Schneiderlin, and Cork will add depth to that role when he returns from injury, so don't see us needing to invest there. If we can pick up some good experience or talent there on the cheap, I wouldn't be complaining, but a new CDM isn't too high on my list of needs. Think if we could pick up a full-back who could play either side it would hugely improve our depth, with Clyne also able to play both sides, then Fox and Richardson as back-ups and Shaw, Reeves and Stephens coming through as youngsters, would turn a position of weakness into one of strength. Then a real quality CB wouldn't go amiss of course.
We need a LB and CB more, but if the right player is available for the right price, we should go for them, as long as they don't stop a player we need coming in.
