From my point of view I can see De Bruyne sent out on loan for another season to gain some valuable first team experience. Curtois gained huge experience at Atletico last season and looks like he could be a potential gem. Can maybe see De Bruyne at a Spanish team. Piazon will play Reserve team football with maybe the odd Carling Cup appearence depending on the opponent. Would personally ship him on loan for experience. Kakuta may well be sold. Doubt he has a long term future at the club and would likely see France as a destination. Marin, Ramires, Hazard will be valuable squad players
Realistically to win the league you need 2 top class players in every position. GK Cech, maybe Curtois LB Cole, Bertrand RB Ivanovic, Hutchinson/Ferriera CB Terry, Cahill, Luiz and Ivanovic/Hutchinson as cover LM Malouda, Marin RM Rameires and Sturridge/Hazard as cover CM Lampard, Mikel, Essien, Meireles, Romeu AM Hazard, Mata ST Torres, Sturridge and Lukaku I know this doesn't leave a lot of space for the likes of De Bruyne and Piazon but i think they will be loaned out / reserve players next year and one will probably replace Malouda in a years time. Squad looks pretty good if Hazard comes in as the likes of Sturridge, Hazard and Mata can play multiple positions.
I still expect this will take some time. We preumably now have to sort out the fee and get the player in for his medical and to finalise the contract (only principle terms probably agreed at this stage). The player only made his decision yesterday so I doubt he'll be official signed (if at all!!) before the weekend.
If you're looking at a front 4 of: Sturridge----Hazard----Mata ----------Torres------------ All on form (esp Torres) I can see the title back at the Bridge next season
What we don't have is ONE let alone two creative midfielders, capable of the kind of passes Torres needs to shine. I would also take out Essien and Meireles, they are not good enough. Oh, and de Bruyne is light years ahead of Malouda before he even kicks a ball for us.
He is, but is still a roamer, not someone like Sjnieder, Modric, Kroos. Someone around whom play centres, like it did Ruud Gullit, or Hoddle. Or closer to home, Alan Hudson. They can (or could ) hold the ball up, send off an inch perfect pass, split open defences. That's what we don't have. There's not that many of them , but we are desperate for one. Just don't understand why we've never been in for Sjnieder.
