I've found an easy solution to our defensive problems for next season, everyone. Sign Donnarumma, Ramos, Alaba, Boateng, Hysaj, Bertrand, Saiss, Maksimovic and Clyne on frees and sell everyone else. Really easy. Don't know why anyone else hasn't thought of it...
To be fair, I have suggested Donnarumma and Bertrand as freebies Alaba's probably off the table, as he wants one last payday and can't seem to complete a sentence without saying "Madrid", which is starting to annoy his defensive teammates because being told to watch Madrid's run meant they marked Neymar instead of Mbappe last night...
CB Watch While this is borderline "I think Spurs should do this", Alasdair Gold has said that we're looking to sign two CBs this summer, and Joachim Andersen is one who we're looking at Okay, so let's speculate who the other is. I'll start the ball rolling with Sergio Ramos Kim Min-jae Nikola Milenkovic
I can't see us signing any of them, to be honest. Not much chance with any of the freebies that would be worth picking up. Wouldn't surprise me to see Levy targeting players with a year left on their contracts, though. Ginter from A German Team, David Brooks from Bournemouth and Milenkovic from Fiorentina are all previous targets, for example.
Sabitzer looks like a player I’d love, very good on the ball, a leader, and by all accounts a proper ****house to boot. I’m not sure what he is though, whether he’s best on the right, as a 10, or as a progressive CM. Versatility is certainly a plus but I suspect it depends on who will be managing us and where they see him fitting in.
For some reason I expect we'd play him in much the same way PSG use Di Maria, as a wide playmaker Trying to fit Son, Sabitzer, Lo Celso and Ndombele into the same team is the stuff that FM newbies nightmares are made of
I'd find it pretty easy and I think an attack-minded manager would, too. Lloris; Aurier, Alderweireld, Sanchez/Rodon, Reguilon; Hojbjerg, Ndombele; Sabitzer, Lo Celso, Son; Kane. Play on the front foot with plenty of possession and I think we'd dominate teams.
Southampton are keeping tabs on Tottenham and England midfielder Harry Winks, 25. (Football Insider) Southampton will "do everything" to keep Denmark centre-back Jannik Vestergaard, 28, at the club, says manager Ralph Hasenhuttl amid reported interest from Tottenham. (Daily Echo) You guise thinking what I’m thinking? @Dier Hard is defo thinking what I’m thinking
Winks for Ward Prowse makes far more sense - not least for our HG numbers, which people continue to ignore
GK Watch Sam Johnstone's name has come up again, which means we can add him to the list of players entering the final year of their contracts