ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Sun Aug 13, 2017 4:07 am wrote:Doeboy » Sat Aug 12, 2017 11:29 pm wrote:aCe' » Sat Aug 12, 2017 11:08 pm wrote:Why would we wait till closer to the end of the window to go after Van Dijk ? I dont think it has anything to do with us wanting to negotiate the fee down a few mill; you have the captain of a side submit a transfer request and publicly declare he wants to join the club and our transfer committee are jeopardizing the deal over a few mill. I dont think so.
On players we could go for, I dont think we'll find a Coutinho 'replacement' anywhere. We're better off starting Salah and Mane and focusing on improving other positions in the side with the best players we can sign. GK, LB, CB, DM, ST. Add a backup wide forward when we lose Coutinho.
I was referring to Chelsea waiting towards the end. We have ***** off Southampton so they may well be more inclined to deal with Chelsea than ourselves.
Even if VVD wants to move to us, if nothing has happened towards the end of the windows with a move to us, he will jump ship at Southampton and sign for Chelsea imo.
We may not find a like for like replacement for Coutinho but need someone in that mould. It's all very well signing these wide forwards but you need variety in attack and we will be need a player who can pick a defence with a pass.
Mahrez would be my pick mate, okay he's not as good a passer as Phil but he is very creative and he has given every team in this division problems. As a former winner of the PFA player of the year award as well we know he can handle the rough and tumble of the prem and won't need 6-12 months to settle in etc
More than anything else though he has proven that he is mentally strong, the year Leicester won the title a hell of a lot was put on his (and Vardy's) shoulders and to be fair to the lad he stood up to it better than a lot of our players did when we had our big chance in 13/14.
He is another one who's best position is RW though. Mane isnt the same player playing down the left and I'm not sure Salah will do enough to justify that position change. If we are going to go out and spend big money on a player to slot in his position we might as well bring in a Draxler, Pastore, Insigne, Lemar, B.Keita, Pulisic and that allows Mane to go back to the RW psotion.
I still think we would be better off going for the best available players though. Aubameyang stated he wanted to leave for the umpteenth time yesterday, surely Klopp can convince him to join. Rose is after higher wages, Matuidi is on his way out, etc. There isnt a shortage of good players in the market to be honest.