aCe' » Tue Aug 22, 2017 9:41 am wrote:ycsatbjywtbiastkamb » Tue Aug 22, 2017 11:57 am wrote:With their phantom unveiling announcements the Spanish press are probably the only press corps in the entire world who are more unreliable than the British press so take these stories coming out of Spain this morning with a huge grain of salt but it is being reported in Spain by more than one outlet that Mateo Kovacic has agreed to join us.
This may not actually be as far fetched as it sounds, he is behind Isco in the pecking order and may fancy a starring role in the prem ahead of a bench role at Real.
Because it's the Spanish press I'm refusing to get my hopes up too much yet but he would be a fantastic signing, he would transform our midfield. He's better than Keita imo.
He might very well be better than Keita as you say. Fantastic player and the way he ran the show in the 2nd game against Barcelona was impressive for a player his age. He also did it playing a holding midfield role.
That said, it would take 70+ mill to sign him from Madrid imo. I also doubt he'd have any interest in joining us given the amount of playing time Zidane affords him and the other younger players in Madrid. He's also the first in rotation behind their starting midfield trio with Isco and Asensio usually deputizing for one of the front 3.
Apparently he has a relatively low buy out clause mate, about £55m-£60m iirc, if the reports in the press are true and we had earmarked him as Coutinho's replacement then maybe we have already sounded him out about a possible move here (not directly of course, don't want another Southampton situation).
I agree with Klopptomaniac, Kovacic is the type of player we should be signing to complement Coutinho not to replace him with. Just that one signing would completely revolutionise our game.
Hendo. Kovacic
Coutinho
Salah. Mane
Firmino
How about that for a midfield and forward line? Add Jurgen Klopp's coaching to that lot and you have a potential title winning combination imo. Who knows Leipzig may even decide to cash in on Keita in January too before the low buyout clause kicks in next summer. Imagine a midfield 3 of Coutinho, Kovacic and Keita after Christmas? We'd have to dust off that best midfield in the world song from our Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano days.