09 Jun 2021 22:30:03
I know it's just paper talk, but l don't see how paying 60 million for Varane is good business for us, Madrid will just use the money and buy Torres, much young version when we should be getting him, if he would join us.

1.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 06:32:57
redcon,

I agree. Although, I wouldn't mind signing a experienced player if we got someone from the academy ready to step up in say 3-4 yrs time - Mings is highly thought of. And even Tuanzebe if he can stay injury free.

Anything above 30-35m for Varane is not good business I guess.

2.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 06:55:13
Varane is a proven winner.
We need players like him to instill winning mentality in our team.

He may be the perfect CB for us to compensate for Maguire's lack of pace.

3.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 07:03:26
TrueRedDevil, agreed. I hope he can handle the physicality and pace of the PL if we sign him.

Would Koulibaly be a better fit? He looks a lot more physical and aggressive and probably more pacier than Varane.

4.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 07:36:53
Varane has had his injury problems.

5.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 11:11:28
Varane is world class, he will be far and away the best CB available on the market this summer.

He is a league, UCL and world cup winner. He is a leader, while his defending is top class. He's strong, he's quick and his reading of the game is excellent.

He has had injury in issues in the past and that should definitely be a consideration, and I would expect an extensive medical should drill down into whether that might be a problem.

Looking at it the injuries he has had the most issues with are muscle related, particularly his abductor.

However, he hasn't had an injury related to that since 2018.

Since then he had picked up two knocks has had flu and C.V.

Nothing to worry about.

6.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 15:35:07
Out of curiosity, given a choice between Varane and Koulibaly who will you guys pick?

{Ed077's Note - maybe Varane. But the finances involved would play a vital role in any choice I'd make.

7.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 16:00:58
Varane easily. I'm not that impressed by Koulibaly, he's all pace and power but no idea. He's regularly in the wrong place but his pace gets him out of trouble.

He'd be a disaster alongside Maguire as neither of them can read the game well.

8.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 15:43:27
Ed077, who do you think is the better defender of those two? Would you be upset if we signed Koulibaly instead?

{Ed077's Note - I've not watched Koulibaly that often in the past few seasons and didn't watch much of Varane last season either. But Varane looks completely different playing with and without Ramos everytime I watch him play for RM. I don't think there's much difference in ability between the 2 but I would say Varane edges it by a little bit.

Both are good players but not World Class IMO.

9.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 17:42:39
The thing though is both of them are right footed players, but I heard Varane has a very good weak foot and probably that gives him an edge apart from his other qualities.

Thanks for the reply Ed077.

{Ed077's Note - And Koulibaly plays as LCB in a back 4 almost exclusively; at least when I watch him play.

Welcome.}

10.) 10 Jun 2021
10 Jun 2021 18:45:04
Ed077, that's interesting. I didn't know that.

I really hope we get this right as we cannot afford to keep adding to our collection of CBs.

{Ed077's Note - I hope I am not wrong now....:-D}

11.) 11 Jun 2021
11 Jun 2021 06:29:05
Hope you are not Ed077. Do you see a few of our idle CBs leaving before the season starts?

{Ed077's Note - I don't expect any of Maguire, Lindelof and Bailly to be sold this window. Axel might , just might, get a move away, on loan or even permanent, if we manage to bring someone in, but even then it's not a certainty that he would be moved on. (I am just speculating here BTW)

12.) 11 Jun 2021
11 Jun 2021 09:12:09
Ed077, you missed the legend Phil Jones who still seems to have a contract expiring in 2023. Do you expect the likes of Williams and Tuanzebe to stick around for a while?

{Ed077's Note - I don't know really LPU.

But both Tuanzebe and Williams don't get much game time so they are better off seeking a move, either on loan or permanently to further their career.

I didn't forget about Phil Jones, he is non existent in the squad..

13.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 06:27:09
Ed077, I do expect a lot of the young ones from the academy leaving. We seem to be currently focusing on strengthening the first team to challenge for some honours and I do not see how the young ones can afford any game time to impress.

As far as Jones is concerned, he is non existent but with a contract running till 2023. Do you remember any player who has been at a club playing so little and yet sticking around for a decade?

{Ed077's Note - quite a few academy lads have already left as well...

And I cant remember his name but Man City had a 3rd choice GK who never played but hung around for years and years. Was his name Wright or something?}

14.) 12 Jun 2021
12 Jun 2021 09:09:09
We still have a bunch of talented and skillful ones left at the club and not sure where they end up.

Regarding players like Jones, are they on some kind of rolling contracts based on appearances or something?

Thanks Ed077.