Signing him wouldn't be a bad move and I think we could get him for even less than that.
He's also a real leader which is something we crucially need in defence.
Kalidou Koulibaly
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik and Imran hold a long overdue conversation about United's awful league form with 1 win in 7. They discuss a disappointing draw at Bournemouth, a not so disappointing draw against Liverpool and a crushing defeat at Chelsea - Is time nearly over for Erik Ten Hag?
Then in a special second half of the pod, Nik welcomes Natalie ( https://twitter.com/natalie_17) to discuss the fortunes of Manchester United Women as they booked a place in the FA Cup Final after a historic first ever win vs. Chelsea.
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He's also a real leader which is something we crucially need in defence.
Yeah that is very true but think ship has sailed
I don't think ETH would risk another short term solution considering how we've been a failure at that aspect.
Its funny watching how much his perceived value has dropped year on year, considering it wasnt so long along ago the Napoli owner was talking about in excess of 100 million for him. They really should have cashed in at the time.
Would be a good signing on a 3 year deal.
He's only 30.
Thiago Silva was 35 when Chelsea signed him
He's only 30.
Thiago Silva was 35 when Chelsea signed him
Yeah he'd be cheap as well would be a shrewd buy. Stick him in for a couple of seasons, sort out the midfield and fullbacks first then get a CB.
He can do the job for a year or two easily.
Kante and koulibaly, would be an instant upgrade and allow other new younger players to develop around them. No brainer.
Edit..kante not kate....although the duchess would also be an upgrade on mcfred.
Edit..kante not kate....although the duchess would also be an upgrade on mcfred.
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Every transfer window..
No idea how he hasn't been snapped up by another big club.
Would be bizarre to see a team actually sign him, Napoli have been trying to sell him for silly money for what 5 years?
We probably should have bitten the bullet back then considering what we got instead in Maguire.
That old guy that runs Napoli, was asking for 100m pounds, and was probably serious about it.
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He'll take quite well to the Premier League I expect.
Thiago Silva did for them and he was a few years older.
This is what I'm talking about. Sensible Rudiger replacement. Can ideally slot straight in and limit the loss of Rudiger. Between him and Silva, there's also enough experience in the defensive group to guide/mentor guys like Colwill and Chalobah.
This move would make me very, very happy.
This move would make me very, very happy.
In terms of personality, playing style, leadership, and ability he‘d be ideal to replace Toni. But he played on our left side where Aké is going to slot in.
So I’d guess he plays on the right side? Does Napoli play a back 3?
Yesterday his agent had discussions with boehly. Hope conclude things sooner. I am tired of this close to move to chelsea type rumours.
I've seen him play LCB in a back 3, but he can play centrally too, don't think I've seen him be the RCB, but I'm not so secretly hoping Tuchel scraps the back 3 entirely anyway, or least only keeps it around for select games. Not sure what this means for Ake but I guess we'll see what Tuchel's plans are.
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Koulibaly is actually going to leave Napoli in a transfer window.... ?! I'm still struggling to believe it
Him and Ake would be 2 good additions for my liking..
Him and Ake would be 2 good additions for my liking..
31 year old on the decline?
Bit different to Kounde or De Ligt..
Bit different to Kounde or De Ligt..
The best transfer Chelsea will do this window.
I like him, he'll do good for them.
Doesn’t appear to me like he has declined. Still looks like a monster athletically from what I’m watching. Plus, 31 isn’t old for a CB. Same age as VVD who looks as good as ever now he’s over his injury.
What is a bit weird would be buying 2 CB’s who predominantly play on the left side like Koulibaly and Aké. And if Tuchel is considering a change in formation to a back 4 it would make signing Aké all the more strange.
Better option than De Ligt for me and we’re seemingly no longer interested in Kounde. Koulibaly was always my ideal CB target this summer.
VVD doesn’t look as good as ever really let’s be honest.
My point is this is clearly a very short term signing as the player is over 30 and will be regressing rather than progressing.
Unless the club is going to back its youth then you’ll be replacing Silva in the summer and this fella soon after. Total contrast to looking at De Ligt and Kounde adding to the pretty scattergun approach you’re having with transfers this season.
Wonder how much he’ll fetch?
Always think it’s a gamble bringing in a older player, especially who has predominantly played in Italy, to the PL.
Possibly a shift towards not blocking your youth pathway though which I know you’d be happy with.
I think in that specific position, the short term aspect of it is actually one of the encouraging aspects for me. Brings immediate quality and experience and doesn't block Colwill in any way.
Do I detect a little green eyed monster ?
Silva was meant to be a very short term signing yet soon to be playing in his third year .Will he get another season ? Who knows but if you have truly watched him perform you will see that his experience and football brain have Enabled him to perform at an exceptional standard for quite a while.
Of course he isn’t going be playing say in 6 or 7 years maybe not 3 or 4 but you don’t get points or trophies based on if a player is 30 or 20 it’s base on the current season.
As for scatter gun approac I find that such an ironic comment
Agreed. how would you see Colwill being integrated or would this allow a loan this season?
I’m absolutely not jealous of you signing him in the slightest. Wouldn’t fit our profile. We got a younger player in Varane at the same price. As I said, buying an older player who has played exclusively it Italy at a slower pace is a risk.
It’s a third choice signing really and not someone you’ve been linked with which is why I mention scattergun.
Not sure what the irony is? You’ve been chasing everyone this summer, Dembele, Raphinha, Richarlison, Kounde, De Ligt..
Doesn’t look like you have a clear plan or set targets.
Great move by Chelsea if this goes through.
I would have liked to see this guy at Utd partnering Varane. It’s too bad he is signing for Chelsea.
I don’t think he is a typical Italian Serie A defender so do think he will transition quite well.
I don’t think he is a typical Italian Serie A defender so do think he will transition quite well.
On the contrary, all of those players suit the football Tuchel wants to play, if in that list there was a few players best suited to Simeone mixed with a few players best suited to Klopp and a few more suited to Pep then yes it would be scattergun.
Infact I'd say there's a lot more of a plan than last summer when we just looked at the top line without factoring how the signing would butcher the system.
Seems like a 3rd/4th option to me, but they have a pressing need and moved swiftly on as it became apparent that primary targets weren’t going to come.
I like him, but Napoli have done well to keep him for as long as they have and get that price for him at 31.
I like him, but Napoli have done well to keep him for as long as they have and get that price for him at 31.
What are you on about, have you totally missed Koulibaly being consistently linked with Chelsea for at least the last 5 years every summer?
At the end of last season the club's unofficial media mouthpiece Matt Law reported that Chelsea have an 8 player shortlist for CBs and the plan is to sign at least two of them.
De Ligt and Ake were obviously at the top of the list for Tuchel and thus we've seen most rumors of the club being after those two, but it's been pretty widely reported Jules Kounde, Presnel Kimpembe, Jose Gimenez, Josko Gvardiol, Kalidou Koulibaly and Pau Torres have been heavily scouted and looked into as well.
Because of his age Koulibaly was probably not considered a primary target at first, but after missing out on Matthijs De Ligt and Tuchel obviously not being as keen on Jules Kounde as the previous board clearly were, I'd say Koulibaly is right up there. On current level I'd say he's probably the best of the bunch so I wouldn't complain if we ended up getting him. The age is of course a slight worry but if we could get 2-3 top class seasons and 1-2 years of him being more of a rotational squad option I'd say it represents great value.
After losing more than half our defence from last season we can't exactly afford to be picky and think "either we sign the number one target or nobody". That's the kind of mentality you have when you already possess a very high quality squad, not when an overhaul is needed.
Good signing this but Ake is a strange signing
£33m is nothing in this day and age. And 31 years old is nowhere near the end of a career these days either.
We paid the same for Varane.
Napoli will be happy but it fills a need for you in the short term.
Is he feck he will get run ragged
Ake the better signing
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