Midfielders -- Other than the "obvious"

James Milner and Jordan Henderson....Premier League proven and will bring bags of experience to the team.
 
For the upcoming season we need some continuity, with Mainoo being the least likely to leave.
I would expect Bruno to stay, but Ineos may think 45m for him is a good deal - considering we could replace for a similiar fee on cheaper wages.
Therefore we need to target a profile to suit Mainoo and then perhaps consider the 2nd midfielder coming in being competition for him.
 
RedKnight88 said:
Eduardo Camavinga, Aurelien Tchouameni and Arda Guler might come on the market too(Real Madrid are known for just randomly selling decent players).
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Nah. Real Madrid sell top players for strategic reasons. Best example was Ronaldo, they got $100m for a player in his 30s, and it allowed them to take 1 step back to take more steps forward in the longer term. A bit like when SAF sold RVN.

Varane and Casemiro i think people are wrong. The players decided to leave, especially Varane. Many Madrid fans were bitter about him leaving and couldn’t understand why he’d join a club in the europa. But at the same time RM saw it as a good opportunity to cash in, most other clubs would have probably tripled their contracts.
 
goldenboy said:
Not seen much of him aside from the Afcon. At the very least he fits in to the Casemiro-esque profile when I've been doing research. He has a bit of all that's required and makes more sense as an option for the 6 role than most.
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I think he is an interesting option, as long as we play with a #10 we will need a destroyer in midfield with the right combo of defensive, athletic and technical skills. I don't think Anderson is that player, we really need to think about what we want in midfield and I think Anderson can occupy that defensive 8 role that Rice plays and alongside a Casemiro type that can really shore up our midfeld for battles against top teams.

AkaAkuma said:
I think Gomes has a 30m or near there relegation release clause
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If we could get a buyer for Ugarte for around £20m to £30m then it would be a seamless upgrade. We will have some form of European football next season and we won't, hopefully, wet the bed in domestic Cup competitions so we will need a deep squad.
 
JediSith said:
Nah. Real Madrid sell top players for strategic reasons. Best example was Ronaldo, they got $100m for a player in his 30s, and it allowed them to take 1 step back to take more steps forward in the longer term. A bit like when SAF sold RVN.

Varane and Casemiro i think people are wrong. The players decided to leave, especially Varane. Many Madrid fans were bitter about him leaving and couldn’t understand why he’d join a club in the europa. But at the same time RM saw it as a good opportunity to cash in, most other clubs would have probably tripled their contracts.
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Their "strategic reasons" was wanting a new toy so they didn't have space for other top players. Angel Di Maria and Özil were some of the best players in the world at the time they sold them. Add Robben, Robinho, Hakimi, Kovacic, Makelele, Higuain et cetera. They are probably the club that has sold most top players of all the clubs, so it makes sense to be on the lookout for their players.
 
the_cliff said:
Ibrahim Maza:



Probably the best midfield talent in the world right now. Motm performances in the ucl against Newcastle and City, will defo get a big move this summer. Press resistant, can play in the 6,8 and 10 and has that Zizou, Pedri, Iniesta swagger about him.
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Sometimes it's just easy to say yes, that is good enough for me. I didn't even finish the full video.
 
I think it is interesting that the name Victor Froholdt has never entered this discussion. He is 20, playing at Porto and the highest valued midfield player outside of the top five leagues (Cies). Froholdt is a box to box menace with good passing skills, an incredible engine (even wilder than Dorgu) and a drive towards goal. He is relentless at pressing and strong at interceptions. He has Hjulmands level right now at 20.
 
West Ham announced yesterday they made a £104.2m loss in the last financial year and that they'll need to sell players in the summer even if they stay up. So Mateus Fernandes will potentially be available for a lower fee than they would like.
 
IRN-BRUno said:
West Ham announced yesterday they made a £104.2m loss in the last financial year and that they'll need to sell players in the summer even if they stay up. So Mateus Fernandes will potentially be available for a lower fee than they would like.
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To replace Mainoo?
 
Anyone think football could be moving away from strict 6 / 8 / 10 roles?
 
The young central midfielder I would like us to sign is Victor Froholt from Porto. He is only 19 years old and considered the most valuable player outside the top 5 leagues. He is an athletic and strong player and can actually play wing or full back, but is clearly best as a central midfielder. He has a knack for appearing in dangerous positions in the box. I see him as the greatest Danish talent since the Laudrup brothers, but of course a completely different type.

 
greater wall said:
Sometimes it's just easy to say yes, that is good enough for me. I didn't even finish the full video.
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Totally agree. I didn't watch the whole thing either, but it was hilarious how many chances he was putting on a plate for the strikers and they kept making a complete mess of it! He is welcome to come and feed some of those chances to Sesko.
 
caid said:
Anyone think football could be moving away from strict 6 / 8 / 10 roles?
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Not necessarily when you see how Man Utd, Man City, Newcastle and Sunderland's midfields all fall apart whenever Casemiro, Rodri, Bruno G and Xhaka respectively aren't playing for them.

Midfields do tend to need that more steadying influence, or defensive lynchpin, in order to help control games and prevent getting overwhelmed by chaotic end-to-end football. Even if playing a double pivot, one still needs to have a bit more of a disciplined mindset.

Such top quality 6es/midfield lynchpins are sadly for United incredibly rare at the moment though.

If anything the 10 role seems to be the slightly more debatable one. Not that teams don't often still play with one midfielder slightly more advanced, but sometimes it will be whichever of their 8s/regular CMs has the biggest eye for goal, and they'll put them there instead of more of an attacking player to tighten up the midfield. Chelsea do this sometimes by putting Enzo as the 10, or you might see Real and England use Bellingham as the 10, even though he's as adept as an 8.
 
IRN-BRUno said:
West Ham announced yesterday they made a £104.2m loss in the last financial year and that they'll need to sell players in the summer even if they stay up. So Mateus Fernandes will potentially be available for a lower fee than they would like.
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He's not the one they'll sell for less. They bought him for £40m. They'll cash in on Bowen.
 
Lash said:
He's not the one they'll sell for less. They bought him for £40m. They'll cash in on Bowen.
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Aye but they’d take 60/70m most likely. Which is much better value than the £100m+ Anderson
 
greater wall said:
Sometimes it's just easy to say yes, that is good enough for me. I didn't even finish the full video.
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Yup. Looks like pure talent right there. Seems like he could fill in at 8, 10 or on the wings as well if ever needed. Maza and a more defensive midfielder (Sangare, Anderson, etc.), and we might be looking good.

Only thing I notice is that he doesn't seem like much of a long-range passer. Might just be down to his current role, but it's a key skill that we'll miss whenever Bruno slows down.

He only joined Leverkusen last year, so may not be the easiest deal.
 
I think the 3 PL proven targets seems not really sure things like the attack we bought last summer. We should cast our net wider as our main targets are somewhat fades, out of form, and price wise needs to be more of certainty rather just potential if we buy. With 80-100m mark, the players need to be close to certainty. The club should look deeper and use the funds better. Maybe 1 PL proven and 1/2 from other league or 2 PL provens and 1 from other league.
 
Statistically Chema seems like the guy. Closest thing to a Casemiro defensive monster clone that seems to be out there at present.
 
I was at the Newcastle vs Everton game at the weekend with some corporate stuff. First time I’ve seen Tonali live. His work rate is absolutely phenomenal and use of the ball great too. Hope he’s on our radar.
 
I think we were supposedly interested in Diarra when he was at Strasbourg, but he's been fantastic all over the pitch when I've watched Sunderland. Could be a good one to look at as a depth option. Has the "prem proven" tag too.
 
the_cliff said:
Ibrahim Maza:



Probably the best midfield talent in the world right now. Motm performances in the ucl against Newcastle and City, will defo get a big move this summer. Press resistant, can play in the 6,8 and 10 and has that Zizou, Pedri, Iniesta swagger about him.
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Will Bayern be doing their usual trick of hoovering up the best bundesliga talent?
 
Wolves have a couple to look at. I still like Adam Wharton, he's a good player, will improve and is not a passive player. Dewsbury-Hall would be a good squad addition, he has character and goals in him

We do need a more atheletic, imposing midfielder, who can turn up for most games. But I have yet to identify anyone good enough.

As I previously mentioned, Guiamares would be perfect addition
 
Salt Bailly said:
Will Bayern be doing their usual trick of hoovering up the best bundesliga talent?
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Does this stereotype apply to Bayern Munich, considering the volume of well-thought-of Bundesliga talents joining other leagues?

In the last half-a-decade you have Håland, Gvardiol, Bellingham, Akanji, Van de Ven, Marmoush, Havertz, Sancho, Konaté, Wirtz, Nkunku, Ekitiké, Šeško, Frimpong, Szoboszlai, Simons, Woltemade, Hincapié and do forth.

From the look of things, other Premier League clubs pose a bigger challenge than Bayern Munich.
 
Hester_manc said:
The young central midfielder I would like us to sign is Victor Froholt from Porto. He is only 19 years old and considered the most valuable player outside the top 5 leagues. He is an athletic and strong player and can actually play wing or full back, but is clearly best as a central midfielder. He has a knack for appearing in dangerous positions in the box. I see him as the greatest Danish talent since the Laudrup brothers, but of course a completely different type.

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When you mentioned Laudrup I was sceptical but he seems a big talent. I’m not sure if it’s because you mentioned the brothers but I seen a few traits that were similar to Michael. Good dribbling, driving forward with the ball, good body use and neat passes of two feet long and short.
 
Lu Tze said:
Statistically Chema seems like the guy. Closest thing to a Casemiro defensive monster clone that seems to be out there at present.
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If you look at their maps on datamb, Sangare at Lens has a perfect overlap in all defensive categories but offers so much more in terms of key passes and carryon. Lamine Camara is also very close on defensive actions but offers even more in terms of passing. Chema is no doubt a great young player but both of them are more well rounded
 
I like damagaard (brentford) and his age of 25 is also good as it will peak further. Has good passing, works hard, good shot on him and contributes a few goals.
 
Longlivekeano said:
I like damagaard (brentford) and his age of 25 is also good as it will peak further. Has good passing, works hard, good shot on him and contributes a few goals.
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He was the one who scored free kick against England in the European Championship semi final wasn't he
 
ATXRedDevil said:
If you look at their maps on datamb, Sangare at Lens has a perfect overlap in all defensive categories but offers so much more in terms of key passes and carryon. Lamine Camara is also very close on defensive actions but offers even more in terms of passing. Chema is no doubt a great young player but both of them are more well rounded
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Yeah, I've seen Chema has been benched recently as well which is odd for a top prospect.

That said, he is also 6ft 4 which is quite a nice thing to have in a footballing world increasingly dictated by aerial play.

There's also the Spanish midfielder buff he's got, they are so often very, very good...
 
Jeffthered said:
Wolves have a couple to look at. I still like Adam Wharton, he's a good player, will improve and is not a passive player. Dewsbury-Hall would be a good squad addition, he has character and goals in him

We do need a more atheletic, imposing midfielder, who can turn up for most games. But I have yet to identify anyone good enough.

As I previously mentioned, Guiamares would be perfect addition
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Yeah would love to sign Guimaraes, however despite him being PL proven he fails the 25 and under INEOS criteria. So it will need Casemiro to convince them his Brazilian teammate is an exception to the rule and should be pursued in the summer.
 
Longlivekeano said:
I like damagaard (brentford) and his age of 25 is also good as it will peak further. Has good passing, works hard, good shot on him and contributes a few goals.
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Would absolutely take him as rotation (potentially capable of hitting 2018-Eriksen-for-Spurs, if not top-Bruno levels and to play as an 8 as well as 10), but I think they'll ask for close to BM-money, especially since his level is rising season by season and is approaching his peak.
 
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