I agree that we cannot go into a season with McFred only, I mean just the fact that we are going into a season with only 2 senior CM's is a joke in itself, let alone these starting as they are mid table at best.
However, it is very difficult when a club cannot scout a CDM and expecting the manager to scout players and coach the team. Neves is an option because he is popular and the fans know about him. Wolves will not sell less than 50m now, we will probably end up overspending on a player.
So really, we will lose out on De Jong because of the 17m euros owed by Barca, but we will spend 20m more on a Neves transfer fee... not very clever business.
And the main problem imo is because we are led by very weak people in charge. Look at Bayern, they don't play on other clubs terms, they play on their own. We should have set a deadline of De Jong and made it known to the player and the club as well. And that deadline should have happened before the season is put at risk.
And I am pretty sure we have CDM scouted, but this Martinez and De Jong business leaves an impression in which Arnold and Mourt or whatever the feck his name is, want to distance themselves and put everyone at clear that we buy whoever the manager wants. Thus creating the problem of one man decision making. I mean ETH might turn out the right one, but after so many years of shit dealing the club should not operate this way. I could never imagine Bayern to operate this way, simply because with that kind of approach it gives the impression that everyone else just tries to keep his hands clean, and only the manager takes the blame, because eventually there will be transfer duds.
After the season starts, I think if we go for Neves they will try and fleece us for 60m, which is laughable and border line Maguire kind of bollocks.
Tielemans is talented but lazy. Neves is slow AF and he's only incrementally better than McFred. Sangare, who really knows if he's any good? Seems like a Spurs midfield signing that will flop after showing some promise initially.
Anyway I'm curious to see what happens after Eriksen comes in. Maybe he'll be at CM.
Tielemans is not what we need imo, Neves is slow, but not sure he is that much slower than FDJ for example, and incrementally better? Mate Fred and McT struggle to pass properly, and it is shocking for CMs, feck their running or work rate, a CM that struggles to pass properly should be out of the team. Spurs midfielder signing like Hojbjerg? I'd take that, however not for 50m.
This is bothering me as well. We're getting some good players but hardly adressing the biggest pain points.
McFred work OK in tandem, but there is no other functional midfield combination we can have, what is a huge worry.
Regarding van de Beek, I still don't understand why he is used so high up the pitch. Surely if he has any future in this club, it will be in midfield?
They work OK for a tandem in a team that aspires to finish 8th. VDB I do also think should play deeper.