16 Jul 2015 22:14:17
What ever happened with Tonny Vilhena are we not looking into him anymore ed?
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{Ed002's Note - Tonny Vilhena's performances last seaaon attracted the sustained attention of Juventus and Southhampton but Feyenoord did not want to sell - I am not so sure he is yet first team material for the EPL.}
17 Jul 2015 22:47:47
I think Koeman said last week that they'd ended their interest in Vilhena. I didn't read a direct quote, but it was mentioned by the one of the journalists on their twitter after a press briefing.
He's out of contract at the end of the season and will then be available for free, and supposedly he's not getting along well with his manager at Feyenoord and eying up the exit door, so I'd be surprised if Saints have ruled him out entirely.
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19 Jul 2015 15:45:51
Vilhena's mother is very ill (I think it is his mum?) and he doesn't really want to leave the area at the moment.
He also had a meeting with the new head coach who assured him he would get opportunities to play this season.
wait-and-see what happens next summer
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16 Jul 2015 18:24:48
The Van Dijk rumours seem to be accurate.
This would be a fabulous addition, Jose will make him better. Eds: does this look likely, I hear saints have put a bid in that is close to what Celtic want.
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{Ed007's Note - I don't know if a bid has been made but it'll be imminent if it hasn't yet. Celtic though are still adamant that VVD will be going nowhere until their European qualification is sorted out.}
16 Jul 2015 20:26:07
Could be a potential headache for both clubs, as Celtic are well with in their rights to want to keep the player back until they are guaranteed CL and Saints would preferably like to bed the new centre back in before our first Europa League qualification fixture! Might have to stump up a few extra millions as an incentive!
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16 Jul 2015 21:15:53
Seen him for Celtic has a good defensive brain also
Likes to go forward would be a good addition
Can't imagine he'd be in the same ball park as alderverald but Still a good defender if he comes
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16 Jul 2015 22:51:25
This continued speculation about VVD surprises me when any rumours about him seem to be very vague . How do we know he is a top defender? From what I have heard he is a bit of a loose cannon and forgets about being a defender sometimes and doesn't get back quickly enough after free kicks and corners , I think we can do better especially when he could be quite expensive . Might be wrong but sounds a bit risky to me .
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17 Jul 2015 00:05:58
Not any more risky than the rest of our purchases this season, and he could also provide cover for defensive mid as he has the right attributes. But since it's all speculation atm, he may not even be our number one target.
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17 Jul 2015 00:11:41
I think this whole expecting van Dijk to come in is just setting everyone up for disappointment and some probable moaning IF we bring someone else in. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and wait till we hear something more substantial about a CB
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17 Jul 2015 08:44:09
I'd still prefer Bruno Martins Indi. We were looking at him six months ago. Eds, do you know if there is any interest in him from us at the moment? Thanks
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{Ed002's Note - Martins Indi won't be moving this summer. Last summer there was interest but then he moved to Porto.}
17 Jul 2015 10:03:36
I have a feeling we will puchase an unknown centre back, well unknown in terms of all these rumours. Both Lovren and Alderweireld were unknown (to me anyway) and they both turned out ok - as players, maybe not as people! I think once this CB turns up we can be confident that we have our full squad - any other players are a bonus!
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17 Jul 2015 18:10:02
Lovren and Alderweirdeld were both pretty big signings. Lovren was one of the standout performers in ligue 1 when we bought him with caps for Croatia and Alderweireld was a massive signing. The season before many clubs had looked at him because of exceptional perfomrances in the eredivise with Ajax. He was also a Belgium regular, ok normally as right. I would be very concern trying anyone without international experience in that role. We are talking about defending at the highest level in the premier league. Just look at the vergard forren deal. 6 - 8 million pound signing that never had a first team game for us.
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17 Jul 2015 21:02:24
Never said they were not big signings. However, they were not proven premier league names, they were also not spoke about constantly until they came in.
People get one name in their head and then keep on about them - when in reality the team probably have a choice of 5 - 10 potential CBs, with certain priorities.
There is a lot more variables when it comes to making a signing. Whoever comes in needs to do a job, so I will be happy with whoever is picked as the scouting team would have done theo homework.
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17 Jul 2015 22:47:02
@Chrisdownj: defensive positioning will improve in time and with the current high line and competence in midfield it doesn't seem as if this will be a deal breaker. It is true that he likes to push forward but then again, so did Koeman when he played so, as far as I am concerned, we have nothing to worry about!
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16 Jul 2015 13:06:33
Hey Eds,
anything new on our interest in Dennis Praet from Anderlecht?
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{Ed002's Note - Interest in Anderlecht's Dennis Praet remains from Ajax, Everton, Southampton, Hoffenheim, Aston Villa and Dynamo Moscow. Sevilla and Valencia have had bids rejected. Aston Villa are being kept informed by Anderlecht of any approaches for the player and I suspect they might be first to put an acceptable offer on the table. Previous interest from others, such as Arsenal and Liverpool, has drifted away although Juventus may return if they are unable to secure other midfield targets.}
16 Jul 2015 19:02:53
Thanks Ed, much appreciated
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