Looks like the deal got too rich for us, even though the player 'favoured' Watford: http://sportwitness.co.uk/player-fa...ecoming-another-clubs-expensive-signing-ever/
I think we should have made this one happen. Very good young player. Bit of a shame to have missed out on him.
He'll likely follow the usual pattern over there. Be the stand out player for Stuttgart for next 18 months and then Bayern will snap him up. And we'll hand Mariappa a new 2 year deal...and Wilmot will be being converted to a substitute GK.
Guess we are looking for another bargain bucket centre back. Or failing that extending contracts on Britos, Prodl and Mariappa.
Wants to leave if Stuttgart get relegated (currently in the relegation playoff places). His stock has risen considerably however with some big (Bayern, Tottenham etc) clubs keeping tabs on him.
Nothing beens confirmed but there's inkling of Bayern being involved in the deal somehow (similar to what they did with Gnabry a few years ago)
His Stuttgart side are in the 2nd leg of their relegation playoff tonight after the drawing their home leg 2-2. He’s apparently been very good for them despite this. Perhaps available again should they go down? Although there are rumours that Bayern Munich pushed his contract with Stuttgart to get him grounded in Germany before taking him.
I watched the match, and tbh I wasn't very impressed. He seemed quite small for a CB, similar to Mariappa but without the prodigious leap. A lot of his plsy was also rather haphazard and lacking in composure, including the moment when he let a simple long ball drift over his head and then bounce, and then in trying to recover he headbutted Badstuber who'd come across to clean up the mess. Badstuber seemed to have to do most of their defending in general (I'm aware Badstuber is more experienced though). He didn't strike me as being any kind of upgrade at this moment in time, and I'd be very surprised if he becomes a first team regular at Bayern.
I know that's what his wiki says, but he didn't look it on the pitch. He missed a lot of headers and I think he'd currently get bullied in the Prem. He's still young of course, but there didn't seem much about his general game that said top prospect.
Yeah he didn’t have a great game. Although, a game of that magnitude at his age, I’m not surprised he looked a bit over-awed. When I’ve seen him so far for them, he’s looked best with a more cultured defender next to him. He reminds me quite a bit of Vidic. Just not last night. I think he will look better in a team that plays with ball more than Stuttgart, who’s style has suffered this season as they’ve turned to scrapping for points. He has a lot of talent. But would easily need someone better than any of our current crop of CB’s alongside him.
Hope we sign this guy that we're not even linked to, not least because I doubt anyone has been described as not as good as Mariappa but yet reminiscent of Vidic before!
Safe to say he won't be joining, just won the "rookie of the year" award for the Bundesliga (which Lukebakio was also in the running for). You can read a little bit about him (and the award) here: https://www.rookie-award.com/en/
Yeah, his release clause is €15m I believe which combined with him having a fantastic season and Stuttgart now in the second division it means he'll be on the move for sure, however I'm sure someone bigger than us will snap him up.
£13.2m release clause. West Ham interested, and Man Utd, Arsenal and Tottenham linked in various places. We can’t compete with those teams but I’d love for us to get in there early and try and steal a march on a deal.
Then we can get used to signing average defenders. Sure it’s a decent outlay but it’s the type of fee needed to be spent to get real quality. Maybe more. We need to get away from the bargain basement when it comes to CB’s. And we have been in the PL for 5 years. It would be a worry if we don’t have this type of money to spend.
You joke but he only has a year left. Almost certain he's going to get a 1 or 2 year extension this summer I bet.
Crystal Palace are negotiating with Schalke over a deal for Turkey defender Ozan Kabak, 21. He could cost £10m-£12m. (Guardian) per bbc
