Defensive reinforcements imminent?

[CanaryNath]

With Turner now off to Wednesday on a season long loan, surely this strengthens the notion that a deal for Koulibaly/van Dijk/Nkoulou is close?

 

[Macey]

Van Dijk almost certainly wont be coming here imo, Southampton are red hot favs and I think Everton will also be sniffing. The other two though are possible and with Turner off out on loan I would have thought we have something in the pipe line.  

 

[Indy_Bones]

Nkoulou would be my first choice, VVD the 2nd and Koulibaly a more distant 3rd/last choice.

 

[Din]

Yeah NKoulou would be my first choice as well.

 

[KeiranShikari]

I haven't really seen much of any of them, from what I've read I'd probably agree though.

inb4 he rejects us and it is Collins from West Ham.

 

[Beauseant]

Surprised by that. Koulibaly is a similar age, stands 6'4" (compared to 5'11" ) and is bulkier than Nkoulou while matching his pace and is playing in a much tougher league for defenders.

 

[KeiranShikari]

I've put quite a bit of weight on the opinion of my friend that watches Italian football. Although you would imagine that a player good enough to get decent game time at Napoli should be good enough to get it here. Other than the physical stuff do you know anything about how he plays the game? 

 

 

[Beauseant]

Typical modern defender, a bit like a taller, leaner Bassong (although with less brain fades!) Like Bassong in his early career he can also do a job as a defensive midfielder. I believe that he's been the primary defensive target for weeks but with the van Dijk to Southampton move up in the air there was a risk of a bidding war which (I'm guessing) is why we're only showing our hand now.

 

[KeiranShikari]

Sounds good, height and real force at the back is not something we have right now.

Bassong's fades are all a part of the fun. 

 

[eatonparkboy]

How does the window work? Europe closes a day earlier I assume because it isn't a Bank Holiday on the mainland. And ours now shuts at 18.00 instead of 23.00.

Does that mean we can still buy from mainland Europe on Tuesday even though their window is closed?

 

[Indy_Bones]

Surprised by that. Koulibaly is a similar age, stands 6'4" (compared to 5'11" ) and is bulkier than Nkoulou while matching his pace and is playing in a much tougher league for defenders.

I'm not sure that Serie A is actually that much tougher than Ligue 1 these days, but even so I still feel that Nkoulou is the better player, he's played at a decent level for a number of years including some good Champs League experience, has shown his ability internationally with 63 Cameroon caps despite being just 25, and I personally feel that he's a much better ball playing defender than either VVD or Koulibaly, which is exactly what we need alongside Seb.

Let's also not forget that Nkoulou has been linked with moves to bigger sides before (e.g. Arsenal, At Madrid etc) which also suggests that other sides see the same quality we do.

I don't think Koulibaly would be a bad signing though, I just think Nkoulou suits replacing Martin better whereas Koulibaly would be better as a Seb replacement if you know what I mean?

 

[Lavanche]

He is just a bit profient to make high risk challenges and even thought he isn't slow as Turner, he wont get ahead of many strikers if they beat him.

Haven't seen that many Marseille games, but Nkolou is supposed to be a bit faster and a bit more aggressive. Also his aerial stats are almost double compared Koulibaly, but that can be up to team tactics and league style.

So hard to say. I personaly prefer speed over size and Nkolou has quite good track record. Then again if Koulibaly can position same way as Mertesacker speed shouldn't cause problems, but Napoli's defence was utter **** last year so that doesn't make me feel comfortable.

 

[eatonparkboy]

Any defender coming from Europe will have to adapt to the local area, the people and the supporters. And then he has to adapt to the Premier league style.

I know absolutely nothing about the players mentioned here but do think that it is a big risk bringing any foreign player into our league unless, like Bassong, he has had experience here already.

 

[Indy_Bones]

Another point to consider is that Nkoulou is an international teammate of Bassong, so who better to help him adapt to a new league and new country than that???

 

[Canaryboy]

Another point to consider is that Nkoulou is an international teammate of Bassong, so who better to help him adapt to a new league and new country than that???

Well if he joined Newcastle he'd feel like he never left France. 

We have quite a few French speakers though.... Bassong, Mulumbu, Andreu, Gafiati, Vadis (Belgium is pretty much France, isn't it?) and possibly Van Wolfswinkel if he is a quick learner.

Same if we sign Koulibaly, he's French. 

All assuming that Nkoulou and Koulibaly aren't already fluent English speakers. 

 

[Lavanche]

Any defender coming from Europe will have to adapt to the local area, the people and the supporters. And then he has to adapt to the Premier league style.

I know absolutely nothing about the players mentioned here but do think that it is a big risk bringing any foreign player into our league unless, like Bassong, he has had experience here already.

It doesn't matter where you move, you still have to adapt. Ofc premier league is totally different league compared to Eredivisie or even La Liga, but without well taken risks you will quite much stay at your level

 Very rarely you find decent priced premiership players that would improve starting eleven. Most of the times they are transfers to get more depth for the squad and at the end they can be equal dissapointment for us than players from continental leagues.

It is all about taking calculated risks and good scouting to find players that suit our style and the league.

 

[Wiz]

Well we need to move quickly the window shuts in 4 days.

 

[Beauseant]

I'm not sure that Serie A is actually that much tougher than Ligue 1 these days, but even so I still feel that Nkoulou is the better player, he's played at a decent level for a number of years including some good Champs League experience, has shown his ability internationally with 63 Cameroon caps despite being just 25, and I personally feel that he's a much better ball playing defender than either VVD or Koulibaly, which is exactly what we need alongside Seb.

Let's also not forget that Nkoulou has been linked with moves to bigger sides before (e.g. Arsenal, At Madrid etc) which also suggests that other sides see the same quality we do.

I don't think Koulibaly would be a bad signing though, I just think Nkoulou suits replacing Martin better whereas Koulibaly would be better as a Seb replacement if you know what I mean?

Fair point. I think we'd both be happy with either!

 

[Canaryboy]

Let's also not forget that Nkoulou has been linked with moves to bigger sides before (e.g. Arsenal, At Madrid etc) which also suggests that other sides see the same quality we do.

All three have. Koulibaly has been linked with Everton and Southampton this summer.

Van Djik has been linked with Arsenal and Southampton.

It is almost as if we are bottom of the pecking order and need to see who those teams move for, before settling for whoever is left. 

Just have to face up to the fact that we are further down the hierarchy. It is natural that players like Van Djik and Koulibaly are going to want to see if a Southampton move is 'on' before they accept a deal with us.

Southampton, Everton, Newcastle and Norwich are all known to want to sign a centre back, and unfortunately we will be the last choice as a newly promoted side with an unknown manager.

Sure we'll land somebody though, and there it doesn't mean we'll be left with the dud. 

 

[derehamyella]

Honestly expected news today,   keep seeing different reports of offers rejected  ..  hard to get a proper update.  guess we will have to wait.

re southampton..   think their bubble is going to deflate a little this season.... just have a gut feeling