Defender for next season?

[woobie]

Javi Martinez is the best available fit for Barcelona in my opinion. Since he's comfortable playing both as a centerback and a midfielder, it's an even more attractive choice. He's about 5 years younger than Silva and we can get him for probably half the price.

While I'm sure Berlusconi rates Silva highly (as he should), I'm not too sure he would set a 80 million pricetag on him. Javi Martinez' buyout is 40 million.

 

[Reasonus]

While I'm sure Berlusconi rates Silva highly (as he should), I'm not too sure he would set a 80 million pricetag on him. Javi Martinez' buyout is 40 million.

Buyout isn't the same as value. I think Thiago Alcantara has a buyout clause of 90m.

 

[woobie]

True enough but Athletic has no earthly reason to want to sell him or any of their other players, esp to Barcelona (relations btw the clubs aren't especially good) and as stated elsewhere, Javi himself has shown no interest at all in leaving Bilbao (judging by many of his recent tweets, I'd argue that he's shown a good deal of interest in remaining exactly where he is). So I would be unsurprised that if Barcelona really is interested in him, the buyout will have to be ponied up -- and I don't think Javi will want to go.

 

[Reasonus]

True enough but Athletic has no earthly reason to want to sell him or any of their other players, esp to Barcelona (relations btw the clubs aren't especially good) and as stated elsewhere, Javi himself has shown no interest at all in leaving Bilbao (judging by many of his recent tweets, I'd argue that he's shown a good deal of interest in remaining exactly where he is). So I would be unsurprised that if Barcelona really is interested in him, the buyout will have to be ponied up -- and I don't think Javi will want to go.

Maybe so, but we will never know until Barcelona makes it formal. Rejecting this Barcelona is very, very difficult. It's once in a lifetime opportunity to be wanted by this side. I'm not aware of tensions between Atheltic and Barca. If an offer is good enough, why would they reject it? Unless, of course, they aim for trophies next season, which is unlikely.

Anyway, signing good CBs is tough. Signing good CBs for Barcelona is very tough. Signing players who have played in Spain and/or Germany is preferable to those who plied their trade in Italy and/or England.

 

[SwiftGuyver]

Mats Hummels - 25 million
Jordi Alba - 15 million

Sorted.

If we can spend another 10-20 million on a forward/winger then great but I reckon we should just sign Neymar next summer.

 

[gingerless]

Thiago Silva - 25 million
Alaba - 25 million

make it happen pep

...

i just died a little inside

 

[Flavia]

T.Silva for 25 mi? No way he'd be that cheap. That's why it's better to go for hummels or subotic. Silva'd cost no less than 35.

 

[Deco 20]

make it happen pep

...

i just died a little inside

Go back to your old avatar, having it in black and white only depresses me

 

[gingerless]

they'll definitely let him go for 30 i think

 

[gingerless]

Go back to your old avatar, having it in black and white only depresses me

yes, your tears give me life

 

[woobie]

Athletic, let us remember, could still win TWO trophies this year. I see no reason why they would be any less ambitious next year. They have no motivation to sell ANY of their players and I've read/heard nothing to indicate that Javi Martinez has the slightest interest in going to another club (and I do follow Athletic closely). There's also the Basque pride thing which I suspect is little understood by most folks here. So...yeah, people may like Javi or Iker Muniain or the others but I've seen no indication that Athletic would want to sell or that they would want to leave.

As for Thiago Silva, I concur with Flavia -- his price will be quite high, if Milan are even willing to listen to offers. They're losing Nesta at the end of the season, after all.

 

[tiki-taka]

My pick for the next season would be Vincent Kompany and Jordi Alba.

 

[barcelonista]

We won't get Kompany or T. Silva or Alaba or even Hummels. They are all star players at ambitious top clubs in the top European leagues.

- Kompany is City's captain and easily the best defender in the Premier League this season. City want to win things and have unlimited funds. Nothing will lure Kompany away. Not even a € 50 million bid.

- Silva is playing for the 7 times European champions and title challengers in Italy. Funded by Berlusconi. He's their best defender. For € 35 million they might start to think about it maybe. Nothing we will pay for a 28 year old defender. Maybe if it was Laporta.

- Alaba? Forget about it. Bayern desperately needed a left-back and they don't need money at all. Bayern don't sell players.

- Hummels. Probably the most likely "top" defender we could get. But again: Dortmund is very ambitious. 2 times Bundesliga champions in a row and they've invested big (for their standards) in Reus to underline their ambitions. The only reason I see for him to join us is the fact that Klopp and the Dortmund players are heavy Barcelona admirers (Klopp quote: "There are many Bundesliga players good enough to play for Real Madrid. Not Barcelona. But Real Madrid? Sure." ). So their board might not want to hinder a dream move for Hummels. € 25 million might do. But I'm not sure if Hummels is actually what we need. We already have Pique who's good going forward but erratic at actual defending. I want us to buy a no-nonsense defender.

 

[DennyCrane]

We won't get Kompany or T. Silva or Alaba or even Hummels. They are all star players at ambitious top clubs in the top European leagues.

- Kompany is City's captain and easily the best defender in the Premier League this season. City want to win things and have unlimited funds. Nothing will lure Kompany away. Not even a € 50 million bid.

- Silva is playing for the 7 times European champions and title challengers in Italy. Funded by Berlusconi. He's their best defender. For € 35 million they might start to think about it maybe. Nothing we will pay for a 28 year old defender. Maybe if it was Laporta.

- Alaba? Forget about it. Bayern desperately needed a left-back and they don't need money at all. Bayern don't sell players.

- Hummels. Probably the most likely "top" defender we could get. But again: Dortmund is very ambitious. 2 times Bundesliga champions in a row and they've invested big (for their standards) in Reus to underline their ambitions. The only reason I see for him to join us is the fact that Klopp and the Dortmund players are heavy Barcelona admirers (Klopp quote: "There are many Bundesliga players good enough to play for Real Madrid. Not Barcelona. But Real Madrid? Sure." ). So their board might not want to hinder a dream move for Hummels. € 25 million might do. But I'm not sure if Hummels is actually what we need. We already have Pique who's good going forward but erratic at actual defending. I want us to buy a no-nonsense defender.

Very true.

I'd still go for Chiellini although some people in his thread mentioned that he can be a really nasty bitch sometimes; then again, players change when joining our club. Although I seriously doubt that Juventus will let him leave it's worth a try.

 

[Gaines10]

Hummels & Alba please