10 May 2016 06:10:11
Hi ed

I see on the Chelsea page laporte has agreed a move elsewhere am I right in thinking that it is Man city which is why I'm on this page

If I am correct would that rule man city out going for John Stones or would they be willing to take both

Thanks

{Ed001's Note - it is City that have agreed a Laporte deal, but his injury has meant they are looking to add Stones as well. From what I have been told out here, by someone who knows the owners very well, they are very confident of getting Stones. While that doesn't necessarily mean they will, as they are always confident in what they do, it does confirm that they are going to move to add him in the summer.

Personally, I think the chance to work with Pep Guardiola will clinch his signature.}


1.) 10 May 2016
10 May 2016 07:06:12
Thanks for info Ed! If City sign two more central defenders, does this have any implications for existing ones (obv Kompany is too injury prone now) such as Mangala and Otamendi - or are City just looking to stockpile? If they have Stones, Laported, Ot. And Mang, plus Gundagon/Thiago (presumably to replace Toure?) then they'll have one hell of a team! Out of interest, are there any other "premium" players that Guardiola wants to acquire?

Many thanks for your precious time!

{Ed001's Note - from what I can gather, Mangala and Otamendi are seen as different options. They are the brute strength to play alongside the ball player and 4 defenders are what the club is looking to run with. Kompany's injuries, which the club are working hard to fix, doing everything from changing his chairs and even his boots, make him a bonus player, so to speak. If he can get and stay fit, someone would be going then.

City would like to add a driving force midfielder, a Pogba or Arturo Vidal and a forward, though I have no idea who that could be, as Aubameyang looks set to hold out for a move to Real Madrid. Maybe Lewandowski or Benzema could be the answer there?}


2.) 10 May 2016
10 May 2016 08:07:29
Thanks for detailed reply Ed - so Stones and Laporte might compete for the "ball playing" CB and Otamendi/Mangala for the more brutish CB. Wonder if Stones will consider this before signing, given that he is potentially competing against potentially the best defender in the world?!

{Ed001's Note - possibly, you can never tell, but Pep does like to rotate a fair bit so he would get time.}


3.) 08 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 21:54:38
Ed001 is there anything new on this I believe last year the eds saying stones was very keen to work Mr mourinho do you think stones may prefer united with mourinho to city with pep?

{Ed001's Note - no, Stones, like most players, are caught up in the Pep 'myth' and would love to play for him.}