Centre Half

[jlup1980]

Dawson should be our number one target. He's got PL experience, he's from the North so Burnley shouldn't exactly be a culture shock and he's in the last year of his contract. He's also a little unsettled if reports are to be believed because he wants assurances about playing centre half rather than full back. We need to get Keane's replacement right and if that means bidding £15m for Dawson then that's what we should do. He'd also be a good fit for a back three alongside Mee and Tarky if that were ever employed by SD. Mee has spent time at LB, Dawson time at RB. Their positional sense should be good in those areas so if they were playing either side of Tarky it should work nicely. I'd throw the kitchen sink at WBA to get him personally.

[ExistentialWanderer]

A valid one but dont know about 20 mill for him On the fact that he is an England player with all due respect to yourself no longer holds the validity it once did .

No, granted. However. England and facing Chelsea etc every week. Or Burton Albion and Millwall. I know which I'd choose.

[taio]

We are just not going to pay that sort of money. I like your ambition though

[ExistentialWanderer]

Dawson should be our number one target. He's got PL experience, he's from the North so Burnley shouldn't exactly be a culture shock and he's in the last year of his contract. He's also a little unsettled if reports are to be believed because he wants assurances about playing centre half rather than full back. We need to get Keane's replacement right and if that means bidding £15m for Dawson then that's what we should do. He'd also be a good fit for a back three alongside Mee and Tarky if that were ever employed by SD. Mee has spent time at LB, Dawson time at RB. Their positional sense should be good in those areas so if they were playing either side of Tarky it should work nicely. I'd throw the kitchen sink at WBA to get him personally.

Not the best defender, but Dyche can work on that. Too similar to Mee for my liking but he does carry a goal threat.

[ExistentialWanderer]

We just not going pay that sort of money. I like your ambition though

Why not? It's effectively a bonus. I understand your misgivings but. All we are doing is replacing like for like at the same cost. Take the names away and we're replacing one for another. As stated above. My only concern is his similarity to Mee.

[taio]

I just don't believe the Board would sanction such a fee, especially for a defender. And a fee at that level would naturally result in a wage well above what we will pay. I feel that Gibson himself would reject such a move too knowing he will end up at a bigger club

[Turftalkers mentor]

I think they would sanction the fee for Dawson as it seems to be pretty reasonable when you cosider some of the fees paid out in recent times . Jordan Pickfords being a prime example

[Wokingclaret]

Can't see Gibson coming....

[ExistentialWanderer]

I just don't believe the Board would sanction such a fee, especially for a defender. And a fee at that level would naturally result in a wage well above what we will pay. I feel that Gibson himself would reject such a move too knowing he will end up at a bigger club

Bigger club aside, where none seem too keen on him. Not having a go, just an observation. He can't be keen on playing at a lower level. I do get your point. I just think it's feasible and it would be a like for like in a sense. I see everyone's points. I also see it as doable. I also see Dawson as a more likely course of action as it fits the 'framework'.
Just an idea. Nothing more.

[lucs86]

We're absolutley nowhere near the level of spending £25M on centre backs. Has anyone outside the top 6 ever spent that much on a defender? Kev Long came in and did fine at the end of last season and he was £500k? Keane £2.5M, Mee £500k, Tarkowski £3M. I can't see Dawson happening, I'd be shocked if we spent over £5-6M bringing in a CB. That Keane money should be good for 3 players, at least one of them walking straight into the 11.

[Sleeping Cat]

Personally think Tarks should be given the nod to start the season with Mee no matter who we sign (assuming both are fit). Tarks has been patient and done well when he's come in, apart from the partnership with Long at the end of last season. Perhaps a run of games in the position will help.

Would be happy with either Dawson or Chambers. Throwing Paddy McNair into the equation as a young player with pedigree who we can look to develop.

[Tall Paul]

We're absolutley nowhere near the level of spending £25M on centre backs. Has anyone outside the top 6 ever spent that much on a defender?

Everton did on Monday.

[randomclaret2]

" Kev Long came in and did fine..." 19 other PL managers shake head and smile...

[UpTheBeehole]

I'd want a bit more player for £15m than Craig Dawson provides. He's a basic defender; not pacy, not tall, not exactly a passer.

Plus, at his age, there's not much resale value in him either.

For half that amount, yeah maybe, but I'd wince at paying that much for such a basic player.

[ExistentialWanderer]

We're absolutley nowhere near the level of spending £25M on centre backs. Has anyone outside the top 6 ever spent that much on a defender? Kev Long came in and did fine at the end of last season and he was £500k? Keane £2.5M, Mee £500k, Tarkowski £3M. I can't see Dawson happening, I'd be shocked if we spent over £5-6M bringing in a CB. That Keane money should be good for 3 players, at least one of them walking straight into the 11.

All I can say is. Re-read what you posted. Already responded to by others and well. No need to respond.

[ExistentialWanderer]

My issue is. Long and Tarks does not work. Mee and another may do, but I'd want cover in case it doesn't. Long and Tarkowski definitely didn't work and if you watched the same games I did. You'd see it!

[Turftalkers mentor]

At the risk of being castigated because of his former club may I throw this one in instead of paying Man Utd the best part of £6m as part of the sell on clause what about asking about Jones availability . Not a regular first teamer but a past England player only 25 and a northern lad

[Estonhills]

Is it not beyond the realms of possibility to go for Gibson? We could even throw in ablueclaret as a sweetener!

Think you have set the bar with Keane, with one year on his contract left. Rumours coming out the club, if the 30m valuation is not met, Gibson will be staying for the promotion push. He has 4 years left on his current contract. He is a local lad and his uncle owns the football club.

[lucs86]

Everton did on Monday.

oh yeah. Everton spending to make that 6 a 7 though. Plenty other way more established PL teams not spending that kind of money on CBs.

[tiger76]

" Kev Long came in and did fine..." 19 other PL managers shake head and smile...

If Kevin Long plays regularly it is going to be a long season.

[lucs86]

" Kev Long came in and did fine..." 19 other PL managers shake head and smile...

He's not played a game for us in over a year, or competitive football for half a season (or more), he came in and did OK. The way we play doesn't ask a lot from our CBs, they get a lot of protection from the rest of the team, even when we've a £30M England international in there. We need to replace Keane but we don't need to be shopping expensively. We could have David Luiz and Virgil van Dijk in there but with the players around them it wouldn't make a world of difference.

[ExistentialWanderer]

Think you have set the bar with Keane, with one year on his contract left. Rumours coming out the club, if the 30m valuation is not met, Gibson will be staying for the promotion push. He has 4 years left on his current contract. He is a local lad and his uncle owns the football club.

Yes I understand but. A) Can Uncle provide Premier League Football? and B) £30 million is a bit much. How loyal is Gibson?

[Estonhills]

Greame bailey

Spurs told to pay £30million for Swansea's Alfie Mawson - similar fee quoted by Middlesbrough for Ben Gibson. Both look likely to stay.

Yes I understand but. A) Can Uncle provide Premier League Football? and B) £30 million is a bit much. How loyal is Gibson?

No, but if no one meets the asking price he will stay. He is about as loyal as you are going to get in this day and age. Hometown club, he has supported all his life and his uncle owning it since before he was born.

[Lancasterclaret]

Michael Keane was the 5th most expensive English signing of all time.

Its a big push to think that a championship centre half is worth the same as that. Whether you like it or not (like Maguire) the fact that you are no longer in the prem will affect his price.

He's still out of our price range though!

[ExistentialWanderer]

Loyalty is as rare as rocking horse sh*t these days. Fair play if he wants to flounder around in the Championship. Seriously best of luck to him. He's probably one of only a few centre halves I'd entertain, but Dawson is probably half the price and is a goal threat.

[jlup1980]

Spurs told to pay £30million for Swansea's Alfie Mawson - similar fee quoted by Middlesbrough for Ben Gibson. Both look likely to stay.

I'm not sure about this. It's easy saying "we want £30m" but if Spurs offered £20m I think both Swansea and Boro would seriously consider it, maybe even a touch less. It's a hell of a lot of money for a club in the bottom half of the PL / top half of the Championship.

[Estonhills]

McGuire had a year left on his contract and was at hull. Gibson is at Boro and has 4 years left on his contract and we don't need to sell. Rumours from the club are if a top 7 club doesn't meet the clubs valuation, he will stay. Simple as that. Burnley may not value him at 30m but his club does.

[Lancasterclaret]

Fine, but I'm just telling you what £30 million is in relation to English players.

I'm not suggesting that he should come here but he doesn't want to hang around too long not in the prem. Will certainly affect his England prospects.

[ExistentialWanderer]

I'm not sure about this. It's easy saying "we want £30m" but if Spurs offered £20m I think both Swansea and Boro would seriously consider it, maybe even a touch less. It's a hell of a lot of money for a club in the bottom half of the PL / top half of the Championship.

Exactly. Gibson will go, it may go down to the wire and the last day but he'll go, as will Mawson but not for the fee's they expect. It's another one of those. Who blinks first?

[Diesel]

If we sign Dawson will that mean an early exit door for Tarka who really isn't SD 's type of defender.

Bump.

[Chester Perry]

Diesel - what a star