Manuel Pellegrini’s determination to recruit another central defender means he will almost certainly have to offload one of the current squad given his determination to bring in two midfielders.
But should that be the case young Declan Rice has been named an ‘untouchable’ with whom the club are keen to discuss a new deal in detail.
The new boss – having recruited €30 million Issa Diop – is understood to believe that he needs another top class operator at the heart of the back line although Alfie Mawson is slipping off the radar.
It all means that Angelo Ogbonna or Winston Reid could well be vulnerable as the Chilean manager sorts out what will be very much HIS squad.
With around £40 million of the £75 million budget spent Pellegrini will know he has to wheel and deal to fulfil his immediate requirements but Rice – a player of huge potential – has been described to ClaretandHugh as definitely “not for sale.”
It’s the only restriction on the new manager and his director of football Mario Housillos who will be handed all the cash he generates from sales as he sets about a radical overhaul of the squad.
It means that Pellegrini will have an entirely free hand on who stays as he bids to bring in the “better players” he has spoken of publicly.
Stupid posts by clowns sayin spurs or everton will be buying rice should be taken with humour and sadness as these posters are clueless in their part time job of reporting crap. Next thier be saying were after Messi who would love obviously but will always be at Barca of course
Reid is the lesser of the players in terms of ability on the ball.
I thought Diopp was reported as costing more like £24mill (£22mill transfer plus £2mill signing-on bonus)?
With Flapianski costing a reported £7mill and Fredericks on a freebie, surely that’s a spend of £31mill. Unless agents costs are now being included in nett spend figures?🤔
Please confirm it is closer to £30m spent tha night £40m.
If it’s considered 40m and the club are including wages then there is only enough left for 1 more good player.
I am hoping it is not including wages because if so the board owes the fans a lot more than £70m.
The TV cash, free stadium perks, Xmas transfer profit and last summers small output (if wages are considered remember players like Tore).
We will lose MARIO unless he’s the last of the £70m. So in the end we will have a defender (replacing Collins, a GK replacing Hart, Mario replacing Mario) in Fredericks as our only real addition to a tired almost relegated squad.
It seems good so far but We will all be watching to check the board do t just con us fans again and I hope this site does not just back the board regardless
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