The Irons have reportedly been offered the chance to sign Dutch international Kevin Strootman this summer.
Sky Sports, is claiming the midfielder is in a loan deal with Marseilles and although there is no flesh on the story’s bones beyond that.
However, whether Manuel Pellegrini is a manager who indulges himself in loans is quite another question as his pedigree suggests he prefers a settled and permanent squad.
At 29 Strootman he is exactly the right age but there are added reports that he is also being offered to Manchester United and Everton.
Strootman has made numerous international appearances for the Netherlands and although he is being named by some reports as a perfect replacement for Mark Noble, there is a big flaw in that argument.
For not only did the captain have a quite brilliant end to the season but looks almost certain to be fighting for a place big time over the year that Strootman would be available.
And with Manu Lanzini, Jack Wilshere, Robert Snodgrass, Andriy Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson available, Pellegrini, if he thinking about it at all, may consider there are other far more pressing positions for him to fill.
Well we’re linked with everyone at the mo , and also linked with selling players well below their value e.g Perez . Bad business and we need quality not quantity .
I’m not sure 29 is exactly the right age. I think we ought to be signing players under 25.
You need cover for Rice and Noble. Today we have Obiang and Sanchez. They are all central midfielders. I think Strootman is also a central midfielder so if Obiang and/or Sanchez leave we need cover. We need two players on every position. Lanzini and Wilshere both play as more offensive midfielders, Snodgrass, Yarmolenko and Felipe Anderson are wide midfielders. So they have nothing to do with cover for Noble, even if both Snodgrass and Wilshere probably can do the job well when necessary.