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Achraf Hakimi

RMH said:
Apparently Hakimi can play in both sides, so we’d have cover on the left even if Alonso and Emerson left.
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We shouldn't go into the season with just 3 players for 2 positions. Depth is so important in these packed seasons. I would keep either Emerson or Alonso (preferably the latter). That way we'd have 9 players for the back 5, which imo is a good number.

 
dkw said:
Just because he can play CB doesn't mean he should, its a waste of his attributes in attack.
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Since youth level, Reece James has long been earmarked as someone to transition into a midfield role because of his passing ability, so I can see why someone like Tuchel sees his best position in our current system in the back three, because none of the other CBs have the same level of attacking threat.

The CBs in our system all need to be deep-lying play makers - able to switch play, cross from deep and shoot from range. At WB James only gets to use one of his attributes (crossing) whereas in that RCB position he'll be using three (passing, crossing, shooting from range).

The big downside for me, in an attacking sense, is the loss of James' big crossfield switches of play. Other than Ziyech we don't really have another player who is capable of switching the ball from right flank to left flank. It's an important consideration because of the success that Liverpool have had with Robertson and Alexander-Arnold switching the ball between them. It makes for a much more effective counter-attack because they don't need to pass back to their DM or CBs to switch the play.

 
SydneyChelsea said:
Since youth level, Reece James has long been earmarked as someone to transition into a midfield role because of his passing ability, so I can see why someone like Tuchel sees his best position in our current system in the back three, because none of the other CBs have the same level of attacking threat.

The CBs in our system all need to be deep-lying play makers - able to switch play, cross from deep and shoot from range. At WB James only gets to use one of his attributes (crossing) whereas in that RCB position he'll be using three (passing, crossing, shooting from range).

The big downside for me, in an attacking sense, is the loss of James' big crossfield switches of play. Other than Ziyech we don't really have another player who is capable of switching the ball from right flank to left flank. It's an important consideration because of the success that Liverpool have had with Robertson and Alexander-Arnold switching the ball between them. It makes for a much more effective counter-attack because they don't need to pass back to their DM or CBs to switch the play.
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I think this is all fair and we did see him in that RCB role a bit. I could also see him making the Kimmich switch into midfield at some point.

For me Hakimi feels like a luxury purchase rather than a core purchase because of the lack of long term planning. Tuchel could be sacked by Christmas next year and we move to a back 4 and all of a sudden we end up with 3 RBs for one spot same as we have 3 LBS for one spot now after the purchase of Chilwell.

 
Spiller86 said:
I think this is all fair and we did see him in that RCB role a bit. I could also see him making the Kimmich switch into midfield at some point.

For me Hakimi feels like a luxury purchase rather than a core purchase because of the lack of long term planning. Tuchel could be sacked by Christmas next year and we move to a back 4 and all of a sudden we end up with 3 RBs for one spot same as we have 3 LBS for one spot now after the purchase of Chilwell.
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I'm not entirely sold on Hakimi as I think he hasn't really matured beyond a pace merchant, and effective as he been this season it is with the giant, giant caveat that he plays in Serie A. The only thing with more empty space than Serie A defenses are the stadiums they play in. Given his performances for both Madrid and Dortmund it's hard to understand why he made what was effectively a backward step.

That said I also see the flip side, a player with the potential to be a starter across 6 different positions and who is genuinely two-footed and game-breakingly fast. If there was a perfect Tuchel player I'm sure Hakimi would be second only to Kante in that regard.

 
Deino said:
PSG set to sign Aurier. We might still have some meat on this game
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If PSG do sign Aurier we would be in a very strong position to sign Hakimi. 

It's well known Inter need to raise €80m by the end of the month and that they missed their last €10m installment owed to Real Madrid for Hakimi. 

So even though they might value him higher if there's only one big offer on the table for one of their players right now they might not have much choice but to accept. 

 
ForeverCarefree said:
If PSG do sign Aurier we would be in a very strong position to sign Hakimi. 

It's well known Inter need to raise €80m by the end of the month and that they missed their last €10m installment owed to Real Madrid for Hakimi. 

So even though they might value him higher if there's only one big offer on the table for one of their players right now they might not have much choice but to accept. 
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If PSG drop out it would be delicious for us to treat this deal that way. 

Offer on the table is as high as it goes. Take it or find someone else to buy him or sell someone else.

 
Looks like this might be going ahead.

Would be a very shrewd signing in my view.

 
Sindre said:
Looks like this might be going ahead.

Would be a very shrewd signing in my view.
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agreed. (always have to look up "shrewd" first tho - can hardly memorize it not meaning sth like "weird". 

I've seen him playing on the right side only so can't comment on that but if true that he can work both sides it's an even better albeit expensive deal.

 
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Good bit of business I think PSG know that we are the more attractive option and may be looking at other targets to save face. I'm sorry but if the best team in the world (UCL winners) coming knocking as a player you go it's as simple as that.

Even more so he suits our style of play more than PSG's currently and he would pretty much be a guaranteed starter in the best league in the world surrounded by other players of similar age its literally he foundations for a dynasty. Add in our interest in Erling who he knows himself and I think we look the more attractive option.

Playing with Neymar, Mbappe and potentially CR7 (who I suspect could end up there even if Kylian doesn't move) sounds pretty nice but, how can you say no to playing every week with Mason Mount?!

Supposedly personal fees are agreed and it's just the final transfer fee we need to agree. We have €5m less on the table compared to PSG's latest offer but,  apparently Alonso has been offered. Its greedy to say no to €60m + Alonso but worst case I say we offer the €5m more and they take it.

 
LongtimerLurker said:
Good bit of business I think PSG know that we are the more attractive option and may be looking at other targets to save face. I'm sorry but if the best team in the world (UCL winners) coming knocking as a player you go it's as simple as that.

Even more so he suits our style of play more than PSG's currently and he would pretty much be a guaranteed starter in the best league in the world surrounded by other players of similar age its literally he foundations for a dynasty. Add in our interest in Erling who he knows himself and I think we look the more attractive option.

Playing with Neymar, Mbappe and potentially CR7 (who I suspect could end up there even if Kylian doesn't move) sounds pretty nice but, how can you say no to playing every week with Mason Mount?!

Supposedly personal fees are agreed and it's just the final transfer fee we need to agree. We have €5m less on the table compared to PSG's latest offer but,  apparently Alonso has been offered. Its greedy to say no to €60m + Alonso but worst case I say we offer the €5m more and they take it.
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Well, PSG are the European spuds, serial bottlers in Europe. So no competition from PSG other than economic.

 
Welcome Hakimi to the best club in London and Europe!

 
"Hakimi shoots well from afar, but the most important thing is that he doesn't take penalties," he told Sky Sports.

"He won't ever take one, everyone else has to die before he does. He's really w**k at taking them, worse than me back when I played. But he can really grow much more."

- Antonio Conte

 
While these rumours grow stronger (60m + Alonso) can someone explain how we setup with Hakimi? Why is he worth all this money? 

 
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evissy said:
While these rumours grow stronger (60m + Alonso) can someone explain how we setup with Hakimi? Why is he worth all this money? 
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If we can continue with a back 3 - I'd say it would be James slotting in at RCB with Hakimi coming in at RWB (potentially alternating between the two of James and Hakimi).
Azpi isn't as sharp as he used to be so I'd say Hakimi would be brought in to make an instant impact but considering his age, he may also be a long term investment. The right hand side of our defense isn't overly stacked as far as depth is concerned (compared to our left) I think it's a good signing in my opinion. 

 
Wingbacks are extremely important in a 3 at the back system, and Hakimi is one of the best, if not the best attacking wingback there is. James has good crossing and is decent going forward, but he isn't the most explosive and not great in one on ones. Hakimi with his dribbling, his directness and the goal threat he offers is a different beast. Get him and a striker and our struggles in front of goal could be a thing of the past. Of course we would lose something in defence and Hakimi is worse in the air than James, so we would be worse of on set-pieces, but if we get a tall striker (Haaland) or a tall midfielder (Rice, Tchouameni, Gravenberch, Locatelli) the last part would be compensated for. Hakimi would also offer us a lot of flexibility. In games where TT thinks that we need more defensive stability we play James as a wingback and in games where we really want to get at the opposition we play Hakimi.

 
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