Maybe, but hes not Mats Hummels that moved this summer, that's the point. The best players don't want to go there.

Ricky, if Ibra who is widely considered one of the top 5 players in the world goes to United, what would you say to that?

I certainly do not think that United are any better or worse than the other big English clubs at this juncture. None of these teams have attracted a marquee player for a very long time. There is a massive gap between the allure of Real and Barca, and what everyone else can do. PSG has come to the party with bags of moolah, but who else is consistently able to get stars? Juve? No. They picked up Pogba for nothing. Bayern just bully the Bundesliga

Klaus wrote:

Mourinho really wanted Stones last summer. I can definitely see this happening. Money's not a concern for United and Mourinho is not going to enter next season with a fraudulent Chris Smalling as a regular performer.

Can't believe we're not in for Stones, even Pires was praising him the other day.  Send Chambers the other way and throw some money at them. He's playing in a system which can only be described as diabolical defensively, in a tighter system he will look a class above. Remember when Canavaro, world player of the year joined R.Madrid he looked a shambles because their defensive set up was a shambles at the time. People used to say the same about Rio, when Man Utd signed him for £29m people thought they had been mugged. Proved to be one of their best signings and gave them 10 solid seasons. Stones is only a year younger than him when he moved.

Claudius wrote:

Ricky, if Ibra who is widely considered one of the top 5 players in the world goes to United, what would you say to that?

I certainly do not think that United are any better or worse than the other big English clubs at this juncture. None of these teams have attracted a marquee player for a very long time. There is a massive gap between the allure of Real and Barca, and what everyone else can do. PSG has come to the party with bags of moolah, but who else is consistently able to get stars? Juve? No. They picked up Pogba for nothing. Bayern just bully the Bundesliga

United are supposed to be a super club, in the same league as the big three in Europe, yet they can't get anywhere near them in terms of the quality of player they can attract. I've heard over and over that United can blow everyone else in England out of the water, that top players would flock there - it hasnt happened and it won't happen until they becoming a serious football club again. And that will take a monumental amount of great work from a manager because he'll have to get them back up there without a squad full of top players.

Zlatan is a one off and you know it. He's nearly 35, big friends with Mourinho and none of the top clubs are interested. He's not a measure of anything.

Stones is a no-brainer if we can also get a striker.
People ask why go after Vardy and not one of the 50-60m pound strikers out there. Well, if it means that you are also able to go after a Stonesy (as Jack will call him), then that's what's optimal for the team.

JazzG wrote:
Klaus wrote:

Mourinho really wanted Stones last summer. I can definitely see this happening. Money's not a concern for United and Mourinho is not going to enter next season with a fraudulent Chris Smalling as a regular performer.

Can't believe we're not in for Stones, even Pires was praising him the other day.  Send Chambers the other way and throw some money at them. He's playing in a system which can only be described as diabolical defensively, in a tighter system he will look a class above. Remember when Canavaro, world player of the year joined R.Madrid he looked a shambles because their defensive set up was a shambles at the time. People used to say the same about Rio, when Man Utd signed him for £29m people thought they had been mugged. Proved to be one of their best signings and gave them 10 solid seasons. Stones is only a year younger than him when he moved.

I've tried to convince myself Stones is class, mainly because good centrebacks are as rare as good strikers at the moment. Whilst he's obviously got a lot of ability, he's far from a sure thing at this point. Interesting you compare him to Ferdinand. I remember well his last season at Leeds. He was absolutely world class, in a team that was defensively dodgy under O'Leary. Stones is not in the same class as Rio was at the same age.

I'd still take him though, but not for £40m. And I think if he has any sense he'll stay and learn how to become a top defender from Koeman.

I don't think Stones is a very good defender, and he loses his concentration way too often for my liking. I also think too many get blinded by how good he is on the ball, instead of actually looking at how he defends. Defending is still the priority for a defender, and that gets overlooked too often these days.

I agree. People talk about him being part of a diabolical defence as if he's not a part of it. He was a big reason why it was diabolical. And he's not exactly going to be joining a defensive, compact low risk side if he came here. You don't pay 40-50m for someone who might be a mess for another season or two (or beyond).

Agree. The amount of individual errors Stones makes every season leaves a lot to be desired. For 20-30m, he might be a good investment for the future but not more.

Stones gets praise for being good on the ball but no negative press for some shocking basics. He has had utter garbage days for Everton that are just down to his performance and yet he is a multi million signing, no way.

Jagielka never gets enough credit but he carried Stones a lot of the time in a way I don't think anyone at Arsenal now would be able to.

RB Leipzig sign Timo Werner. Bild.de

Don't think many thought Rio to United was overpriced. It was the move to Leeds which was questioned.

Stones and Ferdinand can't be compared.

Ferdinand had in excess of 170 top flight league appearances and had helped Leeds get to the CL semis.

Stones is nowhere close.

Very talented in his passing ability but let's be clear- Everton rejected 40m for him last summer.

He's not worth it at this moment. He should get 1-2 years of learning and developing under Koeman first.

1-2 years learning under Koeman first.. before what? He' eligible for a move to United/Chelsea?

Top clubs don't just buy ready made talent, I'm sure you're aware. They buy potential, and he has bags of it. If anything, after a less than spectacular season, now would be the perfect time to go in for him again.

Give him 2 years with Koeman and he could be a world class player and the fee will then be astronomical.

So given 40m was rejected. You don't think 45-50m is astronomical already?

There's a reason he hasn't moved yet. It's because even the clubs who spend excessively on players don't think the reported fees are worth it for a player who's just an inconsistent albeit talented player.

Stats wise Stones' valuation doesn't bear out. There are some benefits to signing English though that reasonably lead to a price premium—positive profile, home grown quota, more likely to remain at the club etc. Even taking that into account he seems overpriced, he's being talked about as if he's a sure thing which no young player is.

With Lukaku possibly leaving this summer, then I can't see Everton agreeing to let Stones go as well. With the influx of cash into the PL, a club like Everton doesn't have to sell, which Everton turning down £40m for Stones last summer is proof of. I'd say contract situation and release clause are the major drivers today.

And they have a new billionaire owner to boot.

Captain wrote:

Don't think many thought Rio to United was overpriced. It was the move to Leeds which was questioned.

Wenger thought it was (surprise surprise). Nesta moved in the same transfer window for nearly £10m less