07 Jun 2016 09:10:41
Just saw those Matic rumours and wanted to offer my two-penneth. He is a very good player, and would improve your squad, but I would be very surprised at it for three main reasons.
Firstly, a lot of the talk from when Jose fell out with our players stems from him first falling out with Matic and also with Oscar after the Caneiro farce and then also after the Southampton game when he subbed him on and subbed him off. He allegedly said he'd rather lose than play under Mourinho too. So the relationship doesn't seem great!
Secondly, I can't see him being good value- Chelsea would have no incentive to sell and he had also been linked elsewhere (Ed002 mentioned strong Juve interest, it wouldn't surprise me if Chelsea made some convoluted offer of Matic + Oscar/ Cuadrado and some cash for Pogba) so the bid would have to be over the top, say £35m-£40m+. I think you could get better value in the player market for that.
Finally, I can see Jose looking to use Schneiderlin in that DM role more often, and I can't imagine that he'd be very happy if you went out and purchased another DM for a large fee. When he was at Soton, he was arguably the best DM in the league and with regular minutes I personally think he'd get back to that level. Couple that with Matic having a very underwhelming season last year, there is no guarantee he'd be an upgrade.
Just my personal opinion on it, although if a bid over £35m for Matic came in, I would move him on as like I said, I think you could find better value.

1.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 10:10:10
Cheers CFC, yes seen these rumours today and unsue how reliable they are but when I think of Matic I think of the player that was instrumental in your title winning season. If he's fallen out with Jose then I guess it's a dud rumour. If like to see Jose play schniederlin a bit further forward and we sign a DM like the Sevilla guy Krychowiak or even Carvalho from sporting as in the wanyama to Morgan at Soton. We've got Fosu mensah who I think can grow into the role too.
Interesting to see you'd not be too unholy if Matic was to leave tho.

2.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 10:29:52
As a Celtic fan, there is a level of biased ness to my point . I have been reading/ posting on here for weeks now . I can't believe, with all the names and money being mentioned on here that nobody from Man U takes a chance on Virgil van djik or wanyama . Big Virgil statistically was 1 of the best defenders last season . Is still young and has all the potential to be moulde into 1 of the best defenders around . He would cost considerably less than stones, has epl experience .

Wanyama is a machine of cdm . Has a few years epl experience . These guys would hit the ground running . Save a fortune on untested players in the league and free up some extra funds to push the boat out for a world class marquee player ( ibramovich not included )

3.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 10:55:18
Isn't Van Dijk under contract for another 5 seasons though? I can't imagine Soton to be willing to sell, and I reckon Van Dijk would welcome another season of 1st place starter. Indeed he is very good however.

4.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 11:03:04
Welsh, main reason is that him leaving would mean we'd sure of getting a replacement in- and currently we are linked to a pair of very good french midfielders ;)

5.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 11:03:48
Delbhoy, I agree on VvD, he is a beast of a defender and suits the EPL perfectly. I'd be more than happy to see him sign, but he has just signed a new contract so I don't see that happening any time soon.

I'm not sold on Wanyama though, hos positioning is suspect and he offers little to nothing going forward. He has a lot of energy, works hard the throws himself into tackles, but if he had a brain he wouldn't have to be making so many last ditch tackles, and he would be far better at shielding the back four. Personally I think he is kne of the midfielders who hold Southampton back due to his one dimensional play. In a three man midfield he might get away with it more, but in the double pivot system that they have played over the last couple of years it is very restricting.

6.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 11:13:01
Vardy just signed a new deal ( buy out clause ) . Ddg signed a new deal but rm rumours won't go away . If koeman leaves? Money talks . The guy has potential to be world class . It was embarrassing the ease of which both walked through the Scottish game up here . Both players cost between £11/ £13 mill from Celtic . Southampton could easily double their money . Could get both for £20 mill less than stones or the cost of most CB or mids being mentioned in here . My point is both are tried and tested in the epl and stood up to the test . You can pay £55 mill ( di Maria ) and not cut it .

{Ed002's Note - Just ignore clauses please, there is no "buy out" clause in Vardy's contract.}

7.) 07 Jun 2016
07 Jun 2016 13:35:27
I won't be disappointed if we don't get Matic, I don't rate him at all. He had one good season at Chelsea and I never liked him when he was in the Portuguese league. He's slow and cumbersome. There are others out there that are much better, Pogba and Carvalho being two. I would rather see Mensah there rather than buy Matic.
The rumour is just a load of bull.