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I agree that this is our priority position for an addition. However, I’m not sure that Roberto trusts Baleba yet in terms of his requirements for a defensive pivot to take the ball facing his own goal/ on the half turn and keep possession. Caicedo was very good at this. Manuel Locatelli would...

A Baleba , Gilmour partnership could be the way forward. As others have said he’s great at breaking through the press due to his pace but he needs to ensure he then picks the right pass as he can then give the ball away cheaply in an advanced position and so leave us open to a break.

Spot on. He played as a DCM at times but more latterly he played in the number 10 role which is what he seemed to prefer. I thought that when he played the double pivot with Caicedo we probably had the best midfield partnership we’ve ever had.

Re Gilmour, he’s technically a great passer and an intelligent footballer who understands his role. However, against a counter attacking team like Brentford I found having Baleba play the role he did, reassuring, due to his pace and physicality. What De Zerbi did yesterday was tactically...

He made a huge difference to us.his speed on the cover was great and his acceleration away from the Liverpool players, excellent. Exciting player to have. Ditto Adingra.

This is a good point. We introduce talented players to the first team squad and give them some game time whilst integrating them into our playing style. They aren’t wholesale changes as they aren’t expected to be first team regulars from day one. Other teams may buy the ‘finished article’ but...

Agreed, and then Potter stated that maybe he didn’t introduce him into the team quick enough.

Who is your favourite player Carlos? ‘It used to be Paul Pogba but now my favourite player is me’ Or words to that effect. Good to see he has confidence in his own ability.

I doubt he’ll play on Saturday. Give the coaching team time to work with him over the international break and then unleash him at Old Trafford.

He looks very young in that picture but he’s 19 and we have other players in the first team around his age. Boundless energy, strong, quick feet, and a little raw. International break will be a chance to bed him in.

I think Barco is still a possibility although we have competition.

He might be happy to play Gilmour next to Baleba.

I think Baleba will start certain games but I think he will be integrated for those games where we need a physical midfielder, who has a bit of pace to help defend transitions in the way that Caicedo did. Having Dahoud, Gilmour and Gross will mean that he won’t be needed initially as a regular...

At £23m and £3m of add ons, is this our second highest transfer fee paid after Pedro?

I wonder whether the sell on clause was what had initially ‘stalled’ the purchase.

He won’t be loaned out. He’s been regularly playing for a French top league team and will be needed in our midfield to perform the Caicedo role. I don’t expect he’ll start on Saturday but we’ll want him in ASAP. Baleba has been scouted by many of the top teams in Europe. We tend to move for...

There does seem to be a lot of confirmation of the price/ contract length for this not to be right. Medical today is also rumoured. We need him in.

I was joking. He’s a young talent, but surely won’t be a regular starter from the off.

Cant be any good if he can’t get into the Lille team 🤔

That’s what I must have been confused by! Thanks. Still, hasn’t come on. Good