[Albion] Diego Coppola (Italian CB)

[Brian Munich]

Is there any possibility that we buy and loan back with Coppola?

I know i'm going to get the "But he's an Italian International ... blah blah blah". I guess he is, but that honour has been pretty devalued recently ... and the lad is still very young for a PL centre back

I just wonder though if the idea is for him to be ready to replace Van Hecke, who will have a year left on his deal next summer, for the season after next.

In my mind it looks like Boscagli and Dunk are fighting it out for the left CB slot ....... Van Hecke and Webster for the right CB .... and the likes of Baleba, and Veltman ready to come in at CB if we're in big trouble with injuries. That seems pretty good cover to me

I'm presuming we stay playing only 2 centre backs, also that Webby stays around and nobody comes in for JPVH now.

Also i'm assuming no Cashin or Igor

But if it gets to the end of the summer and we've got Dunk, JPVH, Webby and Boscagli all fit and ready to play, might we be better sending Coppola off, or back, at least until January?

I’m assuming you remember the game last season when we were down to a barely-match-fit Lewis Dunk and Baleba as the centre back pairing? I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that the last third of our season was derailed when Webster got injured v Forest and Dunk had to return early.

 

[Doonhamer7]

Seriously JPVH is good but he ain’t Virgil Van Dijk so won’t be breaking the transfer record for a centreback

Well I’ve just googled it and I didnt realise he was only 4th most expensive as Man Utd paid more for Maguire (£80m), De Ligt (£77m) and Man City £77m for Gvardiol

 

[Lady Whistledown]

I love JPVH. He had a very good season. But he’s by no means the finished article. Still has the odd moment of getting caught out of position or playing an overambitious pass. I reckon he’s at least a season away from any decent offers coming in, for a couple of reasons.

(1) Because we’re likely to sell several others for good money, and I just don’t see the club allowing themselves to be stripped bare. João Pedro, Enciso, Estupiñan, probably a few fringe ones like Sarmiento all going will mean we have no financial need to sell nor to allow ourselves to be left short on the pitch by selling too many (especially when Liverpool come begging us to sell them Igor).

(2) It’s not just about the player: it’s the timing: how many clubs need CHs and how many quality CHs are available who suit their style. Huijsen is off the market but Zabarnyi may still be open to an offer. Guehi is another: entering the last year of his contract. Bigger clubs will look at Romero of Spurs (don’t know why: he’s average and a thug). There’s Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Trevoh Chalobah, Tosin Adarabioyo, Renato Veiga, even Harry Maguire. I honestly don’t see clubs queuing for JPVH ahead of all of those (some of them maybe but not all).

I say he stays, this summer at least.

 

[Stato]

Bournemouth are selling Kerkez, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Semenyo. Let's hope we don't sell that many.

Van Hecke is really really good. He's an obvious future captain of a title challenging club. For me the only question is whether it's a British transfer record for a defender. CBs that good don't come on the market often.

If he isn't sold this summer, I don't know what the Liverpools of this world are playing at

We at Brighton know he's really really good, but he's just finished a season in a defence that has conceded far more goals than it should have done, so won't come without aquestion or two. He's also contracted until June2027 at a club that is renowned for pulling the pants down of anyone who wants to buy when they're not ready/don't have to sell. Not many who could afford him are in immediate need this summer and those that are know that Guehi, with only a year left and showing no interest in extending, is an easier get this year. I don't think the circumstances suggest it's likely this summer, but we really need to agree an extension or he'll have plenty of suitors for next year.