Dev, I generally agree with your thoughts. It would be great to pull off a summer like that.
There is a couple of tweaks that I would make though. IF you keep both Zapata and Alex, than there is no need for Mammana AND Tonelli. It's an added expense that we can't afford to make and we should be looking to use that money elsewhere. Realistically, we have one sure starter in Romagnoli already. So all we need is to find him a long/er term partner and make sure we have adequate back ups at the same time. My choice would be Mammana, and than if we keep both Zapata and Alex like you said, we are more than covered in the CB department. If Mammana needs time to settle, one of Zapata/Alex can help bridge the gap. The 5th choice CB can be someone like Ely/Paletta. This player won't get to play much anyway (if at all).
The other area where I agree that we need 2 (at least) purchases is the midfield. I don't mind Donsah. I agree that he has potential but even you agree that we may have to wait to see that potential in Milan and mentioned ANOTHER box to box that's more experienced. I think that the need is bigger for a creative player in the midfield rather than a box to box like Donsah....but I can see how a good box to box will add something to the side. However, to spend money on 2 of them would be unnecessary. We need a technical player in the midfield IMO more than anything. We are stacked with box to box midfielder (not good ones, just meant stacked in terms of numbers). Montolivo (more of a box to box nowadays than anything), Kucka, Poli, even Bertolacci has shown to be more of a box to box. Actually, at this point I'm not really sure what exactly he is but he definitely isn't the same player that was in Genoa. Adding two more players of this mold will make our gameplay even duller than it is at times. (Is that even possible
)
So I would rather is go for someone like Oliver Torres in the midfield. I'm just so tired of hackers that lose the ball every time they are pressed and struggle to make 15 meter passes let alone score/assist goals.
I'm ok with a box to box (Donsah) and a creative technical player (Torres). I would be against two of the same kind though.
Up front, Berardi would be a dream. He would cost a lot though, and there might be options that are still good but won't cost as much. Zivkovic emerging as one of those. Ben Arfa being another. Clearly one of very unproven while the other is a question mark.
A. Let's say we go with Mammana (10), Torres (25), Berardi (25) and Donsah (10)......it's not too much looking at what we can get from sales.
B. I would be even more interested in doing something like Mammana (10), Torres (25), Ben Arfa (0), and using the other 35 (equal to the fist option) to buy a class pivot or box to box. With 35mil you could buy a player of Gundogan/Matic quality.
If Torres is not possible (although it looks like he might leave this summer) than I think it's worth revisiting the Coric possibility. Or even going for someone like Boufal.
There is a couple of tweaks that I would make though. IF you keep both Zapata and Alex, than there is no need for Mammana AND Tonelli. It's an added expense that we can't afford to make and we should be looking to use that money elsewhere. Realistically, we have one sure starter in Romagnoli already. So all we need is to find him a long/er term partner and make sure we have adequate back ups at the same time. My choice would be Mammana, and than if we keep both Zapata and Alex like you said, we are more than covered in the CB department. If Mammana needs time to settle, one of Zapata/Alex can help bridge the gap. The 5th choice CB can be someone like Ely/Paletta. This player won't get to play much anyway (if at all).
The other area where I agree that we need 2 (at least) purchases is the midfield. I don't mind Donsah. I agree that he has potential but even you agree that we may have to wait to see that potential in Milan and mentioned ANOTHER box to box that's more experienced. I think that the need is bigger for a creative player in the midfield rather than a box to box like Donsah....but I can see how a good box to box will add something to the side. However, to spend money on 2 of them would be unnecessary. We need a technical player in the midfield IMO more than anything. We are stacked with box to box midfielder (not good ones, just meant stacked in terms of numbers). Montolivo (more of a box to box nowadays than anything), Kucka, Poli, even Bertolacci has shown to be more of a box to box. Actually, at this point I'm not really sure what exactly he is but he definitely isn't the same player that was in Genoa. Adding two more players of this mold will make our gameplay even duller than it is at times. (Is that even possible
) So I would rather is go for someone like Oliver Torres in the midfield. I'm just so tired of hackers that lose the ball every time they are pressed and struggle to make 15 meter passes let alone score/assist goals.
I'm ok with a box to box (Donsah) and a creative technical player (Torres). I would be against two of the same kind though.
Up front, Berardi would be a dream. He would cost a lot though, and there might be options that are still good but won't cost as much. Zivkovic emerging as one of those. Ben Arfa being another. Clearly one of very unproven while the other is a question mark.
A. Let's say we go with Mammana (10), Torres (25), Berardi (25) and Donsah (10)......it's not too much looking at what we can get from sales.
B. I would be even more interested in doing something like Mammana (10), Torres (25), Ben Arfa (0), and using the other 35 (equal to the fist option) to buy a class pivot or box to box. With 35mil you could buy a player of Gundogan/Matic quality.
If Torres is not possible (although it looks like he might leave this summer) than I think it's worth revisiting the Coric possibility. Or even going for someone like Boufal.