It basically all comes down to price, right? 15-25 m Euro signing that provides rotation at both the 6 and 8 and helps close out games, as you said. Duel strength lets him play alongside Jorginho, mitigating passing concerns. Might help facilitate selling Partey.
Feels like an Arteta as "Unlimited Budget Dyche" move - dominant in the air, strong defensively both in block and in pressing. The lack of passing definitely isn't ideal, but Rice/Merino/Odegaard/Havertz pressing and adding Merino and Califiori into corner routines is pretty scary. Adds values for defend + counter games against City/Liverpool/UCL knockout rounds.
TLDR - if price is right, means Partey leaves, and is paired with an Eze/Doue/etc type signing, I think it raises our floor and could situationally raise our ceiling in the biggest games.
I might sound insane but from watching Real Sociedad last season I got the impression that their main objective is to stay in the right shape and keep the ball rather than create chances. Because the team as a whole is not focused on creating chanses, players don't progress the ball often, therefore it is harder for players to have good passing stats. With that said I agree that Merino is not at the required level, but still his passing might turn out to be better than expected from stats.
It basically all comes down to price, right? 15-25 m Euro signing that provides rotation at both the 6 and 8 and helps close out games, as you said. Duel strength lets him play alongside Jorginho, mitigating passing concerns. Might help facilitate selling Partey.
Feels like an Arteta as "Unlimited Budget Dyche" move - dominant in the air, strong defensively both in block and in pressing. The lack of passing definitely isn't ideal, but Rice/Merino/Odegaard/Havertz pressing and adding Merino and Califiori into corner routines is pretty scary. Adds values for defend + counter games against City/Liverpool/UCL knockout rounds.
TLDR - if price is right, means Partey leaves, and is paired with an Eze/Doue/etc type signing, I think it raises our floor and could situationally raise our ceiling in the biggest games.
I might sound insane but from watching Real Sociedad last season I got the impression that their main objective is to stay in the right shape and keep the ball rather than create chances. Because the team as a whole is not focused on creating chanses, players don't progress the ball often, therefore it is harder for players to have good passing stats. With that said I agree that Merino is not at the required level, but still his passing might turn out to be better than expected from stats.
That very well could be. If things get further along I’ll make sure Adam covers that on the film review.