Nigel De Jong

[Great Boos Up]

Imagine if a player did past Kante then meets him with Was / Huth glaring in the background. 

(I'd pass back to goal)

[Guest Col city fan]

I do get why people might fancy signing DeJong. He's got Premiership experience, he's an older head and would add 'bite' to the central midfield.

But....No-one seems to be considering the question I've now asked three times...why do AC Milan want to offload him?

If he's still 'good' and has pace (allegedly) why would a distinctively average Milan side want to let him go? I don't think the player himself wants to leave does he?

I made a similar comment about Inler. He's only 31, yet Napoli seemed more than happy to offload him. A player with tons of experience, caps and certainly some quality...why then we're Napoli happy to get rid?

Is it money I wonder? Is it a case of getting such players of the wage - bill.

This, for me, is the important question. Why clubs like these would seemingly want to offload this type of player. That bit I don't get, if they are the 'quality' people are making out they are. You'd think the parent club would want to retain them.

[lgfualol]

I've seen a lot of Milan fans happy to see him go, even a few saying we could have him for free.

Maybe it is the Cambiasso effect, Inter fans didn't seem to rate him at all anymore when he left but he was excellent for us.

[filbertstreet]

I've seen a lot of Milan fans happy to see him go, even a few saying we could have him for free.

Maybe it is the Cambiasso effect, Inter fans didn't seem to rate him at all anymore when he left but he was excellent for us.

or the Inler effect where the exact same thing happened at Napoli but he hasn't really done much here except get confused with Benny

[foxes21]

Would rather take Lassana Diarra. Similar players

[Sol thewall Bamba]

Not keen on this one if I'm honest, the key to our success is our group spirit and energy within the side, and I can't see him adding to that. If he's happy as backup to come on and shut down tough away games, and he's not going to be on big money, then he's probably a better option than Inler. 

[Webbo]

I see this bloke as an option to rotate the midfield rather than a direct, fulltime replacement for anyone. And at the quoted price it seems good business to me.

[MPH]

I see this bloke as an option to rotate the midfield rather than a direct, fulltime replacement for anyone. And at the quoted price it seems good business to me.

Problem of course is that low asking price doesn't always mean low wages.. I can imagine him wanting quite a wedge and I don't know if that's the road we can go down for someone who is a squad player..

[sphericalfox]

If he's still got pace he will be a phenomenal signing.

Now just the one issue, I'm not sure he's too keen on the idea yet....

What's his haircut like?

[Gerard]

I do get why people might fancy signing DeJong. He's got Premiership experience, he's an older head and would add 'bite' to the central midfield.

But....No-one seems to be considering the question I've now asked three times...why do AC Milan want to offload him?

If he's still 'good' and has pace (allegedly) why would a distinctively average Milan side want to let him go? I don't think the player himself wants to leave does he?

I made a similar comment about Inler. He's only 31, yet Napoli seemed more than happy to offload him. A player with tons of experience, caps and certainly some quality...why then we're Napoli happy to get rid?

Is it money I wonder? Is it a case of getting such players of the wage - bill.

This, for me, is the important question. Why clubs like these would seemingly want to offload this type of player. That bit I don't get, if they are the 'quality' people are making out they are. You'd think the parent club would want to retain them.

 

That's a very valid point but I'm sure I read the AC Milan manager who took over in the summer doesn't fancy him because of the type of player he wants in his midfield.

 

If he hasn't gone at the game I believe he'd suit us. We could do with a player to just sit in front of the back four when we play 4-5-1 against the better sides and to close out games.

[Webbo]

Problem of course is that low asking price doesn't always mean low wages.. I can imagine him wanting quite a wedge and I don't know if that's the road we can go down for someone who is a squad player..

That's true but that's the going rate these days.

[VLC86]

Iv said this before, when I watched AC Milan the other year he was their best player and the fans loved him. At the time Spurs were linked and I thought it would have been a great signing for them, granted that was 18 months ago but he is undoubtedly an improvement on what we already have.

£2 mil plus probably £60k wages ( doubt he was on much more at AC) and this seams like a decent deal. Remember if we get rid of Inler this will recoup probably similar sums of money.

[Babylon]

I do get why people might fancy signing DeJong. He's got Premiership experience, he's an older head and would add 'bite' to the central midfield.

But....No-one seems to be considering the question I've now asked three times...why do AC Milan want to offload him?

If he's still 'good' and has pace (allegedly) why would a distinctively average Milan side want to let him go? I don't think the player himself wants to leave does he?

I made a similar comment about Inler. He's only 31, yet Napoli seemed more than happy to offload him. A player with tons of experience, caps and certainly some quality...why then we're Napoli happy to get rid?

Is it money I wonder? Is it a case of getting such players of the wage - bill.

This, for me, is the important question. Why clubs like these would seemingly want to offload this type of player. That bit I don't get, if they are the 'quality' people are making out they are. You'd think the parent club would want to retain them.

Because they can get good money for a player that perhaps doesn't suit their needs. You presume their needs are the same as ours. Milan have several 28/29 year old midfielders and others who have experience of their top flight.

 

We on the other hand have Andy King as our experience in the middle at the age of 27 and a season in the top flight, mostly as sub. Presuming that De Jong is a replacement for Inler, who probably wants games for the euros, it's fairly obvious the club wants someone who has experience. Someone who has been there and done it in the ranks. That doesn't mean they expect them to play every week, or be what they were when they were 26/27. We ALL get it's not going to be the player that cost £20m a few years ago.

 

To go out and purchase a 24 year old for arguments sake, will mean you have James 24, King 27, Drinkwater 25, Kante 24 + another 24 year old, all approaching their prime and all wanting game time and all competing for the same spots, still with little experience or knowledge of top slight football. An experienced player who still has something to offer can occupy a place in the squad short term, shouldn't expect to start week in week out, has experience to help others etc. Someone to compliment what we have already, he doesn't compliment Milan in the same way as they have several of those already. They need to make a move for some younger players to supplement the experience they already have. 

[Babylon]

If he hasn't gone at the game I believe he'd suit us. We could do with a player to just sit in front of the back four when we play 4-5-1 against the better sides and to close out games.

Indeed, it would also release Kante. Who whilst brilliant defensively also offers quite a bit going forward with his pace and dynamism.

[AKCJ]

I do get why people might fancy signing DeJong. He's got Premiership experience, he's an older head and would add 'bite' to the central midfield.

But....No-one seems to be considering the question I've now asked three times...why do AC Milan want to offload him?

If he's still 'good' and has pace (allegedly) why would a distinctively average Milan side want to let him go? I don't think the player himself wants to leave does he?

I made a similar comment about Inler. He's only 31, yet Napoli seemed more than happy to offload him. A player with tons of experience, caps and certainly some quality...why then we're Napoli happy to get rid?

Is it money I wonder? Is it a case of getting such players of the wage - bill.

This, for me, is the important question. Why clubs like these would seemingly want to offload this type of player. That bit I don't get, if they are the 'quality' people are making out they are. You'd think the parent club would want to retain them.

You said the same about Cambiasso leaving Inter...

[Babylon]

You said the same about Cambiasso leaving Inter...

He'll tell you he was proved right.

[Guest Col city fan]

You said the same about Cambiasso leaving Inter...

I absolutely did yes..

[RedSoxUK]

I do get why people might fancy signing DeJong. He's got Premiership experience, he's an older head and would add 'bite' to the central midfield.

But....No-one seems to be considering the question I've now asked three times...why do AC Milan want to offload him?

If he's still 'good' and has pace (allegedly) why would a distinctively average Milan side want to let him go? I don't think the player himself wants to leave does he?

I made a similar comment about Inler. He's only 31, yet Napoli seemed more than happy to offload him. A player with tons of experience, caps and certainly some quality...why then we're Napoli happy to get rid?

Is it money I wonder? Is it a case of getting such players of the wage - bill.

This, for me, is the important question. Why clubs like these would seemingly want to offload this type of player. That bit I don't get, if they are the 'quality' people are making out they are. You'd think the parent club would want to retain them.

 

To me, this potential signing screams shrewd, and also perhaps surprisingly Walsh. I don't think we see it on paper, but it adds up, especially if Inler is to be offed this window.

I thought AC Milan being happy to offload is pretty clear, financially, he must be on a fair bit there and they've been failing for years - getting him off the wage bill is probably their first task this transfer window. Furthermore I don't think De Jong is uninterested in Leicester, just aware that he won't be on as much money; especialliy hessitent after he signed a three year extension in the summer, probably settled and comfortable in his 30s in Italy. So for that I can't blame him, or AC Milan.

 

-

 

As for De Jong, I don't expect him to start, I don't expect him to displace Drinkwater as that's not his game, and I certainly can't see N'golo Kante being left out for De Jong, which tells us just how good of a player Kante actually is. De Jong would come in the three man midfield in the games like Manchester City at home, and be the extra man in the middle from winning positions. If you look around at the Premier League teams where De Jong could probably slip into the starting 11 instantly, I don't think paying £2m or whatever tiny sum it is for De Jong is a risk at all. He's well regarded in the dressing room, even at Manchester City, your damn lucky if he's on your side, but utterly screwed if you're against him. He seems to be a pattionate player, and I like his style of play - perhaps a few years of slow play has pushed him back in Italy; but no doubt about it, he's still a quality player.

 

I have a hunch De Jong is a player Ranieri has highlighted, Walsh has agreed on, and definitely a player that will improve the squad.

[Gerard]

Indeed, it would also release Kante. Who whilst brilliant defensively also offers quite a bit going forward with his pace and dynamism.

 

Although Kante would be brilliant in that role he would be wasted there as well as you're negating his all action style and energy.

 

Kante and Drinkwater with De Jong between the two banks of four sounds quite formidable to me for teams looking to attack us.

[FoxinNotts]

I see what is going on here:

Kevin Prince Boateng, Shalke to AC Milan.

De Jong, AC Milan to City.

Inler, City to Shalke.

Deep lying midfield merrigo round.

[AKCJ]

Although Kante would be brilliant in that role he would be wasted there as well as you're negating his all action style and energy.

 

Kante and Drinkwater with De Jong between the two banks of four sounds quite formidable to me for teams looking to attack us.

This. De Jong is also a great tackler, it would make us very hard to play against at places like The Etihad and The Emirates where we'll have about 8% possession.

Will also help close games out better. I think it would be a good signing on a short deal.

[Babylon]

Although Kante would be brilliant in that role he would be wasted there as well as you're negating his all action style and energy.

 

Kante and Drinkwater with De Jong between the two banks of four sounds quite formidable to me for teams looking to attack us.

That's what I meant!

[Wymsey]

He would probably be given a one-year deal, with a view for another season.

 

He'd fit in well with how we play, but doubt he'd improve the midfield.

[RedHux]

De Jong is not getting picked at Milan because he's been way off the pace whenever he's played. I watched them against Verona and he got sent off.

Sending off is around 2:34

To quote someone on a Milan forum "id take a chocolate panettone for de jong

4m is genius". That's pretty much the feeling here, and getting his reported 3m wages off the balance sheet would be nice too.

[lcfcsnow]

Walsh/Owners - Okazaki

Ranieri - Benalouane

Walsh - Kante

Ranieri - Inler

Walsh - Gray

Ranieri - De Jong

 

If this theme is true, Ranieri's targets should only be signed on Walsh's approval. Inler and De Jong at this stage in their careers aren't needed, we don't need big name players for the sake of it if they're not going to improve us.