Centre-back search
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Same agency as Gravenberch, from Schmadtke's ex-club. Signed contract extension 2 months ago though.
[article]Wolfsburg have announced they have extended the contract of Micky van de Ven until 2027. His original contract expired in 2025.
On his extension with Wolfsburg, van de Ven said: “It was always a dream for me to play in the Bundesliga. That is why I am very pleased that I will remain part of VfL Wolfsburg beyond 2025 and can continue my development here. I love playing in this team and would like to help VfL Wolfsburg achieve its goals.”
Sporting director Marcel Schäfer also spoke on the 21-year-old’s extension: “We are pleased that Mickey has extended his contract with us and that we can plan with him in the long term. He is a player with great potential who has taken a strong development, especially this season, and has played his way into the foreground with his performances. The fact that Mickey has now signed in the long term shows that he wants to continue his path taken with us together with VfL Wolfsburg.”
van de Ven joined Wolfsburg in 2021 from FC Volendem for €3.5 million. After an initial adaptation period last season, the 21-year-old has played every single minute of every single game for Wolfsburg this season, scoring once and even assisting twice.
The under-21 Dutch international is one of two promising centre-backs Wolfsburg have in their ranks, the other being Maxcene Lacroix. However, the Frenchman has struggled to match the impact he had in his first season in the Bundesliga and has struggled at times, most notably being subbed off in the 30th minute against Bayern Munich.
Wolfsburg are currently seventh in the Bundesliga five points off of Eintracht Frankfurt in sixth. Under Niko Kovač they are a completely different team compared to last season under Mark Van Bommel and later Florian Kohfeldt.[/article]
No idea other that Dutch and fast. Fits the profile, I'm sure Smackhead will tell Klopp how good he is if Klopp wants to go for him.
He looks a bit ponderous on the ball, and is supposedly poor in the air given his size, but you can see he's got many of the raw attributes that Klopp loves.
My issue is what CB has come to us and actually improved in recent years? Lovren and Sakho never really improved as we hoped, Gomez has been going backwards for a while, Konate is the same player who first joined, and we've never been able to improve Trents defensive ability.
I'm not writing off our ability to improve defenders, but the recent track record suggests I will be hoping any incoming CB is already of a good enough standard to play for us.
My issue is what CB has come to us and actually improved in recent years? Lovren and Sakho never really improved as we hoped, Gomez has been going backwards for a while, Konate is the same player who first joined, and we've never been able to improve Trents defensive ability.
I'm not writing off our ability to improve defenders, but the recent track record suggests I will be hoping any incoming CB is already of a good enough standard to play for us.
|Can't pass judgement on the guy, never seen him play. Never even as much knew his name before it popped up but we do seem to have interest in a CB for this summer, especially Dutch. First it was Schurrs, then Timber, now this guy.
For me the preferred choice would be Timber, having seen him play in the CL and at the WC.....this guy has immense potential.
For me the preferred choice would be Timber, having seen him play in the CL and at the WC.....this guy has immense potential.
If our midfield trio is Mac Allister, Thuram and Kone, then we should have saved a pretty penny by missing out on Jude / Caicedo / Mount etc.
Hopefully we blow it all on the defence, Ignacio and Timber would be amazing - and realistic if we stretch.
Otherwise, the Mini Van looks a good budget option too.
Hopefully we blow it all on the defence, Ignacio and Timber would be amazing - and realistic if we stretch.
Otherwise, the Mini Van looks a good budget option too.
What does he have to do with it?
I said I was not sold on that Wolfsburg lad in particular. And ideally, I think we should get someone already used to the PL.
You said;
There should be more safe cards out there who know the Premier League ideally.
Center back is a position of experience and smartness.
Botman came from Lille and pretty much bossed it instantly and was 22 years old.
Everyone was hyping Botman. We were absolutely going to sign him and Bruno Guimares for serious money then someone shot a stun gun into Klopp and Ward and their brains froze for the next 18 months.
But agree with the sentiment. Centre back seems to be the easiest position for foreign players to adapt to the Premier League. Varane, Martinez, Dias, Akanji, Thiago, Matip...
But agree with the sentiment. Centre back seems to be the easiest position for foreign players to adapt to the Premier League. Varane, Martinez, Dias, Akanji, Thiago, Matip...
Annoyingly, Akanji for 15m has to be one of the best business from last summer.
Yes, I just said what was my preference.
There is no guarantee with any signing, foreign or not, but for this position I prefer to lean a bit more to reduce risk.
There are plenty of examples of the opposite to Botman as well.
Watch a fair bit every season (family heritage reasons).
Those 2 along with Milenkovic of Fiorentina & KIM of Napoli (rumours gone cold) by far the best CB's in Italy.
Ibanez-Mancini-Smalling have formed a good partnership over the years but hard to tell how the former 2 would do playing in a back 4.
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