17 Apr 2026 01:12:57
A top team needs an elite level centre back and preferably a pair of them. None of those mentioned are that level. Look at the difference Van Djick made to Liverpool when he signed.

1.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 11:53:52
Good thing Harry Maguire signed that one-year extension!

2.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 13:29:25
Agreed, but we have three problems, which prevent us levelling up in this position:

1.) Two of our three experienced centre backs have availability issues, so we would struggle to shift them for a reasonable fee and bring in the elite centre-backs that you mention.

2.) The club invested a lot of money in Yoro, who is never going to be the finished article, but I think the club thought he would have developed quickly in a similar vein to Saliba at Arsenal.

At the moment he looks way off it, and it's only really his price tag and the sunk cost fallacy which is keeping him in the team over Ayden Heaven, who has performed admirably this season.

3.) We potentially need 3 first-team midfielders, which will probably take up 70/80% of our budget this summer. I don't think we have the resources to also strengthen centre-back, left-back and left wing.

3.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 14:02:10
Yoro is an interesting one. If we were offered a decent fee, should we accept it?

4.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 17:34:48
He's young and clearly talented, he needs coaching and development, there's a very good player in there.

5.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 18:05:10
Saliba spent 2 1/2 seasons on loan in France after joining Arsenal, and at one point they were willing to sell him. That's not exactly a rapid progression; he's been at Arsenal since 2019, with a steady manager.

So let's not totally write off Yoro just yet; he's already had multiple managers and several different defensive formations and partners.
I think there may well be a good player there.

6.) 17 Apr 2026
17 Apr 2026 18:33:35
How many 20yo cb's excel in the epl? Not too many. Imo a crazy fee was paid for sick a young player in that position. Most don't really mature there till mid 20s. So his initial contract was due to expire before he reached his prime years as a cb.
It didn't make sense to me at the time and still doesn't.
I do think he has good attributes and i'm sure he will have a really good career at the highest level.
Unless we can sell him for what we paid which is unlikely then I think he should be kept to see if he continues to improve amd show that he is capable of maturing into the player we hoped.
Cb imo maybe the most difficult position to play until you have physically matured and gained plenty of match experience.

7.) 18 Apr 2026
18 Apr 2026 09:20:07
We invested in Yoro's potential, we should at least see it develop. Ken is correct, maturity and experience, CB is a lot about reading what is in front of you. Steve Bruce wasn't quick but read the game and made good decisions. If you have ever played CB, it is different to what is needed as a FB for example. There is talent in Yoro, so prepared to give him time in years to develop, I don't think we should sell him.

Heaven looked class to me whenever I saw him. Amorim trusted and gave him chances, Carrick, to my surprise and disappointment hasn't. The fact he impressed Tuchel didn't surprise me either. It also wouldn't surprise me if the useless Carrick doesn't start him on the bench tonight, trusting instead Cas and Shaw as CB's.

8.) 18 Apr 2026
18 Apr 2026 15:34:45
The useless Carrick. ? Come on, Red Man.

9.) 18 Apr 2026
18 Apr 2026 15:39:10
Here we are saying Yoro needs time and needs more maturity to be a CB (Agreed by the way), but the same lads will write off Mainoo already, even though I believe you need more experience and maturity to play CM than at CB. It's a much more difficult position.

10.) 19 Apr 2026
19 Apr 2026 15:10:06
You might believe that, Angel, and you're entitled to your opinion, but all the stats say different.
U23 midfielders have played nearly 25 times as many minutes as U23 CBs in the EPL since its conception. It's much more difficult to get time as a young CB.