If he's sorted his attitude out from last time and has his head in the game he will be a great asset to any Championship side. We've seen him at his very best but mostly when he just skulks around and does nothing. Would be like a new signing if he's back to his top level.
He started off as a striker. In the FA Youth Cup games I saw him in he was playing as a 10 in a 4-2-3-1 system. I believe he's mostly played as a 10 or an advanced 8 in a 4-3-3 in the last couple of seasons for the U21's.
Word of caution - Vata hasn’t yet been a striker at senior level. But he’s also young and capable players develop. Us (or another club) could easily conceive he makes the jump to being a striker quite quickly. That also may not be the case - but I don’t think it’s beyond a realm of reasonable possibility for people to think so.
I’m going to assume (by logic) Burnsy means there is another player who will ‘replace’ kone. And sissoko is more of a Livermore replacement
Yeah not sure how people have made this comparison. Kone and sissoko’s skillsets are completely different.
He’s been to the training ground to finalise details, doesn’t usually happen unless close to an agreement
Looks that way, timing sounds about right if we managed to convince him on his visit on Friday. Would expect that maybe there’s a few medicals going on today if this is the case. hopefully some announcements this evening/tomorrow
Bit surprised if it really is only a 4 year deal based on his supposed reputation - would have thought if the club really rated him they'd try and push for at keast 5 years (unless it's a 4+1). We signed Doumbia to a 6 year deal for instance.
I guess Vata is closer to first team action and less of a long term "development project" ? Maybe he didn't want to commit to us for more than 4 years !!
4 years is still a tad low relative to other younger first team players - Porteous, Kone and Andrews all signed in the winter and had 4.5 year contracts, Rajovic signed in summer and had a 5 year contract. When Pollock joined as a youngster he had a 5 year contract. Asprilla was 5 years, albeit the first year was on loan. As per your second sentence maybe he's already got one eye on jumping ship - wouldn't be a surprise given the manner in which he left Celtic.
When the club losing the player are annoyed and in this case being Celtic. This is generally a good sign. My only area of caution ….. Jerome Sinclair, Liverpool didn’t want him to go!
Always difficult to know with a player who’s not played much senior football. The step up is a lot bigger than some realise. By the sounds of things and as you say their fans reactions, the kid has a lot of talent and us highly rated. Only question is can he make the step up, which Sinclair clearly couldn’t.
But 4m and 200k are totally different and we ought to be able to take a risk with 200 that we can no longer do with 4m
100% agree, think it’s a risk worth taking. Even if he only plays half our matches this season but contributes with a few goals/assists, his value will be higher than £200k
Why is there so much enthusiasm surrounding this signing? Celtic youth player who has barely featured for the senior team. Surely we have no idea if he is or will ever be any good. Fingers crossed, of course, but never saw this level of anticipation when we signed other youth players.
There's usually a fair bit of anticipation when we sign young South Americans like Asprilla. Meanwhile it's rare that we even sign young British players to get excited or not about. One difference with this guy compared to other young British players we've signed though is that there seemed to be a fair few other decent profile clubs after him e.g. Bologna, so we've done fairly well to get him. He does look good in his highlights vids as well. Regardless of whether it takes him a season or so to make a good impact at first team level, he seems a good prospect. It's not the same as a Morris who was released by another club because he wasn't good enough and not wanted.
No, you don’t have to replace a players skillsets like for like. You can sign different types of players
Original question aimed more at Burnsey as in has he heard anything to suggest Louza is going to be Kones replacement.
Given the slight change of shape Cleverley has been clear he wants, I’m not sure I see us signing a direct Kone replacement.
