27 Jul 2026 11:47:22
Joel Ordonoz would be ideal for our rcb option and can play RB. Only snag is he currently is out with a broken metatarsal. No idea on when he will return.
27 Jul 2026 12:18:28
I've read good things about Ordonez, but signing another defender currently injured (I appreciate metatarsal fractures are very minor non-reoccurring impact injuries) seems unwise.
I would like someone with a similar profile, though, for sure. Jules Kounde would be my top pick. However, I'd also be considering Nordi Mukiele or Josip Stanisic if I were making the decisions.
All three of them can play RB and CB to a very good standard. Stanisic can even play LB as well.
Lutsharel Geertruida and Oscar Mingueza are cheaper options for that RB/CB profile, but they're cheaper for a reason in my opinion. I would've been happy with them had Konate stayed, but, as he left, I think we need a slightly more proven/higher profile signing.
27 Jul 2026 12:30:55
We do love signing players who have to wait for their debut due to injury.
27 Jul 2026 12:40:08
I personally would go with someone like Geertruida.
He's not got as much potential as Ordonez, but he is cheaper, has had a season in the prem, and won't be blocking anyone.
We have a load of really good options at CB at the 18-21 age group, and I'd like to give them a path.
Leoni and Jacquet, in my opinion, are our future CB pairing, so we need, basically, a Gomez replacement who can cover a few defensive roles, but who is relatively robust! Geertruida has a decent injury record, and, at around £20-£25m, could be a decent option for a few years.
27 Jul 2026 13:19:35
Mingueza has gone to Palace Mk. I'd like Kounde also, but do we have the budget?
27 Jul 2026 13:30:43
Interest is still held from last summer, he is a possibility no doubt.
27 Jul 2026 13:48:10
KP, I honestly don't know. I think monies should be available for such a crucial position, though. Last season we had about 6 different players at RB. Frimpong, Bradley, Gomez, Endo, Jones and Szoboszlai all had a crack at it. Nobody was both good enough and reliable enough. It was the single biggest weak link in the squad.
Brutal, I know, but we're in this game to win trophies, so we can't go into next season with the exact same RB options that let us down last season.
The only exception to this would be if Calvin Ramsay is miraculously making a comeback and Iraola wants him as 1st choice RB. I think that's very unlikely, though, to be honest.
Kounde is our man in my opinion. Soon as Barcola is done, he'd be my next priority signing.
27 Jul 2026 13:48:46
If we are to sign another CB this window, I'd rather someone more experienced. It doesn't make sense to buy Ordonoz when we already have Jacquet and Leoni as the development CBs. Someone like Schlotterbeck or of that ilk.
Lacroix would have been great, but the ship has sailed.
27 Jul 2026 14:06:59
Lacroix is a very limited CB in my opinion. It's quite easy to play in the middle of a back 3 like he did at Palace. In fact, I think it's the easiest position of any defender in any formation if you're over 6ft2 and can head a ball. Keepers will typically play the ball out to the wider CBs, so Lacroix has less need to be good on the ball, and if a wing back gets caught out of position it's the wide CBs who have to get out to engage a tricky and rapid winger.
As the middle CB, your main job is to head away long punts up field, and head away crosses into the box.
Lacroix will do well at Chelsea if they stick him in the middle of a back 3. If they're playing a back 4, though, then he's going to be horribly exposed. Just like he was for France when England put 6 goals past him. They even hooked Konate, thinking that would stem the flow, and it made zero difference because Lacroix was just as bad as Ibou.