:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/50577673/591714050-alfred-ndiaye-of-villarreal-looks-on-prior-gettyimages.0.jpg)
To summarize the CB situation:
We are looking for a CB, Diego Reyes (Porto) or Giancarlo Gonzalez (Palermo) are the two rumors getting the most traction.
OUT: Would you believe Alfred N’Diaye? Story here from RMC Sport says Olympique Marseille (who have new US owner) are interested in taking him on loan with a purchase option.
According to this, N’Diaye is not in Escriba’s plans and Marseille met with the player today and he is interested in joining them. It makes sense to me, given N’Diaye played for Nancy in France already and there are a lot of African players in Ligue Un—he would feel more at home there.
Escriba has said he views him as a defensive midfielder anyhow, so that probably means he would see action as did Tomas Pina last season—not many starts, but coming on late to provide some defensive bite.
The key to a deal could be the purchase option, though. We paid €7.5m for him—how much of that would we get back?
Opinion: I like the deal inasmuch as N’Diaye was clearly Marcelino’s guy, the Villarreal fans are already on him, and he doesn’t really have a spot in our XI. Rodri can play defensive midfield, so can Jona dos Santos of course.