While I fully recognise the need to address our defensive problems, I don't understand the scale of excitement now and over the last 18 months about this player. The fee is obviously absurd, but so is all of modern football. If he was to be a sure-fire solution to all our woes at the back, then the fee wouldn't come into the debate. But he's not. He's a defender who's as good on the ball as any professional footballer ought to be; has major ricks in him, especially in one-on-one situations; and does not always show signs of being a natural leader or organiser when closely observed.
So my first hope is that it works. Failing that, my hope is that we don't immediately get on the lad's back if it doesn't work and give him some time to settle in, as well as for Jurgen to coach him into the player he could become. He has six years left in him as a top-level centre back, and has already signed a five-year contract. The transfer market is sufficiently inflated that we should treat this £75m purchase as a player of some experience, but with significant flaws, and requiring considerable coaching, rather than the ready-made superstar he is being portrayed as.
