Quote Originally Posted by I am invisible View Post
If true, it’s nice to actually have several names on the list that we can work through, instead of just leaving it if the best option in the world isn’t available.

Doesn’t sound right to me though - those 4 names are just too different in terms of profile and style to make me think they were options on the same list or part of the same strategy.

I guess what might have changed is these last-minute ‘clear the air’ talks with Ainsley? If he’s genuinely getting another chance, and is prepared to commit to RB, then that might have suddenly covered off the need for an offensive / overlapping option and allowed us to switch to a more defensive target?

Or maybe this guy was always the target and we were just waiting for one of our 4 existing RBs to leave before we could move?
Yeah the list is quite scattergun but i guess Hakimi and his agent let it known we were not an option quite early on, especially as he was linked with both Chelsea and then PSG who he joined. The other 3 are all different profiles, but close in age and experience I guess even though they are all young. Adams for instance plays DM as his primary position for Leipzig so he could have well been a Xhaka replacement as he looked Roma bound earlier this summer. Adams is also very good at right back. Emerson and Tomiyasu are actually very different, Emerson being a very offensive right back and Tomiyasu being more defensive and solid. I guess we will see who fairs better now that Emerson has joined the Spuds.

I do think Tomiyasu was always a target, just a backup option more than a primary one though. He is here now so I'll get behind whatever happens.