#WHUFC NEW LCB THREAD
Having received the news that Ogbonna will likely be out for the season, now is the perfect time for us to bring in his long-term successor.
This thread features my preferred LCB candidates to come in and form a partnership with Zouma.
RTs appreciated.
The first thing to mention is that I did all of my scouting/research last week, so player metrics are not inclusive of the past weekend's fixtures.
Secondly, I won't go into depth here about the model I've built to identify players, but if you're interested then drop me a DM.
Before introducing the players, these are the metrics that I decided upon when building the player profile for my ideal Ogbonna replacement.
As ever, if you want anyone the metrics explaining then just reply to the tweet or fire me a DM and I'll be more than happy to chat.
ANGELO OGBONNA
All charts reflect the past calendar year, and the perimeter represents peak performance in each metric across Europe's Top 5 Leagues.
Ogbonna is aerially sound and good in the tackle, but he's not the most progressive or front-footed CB - room for improvement.
One brief caveat is that data isn't very reliable when identifying defenders.
Why? Because data does not track such intangibles as communication, concentration, and experience, all of which are invaluable in a CB.
That said, it can still flag up interesting players, like...
MARCOS SENESI
Top of my shopping list would be this monster, and his absence from the national team despite his form would likely make him open to a move.
His progressive passing would improve our ability to play out from the back, and he would also provide a defensive upgrade.
ARMANDO OBISPO
Obispo has worked his way into PSV's first team following a loan to Vitesse in 19/20, but Boscagli is still the first choice LCB.
The promise of more minutes could tempt him, but his relative lack of senior experience makes it a riskier signing than others.
LISANDRO MARTÍNEZ
Our final Eredivisie option is also the most expensive, but that's for good reason as he's bossing it for Ajax.
He's a good defender, a progressive passer, and is surprisingly good in the air for someone who's 5'10" - he's probably too small for Moyes though.
MARC-OLIVER KEMPF
Another LCB who's been on my list for some time, I was pleased to see his performances haven't dipped since I last looked.
Just look at that radar - an improvement in almost every area, and with over 100 Bundesliga appearances he's not lacking in experience.
MYKOLA MATVIYENKO
With Yarmo's contract expiring this summer, we could bring in a new Ukrainian at the other end of the pitch.
We were linked with him in the summer and, given his passing and defensive capabilities, I wouldn't be surprised if we were to reignite our interest.
JHON LUCUMÍ
Someone we've all seen play at least twice this season, the young Colombian CB is an intriguing prospect.
Aside from his defensive and passing ability, perhaps the most valuable facet of his game is his recovery pace, something our back line is desperately lacking.
RICARDO GRAÇA
Having made more than 50 appearances for West Ham, Fabian Balbuena is proof that there is value to be found in Brazil's leagues.
That said, Graça is playing in Brazil's Série B, so there's no guarantee that he could replicate such performances at a higher level.
MORATO
A dominant, well-rounded CB who has already gained valuable UCL experience, including in a 3-0 dismantling of Barcelona.
He's another youngster with a seriously high upside, but there are obvious question marks as to whether he'd be ready to start in the EPL right away.
SVEN BOTMAN
Likely the best player in this thread and almost certainly the most expensive, Botman has already established himself as one of Europe's top LCBs.
He's 6'4", dominant in the air, comfortable in possession, strong in the tackle, and a very good passer - elite talent.
JOHN BROOKS
Ogbonna's injury means our defence has lost its veteran, a gap that Brooks could fill, with more than 200 Bundesliga appearances and 45 USMNT caps.
At 28, he's the oldest player on the list, but perhaps his experience and leadership can bring the best out of Zouma.
MOHAMED SALISU
Salisu is @jackelderton's first choice for the "vacant" LCB spot, an active defender who has already proven that he can kick it in the EPL.
His passing is marginally worse than Ogbonna's, albeit more frequent, but defensively he's an improvement in every metric.
DUJE ĆALETA-CAR
Another CB we've been linked to for a few windows, and who will surely be on our radar again following the arrival of ex-Marseille scout Georges Santos.
An aerial beast with impressive passing metrics, he'd be a solid addition and an added threat from corners.
RAVIL TAGIR
The youngest CB on this list probably isn't ready for our starting XI yet, but I'm confident he's a player headed for the top.
He's played 750 mins of topflight football for Başakşehir, though he isn't their starting LCB so could be prized away for the right fee.
ALESSIO ROMAGNOLI
An experienced Italian international with more than 200 appearances for AC Milan is the perfect Ogbonna replacement, at least in terms of narrative.
Romagnoli's contract is due to expire at the end of this season too, though he's reportedly close to renewing.
ETHAN PINNOCK
Pinnock's ability to nullify Antonio, a task many EPL CBs have failed to do, was instrumental to Brentford's win over us at the start of October.
Since then, Brentford haven't won a league game, and West Ham could be an enticing step up at the peak of his career.
JAKUB KIWIOR
This is more of a "one to watch" than a player for now, as he's only recently signed for Spezia and is yet to make an appearance for them.
His performances for Slovakia's Žilina were impressive though, and if he performs in the Serie A too then I'd be interested.
EVAN N'DICKA
Another young, pricey option with nearly 100 appearances for Frankfurt in the Bundesliga and the Europa League.
He's been the subject of interest from English clubs before, and his pace, height, strength, and technical ability should make him a solid EPL defender.
GEORGI DZHIKIYA
40 caps for Russia and more than 100 appearances for Spartak Moscow, including in the UEL and UCL - nice.
Settling in the EPL isn't easy but Dzhikiya should be relatively cheap, has experience in abundance, and boasts very similar metrics to Ogbonna - an option.
SAMIR
Given how consistently eye-catching his numbers have been at Udinese, I'm surprised that Samir hasn't been linked to a transfer in the past few windows.
125 Serie A appearances at 26 is solid, much like his metrics, and given Udinese's league standing he should be cheap.
MARCÃO
He's worse in the air than Ogbonna, but he's defensively sound, more front-footed, and a better progressor of the ball.
Whether he could maintain these metrics in the EPL is debatable, but he's worthy of a place on the shortlist and his UCL/UEL experience is a bonus.
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