No its really not and not relevant to offering a player of any age a contact.

The only question you ask yourself is will he help us get to our goals?

This building "for the future" is just pundit talk. People have got bored with them discussing nationality so now start on age

He would be someone who could offer us something now and in you're words (or whoever told you what he earned) not a excessive amount of money so it would sensible to look at such a player

You look at the present and the future not just the future very small minded if you don't

Zlatan is still a quality player and a winner. He wouldn't be a risk at all.

Its a more "doable" transfer then one like Kante would be so is one worth looking at.

Of course it depends on the terms he is looking for, I don't think we should make it one of our must do deals but he is out of contact so its logical to at least look at him. You have a player of his standard and experience available it would silly not to at least look into if you need a player like him and he is willing to come.

Experience like his might just might be helpful next season, I am not the biggest fan of his but its not about who i like or dislike but what is going to ensure we finish in the top 3 next season

Keeping a top class 34 year old for another year or two is very different from bringing one in.
To justify the signing the player would have to certain of hitting the ground running and have a great season.
Your short term instant fix way of thinking is why our club has spent more money on youth development than any club in the world and not produced anyone since JT.

No we would not need to be certain of that anymore then we would for any signing made.

It has 0 to do with youth development or anything else.

It has to do with getting the best players available to us.

Obsession is just as much of a reason of this "mess" we are in, Obsession with style of play obsession with Europe and obsession with age.

You get the best players available to you.

Age is not important all that matters is they are good enough. Not on the strength of they might be good enough or seeing what they can do. It don't matter if the player is 34 or 19.

If he is the best option then we should go for him

Certain players you take a gamble on. They don't always work out, one thing is for certain, Ibrahimovic is no Shevchenko, for instance...

If the wages aren't in excess of what we're paying our other top players then it's a no brainer for a player of his quality, seeing as there's no transfer fee. Even if it doesn't work out, I'm sure we wouldn't have too much trouble moving him on after the first season, if he signed on a 2 year deal.

Yep, he could easily find another club in say USA. It's a no brainer though I somehow doubt we will get him.

Wages might need to go up to attract new players due to no Champions League,

We just have to judge it on a case by case basis.

He would be a massive name for us to get with no Champions League football and would send a message to those saying we would struggle to attract players, Plus he clearly has the right mindset we are looking for (an issue you could argue that has effected us this season).

I am not for or against signing him, Feel we should not dismiss signings like him right away like I think we should have in the past

I agree. Given that we are not going to have the pick of the crop this summer, he would a reliable option for a season..if we could get him. His goal scoring record has been remarkable, and I'm sure he has another season left in him.
I can understand Dixon's reservations though, he'll be 35 in October, same age as club legend John Terry who is being shown the door.

Trouble is I don't think the JT issue has anything to do with his ability to play. I think if it was anyone else (and its only my view) with playing at his current level he would be given another contract

Yes, it's a strange business with JT, so you could be right. Even recently he has looked the most competent of our centre backs, though some may say that's not saying much.
It's rather a sad ending to such a fantastic career with us. I'm still hoping there's a rethink and Conte wants to retain him for a season.

Going back to the suitability of Ibrahimovic, I've seen rumours that Conte admires Cavani.
Zlatan has been keeping Cavani out of his favoured position leading the attack, but his goals per game record remains impressive. I'm not sure of his contract situation but he might be open to a move ? But I doubt he would want to play second fiddle to Costa..if he's staying.

I think any manager would admire Cavani.

I think Canani will see Zlatan going as his chance to take his place so I think it again would be difficult to arrange, I don't see them wanting to lose Zlatan and Cavani in one season and if they did I think they would want big money (unless his contract is up and again I don't think the club would let that happen)

Yes, you're probably right. I see there are also rumours (today in fact) that Ibrahimovic has been offered a collosal sum to play in China. So perhaps we can forget about either of them.

By the way, do you think there was any truth in that rumour about some Chinese club offering £75m for Oscar ? I haven't brought it up before because it seemed so preposterous. But after a few of their recent signings, I suppose anything is possible.

From interviews and his style of play I think he will want to test himself here before China.

I think we will see it more and more with players like him moving around more and more often.

Who knows as regards to Oscar, Its one of those "crazy" rumors that are so crazy they have to have some degree of truth in them. It would be a massive statement of intent for them so would be worthwhile attempt

He's the kind of signing we were making when Hoddle was manager. Those players were hugely important and were the turning point in the history of the club.
However, that was a very long time ago and we should not be making those kind of signings in 2016.

I wouldn't be surprised if a bid of some sort was made for him from a Chinese club, but not even close to being in that ballpark. There's no way we would have turned down that sort of offer for a player that's in and out of our team, unless the player himself was refusing to go, of course.

No-one's suggesting we make a habit of these kind of signings, but sometimes there are circumstances where it's worth making an exception. You judge each case on its own merits.

It's not even as if we have an old squad. If JT leaves then the only 30+ players left will be Cahill (30) and Ivanovic (32).

Yep.

Its not black and white.

You take each transfer on its own and access the pluses and minus points.

The factors in deciding one transfer will not be the same factors in making a decision about making a different one.

There should not be a strict critia for all transfers i.e only players of a certain style or age etc.

Each one based on its own merits

According to the Sun, we are going to make a bid for Lukaku in the summer.
So, we sign him and don't play him.
Loan him out.
Bring him back and don't play him.
Sell him to Everton, and now maybe sign him again.

Only at Chelsea.
But at least we're never dull and predictable.

After the Stones fiasco last summer, I can't see it happening. What would Everton want for him, £60/70m ?

There are rumours Real Madrid want Courtious and the price we put on him is £70m.
If Costa stays? would we even need Lukaku? They don't look like a good pairing and Lukaku wouldn't returnt to be second choice.

Very good player but I think he has found his level.

Everton is a perfect fit for him and I think it would be a massive step back for him.

At Chelsea he would be another very good player amongst many very good players but at Everton he stands out and I think that really suits him

We could see a very different Chelsea line up next year.

Costa, courtois, hazard, Oscar could all go, for a combined fee of 200 million plus

Who is there to buy really?
Rumours about Cavani don't exactly excite me. Good player, but probably a 3rd level striker and maybe slightly past his prime.