Is this the end for Vinny?

Stones is now touted as Pep's next signing after the Gundogan deal should be completed by Friday.

Spanish journo's are saying he wants to pair Stones with Laporte for next season. That leaves us with Vinny, Otamendi, Mangala and Denayer. That's 6 CB's. Stones can play RB if needed, but if we're spending that much, I can only see him starting, and Laporte looks like he will be a Pep player.

This stat won't impress Pep. Vinny has played on average, 23 games per season since the 2012-13. That's shocking. That's half a season for the past 4 years.

So, if true, who stays as we'll only need 4 CB's.

Out of those 6, i'd get rid of Mangala n Otamendi.....but i can't see Vinny wanting to stay as a back up.

Laporte may not be fit enough to start the season but, seeing as he has started training, he may just make it. Denayer doesn't count in the squad total since he's U21, so I'd look at him as a freebie.

Vinnie will be given time to show that has recovered and can stay fit. I can see him being given some hard training sessions and plenty of pre season matches to prove he's fit enough.

One more layoff and he's a goner.

I really cannot see the club releasing Mangala, the most expensive defender in PL history almost 2 years into a 5 year deal where he cost an undisclosed sum believed to be, depending on which source you believe, £32m - £42m. More likely to sell Otamendi and/or Denayer in my opinion, i would love to keep Denayer though as he has huge potential.

I'd offload Otamendi before Mango. In the run up to the end of the season, Mango was showing signs of why he was worth the reported £42m - he's quick, strong and can tackle. He needed a string of games to get into the pace of the PL, but once there you could see he was starting to read the game a bit better. My gripe with him is that he does have a tendency to chase the ball instead of holding position.

Ota, after a string of games, only showed an increased tendency to lunge in to tackles with his feet. He's a red card waiting to happen.

Mangala is a very good defender, was let down by those alongside him too often last year, and maybe systems.

Otamendi is good but I agree he will be sent off far too often..

Agree.

Reading the OP again, i'd get rid of Mangala 1st purely to get some money back in....admittedly we don't really need it, but i'd rather get £25m for him than £5-10m for Otamendi.

That and i don't rate any of those 2 anyway....imo, Mangala won't improve over time (he's been here 2yrs now hasn't he ) and with Stones and Laporte the rumoured duo to start, Mangalas game time in the PL/CL will be limited again.

Let's see how Stones Denayer & Mangala do in the Euros if any of em play