Uruguayan defender a consideration for Everton

Barça had interest in him at some point.

Sign him up – that's good enough for me!

Can't help feeling this one might be being leaked to oil the Michael Keane wheels with Burnley.

Not a "huge" or "massive" €26m release clause, but a "huge massive" €26m release clause. Now that's a lot of money!

I jest. I bought this lad on Fifa 17 and he is excellent, so he must be good! Sign him up!

Bit sceptical on this one. He has done well in Spain, but may struggle to adapt in Premier L.eague Might be another Funes Mori. Also a bit expensive. Keane should be our priority.

I heard last night that the Keane deal will be announced next week.

Colin, is that next week in the same context as a Sandro 48 hours?

Colin, don't tell me your ITK contact is Geoff from the Sandro thread "It'll be done tomorrow, Keane on Thursday" fame!

Tanvir Akram @4

If you ask me, he's no Funes Mori, but rather another John Stones – good on the ball and going forward, not so much defensively and not the most physical.

What we need in the centre of our defence is a no-nonsense, hard as nails brute. Prison tats, proper scars and stubble you can strike a match on.

The last thing we need is some tart with a sleeve of Egyptian hieroglyphics translated into Mandarin, one of those groomed beards that girls wear nowadays, and is good on the ball.

Andrew, James, errrrrmmmmmmm, no comment.

Colin, I'm pretty confident Sandro and Keane will both come in sooner rather than later. The players are back in next week and I think we'll start to see more transfer activity, probably in and out.

Gary (#9),

I think you are talking about a player from a different era.

Anyway, we already have a player that fits that description – Williams, who I would describe as a crude stopper with very limited football skills.

If we are going to step up a level, then surely clever, cultured footballers are what we require?

Gary, you're very close to describing Martin Skrtel. Be very careful what you wish for.

I remember Skrtel having a storming game against us for Zenit St Petersburg. At that time, I would have taken him like a shot. Going to the RS seemed to spoil him though.

I'd be very happy with a defender who could consistently perform as Skrtel did that night – no matter what he looked like.

Si, there is no way Skrtel would get away with the crap he did when he was playing for them if he was playing for us. The Euros last year was the prime example when he got away with nothing playing for Slovakia.

Funes Mori gets so much stick on ToffeeWeb, when he has a fantastic attitude (sometimes not so good), and is so well respected in the Argentinian camp, where he is mooted to be captain material I believe?

His performances have been up and down, but he does have the ability to clear high balls and make effective blocks. I wonder if his consistency and distribution could be improved upon, and if, when he comes back from injury (whenever that may be), if he will emerge as a good option at the left side of the defense?

Paul @8, he is also not very good in the air, and we struggled defensively last season. Even Williams is not the best in the air. We need a big strong central defender, who can head the ball well. I worry about the lack of pace at the back.

William (#16), I rate Funes Mori too, just think he needs a beast beside him.

In response to the 'bygone era' comments to my earlier post, I offer you Chellini or any of the Juve back 3. No-nonsense defenders still exist.

Recent history and nearer home you have John Terry in his pomp, Tony Adams too there have always been hard-knock centre-backs who could play a bit, they just get conveniently forgotten. Williams is an adequate back-up, possibly past his best (though I'd like to see how he shapes up with Jagielka out of the picture).

I just can't get excited about these 'cutesy' centre-backs when what we need is a man. Keane looked good with Mee doing the hard graft, if he has to share the Brylcreme with his fellow centre-back, then I see that as a weak link in our team.

Quietly, I hope Tyas Browning comes good.

Tanvir Akram @17

Exactly. And it happens that a certain Michael Keane answers all your questions (fingers crossed for him). Won 152 headers last season, which was the most of all defenders. He's strong and has that bit of pace.

Paul @19. Would be great if he was faster, but yeah, he is the best option.

I'm with Gary on his description of a real centre half. How many goals do we lose a season by players turning their back on a shot hoping they don't get hurt.

Being a hard brave centre back willing to risk a sore one by blocking a shot on goal or a cross and being able to control and pass a ball out of defence don't have to be mutually exclusive.

I like Funes Mori, but sometimes he can get caught out of position by a clever run and wrong footed by a clever swerve.

Are there any young Chiellini's knocking around, who enjoy defending? Defenders should be rated primarily on how they defend and do the unglamourous defensive work, tracking runs, tackling, blocking, heading, composure, brave, simple passing etc. Not on whether they can take a ball out of defence John Stones style.