Baleba to Man Utd done? 🚨 Konsa to Arsenal & Watkins Saudi bombshell | Rio Reacts

0:04Yes, guys, welcome back to Rio Reacts. And you know what? The season is here, man. We are days away, man. Days away. I cannot wait. Fans are going bananas. I've been with loads of kids at Football Escapes, as you can see here today, all talking about a new season, new signings. And you know what? There are high stakes movements across the Premier League as we speak. Every day there seems to be another name banded about. Someone going, some maybe not, some maybe are. It's crazy. And you know what? today. Some massive moments. I think Aston Villa, what is going on in that football club? Where are they going?

0:37They're facing a potential squad raid. They're just getting it. People are taking what they want. Other than John McGinn, all of their experience seems like it's going to be gone in this window. Esri Konza, Oli Watkins, Morgan Rodgers, Telemans. There's four players there. If they go, I don't know how they're going to do next season, where they're going to be. and they've got Champions League football. It's going to be crazy. But you know what? Man United, my old team, are showing genuine recruitment patience this year and they're being decisive. They're going in. You know what I mean? Tielemans, quick work done.

1:11Carlos Baleba now they're talking about closing in on. Last year would have been 100 mil. Very, very, very, very much different price tag this year. So you know what? It is crazy. I look at it and I go, well, Man United before this day, they've always been going, oh, we're going to go and get the biggest one in the market. Someone like an Anderson who's gone City for£130 plus million. We wouldn't have allowed that to go. We would have gone and got it. Busted the whole transfer budget on him. I think it's been sensible. I've seen a lot of moaning. I've seen a lot of, not a lot, I've seen a few people moaning, a few parts of the fan base saying, oh, we should have, could have, would have.

1:46There was Tonali. There was Fernandez. There was Anderson. I can't believe it. If you look at the three players we've gone and got for the amount of money we've spent, I think it's 48 million on Santos. I think it's 35 million on Tielemans, which is a steal. And if the price they're saying is right, it's 60 million for Baleba. Guys, wow, 150 million pounds, roughly. There's teams paying that for one player. And we're saying we're going to get that for three new midfielders in our team. We've lost Casemiro. Ugarte's injured. And now we've got a midfield of Kobimenu. Santos Mason Mount Tielemann and now we're going to say Belaber if he gets added I mean listen guys if he'd said that to me before the window I wouldn't have been too displeased with that I'm telling you I think that the youth I looked at something I got my phone out earlier we've got a young squad now got some experience in there with the Brunos with the likes of Harry Maguire, Martinez, De Litt, Masraoui, Dalo.

3:01There's good experience in there. But then there's the dynamism. There's the youngsters. There's the young potential. There's the young ones that are ready. All 20, 21, 19 years old, 22. It's beautiful. The future looks bright. It looks good. And that is a massive shift in the way that this recruitment has been done. It's been played out over the last three or four windows. I think it's been, in that sense, when you look at it for the future of the football club, there's been a massive rebuild to be done from structure, from the amount of money being paid for players. I think the wage structure now looks in better condition than it ever was.

3:39And I think there's been a big rebuild that's gone on here really, really quietly and effectively. And you look at Balaba, just look at the Balaba deal on the right now, guys. I think that's smart recruitment. I was saying over a year ago, when his name was being banned at Abad, I would have gone and got him. And it stays the same today. It's just that we didn't take him. And I think that affected him. I think that interest and that, it destabilised him a little bit. And he probably didn't deal with it as well as he would have liked, okay? But he's 22 years old. You don't write kids off who've showed potential, who've showed huge strides where you go, I can see a player in there.

4:11And one bad month, one bad six months, one bad season doesn't change a player's fortune totally. there's something in there, there's a player in there, and now it's about, if we do go and get him, how do we extract greatness out of that young player? And listen, I repeat, Brighton quoted around 100 million last year. Man United stood firm and said, no, we're going to be patient, we're going to wait, and they avoided, I think, paying over the odds. And that discipline, I think, is key. Now, I look at him from a tactical perspective. I think he brings that ability to get around the pitch, that physical prowess I think his his dual power I think is great his press resistance and I think more so than most of the others probably alongside Kobe with the ball he can beat the press with the ball his recovery pace is phenomenal but his vertical ball progression with the ball especially I think is an asset to this team now and he can do it at real pace and power and I think he complements every other one of those midfielders that he's coming into the team with whoever he plays with he compliments them and I think you look at someone like Uri Tielemans who's like a tempo and a passing man Ticker keeps it all moving he's dynamism his physicality absolutely kind of compliments that defensive screen of someone like Santos in vertical passing I think again he brings something else and the same with Komi Manu he brings other elements and I think all of these midfielders same with Mason Mount they all bring something different now the manager's got to find a way and the best way to get all these guys in the team at different times, right?

5:49They're all going to complement each other and find that the best, the best kind of three or four. And you add Bruno to that as well. And I think you look at my United's first team squad now, the average age is 25.9 years old. It's a great mix of youth and experience. That blend is huge. And I think you look at someone like Balaiber, you look past just playing. He's reunited with Lenny Yorra, former teammate at Lille. links up with the Cameroon international teammate Brian Mbumo and that kind of shared roots relationships that were there before, that just accelerates that room that change room integration and definitely will help with tactical cohesion and integration as well and I think I've got to look at this now and look at my United's window and go, do you know what if it finished here, I wouldn't be too displeased, I'd still want another one I still wouldn't mind seeing a left back maybe in to come and help with Luke Shaw.

6:48If there was an experienced number nine you could get in the market, you'd come and help Sesko, I wouldn't be too displeased with that either. But I wouldn't be upset here now if this was it. And I think I'm going into the season and saying there's enough bodies in that midfield now if the Labour signs that I'd be happy with that. I want Mason Mount to get fit. I saw some nice stuff in pre-season that led me to believe that he could be a new signing almost. Rashford staying a new signing. Add those guys in there in midfield. Three new midfielders. I think it's a real... You know what? It's been a sensible win, though, again.

7:22All these people should have blown 130 on Anderson or whatever. Whether Anderson's good enough or not, 130, if that's going to blow our budget to go and get more depth into this squad, you can't do it. You just can't do that. So all these people that are shouting for those type of players are idiots who don't understand the business of football. And you can take that, you can repurpose that and shove it to them people again when they're saying that. We should have gone and spent 130 mil. Shut up, you idiots. You've got to build a squad here that's going to be able to go and play and perform over multiple competitions.

7:58Now, we're not playing one game a week this season. We need the squad depth to be able to deal with all those games, high-pressure situations, expectations of jumps again. we've got to finish in the Champions League again. That's the minimum. Last year, I was expecting a six to eight finish. This year, Champions League now. And you've won a trophy with that. Right, man, we've got loads still to come right on this pod, but we'll be back shortly after this. Aston Villa getting hurt again, man. One of their biggest, most consistent players. England International. Esri Concer to Arsenal, they're saying.

8:33And I think this is a magnificent signing. A player when he's prime, who knows exactly who he is and what he is. There's no thrills about him. He's a solid, really, really, really good Premier League defender. And it says that Arsenal are advancing talks with Konza from Aston Villa. So Ornstein, I saw David Ornstein, a friend of the channel, saying 51 million pounds plus add-ons. I think that's an absolute steal in today's market. 28 years old, minimum four or five years of really, really solid, dependable service. He provides vital cover in two areas, centre half and right back. You've got Ben White, who seems fit now, but has had injuries.

9:11In the right-back area, you've got Timbers, who hasn't been able to stay fit as well. William Saliba's injury concerns as well. He's going to be great cover. Someone can come in there and just play straight away. No questions asked. And that versatility at the top level, the reliability as well, both right-back and centre-half, absolute steal. So well done, Arsenal. If you go and get him, again, that just reinforces why, I think, Arsenal are going to go and win the league again because it's a sensible and very good signing. Another one coming out of Aston Villa. Aston Villa fans must be pulling their hair out.

9:44Get in the comments, guys, and let us know how you're feeling because this game is going to be a good window for you guys. Oli Watkins, they're saying going to Saudi. How can you deny someone like Oli Watkins going to Saudi at the age he is? I think he's 30 years old, 31 years old, going to get a payday like he's never seen before. 30 years old he is. You can't turn down that generational financial offer that he's going to get from Saudi Arabia. I wouldn't do it. he's got to go I think if they're there on the table he's got to go but how do Aston Villa replace 20 plus goals a season he's been the man he's been their main guy I'll tell you who might be thinking about doing that and it might be just the perfect time for him is Brian Maggio has anyone seen this kid 17 years old built like a mini Drogba or Emu Heskey throwing centre-arse and defenders around against Paris Saint-Germain he had three or four great chances scored the most difficult one the kid's going to be a problem this year if you don't know about him get to know guys.

10:35Brian Maggio will be sitting there licking his lips if Olly Watkins leaves Aston Villa. But like you say guys, Villa are risking, well they've lost Morgan Rodgers, inspirational player, leader in Tielemans, Olly Watkins another leader and 20 goals a season man and Esri Konza, one of the most dependable defenders in the league. That's the heartbeat of that team snatched out of it. What the hell is Unai Emery going to do this season? I mean, it remains to be seen, but if anyone can pull something out of the hat, Unai Emery, with his experience and what he's done in the game, can. But very, very difficult window, I think, and very difficult pill to swallow this for Uston Villa on the back of huge success in recent years.

11:18So guys, what do you think, man? What are you thinking, guys? Where are you? Where are you, Evie Club? Are you happy with your clubs? Work, United fans. Does Belayba complete our midfield rebuild rebuild alongside Tielemans and Santos. Do you think that's the right one, guys? Do you think that's it? Is that the right name for you? Is that the right price? Are the clubs with equipment doing what you want? Arsenal fans, is Konza the best defensive reinforcement you guys could sign right now? Cover for right back and centre-half. Villa fans, how worried are you guys about the core of the team being absolutely ripped apart?

11:52Targets everywhere, on everyone's back, wearing a Villa shirt. There's a target, it seems. and guys make sure all this community please guys we've had a great summer new season is here make sure you drop your thoughts in the comments we're always looking we're always replying hit like and make sure guys you tell a friend and make sure you yourself subscribe take care season's here let's go

12:31Thank you.

12:59Thank you.