The Silly Season is as tight as ever. Pre-season is up and running, the squads are settling in together. But who will Arsenal sign before the end of the transfer window? The rumours are abounding, but repeating themselves more and more. Three rumours on each list should suffice.
This is my "most likely" list - or rather "least surprising" list - of today:
3. Loïc Remy: Arsenal aren't really in the market for a striker, I should think, despite Eduardo leaving. Unquestionably talented, the Nice striker looks to join West Ham or Liverpool for a fee in the region of £12m-14m. Still, there's a report saying a mystery, top club are late entrants in the race for Remy. And our French scout Gilles Grimandi has recommended Remy perhaps more than any other target from the French leagues, it's been said. While not an actual probable rumour, one to watch.
2. Pape Diakhaté: honestly, I'm letting Diakhaté be a representative for the entire central defender community. Arsenal are looking to bring in another potential partner for Thomas Vermaelen, but different reports point at different targets. We've been consistently linked with the Saint-Étienne/Dynamo Kiyv defender since May, in fact most links with defenders have lasted throughout the summer. But Brede Hangeland has said he won't leave Fulham, and Everton have priced Phil Jagielka out of contention. Per Mertesacker won't be allowed to leave Werder Bremen, and Madjid Bougherra was perhaps never a viable alternative. This leaves Diakhaté almost as a default option.
1. Mark Schwarzer: reported to have been offered a player/coach role for the next few seasons. The Australian international will be a number 1 choice until Vito Mannone or Wojcech Szczesny are seen as mature and ready enough. Different reports say that Fulham have been unwilling to sell for less than $4m, which is a princely sum for a 37-year-old. Anyway, Fulham are without a manager, and may still lose out on first choice Martin Jol from Ajax. No deal will be made until a manager is in place. But the haggling will continue.
And here is the "silliest" rumour list:
3. Luis Suarez: the Uruguay striker is hot property, so hot that Ajax has put his price as high as £30m. That's what a club can do when the Premier League comes knocking. Arsenal aren't THAT desperate after strikers.
2. Mesut Özil: after not signing Joe Cole (losing out on him or turning him down, depending on different reports), most Gooners and media agree that Arsenal really have enough attacking midfielders. Trying to compete in the £20m bracket with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Barcelona and any other club his agent is trying to put in the mix is futile.
1. Keisuke Honda: the same logic applies to the Japanese star. Turning to Honda, whose market value has soared since the World Cup and already earns massive amounts with Roman Abramovich's CSKA Moscow just isn't logical. There just aren't enough T-shirt customers in the world.
What and who do you think is realistic to expect? Feel free to comment.
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The problem is that despite all the rumors, Wenger ends not buying major players. Our success in the transfer market depends on what other teams do, rather than what we do. Case in point, ManU selling Ronaldo last year was probably the reason why we stuck close to them for most of the season...
ReplyDeleteI think Wenger is the wariest of the Premier League managers when it comes to value for money. He's been burned before - Jeffers and Richard Wright spring to mind.
ReplyDeleteThat's why I believe he'll never go for the likes of Özil or Honda AFTER they've broken through.
Thanks for the comment.