Loyalty for sale

Among the countless (not really, as they're counted here) rumours of Arsenal summer signings, a few sticks out. One, rather surprisingly, is Cesc Fábregas. Born at La Masia, raised at Arsenal, only to return to Barcelona as the prodigal son two years ago after more than a year of will-he-won't-he media whining. For a shedload of cash and a number of transfer clauses, if reports are to be believed.

The clause about Arsenal having first refusal is the most widely reported these last few weeks, as the most insistent rumours are about a transfer to Manchester United, not to his former club in the Premier League. But that clause - if it exists - would mean that any Arsenal bid of £25m would be accepted. Or £35m. Or was it €30m? Or any bid matching Manchester United's, or whatever. Details, details, right?

Barcelona are steadfastly telling the world that their no. 4 is not for sale. As if that would dampen expectations anywhere.

But do not believe for one minute that Cesc, if Manchester United and Arsenal both have bids accepted, will take some kind of moral high ground (in Gooners' eyes) or be swayed by sentiment towards Arsenal or Arsène Wenger. He's a professional footballer. What matters are his paychecks and his hopes of winning trophies. As any bookie or professional gambler would tell you, the odds are leaning Manchester United's way on both those bets.

And don't think that any clause in any contract will matter one bit if Cesc wants to move to Old Trafford instead of Drayton Park. He will decide for himself.

We couldn't condemn Cesc for that. I couldn't argue with Robin van Persie's move last year, either, only the way he went about getting it.

And besides, how can Gooners look Cesc in the eye and demand more loyalty from him, another club's player, than from their own perceptions of players?

Signing Luis Suárez was a rumoured option for Arsenal three summers ago, when he was still at Ajax and his disciplinary record wasn't public domain in the UK. After numerous handballs and dives, as well as affray (!) on the field of play, his status among English football fans in general is so low that he's openly spoken about leaving Liverpool for another league.

But hey, wait, did those guys in London just say "Champions League football"?

Fans are as fickle as players. Biting, diving and cheating will all be forgiven and forgotten - by most Gooners, anyway - if Suárez starts banging in goals for the Arsenal. No moral high ground will be left.

As for Wayne Rooney, a player bound for Chelsea if there ever was one, if he for some reason went to Arsenal instead...? Gooners would just end up reprising the embarrassing turnaround that Manchester United supporters made for van Persie. Months after singing about him raping women, they condemned Arsenal fans for doing the very same.

It's not just the singing that's shameful.

Loyalty is for sale. Not just the players'. Remember that when the targets of the summer choose their new employers, and their new fans.