It was reported among the many Arsenal transfer rumours last week that the Premier League club Crystal Palace put in a transfer bid of £16 million in an attempt to sign our versatile young defender Calum Chambers, after the England international enjoyed an impressive season on loan with Middlesborough.
That was the same money that Arsenal paid Southampton for him three years ago and with the way that transfer fees are rising it is no surprise that we said no. I hope that is not the only reason though and we could soon find out just how much Arsene Wenger rates the graduate of the Saints academy because the Daily Mail reports that Palace are going to try again.
The report says that the Gunners are holding out for £20 million and so the transfer could happen soon, but if it does I will not be too happy unless the boss invests this money straight back into the transfer market to bring in a top class defender to replace him.
At 22-years old Chambers is still very young for a defender and with him playing at both right back and central defence he could be the ideal sort of player for our new three at the back system. Can Arsenal really afford to sell him without a replacement when we have fitness concerns over Koscielny and Mertesacker and so few options that we have seen Elneny used during pre-season?
Bob.
Keep him, there’s a reason he started ahead of rob Holding in the England U21 side at the euros, its cause he’s a quality player. If there’s any centre back we should be letting go it’s Gabriel.
Hes not progressed at a rate I thought he would and also he’s played regularly in a team that just got relegated. He’s not solely responsible for that but it means he is by no means the finished article.
Rob Holding has progressed far quicker and still isnt perhaps premier league winning quality. It would be better for him to play regularly for Palace for three seasons than occasionally for us. We then have a buy back clause and its happy days for us if he comes through.
He’s young versatile and English, let him play in the Europa and FA cup, except you are getting van dijk an established upgrade..
keep him, next season BFG is leaving and The Boss is on the wrong side of football age and also he has persistent injury concerns. I will like to see VVD signed up, he is a decent defender, but what I like most about him is his range of passing and with Arsenal likely to build from the back his passes are priceless. He can create a one on one for Lacca from defence. He can also ping the ball to either wings with ease.
We have other transfer targets in defence , but all are outside the premier league, that’s why I prefer VVD because he has premier league experience. Other defenders may be very good in other leagues but come to premier league and sdtryggle eg Otamendi, Paulista, Pique, Demechelis.
So please I will like VVD signed up, as well as a replacement for cazorla and Lemar, then we are good to go.
I say keep him. Keep him.
Can we go all out to get Lemar. Never watch him before but doing that now on Youtube I want him quick.
Squeeze out 80m from someone for Sanchez and get that strong left leg of Lemar and I will be since Sanchez doesn’t want to stay.
I say sell him..he didn’t so much has at Borough at season and I think personal the reason he started a head if holding was because he was much fitter and played more regular last season….If we can get Van Dijk I would be very happy but if we don’t I say we should look at Jonathan Tah from Beyer Leverkusen..he is 20 ( I think) solid..good with tackles had a bit of a good mean streak (not afraid of players and will get in their faces) fast and can lay of some quality pass from the back…he would be a great investment for the next 2 years taken of Kosh role in the back 3…Jonathan Tah- future world class defender
“he didn’t so much has at Burough at season”
He literally played every match he was fit for after he got into the starting lineup…
I’d like to keep him but We may need to sell him to help fund new players. £20 million is a lot and £4 million more than we paid for him.
I don’t see us getting Van Dijk. I think Liverpool will outbid us, if we do bid at all
Sell Chambers for £20 millions but insert a buy back clause. Get Manolas from Roma who got 2 years left in his contract.
But Goretzka and Lemar first!
van Dyke is NOT a great defender for our system. Take a hint AW is looking to have a playmaking defender so El Nino is going nowhere. He is the Boss’s ultimate replacement.
I’m German and I know Leon Goretzka. He is maybe the best midfielder in the Bundesliga. Much better than Renato Sanches.
Lets Just Try Him for One More Season and See cos i Think its a Bit too Early to Judge…
People saying he played in a team that relagated should remember Middlesborough had a good defensive record. It was scoring goals got them in trouble and relagated. Gabriel looked a lot better and more composed in the 3 man defence and I don’t care if chambers started for the under 21s ahead of holding. Holding still looks a far better player and should start next to kos and mustafi he looks like he has the making of a classic no nonsense old type defender where his main objective is defend defend defend and not look slick passing the ball out of the back line
The Euro alone going to be taxing so a large squad is needed including the under 21s, I would hope to use Mert with two of our younger CBs in the euros, (Beilik, Holding and Chambers), would be a great experience, with BFG passing on the knowledge and they should be enough to win games. Also allowing the rest of the squad to be fresh for the EPL..
So we need chambers for the long hard season ahead
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If Arsenal sign van Dijk they’ll win d league.