Arsenal to challenge EPL rivals for Van Dijk to complete transfer splurge?

I think that most Arsenal fans are already quite pleasantly surprised by what Arsene Wenger and the club have been doing during the summer transfer window. The Frenchman has certainly impressed me, with the players he has signed so far and the ones he is reportedly trying to sign, as well as the way we have fought off the interest from the likes of Man City and Barcelona for key players Alexis Sanchez and Hector Bellerin.

It appears that the Gunners will sign another attacker at least, with Mahrez and Lemar strongly linked and from what he said at the press conference in Australia it is clear that the boss has not given up on a big money move for Monaco forward Kylian Mbappe.

It all seems to be on the attacking side of things, however, and even though the first signing made by Arsenal this summer was the versatile defender Sead Kolasinac, a lot of Gooners would like to see the defence bolstered with Mertesacker coming to the end and with concerns over the fitness of Laurent Koscielny.

So the Daily Star report which claims we are set to challenge other Premier KLeague big boys including Liverpool and Chelsea for the Dutch defensive star Virgil Van Dijk should come as music to our ears and could be the final piece in a very impressive summer of transfer action indeed.

Bob.

35 Comments

  1. CalcioMercato claims that Arsenal have tabled a whopping £132m [€150m] offer for Mbappe and a football agent appears to have confirmed the bid has gone in.

    Giovanni Branchini is a well known Italian agent who’s represented the likes of Ronaldo [the fat one], Demetrio Albertini and Rui Costa in the past and CalcioMercato say he’s one of the most well known intermediaries in football and an agent who’s well informed about top transfers in Europe.

        1. I cannot see Arsenal paying that for a one season kid. I would love it to be be true and hope it is but I just can’t see it.

          1. we have accumulated shi7 loads of cash over the past three years so taking a chance on a new super boy is worth it look at Neymar then again you could say look at Martial and Pogba they haven’t lived up to their price tag yet, but buying such a player Mbappe sends a msg that we are back in business and that msg is so important to recruit new supporters and top players also to attract the young and upper coming players to join us instead of the competition,

    1. Wenger on Mbappe and Lemar.

      “Nobody can say they are not interested in a player of that calibre, because he has such immense quality at 18 years of age. All the clubs are open and interested in him.

      “He’s a player who, when he gets up in the morning, can choose where he wants to go.”

      The Frenchman also confirmed that Mbappe’s Monaco team-mate Thomas Lemar is a player he is interested in, although talk of a move being close is nothing but speculation.

      On Lemar: “That’s all speculation at the moment, there is nothing really concrete about any signing,” Wenger added. “He’s a player that we have looked at, but the rest is only speculation.”

      1. Kaveh Solhekol @SkyKaveh
        Arsenal want to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain but we’re told “chances of him signing new deal are virtually nil”. No new talks planned at present
        2:44 PM · Jul 11, 2017

    2. though i would love to get mbappe, but the amount scares me. God forbid,, if he turns out like martial then do we have the financial clout to overcome the debacle

  2. Dunno if Wenger really prioritize the purchase of a defender even if we know that Gibbs, Debuchy & Jenkinson are likely gone.
    That being said there is some question marks for the next 2 years and going into the season.How many games will Kos have to sit out with his recurring achille’s issue or clumsy challenges?
    Which version of Mustafi are we going to get? He looked a worldbeater early on but than faded with bad outings and injuries in the 2nd half of the season.
    Finally Per is also retiring after this season. Does Wenger trust his english duo enough in Holding and Chambers? Holding looks great and seem to have a huge career in front of him but for Chambers it isn’t as straightforward.
    Going for Van Djik could be a sound investment be it in a back 3 or back 4 and an insurance policy. There would be no drop off when or if Kos can’t play. Clearly he is a better player than Mustafi. As for our 2 englishmen there could be loans on the cards or Chambers could still on a hot seat. I would personnally keep Holding and maybe use Chambers in a deal for Van Djik. Him and Kos in the hearth of the defense and your looking at one of the best defensive partnership in the league. Hopefully the shopping spree wouldn’t stop there.

  3. Bayern have signed James Rodriguez on a 2 year loan deal with the option to make the deal permanent at the end of the contract. There goes Cazorla”s replacement….

    1. You still have Goretzka. He is know Rodriguez but he is younger. One of the highest rated player in Germany (and we know how well and how much they produce quality players) and with a little over a year left wouldn’t cost much knowing that Wilshere and Cazorla are out and with German contingent plenty at Arsenal could be tempted.
      He could be the replacement we’re looking for to replace Cazorla and much more. Clearly more complete than Elneny or Coquelin for example who if either of Ramsey or Xhaka gets injured would create trouble for us.

  4. There’s a worry about the defenders who took part in international duties as soon as the season ended not being ready for the start of the new season. As shown in the past, Wenger likes to give these players extra rest. Hence the sudden lookout for another defender in the market.

  5. All the talk of top players coming in means top wage bills. Doesn’t the football league have rules on wage bills for clubs. Players in players out. After all Arsenal is an acccountant.

    1. Yes you are right
      I forgot what it’s called
      I think something like like “Premier League Wage Control Rules”
      Lacazette making £200,000 per week
      Kolsanic making £150,000 per week and
      Ozil’s increase to around £300,000 per week surely means we need to sell or release more players. Well one would think so

  6. A quality DM/CM, is far more important than a new CB right now. It would be beyond stupid to rely on Ramsey/Wilshere as Santi’s replacement.

    1. I agree
      Cazorla and Wilshere are injury prone
      Ramsey gets injured a lot too
      Last season Coquelin and Ramsey did not perform well.
      Wenger tells Xhaka not to tackle lol

      It should be a priority to get a very good quality CM. Either defensive CM or box 2 box who is both creative and good defensively

      We definitely need another CM imo

      1. I’ve just heard Rumours of Carvalho, Goretzka and Brozovic. But I think Wenger may have too much confidence in Ramsey, Coquelin and Xhaka that he may not get A CM. I hope he does get one

  7. What we need is a box to box player who defends very well.I hope Wenger goes for Renato Sanches,Mario Lemina or Jakub Jankto.That should be our utmost priority and not all these attackers.They can come after we’ve done the most important thing.If Wenger won’t sign then he had better promote a quality CM from the academy because if we pair two dm’s this season again we’re in for havoc.Come next season we will regret not signing a CM.

  8. DO not see a new CB coming, Holding , Chambers and Beilik are aging nicely, BFG has one more year, Kos has about 2-3 years and Gab/MUST will be around, so NO VAN DIJK.

    The area that needs freshening up is MIDFIELD, Elneny and Ramsay are box to box midfielders, Xhaka i consider to be a deep creative midfielder with DM duties, Coq is not a box to box or deep creative mid fielder, but just a DM and must only be used as such( that is why coq/caz was good together). The area i think needs freshen up is the deep creative midfielder/DM duties, athough Xhaka did not look too bad in the last few games of the season, an individual with quicker feet would be appreciated. This will assist arsenal especially when our Lazy creative player(OZIL) is bogged down.

    HENCE the hunt for LEMAR, quick feet and varies passes long or short, has a good burst of speed over short distances and congested areas. and tackles

  9. V.V.D. would be excellent business. Doubtful we are after him and I doubt we’d pay the necessary fee, around 60m. He sounds like he wanted Liv, ex teammates and not having to move too far might be the reasons.

      1. We’re not in for him, this is one rumour I am almost certain is BS. We have 7 CBs to choose from. Mert Kos Must Hold Biel Cham Gab, that’s not even including Monreal. The midland clubs are the ones on the lookout for CBs, and top European clubs might also be. Liv have ex teammates of his and I think it would not be a major adjustment for him to move to that club. I did write a longer comment in the beginning but decided to shorten it so to spare people the details.

  10. I think we can get Van Dijk but he’s injury currently might be difficult to get. Remeber Mustafi was solid before he got injured, so we don’t know want to expect from him also. He’s a very good and solid Centre back. I will put Chambers and Gibbs plus about £35+ million for Van Dijk. if i had the Watchest and i were Wenger if Mbappe is coming i will get him and Fabinho or Lemar and Fabinho
    my line up would be
    Mbappe/Lemar——Lacazete—–Sanchez
    ————Ozil———
    —–Xhaka———Fahinho
    Kolasoniac—Kos/mustafi—-van dijk—-bellerin
    cech
    4.2.1.3

    ——Lacazette——
    Lemar/Sanchez——ozil——Mbappe/Sanchez
    kolasonaic——xhaka———–fabinho
    Kos——–Van dijk——mustafi
    cech
    3.6.1 …Fabihno normaly plays as RB,so he will cover the right back. Xhaka will sit deep as a proper DM. Kolasoniac will also play as LB and join the deffence. Ozil on a free Role. Sanchez and Mbappe joins Lacazette in the attack

  11. I don’t think Wenger or Arsenal will sign Van Dijk this Window, We Sead Kolasinaic which we can convert to a Center Back.(CB). we could play Sead, Koscenlny, Mustafi in a 3 man defence, He’s strong Pacey also. Mustafi was converted from a RB to a CB. Same as alot of defenders i can’t mention. Monreal can retain is position in a 3 man defence. or Lemar can play in the position if we secure him.
    Lacazette
    Sanchez……Ozil
    Lemar….Ox/Ramsey….Xhaka…Bellerin/ox
    Kolasiniac……Koscenly….Mustafi

  12. Don’t get excited ? I don’t think you’ll like it ? We won’t buy van dijk? He’s too expensive ?

  13. Sorry. Forget about Van Dijk and make do of what we have. I’m sure wenger will not buy any defender again, not this window.

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