Arsenal’s rumour roundup by Sean O’Hara
Guys as we are all aware Arsenal have a budget of around £70m to spend in Emery’s 1st transfer window plus whatever money we generate from player sales. As we are Arsenal we will be looking for a few gems to snatch up & maybe a few freebies to add to whatever we spend. This is all gossip we read everyday although just an update really;
Lichsteiner – RB cover for Bellerin who just took the no 2 jersey for this season isn’t going anywhere. He stagnated under Wenger & with no competition for his position its been too easy for him – though i believe he has played far too many games, rotation is needed, he will show more of what he can do under Unai. Free Transfer!
Sokratis – New Exp CB to fill the void left by Per & Koss’ Injury for next 6 months. Him & Boss will be the exp in the CB role. If Dortmund want €18m, I would be happy with that piece of business. All thats needed is another young talented CB to be groomed & that looks like;
Söyüncû – 21yrs of age, fully starting Turkey international already, a two footed ball playing CB who has speed, aggression & is good in the air. He reminds me of a young Carlos Puyol. €35m, though add-ons means it could cost more in the long run. His previous club get 25% of a future transfer. Worth a gamble? I believe so, can’t be any worse than what we have had for years. Mavraponas & Soyuncu can battle out for the youth side of the CB roles. Add Chambers for the defensive utility man & we could be set.
Monreal (this will more than likely be his last season with us) & Kolasinac for LB battle this season. Lichsteiner & Monreal will be replaced next summer as we can’t do it all in one transfer window – as we don’t have loads of money to spend. Experience is what we lack in our defensive line & Lichsteiner has that in abundance, even if its just for one season.
A new GK is being seriously looked at to be recruited in the summer, though I have no clue as to who that may be? Leno from Leverkusen for €22m apparently is one of the names in the hat. Out of this maybe scenario we possibly could spend €18m Sokratis, €35m Söyüncü & €22 Leno – €75m, basically al our budget if this happened.
With all this happening it leaves a few defensive player’s futures in serious doubt in Ospina, Mustafi, Jenkinson & Holding though a loan for the latter is a high possibility with the other 3 adding some money to our transfer kitty as we still need a solid DM & that will cost a lot if its a big name. How much would we get from these player sales? €5m, €18m, €4m? Holding loaned out! Roughly €27m if were lucky.
Beside this CDM we have a few things to discuss in Ramsey, Wilshere & Xhaka. Elneny just took the no 4 jersey, just signed a new deal & is our midfield utility man to play in various positions, so Mo is going nowhere unless we get a silly bid from someone for him which is very unlikely. Wilshere has put it out there “A new chapter”. It looks like he’s off but keeping Ramsey in vital, just give him Jack’s wages on top of his own & we havn’t spent anything. If he doesn’t sign then we have to sell as Aaron is coming into last year of his contract unfortunately.
Xhaka needs a paragraph to himself here. This is not a defensive minded player but can spray a ball across the pitch & has a monster of a shot on him (restricted by Wenger to not shoot from distance). I don’t know what his position is to be honest, same with Jack, though if we keep Ramsey & Niles steps up, then selling Xhaka is a real possibility this summer. What would we really get for him, £20-£24m at best in my opinion. We may have to as we also need a winger buy again. We may sell Perez along with him to add more money. No point in having players in the squad who are not going to make a difference.
Left footed winger is the desired position we need in Attacking sense. There are plenty of names out there but i think that’ll be the last signing we make in the window, if we even do – it’s Arsenal don’t forget. I will throw this one out there & it has got real momentum behind it for a few reasons;
Demebele LOAN from Barcelona with Option to Buy!
1. Greizmann is on his way to the Camp Nou so he wont get any playing time, though he is rated highly, in front of Messi, Suarez & Greizmann.
2. Aubameyang & Himself formed such a strong bond that he has even stated his wish to play with him again, Auba is 29 so this could be last chance to play with him.
3. Our new director is from Barca, he has good ties with them, as Arsenal do too though we have had our moments with the catalans.
4. It will cost us nothing bar his wages until maybe next summer but by then we will have money again to upgrade our frontline.
it makes sense & the boy could develop under Emery/ArsenalFC.
This is all ifs, buts and what-ifs but this is what silly season is all about, & we have a new light at the end of a long dark tunnel in Unai Emery coming in to shake up this squad along with the new team set up in Ivan, Sven & Raul.
Sean O’Hara