Maybe I am wrong and have simply been conditioned to disappointment on the transfer front after following Arsenal for so many years, but I was very worried to read today that Newcastle United have slapped a transfer fee of around £35 million on their Euro 2016 France international star Moussa Sissoko, according to an Evening Standard report.
The pacy and powerful attacking midfield star was never going to be cheap after a great summer tournament for the host nation but after Sissoko had made it clear that he was not up for a season in the second tier of English football and actually felt that Champions League football was a must for him I was not expecting such a high price tag.
Of course there is always the chance that the story is wrong or that this asking price is just a bit of opportunism on the part of the Magpies and the French star will complete a transfer for much less but at the minute we have to at least consider the possibility that the north east club will not sell for less.
The problem for Arsenal is that we are not the only big Premier League club being linked with the 26-year old, as apparently he could have the option of joining the exciting German coach Jurgen Klopp at Anfield with Liverpool and our north london rivals Tottenham are keen and they can also offer UCL football and the bright lights of London.
So maybe Arsene Wenger will have to pay the £35 million price if he wants this Frenchman in the Arsenal team. What do you think Gooners?
Bob.