1. Ruiz hasnt officially signed. Fulham pushed it forward as a Fait accompli. 2. Dempsey still not sold. 3. Arsenal making offers for same amount for Arteta. 4. Sounds to me like FFC may have overplayed the hand and Arsenal now want Clint for 7 to 8, and know FFC cant close Ruiz without the funds... wild speculation #47
Its a joke. I've been poking fun at Roma the entire transfer window for being linked to every American. I really couldn't care less what there intentions are/were. At the end of the day, they signed a lot of guys this window, but no Americans (unless we get a move at the deadline - I always thought Jones would be a decent target for them. He has the talent to play at that level and wouldn't take one of those coveted 2 non-Euro roster spots).
Meh, dude seems to have one foot out the door. I think he wants a new challenge. Can't blame him. From soccernet chat: 5:54 Comment From Jeff Arteta and Mertesacker ... slow and slower.
Duncan Castles of the Sunday Times tweets: "Confirmed that Arsenal have bid for Mikel Arteta. Am told that Wenger will not increase his offer. Everton's call. #afc #efc" From BBC live transfer updates: And BBC Sport's David Ornstein tells me that Arteta is now the only player the Gunners are pursuing before the window shut. How do you feel about that, Gunners fans?
Okay. But do be aware they have made at least initial approaches for Chandler, Jones, Dempsey, Bradley and quite possibly Donovan after going through a big scouting process this summer. It's not like they haven't tried.
4X, right? http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/f/fulham/6249567.stm IMVHO, he's gone in the winter window if he doesn't leave today. I want him to get his chance to play in the CL...it's been a great run at Fulham, so it's a little bittersweet, but (seemingly) greener pastures await.
I'm skeptical that Dempsey is Arsenal quality...but Arteta??? Wow. He's Spanish, and a midfielder, I guess Arsene sees him as the new Fabregas!!!! Shit, if Arsenal wants to improve the team with an Everton midfielder, Ancient Tim Cahill is a better buy. Aye yi yi, if Arsenal sign Arteta, that's "probable cause" for Wenger having lost the plot.
On a somewhat related note, I am pleased that nobody went to Roma. It's a good club, but the idea of a chairman-mandated attempt to get an American just to have an American makes me nervous. I want our players to go to clubs where they are truly wanted for their abilities. Their passport shouldn't have anything to do with it. It's a recipe for trouble.
I hate to say it but it looks like the chances of Dempsey going to Arsenal isn't likely at all now. The rumor mills are saying Arteta and less likely Bennayoun are heading to Arsenal now. Not terrible to see him at Fulham for another couple seasons but I'm sure he'll be a bit disheartened after this. Let's hope I'm wrong and a surprise move comes for him.
Don't see Clint as a real Arsenal type player -- very different approach, much more direct, individualistic in his play, physical, etc. Wenger is obsessed with statistical analysis, and I'm not sure that Clint's sprint speed, shot and pass ratios tick all the boxes, especially with a couple of genre-defying forwards already at the club: Van Persie, Arshavin, Gervinho. Maybe, Clint would be an excellent player for Arsenal precisely because he's not the typical Wenger signing. Clint is driven, a lead-by-example kind of attacker with a very determined personality. I'm just not convinced that Arsenal's interest is real. What woudn't shock me is if Arsenal sign Arteta from Everton for roughly £8-10m (direct cash, no performance 'options'), then a possible move by Clint to Everton might not be totally unthinkable. Everton have really lacked an offensive leader, especially on the left and since Pienaar bailed. They haven't been able to spend because of club debt obligations and stagnant credit; but Clint is very much a Moyes kind of player, and Everton have shown some interest in him before. There's also talk about Blackburn being interested in Yakubu. There's also talk out of Spain that Drenthe is on their radar, after his Real/Hercules situation has festered. Clearly, he would tick a few boxes (could he maybe be brought back in more centrally, as he was for the Dutch u21 team?). Also, Fulham are rumored to be interested in Everton striker Jermaine Beckford, for like £3.5m.
Arteta is ALWAYS hurt. I dont understand that one. Also, last second leaks with new players while in talks for another could also be a negatiation tactic. Though that would depend on how much fulham want to sell Dempsey, which I dont think they're eager to do. If Dempsey wants to make a move, this is the year to do it. He's only getting older.
of course paperwork may be in before we hear about stuff. Italian window is closed now...Italian teams can sell but they are done buying.
I hope Dempsey gets the absolute f*** out of Fulham, and they get relegated, to spite all of their English fans that don't appreciate him/talk constant crap about him on the Fulham message boards.
Honestly does not seem to me to have ever been anything to this rumour, beyond possibly Arsenal enquiring about his price.No-oneon this side of the pond seems to be taking this rumour seriously. Compare that to when Liverpool were interested in Dempsey not so long ago, that was more than an unsubstantiated rumour. I'd say the chances of Dempsey moving is pretty much nil now, unless there's been a move in the offing that the lid has been kept so tightly on we've barely heard a squeak about it.
Dempsey is staying at Fulham , he was always to slow to fit in at Arsenal's style of play. He's needed at Fulham and they suit his style.
wait you mean I can't believe everything I read on the last day of the window? BBC should at least sync up their bullshit.
Something could still go down, but it certainly wont be to Arsenal. Shame for Clint, probably would have gotten a well-deserved raise.
I think Rosicky is a better CM than Arteta, but they would play in different positions. Arteta would most likely play in Fabregas' old role which is a little deeper than the playmaker (Rosicky).