Are we better or worse, WTF is going on - Summer 2021 transfer thread.

It’s hard to find fault with his passing in his stats. Using the FBref comparison tool, I compared Xhaka, Locatelli, Neves, Zakaria and Kamara. They all complete 88% (Neves) to 93% (Locatelli) of their passes. Kamara complete 91% of his passes, including 91% of both his short and medium range passes and 72% of his long range pass. Xhaka had the best long range pass completion numbers at 83%, everyone else was between 71 and 75%. But the most interesting number may be the progressive passing distance per 90 minutes. Locatelli topped this category at 421 meters per 90 minutes, followed by Xhaka at 366 meters 90, Kamara at 293 meters per 90, Neves close behind at 290 meters per 90, and Zakaria at 175 meters per 90. Locatelli and Xhaka’s passing stats, particularly their progressive passing stats are a cut above, but Kamara’s compare favorably with Neves’ stats and are better than Zakaria’s.

 

I don’t know enough about Kamara to comment, but Neves and Zakaria are pants.

 

Neves is Xhaka 2.0. I really want Arsenal to change the way they play through the midfield and it’s not going to happen with Neves. He like Xhaka will sit and ping balls down the field. I’m hoping the United rumors are true.

 

Ha, I threw out £35m for Odegaard yesterday. Assuming Wheatley is right, this would seem to have a high probability of happening.

£35m for Odegaard, £50m for White, £17m for Lokonga, and £8m for Tavares, that's £110m total. Assuming the Ramsdale rumors are legit, that's up to £140m or so and still need to buy a CM.

Tifo did a Neves to United video. Maybe I can speak something else into existence: Camavinga to Arsenal for £25m.

 

I am still skeptical Odegaard being available. There has been a lot of smoke around that in the last few days, but it doesn't really make sense to let him go when Modric turns 36 in September, and they are basically going to sign no one other Mbappe (if that becomes a possibility).

We can't be strung along until deadline day, then end up loaning Coutinho because he is the only one available. Give Odegaard's entourage and Madrid a week to get back to us with a final decision, then we need to move on. Our first league game is in 2 weeks.

 

Doesn't seem insane. But probably dependent on RM getting Mbappe and having to raise outgoing funds to cover that, and also depending on how greedy RM needs to be in the Odegaard sale. Something tells me if this happens it happens very very late.

 

It's goal, but that would be good business if true. Don't see how it works without Xhaka leaving.

 

I think Xhaka is gone, just a matter of whether Roma or Arsenal are the ones to blink.

I guess I had the wrong Lyon midfielder not named Aouar. Defensively, much more of a tackler than an interceptor. Really good long passing distribution and ball progression but not a goal scorer.

Bruno Guimarães - 2020-2021 Ligue 1 compared to midfileders Crab Cake pic.twitter.com/fY9H95H9Qt

— Scott Willis (@scottjwillis) July 29, 2021

 

I believe he was on Arsenal’s radar a couple of seasons ago.

 

As crazy as time dilation works right now, it was last season. He joined them January 2020 which is when we were looking at him. They got him for 20M Euros. Good bit of business for them.

 

Feels like football manager in real life this

 

Bruno is an interesting target for sure. Can't say I know anything about him beyond these statistical looks.

He's at least in the same age profile as our other targets, and should cost a lot less than either Neves or Locatelli.

This is a clear differentiation between Arteta and Pep though. While Pep collects these 8/10 hybrids, Arteta is very committed to having a deeplying playmaker in his side.

 

Legit offer? Or bluffing to get Roma to pay up? Giving Xhaka a new contract would be a huge mistake.

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 | #Arsenal are preparing to offer Granit Xhaka a new contract this summer after Roma failed to make a suitable bid for the midfielder | @amylawrence71 #AFChttps://t.co/YTJXF4PRWm

— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) July 30, 2021