I didn't see a transfer rumours thread so I just decided to start my own thread here about the presence of an Arsenal scout at the Lecce-Siena match this last weekend. Apparently, they are interested in bidding for Lecce's Javier Chevanton after the season. I don't follow Arsenal too closely, so I'm not too sure about this, but do they even really have a need up front? I was under the impression that they were pretty well set. Would this just be a move to provide some depth on the attack? He is currently the 4th leading scorerer in Serie A and since there is only one other club that is showing serious interest in him (Milan) he might come at a decent price. I'm just wondering what the thoughts are here on buying a striker. Will he even get that much of a chance to play?
Probably depends on how Aliadiere looks when he's fully fit and whether they decide to play Reyes up front next year. Remember that they're more than likely losing Wiltord and Kanu this summer, so depth up front, which was a bit of a problem earlier in the year when injuries and the African Nations Cup hit at the same time, might be the one thing Arsene takes a look at in the summer.
I'm not familiar with the player in question, but it will be interesting to see how things shape up for next season up front. Obviously Henry and Reyes are locks. Aliadiere, assuming healthy, is also surely part of the plan. After that: DB10, Kanu, Jeffers and Wiltord are all currently under contract, but how many will play a significant role, if any, with the team next year? So, let's say we go into the next season with Titi, Reyes and Aliadiere. I'm cool with that, those three are legit and we get scoring from the wings as well. But, if, God forbid, you have a problem with Henry (injury, suspension, just plain fatigue and Euro 2004) then you are left with Reyes and Aliadiere (who hasn't yet proven he can stay healthy, let alone perform cosistently at the highest level). I'd say looking at another legit striker is certainly prudent.
Along these lines, has anyone heard any more Samuel Eto rumours? Arsenal was supposedly fairly high on him at one point.
How old is this Chevanton, and what is his style? I could see Arsene going after a striker, depending on what goes on with Dennis and Kanu this summer. Wiltord is gone, so if one of Bergkamp or Kanu don't return, surely we would need one more forward with some experience, no?
I heard read that Eto had signed a precontract with the club and would be coming this summer. However and don't laugh or insult me because I am just merely trying to provide a possible answer to a prevous posters question... I read that on bigsoccer which its intials could stand for BS you know. But it was in the winter transfer window thread(my source) on this board a month or two ago.
We most definately not going for Eto'o anymore if we were at all. If we had been serious about signing him we would have signed him instead of Reyes. It would have to be one or the other due to the price tag Mallorca have put on Eto'o's head.
Chevanton is a quick striker who is deadly on freekicks. He singlehandedly took on AC Milan's defence in their 1-1 draw and he scored Lecce's only goal from a nice free kick. He's only in his early 20's and he definately has potential. One problem is that he might not be able to qualify for a work permit because he's Uruguayan. I also heard Arsenal are interested in Lecce's other striker Bujinov(sp?). He's only 18 and he's Chevanton's partner. It would be nice to see both of them play for Arsenal as they have a pretty good partnership and it would make Arsenal's strike force even more dangerous. The problem is that I think Chevanton is going to be expensive. Even though there's not much noise about interest in him (surprisingly), I think more teams will be aware of him as he is tearing it up in Serie A.
a quick striker that is deadly on free kicks...sounds like our henry. i could see wenger going after his partner though. he may be going to watch bujinov and people assume he's looking at chevanton. it would be like wenger to pull something against what people think wouldn't it? plus, an 18 year old fits into wenger's seemingly prefered age range for new prospects. so we have a very young, raw, relatively unknown talent that is partners with what sounds like an henry-style player...to me it sounds like wenger could be watching bujinov and the media and whoever have singled out the wrong target...
I think that DB10 will get the 1 year extension he's looking for. PSG have publicly dropped their interest in SW11 because of his exorbitant wage demands (suprise sur freakin prise!) and there's no other official interest in him. He's clearly surplus to requirements at Highbury, but, I could see AW giving him a 1 year extention and a pay cut if nobody else wants him! Birmingham and Everton are interested in Jeffers, but, if he's got any contract left he'll stay on our books because we pay him too much! Is it Fulham, or Charlton, who've expressed interest in Kanu? There's also a couple of Spanish clubs tracking him. If it's Fulham he might well go. Otherwise my guess is, he'll take a pay cut and stay. If DB10 and Kanu stay on the books then I would expect to see Le Boss continuing to buy young, but, I thought Quincy Owusu-Abeyie looked like quite a handful in the Worthless Cup. So do we need another young striker with Quincy coming up behind JA? Also is Bentley seen as an upcoming Midfielder or forward? More right back coverage and perhaps another young center back (particularly if Senderos continues with glass everything) would be my best guess. We're pretty much 3 deep in every other position!