Some more interesting sketchy claims...... supposedly Berta has been told that our transfer budget this summer will be a max of 40m + sales. Also seeing links to FA signings of Julian Brandt & Leon Goretzka. Both have been linked in the past with Goretzka supposedly considered this past Jan. As far as outgoings.... the sketchy rumors are that MO, Marti & MLS will be sold. The rumors around MO make sense to me. His play has been down and it kinda feels like he is being squeezed out of the lineup. Marti & MLS make less sense. I could see maybe if Marti is demanding too much money to reup his contract or if someone is throwing a huge offer at us for one of them.
Martinelli makes a lot of sense His contract is up in ‘27, and I don’t know if we started negotiations. MLS seems like media stirring up shyte A surprise one: Ethan and one of Cala or Gabriel M. Gabriel M is a leader, but i think Arteta wants to try Cala at CB more since his body probably can’t handle playing left back in the PL. Cala also has a higher ceiling at CB than Gabriel. But Cala has injury issues and isn’t reliable. Ethan may want to go elsewhere since Mad Max is coming. Either way, a lot of players gonna be sold this summer. Just get ready.
I can see both sides to this argument. While he isn't an academy product he has been with the organization for 6-7yrs and he loves the club. His work ethic and effort is phenomenal but the final product isn't there. If he was sold this summer he would be 100% profit for PSR & FFP. In my opinion we don't currently have a starting quality LW on the roster. Both are backup/rotation guys that bring different things to the team. I don't see us adding 2 LWs this summer and I think it makes more sense to keep Marti over Trossard from a "what they bring to the team" perspective, especially when you consider their age and mindset. Agree. Though I can't help but be concerned with his lack of playing time and lessor form right now. That's a tough one. If you are playing FM or FIFA, it would 1000% make sense to cash out but what would it mean in real life. Strong leader, one of the main guys on corners, seldom misses games. And while I like Cala and agree his ceiling is likely higher, I have serious concerns with his ability to stay on the field as much as Gabi. Personally, if I was committed to cashing out, I would take a hard look at Nico Schlotterbeck. He's 2-3 yrs younger, similar levels of athleticism, physicality, etc.... and will be on the last year of his current contract this summer. This will be an interesting one to watch too. They are 2-ish yrs apart and either could play CM/AM or W (I also wonder if Max could play at 9 if he continues to grow). Personally I think there is a world were they can co-exist. Not just on the same squad but on the field together. However, if Ethan is legitimately worried about Max, maybe he needs to be sold.
According to TransferMarkt there is an option year on Martinelli’s contract. Jesus will almost certainly be sold, his contract is also up in ‘27, but it doest include an option year. Trossard’s contract is also up at the end of next season and it doesn’t include an option either.
Kepa - Seldom plays. If you get a decent offer and/or he is asking to leave. White - 28 and unavailable most of the season Norgaard - 31 and barely plays. If go for a younger option and can get our money back. Jesus - 1 yr on his deal and won't play much if at all when both VG & Kai are healthy Trossard - 31, less willing to play a backup/rotation role and 1 yr on his deal Loanees - Anyone but Ethan that don't have options or aren't picked up MO - for the right price
Anyone that should be targeted among the potential relegation clubs? Anderson from Forest, obv. Mateus Mane at Wolves is a talented young player, only 18. He hasn't really played on the left but feel like he could. I can see Arteta wanting Jared Bowen as a Trossard replacement. He's 29 and not as productive as he used to be but he's been durable. sp*rs have a lot of players that at one time were interesting but the only one I'd take now is Archie Gray.
Can he play on the left though? His whole career has been on the right, and I think Arteta likes what Saka and Madueke provide on the right already. So unless you shift one of those two over to the LWF spot. Alternatively if Bowen can slot in at LWF he would be basically a like for like Trossard replacement. He is not productive this year because his team is garbage and his club is falling apart. The last two seasons 13g 10a and 16g 6a was when he had better players around him. But his stats this year have him around the same amount as Trossard and Madueke.
For Arsenal..... Wolves - Mane Burnley - no one of interest West Ham - Diouf & Fernandes Forest - Anderson, maybe Murillo spuds - Gray, Bergvall, Vuskovic, maybe van de Ven
van de Ven and Simons are two that I would have been interested in but not any more, van de Ven due to injury and Simons due to performance. Good call on Vuskovic, wasn't on my radar with his loan. Fernandes and Diouf might be a question of fit, talent is there.
Simons will rebound at his next club. I’m confident he’d be having a better (if less funny) season than Eze had we signed him. I’d take Pedro Porro since it seems like White’s body has given up on him.
Plus, Simons is too similar to a few players we already have. Why pay a bunch of money for another one. I'd guess there will be a massive bidding war for Anderson.
The idea of buying players off sp*rs is strange, normally they would refuse to do so but if they are relegated their financial situation will be so terrible they will have little choice. And buying a young player off them and watching that player thrive wearing red would be hilarious, hope it happens.
If he weren’t so injury-prone, I’d have considered Kulusevski. Always rated him, but don’t think he could be counted upon at the fee he’d likely carry.
The argument against Kulu (ignoring the injuries) is that we have numerous other players that play in the position(s) he plays. Where is he gonna get minutes with Saka, Noni, Ethan, Max, MO, Eze & Kai all able to play RCM/AM and/or RW? The guys I listed are about improving youth and/or depth in places we could use it.
Great arguments, and I agree. Note I used past tense for Kulu and wasn’t advocating for him now. I do like is chance-creating ability, makes great runs into space, and he hasn’t a great shot from outside the box. I always thought he’d fit in well here to change our style of attack.
I know that the below will likely not happen but, to me, it makes sense given current and past performance. The values for each player are from transfermarkt so they're approximations. I also don't know what impact there'd be on the wage structure. Out: Jesus - 25 (he'd do well in Serie A) Trossard - 20 Odegaard - 80 (he doesn't really seem to fit our style anymore and we should sell while he still has significant value) Martinelli - 50 (he looks to have peaked a while ago) White - 40 (can't stay healthy) Norgaard - 10 (isn't getting time) Viera - 20 (been pretty successful with Hamburg) Kiwior - 20 (This a done deal pretty much) Total: 265 In: Joaquin Seys - 20 (young very two-footed fullback than can play either side; he's done well against big teams in the CL) Samu Aghehowa - 55 (young, big and fast striker who would fit our system well) Barcola/Yildiz - 80 (need more talent on the LW) Mitoma - 25 (replacement for Trossard as back-up) Hincapie - 45 (done deal) Bergvall- 40 (if Spurs go down) Goreztka - free (replaces Norgaard as veteran backup CM) Brandt - free (Veteran backup in any attacing position) Total: 265
First of all, I don’t sell Odegaard. His skill set is better suited for some opponents than Eze’s No to Bergval, keeping Odegaard and with Max and Ethan coming back Arsenal don’t need another young attacking midfielder. No to Brandt, see Bergval, and Brandt doesn’t even have the advantage of being young. Maybe to Goreztka if Norgaard leaves, but I’d rather Arsenal look at a young #6, like 18 year old Bouaddi at Lille. edit: At 5’5” Seys isn’t exactly a prototypical Arteta FB.