Fab confirming most of that tweet.... 🚨🔴⚪️ Albert Sambi-Lokonga to Sevilla, here we go! Deal in place with Arsenal on loan move for the midfielder.Sevilla will cover his salary with €12m buy option clause also included in the deal.Medical already booked. pic.twitter.com/DFangrXN5k— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 11, 2024
Two more of last years loanees to sort (Patino and Tierney) and then Arsenal need to move on players from last season’s roster. By my count Arsenal currently have 23 over 21 players that were included on last season’s roster. If you add Calafiori that makes 24, so to add more than one new player they will need to move players out.
Last year's loanees are on the roster until they aren't. Current roster...... GK (3 HG, 0 Int) - Raya, Rams, Hein DF (2 HG, 7 Int) - Saliba, KT, White, Gabi, Timber, Kiwior, Tomi, Nuno, OZ MF (2 HG, 5 Int) - Partey, MO, ESR, Jorge, Vieira, Sambi, Rice FW (4 HG, 3 Int) - Saka, Jesus, Marti, Eddie, Trossard, Nelson, Havertz 26 total, 11 HG, 15 Int Technically have 2 Int slots but are 1 over 25 man total limit Possible Sale or Loan (5 HG, 7 Int) - Rams, Hein, KT, Kiwior, Nuno, OZ, Partey, ESR, Vieira, Sambi, Eddie, Nelson If all go..... - we will need to add 11 guys to our 25 man roster - we will have 9 Int slots - we will need 2 HG Nuno & Sambi leaving opens 2 Int but only 1 overall 25 man slot
🚨 Arsenal have 25% sell-on clause in Sevilla deal for Albert Sambi Lokonga. Applies if loan from #AFC turns permanent (€12m option) & midfielder sold in future. Fiorentina prepared higher bid but 24yo only wanted #SevillaFC. Medical Friday @TheAthleticFC https://t.co/g2jEMfquZi— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 11, 2024 The way that is worded and the fact that a sell-on is included still makes me think/wonder if there is a ay this becomes an obligation.
Arsenal already have two 18 year old goalkeepers in the academy who have just signed contracts this summer, Lucas Nygaard who was briefly discussed above and Arthur Okonkwo’s younger brother Brian. https://dailypost.ng/2024/07/06/proud-moment-okonkwo-after-signing-new-arsenal-contract/ So it’s possible they are looking at Setford as their #3.
I made some assumptions in my post, I assumed that Nuno and Sambi were gone, at least for the coming season, and those deals are all but confirmed. I also assumed Arsenal will offload Tierney by one means or another. I would be gobsmacked if he is on the roster on opening day. While Patino doesn’t turn 21 until October, I included him as one of the two loanees that need their futures resolved because he deserves as much. His status does not affect the roster situation.
🚨🔵⚪️ Nuno Tavares to Lazio, here we go! Verbal agreement on 5 year contract just reached, deal until June 2029.Nuno will travel this weekend for medical if all goes to plan with formal documents.🔴⚪️ Arsenal receive €9m, loan with mandatory buy clause + sell-on clause. pic.twitter.com/R1QC2hh8nh— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 12, 2024
I wasn't refuting your numbers/assumptions. I was basically curious myself so I went and listed out the roster as it stood per the Arsenal website. Interesting enough, Patino is not listed on their at all. I assume that is because he is technically a u21 and is likely on the chopping block.
McNicholas covers the GK situation in the Athletic today. Raya is #1, Joan Garcia is the targeted #2 but only if Ramsdale is sold. Currently not looking to loan Ramsdale and while Garcia has a release clause now at €25m due to promotion, they think he can be had for €15m - his old release clause - or less. Bentley is the target as 3rd choice. 3 young keepers (Okonkwu, Hillson and Ejeheri) left this summer, so Nygaard and Setford are to planned to replace them with Hein going on loan.
I'm a little iffy on Garcia based on the youtube videos I saw but I have seen some high praise of him in the last few weeks and I recall a couple bigger clubs in Spain being linked as well. He's also supposed to be bigger (6'3") than what I had previously seen (5'11"-6') online. I have a hard time seeing Rams on the roster next season. Don't think he will be content sitting as #2 and Arteta doesn't seem to trust him anymore. Ideally we would sell for our evaluation but given his limited playing time last season and the generally low demand, a loan or discounted fee with bonuses may be our only option.
Patino is an interesting case. Eighteen months ago Watts reported that his contract had been extended until 2025, which means Arsenal need to make a decision on him this summer, but there are currently no transfer rumors about him. Do Arsenal take him on tour to put him in the shop window?
absolutely. he goes on tour as an audition for 1st team or a transfer. still think there is a outside chance he could stick with us assuming he is able to impress Mikel while he is in the shop window.
So, What happens with the re-shuffled back line, assuming the Italian comes in to compete with Timber, Kiwior goes, Alessandar leaves. Does this mean we are rotating more, like Pep does at City??
Hopefully that’s the plan. With an expanded Champion’s League group stage and any kind of run in the domestic cups, Arteta can’t just run the same lineup out in every game. If he doesn’t rotate players will start breaking down.
Exactly, it's a nice change to what we're used to, so it seems crazy sometimes signing these players when it doesn't look like they'll be full time starters, but that's the level required to beat City. We were lucky we didn't break Saka this past season.
Dude! You go MIA for years, and then come back with some casual posts, and no explanation whatsoever? ps. Welcome back. I did a double and triple take when I saw your old avatar.
I'll believe it when I see it with Arteta rotating. Onana headed to Villa and Fofana to Milan, cross those options off the list. There was talk of Calafiori fitting the same general profile as Hato, Branthwaite and Murillo. Maybe that explains the Merino links, he fits the profile that Arteta wants, but hopefully the scouting department can find 2-3 alternatives that are younger and more skilled. Merino as a squad player is fine, I guess, but don't see how he takes this team to a higher level. Or maybe Merino is one of two midfield signings. Speaking of Calafiori, those rumors have mostly come from Italy and Ornstein has said that Arteta is higher on him than the rest of the Arsenal backroom staff who think the price is too high. Bologna just made a big sale with Zirkzee - a lot of that going to Bayern - and going into the UCL next season may be reluctant to sell another asset when half the fee goes to Basel. The longer this drags on, I wonder if Arsenal go back to the alternatives. Branthwaite isn't leaving Everton cheap with Onana being sold, but maybe Hato or Murillo.
Cant find the twitter link now but I saw something this morning claiming Southampton are expressing interest in Ramsdale.
Mikel Merino links are flying this morning. Turned 28 last month. Last year of his contract. Supposed asking price is 30m euro (TM has his value at 50m). Plays as a left 8 for Sociedad. Personally I like him alot but I'm not sure it is the right purchase given his age but I really like his size & skillsets.
Maybe they can't get rid of Partey? Keeping him and Jorginho as 6, and adding Merino as cover for Rice as left 8. When Partey gets hurt and Jorginho needs a rest, Merino and Rice can play alongside each other. Or if a buyer does come in for Partey later in the window, then they will buy a younger Jorginho to sign. I guess that's okay, but I don't see how it raises the ceiling for this squad.
It doesn’t. Merino is less progressive as a passer than Rice. Given their age and Partey’s I jury history, even if both stay, there is no guarantee that one will always be available to provide the metronome at the base of the midfield. Arsenal do need to sign a younger Partey/Jorginho. The problem is they are relative unicorns, Maybe Guimaraes is that player, but I think he’s more of an 8. Maybe Joao Neves is that player. The only problem is that both would cost the better part of £100m.
By the way, whatever happened to that "legal cloud" that was hanging over Partey's head? Has that been declared dead or is it still in some sort of holding pattern, poised to come back to haunt him/us?
Agree with all of this. Maybe go right back to Sociedad and activate Zubimendi's release clause? Surrounding him with familiar faces to convince him to leave Spain?
BREAKING: Arsenal reject bids from Fulham & Crystal Palace for forward Emile Smith Rowe.Discussions ongoing at both clubs over whether to go back in with improved offer. Smith Rowe wants to assess all options – regular first team football is primary motivation. #AFC #FFC #CPFC— Dharmesh Sheth (@skysports_sheth) July 15, 2024