Little better but not quite there - 2020 Summer Transfer Thread

Arteta telling the media that he has a few transfer plans for the "summer" window based on how we finish (EL, CL, nothing) and outgoing players (both a cash and roster spot situation).

We have 6 players (Ozil, Sokratis, Mustafi, Luiz, PEA & Saka) that will currently go into the window with 1 yr remaining on their contract and it has been reported that we are actively trying to resign just 2 (Saka & PEA) of them.

Current breakdown based on media speculation and my general opinions...

GK - Leno & Martinez

I don't see us doing anything significant at GK this window. Leno is a rock and Martinez has performed well when he has gotten minutes. I'd bet find some competition for Martinez by either promoting from the academy or finding a cheap deal.

LB - Tierney & Kolasinac (maybe Saka)

Hard to say what will happen here. Technically we could head into next season with this same duo. Ideally I would like to see Kola sold and another LB brought in to compete with Tierney. There are rumors of Kurzawa being signed as a FA and given our likely lower funds, I think that is the most likely scenario at this point.

RB - Bellerin & AMN

RB is a bit of a mess. Bellerin hasn't bounced back from his injury and/or doesn't really fit what Arteta wants. There has been tons of speculation that we may sell him but will atleast bring in a RB to provide him competition. This was a prime opportunity for AMN to get more playing time, yet it didn't happen. There is a ton of speculation that he wants to be a MF and has been very direct with Arteta about his desires. If true, I wouldn't be surprised if AMN is sold or loaned this window. Cedric was brought in in Jan but is stil recovering from an injury. He will be available on a free and could be added to the roster permanently. Only other links I have seen the last several months have been Thomas Meunier (free transfer) and Jonjoe Kenny (Everton RB on loan at Schalke). Both would make sense either as competition for Bellerin or in an effort to rebuild the position.

CB - Luiz, Mari, Sokratis, Mustafi, Holding, Chambers, Mavropanos & Saliba

TONS of links to CBs (Upamecano, Boateng, Lovren, Smalling, N'Dicka, Umtiti, Unai Nunez, etc...) in the next window. However as it has been mentioned previously on this thread, it is hard to see us adding another until several are moved. We are rumored to be making the Mari deal permanent and it is widely speculated that Sokratis & Mustafi will be sold. I would also assume that Mavropanos will be sold or loaned. He looked good in his short stint in Germany but didn't show enough to justify keeping him on the roster for next season. That leaves us with Luiz, Mari, Holding, Chambers & Saliba. Still can't see us adding another CB unless atleast one of those 5 are gone. Technically we could let Mari go back, though he has been solid for us so far and the buy option is cheap. Luiz will be 32/33 and on his last year. It would make sense to move him. Holding isn't having a great season but he isn't 100% after last season's injury. Won't be able to move Chambers given his injury this season and Saliba won't be sent out as he shows tons of promise and needs to be integrated into the team. So that means that the only way we add a 1st team CB is if one of Luiz, Mari or Holding is let go in addition to Sokratis, Mustafi & Mavropanos. I really doubt we move 4 CB this window.

DM - Xhaka, Torreira & Guenduozi

This is the area of the MF where we are hurting the most. And honestly I think we could deal with the current CB options if we had a proper DM to help cover them. Xhaka really isn't a DM. He plays deep but can't defend. Torreira can defend but he is so small that he ends up getting pushed around by opposing MF & FW. Duezy has potential but he has to work out some kinks and improve before we can rely on him as first choice. I keep seeing rumors that we are prioritizing DM this window but the only specific link I've seen is Marc Roca and Thomas Partey. Partey looks like he could resign with Atletico so that is one less option. If I had my way I would sell Xhaka and would consider offers for Torreira. I like Roca as an option but after that I am not sure. There are rumors that David Alaba is looking to leave Bayern. I would be really tempted to offer him a shot play MF as a vet option in the #6 role.

CM - ???

Ceballos is the closest we have to a CM (box-2-box) but he is on loan and seems to prefer to go back to Spain. We are rumored to be interested in Clorentin Tolisso who is being pushed out at Bayern. Other than that the options seem limited at the moment. Torreira & Duezy could likely fill in some here but neither is currently a good enough passer to be ideal.

AM - Ozil, Willock & ESR

Ozil is on the last year of his contract. I think we would love to get rid of him but he seems content to ride things out and leave on a free transfer. Willock shows some potential but could really use a loan next season. ESR could be a decent option to take Willock's minutes. His future looks to be at AM but he is versatile enough to play W as well. Seen 4 links so far... Marcel Sabitzer, Nebil Fekir, Carlos Soler & Orkan Kokcu. All could be great options for different reasons but I don;t see us making a move on them unless we change our MF setup (4-3-3- rather than 4-2-3-1) and use 1-2 of these guys as a LCM/RCM #8/10 type MF. However that requires us to first get a proper #6.

W - Pepe, Martinelli, Saka, Nelson & ESR

We've been linked with a number of wings for the next window but unless someone is moved (rumors of considering a large transfer for Martinelli or ESR back on loan) or played in a different role (ESR at AM or Saka at LB/AM) I just don't see us spending any money on the wing.

ST - PEA, Laca, Nketiah

This will be the most interesting to watch. PEA will have one year remaining. We are rumored to be trying to resign but he is said to want Ozil money. Despite his contributions, I would be very surprised if we were willing to give anyone that high a salary until we are CL regulars again. So chances are PEA is sold. I've seen links to Real, Barca, Inter, Liverpool and ManU. Laca has had a rough season but I could see him staying if PEA is sold because the alternative is having to replace him with a vet ST. With the deficiencies in MF I think it would make more sense to run with Laca, Nketiah and possibly a younger ST (Edouard) next season and hope that an improved MF can get the best from Lacazette. If we somehow resign PEA, I think there is a good chance Laca is sold and PEA becomes the starter in the middle vs LW where he has played most of the season. Nketiah has had some flashes. Far from a finished product but I think Arteta keeps him around for FA Cup and spark off the bench. ST rumors the last few months have been Jovic, Volland, Milik and Edouard. I could see Edouard being bought to take the spot vacated by PEA or Laca but I highly doubt the others are truly in play unless both PEA & Laca are sold.

 

You could be right RE CB. I could see us adding a 6th if we know Chambers is gonna be out for awhile. We can afford the roster spot given the number of U21s that are contributing.

I see your point on Bellerin. I guess the question is whether anyone comes with an offer good enough for Arteta to be willing to start over at RB.

RE CM... I honestly think we need to rebuild the entire MF in order to help fix the defence. If we are gonna rebuild, you might as well change up to 4-3-3 as well. Adding the right guys could help with the replacement of PEA's production as well.

I know I said that I doubted we shop for a wing. However, if we sell PEA and start working Martinelli at ST more than W, I could see us trying to add a scoring W to help replace some of PEA's production.

 

I've seen rumors for a couple months now that Bellerin was interested in playing in Italy one day and he has some affinity for Milan due to his love of fashion. Most recently I've heard that Inter wants to put in a bid this summer.

RE Torriera, Napoli was said to be interested last summer and they are assumed to still be interested due to replacing Ancelloti with Torriera's former manager. Recently I've read that AC Milan wants to make a run at him but the rumored bid was something like 35m and I have a hard time seeing us let him go for that.

Inter, Napoli and possible Milan have a few players I would be interested in if we would need to do player swaps to make the transfers more palatable but I'm not sure they would be willing to let go the guys that interest me.

 

We could quickly fix the RB position by signing Meunier on a free and buying someone young like Aarons or Kenny. That gives us a solid vet (for free) and an young understudy and may ultimately be a net gain depending on how much cash you get for Bellerin.

At this point, if you are replacing PEA, you either need to be looking for a W (since he played the vast majority there) or decide that you are happy with the young guys and use that cash to rebuild the MF. Either option can help replace his production by adding goal scorers or players that make our current guys (specifically Laca & Pepe) more effective.

 

My concern with Hector is that he doesn't really fit the scheme. Assuming we are moving towards a system like Pep runs, the importance of a FB with lightening speed is smaller and the emphasis on good defense & passing is significant. Bellerin has never been a great defender but he brought a good bit to table with his speed and crossing in the offensive 3rd. As an inverted FB his weaknesses will be exposed.

 

I'd be more inclined to loan him as well but if the offer is big enough I could see us cashing out to fund other moves. Really depends on how we view the likelihood that he could come good as a MF.

I tend to agree. Would like us to properly address the position. Just think there are more pressing needs at the moment so a cheap bandaid fix may be needed this window.

 

Over the last couple of days I've been seeing a number of links to RB Achraf Hakimi whose 2 yr loan at Dortmund is coming to an end.

Also seeing some intensified links to Thomas Partey claiming that we have agreed to meet his release clause, meaning it is up to him whether he wants to stay at Atletico or move to London.

 

Snagging him could ultimately be the end to both. Lucas doesn't seem to like England/London so he may be gone regardless but getting a guy like Partey allows us to run a 4-3-3 with a #6 and 2 #8/10 players similar to City. If we switched to that formation, Xhaka has no place. His best bet is that we stay in a 4-2-3-1 and get him a partner that allows him less defensive responsibility (which Partey would). The question there is whether his passing is good enough to be an effective DLP? To me, he hasn't shown that in some time.

Where did you see about Bellerin wanting to be MF? I've not heard that.

 

I honestly don't see Xhaka on the roster next season unless we have no means to replace him. We would be better off right now replacing him with an 18yo that is a better fit.

I hate to say it but I would be ok selling Lucas for the right price as well. I like his potential I just don't see where his skillset fits into the system. He fits much better as a #6 in the Italian league. Napoli & Milan are rumored to be interested. Napoli has a bit of a glut at MF but I'm sure they will sell 1-2 this summer and their new manager is Torriera's former manager from Sampdoria. Don't think Milan can afford him so we would probably have to wait for them to sell someone else or agree a player swap.