You may be right. My perspective was that 2500+ minutes at another club would be better than 1500 minutes for us. However, I can see the value of continued work with Arteta. I could see that. I mentioned previously that I don't see Xhaka leaving at this point unless it is his idea. I think Arteta trusts him. You and Carlos may be correct. I was working under the assumption that the opportunity for 1000+ extra minutes would be better for his development. Could easily see a scenario where he sticks around.
Yeah, release clause was very reasonable it was the extra 40-50m (combined) you have to pay to his agent and dad plus the high salary. Wondering how his agent dying will impact the extortion fees.
Tbf you’re paying a lot of that stuff for the other players that “cost” 50M too. Maybe not as much as that but still a lot. I mean, what a bargain compared to paying Spurs 120M for Kane. As a club they dodged a massive landmine on that Kane deal IMO
I see lokonga as an 8. He’s shown some good bursts forward and is a decent passer I’m happy with elneney and Partey as the 6
Italian media is claiming that the Sporting Director from Bologna is coming to London tomorrow to speak with several teams about 3 of his players. One of those meetings is supposedly with Arsenal in regards to Aaron Hickey.
Yes it was a shop window deal that BVB specialise in - essentially a JV with Raiola where BVB and Raola share the transfer fee when a mega-bucks team comes calling. This is how BVB get these elite talents to sign for them in the first place, so makes no sense to cry over it when the scheme worked exactly as planned.
They could have sold him for over 100m last summer but player and club decided on the extra year, especially seeing as how BVB sold Sancho in that "shop window".
That's the whole point - the club, agent and player share the transfer booty when the mega rich EPL comes calling. That was how BVB signed him on such low money in the first place. Raiola basically specialised in a form of TPO - it's absurd.
Arsenal have Gabriel Jesus on top of their list after new direct contacts on player side. He’s expected to leave Manchester City after Haaland deal, no direct contacts between clubs yet. 🇧🇷 #AFCYouri Tielemans is part of the list too, highly rated - UCL football could be key.— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 11, 2022
Had they signed Kane, they wouldn't have gone for Haaland surely? But now they have Haaland, they will bump up the release clause because its pretty well known that Haaland wants to play in Spain at some point as well. So City will likely ask Real or Barca for about 100mil minimum in 3 or 4 years time when they come calling.
These are all the reasons why clubs shouldn't sign Raiola clients. Now he's dead, we have to see what happens with this defacto TPO style behaviour I really don't understand why players themselves do this. What value did he add to Pogba, Haaland etc? Yet he rakes off tens of millions. It's completely corrupt.
Reiss Nelson will discuss with Mikel Arteta to understand his Arsenal future soon. Feyenoord want to keep him on loan for one more season, as they can’t afford permanent move. 🔴 #AFCThere’s interest from English clubs to buy Nelson but priority will be to understand AFC plans.— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 11, 2022
I'm very, very skeptical of a deal being done for that little. If that's all City want, more clubs will be interested, which will drive a bidding war. So then if the price ends up doubling, is Jesus still the striker Arsenal need to make up a 20 point gap in the table to the leaders? Source in Brazil says City want €60m for Jesus but might be willing to accept €50m: https://www.si.com/soccer/mancheste...gabriel-jesus-ahead-of-summer-transfer-window Mentions Juve and Milan being interested. Romano tweeted this morning that Jesus' agent says 6 other clubs are interested in addition to Arsenal.
€50m is about £41.5m, £6.5m more than the £35m number that’s been floating around. If Gabriel pushes to leave he might be available for the lower number.
I guess by default I assumed they were referencing the same denomination as the 30-35mm figure bandied about earlier. I'm also reacting to the figure in comparison to what they just paid for Haaland.
Haaland's was a release clause so it's apples and oranges? Surprisingly low release clause for the boy wonder!
Nelson was looking good as his season progressed. I would hope we either bring him back because we will need depth next year with the league cup, FA Cup, European commitments and the league. I feel like he would be behind Saka and Martinelli on either wing depending on where they want to develop him, but he would get in ahead of Pepe who might even get sold. If we see him as a long term prospect but not ready yet, send him back on loan. Feel like we would be dumb selling him or putting a purchase clause in a loan it might bite us like how the Mavropanos deal is going to cost us at least $10 mil.