Coombs wrote:

I'd say that's pretty cheap all things considered.

Yes, but not for us. Wenger would presumably be reluctant to pay that much.

5 days later

Mirror reporting Villa want £40m for him.

Obviously they won't get that much, but still.

I think I have developed a warped (or correct depending on your point of view) view on transfer fees. I expect players at 15 million or above to be amazing largely because our manager never buys above that and says a player is worth that only if they are "super quality". I think this is a good thing as us fans have developed the ability to sense good bargains and player value. And Benteke is good value at below £20m.

6 days later

Aston Villa in talks for Danish striker Nicklas Helenius. Replacement for Arsenal bound Benteke?

Kurtz wrote:

Aston Villa in talks for Danish striker Nicklas Helenius. Replacement for Arsenal bound Benteke?

I'd guess Bent myself.

Definitely Benteke. They'll cash in on him this summer because they need the money.

Helenius, from what I can tell, is a classic centreforward. Tall as fuck and physically strong. Seems to have excellent technique too for a lad his size. I think he'd do well in Premier League. I've only seen him a few times but he looks like what people hoped Bendtner would turn into.

marv3llous wrote:
Kurtz wrote:

Aston Villa in talks for Danish striker Nicklas Helenius. Replacement for Arsenal bound Benteke?

I'd guess Bent myself.

You are right. Bent is moving to Newcastle.

However good he is, do you think Arsene may avoid due to his, slightly worrying, previous record of forcing his way out of clubs?

a month later

Only Gone and banged in a transfer request.

They're not that loaded that they can afford another signing in and around £20m mark are they?

They bid 35m for moutinho last summer, and have spent 17m on paulinho at a time where they are planning to build a new stadium

They've put in a bid for hulk so maybe they won't get Benteke

Bad news for us, because I don't think we should buy him, and that we wouldn't buy him. Which means it will be Spurs.

I'd be perfectly happy with Bentekkers leading our line if Madrid keep dicking us around.

He will be expensive.

Having signed Sanogo who is just 2 years younger and has similar attributes, I don't think we will even be in the reckoning for Benteke, irrespective of the cost.