We all do, but he just isn't very good...

evoh wrote:
Super Mario wrote:

After some searching, it seems Gotze makes less than Ribery. Most sources have it that Gotze got a 7m euro annual salary, and Ribery 10m euro annual salary (both after tax).

Find that hard to believe. That would put £30 mil on their annual base wage bill just for those two players, and they are running a bill around united atm.

i find very little that's reported about wages in european football believable. it's not public info like it is here in america. and newspaper reporting is hardly reliable so there is room for a lot of embellishment.

5 days later

@JanAageFjortoft

Arsenal and Bayern Munich tried to buy Lars Bender, but Bayer have said no.
But I understand his BuyOutClause is valid AFTER this season

When asked how much the buyout clause is

@JanAageFjortoft

@sdrewfootball @honigstein Under 15 mill Euro

Works out to just under £13mill at today's rate, we have been linked again so can see us keeping tabs on this situation if Wenger still sees him as a replacement.

He mentions Man Utd are also very interested in signing him.

We are linked with Bayern's Xerdan Shaqiri. He is a quite versatile midfielder who can play through the middle or on the flanks. I have always been impressed by him even though he has had limited chances at Bayern since joining them.
With Gotze back to full fitness and Thiago scheduled to come back soon, I think his first team opportunites will be limited further.
Worth a go ?

Shaqiri is brilliant, but Guardiola likes him alot.

Shaqiri got very little play time previously. Not surprising tho. But we are more than a little overloaded when it comes to midfielders.

Think we'll defo get a forward in jan. we had very few options today.

Need another runner in the front three.

Reus

Pirlo could be joining Tottenham next summer according to Sky Sports.

Rumours flying about Benzema being available in January for around £17mill, I can't see it myself unless they get a big replacement in who isn't CL cup tied. Only one player I can think of....

Think the papers are just making this up though

He is out of contract in 2015 so I would expect him to leave in the summer.

The Madrid rags are saying they will go for Suarez and offload the Benz .. not usre if Pool will want to sell in January though.

If they are in contention for a top 4 spot during that time it will be hard to convince them to let him go, R.Madrid probably aren't gonna go much higher than our £40mill offer and out of principle they wouldn't let him go. Saying that I reckon if our offer had come in again at close to £50mill that might of changed their mind! Liverpool might promise him he can leave in the summer but not sure if Suarez will fall for that one again!

Also rumours of R.Madrid being interested in Falcao & Aguero, with the added benefit to piss off their neighbours by signing one of them!

Clrnc wrote:

Shaqiri is brilliant, but Guardiola likes him alot.

No where good enough for Bayern IMO.

He caught my eye few seasons ago after his performance against United, but having watched him about a dozen times over the years, I'm convinced he doesn't have it in him to be a regular at a club like Bayern or ours.

Clubs like Spurs are his level IMO.

Would be fucking awesome if we buy Benzema and finance their Suarez deal.

Don't understand what Yall see in Benzema personally

He looks worse than Giroud at the moment.

Agreed.
Here comes another Biggus inspired controversy- I don't think we need another striker and I don't think Wenger will buy one in January.
When we get Podolski and Walcott back it will be impossible to fit everyone in, I think he will see them as Maximus' replacements if (God forbid) he gets injured.

If you regard all of Podolski, Walcott and Giroud as properly part of the first team squad, I'd agree there isn't room for a new striker.

But though all three have merits, as a trio they're below par for a title challenge. We need to sign a bona fide star and let natural selection have reign.