Klaus wrote:

Arteta isn't weak.

Not weak, but lack the presence and stature in our midfield.

Wilshere wrote:

That's right. And as I've said earlier, take a look at these two scenarios:

• Atletico force us to activate the clause and we give Costa 48m. After taxes Atletico receives 32m.

• We give Atletico a 34m bid. No taxes, they receive 34m.

In these scenarios, Atletico has no reason to not accept the 34m bid, by forcing us to activate the clause, they'd just lose 2m.

not that simple. they know that they are due 32m but we have to pay 48m in a buyout scenario. where the final figure lies between those two numbers in a straight transfer scenario will depend on a lot of things

• market dynamics, what other players are worth (32m is cheap for a top striker)
• the relationship between Atletico and the player
• the strength of negotiators on both sides
• our ability to sweeten the deal in other ways (loan signings, exhibition games)
• how quickly we pay the consideration (e.g., immediately or over 3 years)
• other rivals (having Chelsea around will take the price up)
• etc

It will depend on other rivals mostly, but my point being that Atletico wouldn't gain anything by making us activate the clause. 34 was just a random number, and as you say, the final figure will be between 32 and 48.

With agents fee and the "tax bonus" we would pay to athletico a deal for coast would be close to £40 mil.

Worth it on the back of this season, but not entirely sold that he would do better here than mandzucic. Though I like how much of a cunt he is to opponents, we miss that bite.