Gazza M wrote:

doesn't locatelli move the needle about as much as neves all things considered? partey has already lost a season adapting, I'd rather we didn't sign someone from serie a who will take a season to bed in

According to the data analysis posted elsewhere both Locatelli and Neves are better than Xhaka - both at what he does do well enough, let alone what he doesn't do.

IMO the first question regards to any of the transfer links atm is price. Anything over 30m seems to be the cut-off point atm if we want to sign more that 2-3 players, which we should be doing in terms of the rebuild needed. That said if we still fail to sign alternatives that are fit for purpose and within budget, then I'd not be surprised to see us look to go back after a few higher cost targets in priority areas.

If you watch Poca, you see a player who influences games. The ball likes to travel through him and he moves it quickly. And he’s constantly active across the entire pitch. Never resting. The other thing that stands out is how good he is in the air as well. He will add a much needed physicality to our team while also possessing the technical ability on the ball.

Xhaka + Guendouzi should fund most of this transfer, so I can't see that money is the reason to hold back. Must be something else (Edu's incompetence comes to mind).

BWooley wrote:

Xhaka + Guendouzi should fund most of this transfer, so I can't see that money is the reason to hold back. Must be something else (Edu's incompetence comes to mind).

I suspect they're holding tight to see if they can negotiate a deal for the likes of MO before they spend anything of what little money they have.

jones wrote:

Get Saul to find someone who'll hit the ground running with Partey. Had a shit season which is the only reason he might be available, he signed a ridiculous eight or nine year contract some four years ago. He's as driven as any player in Europe, think it'll have hurt him Atletico won the title with him not being a nailed on starter. Still only 26 and with a point to prove after missing out on the Euros

Imagine

 
Good choice. Superb player. 

The deal is not so sure to happen now, the sun are saying we are moving for Aaron Ramsdale. But ... it's the Sun.

Ramsdale is another good option too. Class keeper

Ramsdales good but he'd be very expensive.

If we go for a keeper who can’t kick, then go for Pope.

If we want to play out from the back, then we have to make sure to land Onana

Clrnc wrote:

Nah don't rate Ramsdale at all. Bang average. Was laughing at SHU who got him and promptly got relegated, when Villa got Martinez for similar price who is 5 times the keeper. Rather Sam Jonstone but he can't kick a ball for nuts.

Yeah haven't seen too many games but he's never impressed me, caught a bunch of poor games of his too. Laughed at Sheffield mostly for selling him for next to nothing and buying him back for literally 20 times the amount three years later.

We have had a 40 million £ opening bid turned down for Ben White.

Source - BBC, Guardian and Sky Sports

A lot will be talking about twisted priorities at this news, but I'm actually very hopeful that this means we'll do a madness on a few occasions this summer.

goon wrote:

A lot will be talking about twisted priorities at this news, but I'm actually very hopeful that this means we'll do a madness on a few occasions this summer.

That's the hope for me too, but I'm scared it's just the priorities thing.

Just seems bit crazy to me. Unless we are spending something like 250m this window, feel like it could be utilized better elsewhere

goon wrote:

A lot will be talking about twisted priorities at this news, but I'm actually very hopeful that this means we'll do a madness on a few occasions this summer.

Yes, I think so too and to be be fair we haven't been shy to spend recently. It's all about choices and ultimately proving that the choices were right. 

goon wrote:

A lot will be talking about twisted priorities at this news, but I'm actually very hopeful that this means we'll do a madness on a few occasions this summer.

We have Gabriel who's looked promising and who's also very young, Saliba who's been impressive out on loan, Mari who looked reliable enough and Chambers and Holding who are not bad and English I guess. Why do we see serious links with two very young centre backs first?

I don't think timing is always an indicator of priorities, Brighton and Wight might be far more willing to get this done than other targets, so it naturally comes to a head quicker.

That's my hope anyway. Reports from most Arsenal journalists, including ones who've maintained for a long time that we're after another RCB, have indicated that we're after players in half a dozen positions and none of them have thrown in the usual caveats that you hear about selling first or limited funds.

You're not bidding 40m at the start of the window because they're "more willing" come on. There are three scenarios I can think of where this makes sense

• we're looking to spend ridiculous money this summer (which you hope but is not very likely)
• Arteta thinks centre back is a priority (which you think is not the case but is likely)
• we don't know what the fuck we're doing, there's no plan and agents are running the club

I heard trolley go *ding ding when I read the last scenario.

jones wrote:

You're not bidding 40m at the start of the window because they're "more willing" come on. There are three scenarios I can think of where this makes sense

• we're looking to spend ridiculous money this summer (which you hope but is not very likely)
• Arteta thinks centre back is a priority (which you think is not the case but is likely)
• we don't know what the fuck we're doing, there's no plan and agents are running the club

Nah, I think point two is also likely. You don't spend £50m on a centre back if you don't think it's a priority one way or the other. I just don't think it's a case either or.

Charles Whatts says second bids for White and Lokonga are coming.

It's worth remembering that even conservative (bad selling club) estimate for how much money we could make from sales this summer is £80m odd and that's excluding a big cut in the wage bill.

One of Saliba or Holding will not be here next season if we get White indeed. We don't need 5 CBs for the season when we aren't involved in Europe.

We deserve answers about Saliba. Unless there is something we don't know, this is heading towards an embarrassing moment for Arsenal, a frustration for fans and who knows what inadvertent damage it does for future recruitment from France.

If we're transferring Holding than it really ought to be for a fair sum.

Ok, so a third choice CM. Who's our Xhaka replacement?

Yeah can't shake off the oddity of pursuing someone who's on the face it a 3rd choice CM, particularly when one of Guendouzi or Torriera as reserve central midfielders are exceptional/above average options. Learn to love what you have if you can Mikel? Its the strategy for the starting configuration I'd love to understand more. Again, maintaining faith, trust - hopefully its a madisoness of some sort.

I think people need to let go of the idea that you peruse 1 target first and then move onto the next ect. That’s a strategy that will just lead to failure. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from going after multiple targets of different levels of priority other than a severely constrained budget.

Clrnc wrote:

Wheatley moving in for the kill.

Looks like Josh wants to be loved.

Are we really going to make White one of the most expensive CB’s in world football. Pep set the trend woth Laporte and Dias, I can’t help but think mini pep is just trying to copy him.

Ray wrote:

Are we really going to make White one of the most expensive CB’s in world football. Pep set the trend woth Laporte and Dias, I can’t help but think mini pep is just trying to copy him.

thought it was poundland pep?

goon wrote:

I think people need to let go of the idea that you peruse 1 target first and then move onto the next ect. That’s a strategy that will just lead to failure. There is absolutely nothing stopping you from going after multiple targets of different levels of priority other than a severely constrained budget.

Its a good point and I'd like to think most of us can appreciate a big club's pursuit of multiple open case files. Also the nature of dominos and chain reactions for big players later in the windows. That doesn't change what we're reading about Arsenal's activity (baseless rumor mill or partly authentic) from seeming a bit novel. At least to me. I think the volume of outs will be high, the cost of ins will be high. Perhaps a contrast to much of the messaging from reporters and clubs spokespersons in recent windows which tended to be a case of raise funds to use funds. Also for me it doesn't the change the strange optics of current activity. Put Saliba, and one of Torriera/Guendouzi on the United, Spurs or Liverpool bench and they improve. For whatever reason, its not trending the same on ours.

these new school coaches are annoyingly ass backwards thanks to pep, so obsessed with perfecting playing out from the back

If we're really going to be spending £70m on White and Lokonga, surely we could just use that on Grealish.

The Mail say we think we can get Maddison over the line for around £60m, and is apparently our main summer target…

This is going to be a fun summer.

Can't say I follow leicester much, but I've seen Maddison once at the Emirates and he was head and shoulders the best player on the pitch that day.

Confirmed by Wheatley now.

Maddison is a terrific player, and more of what I’d like in a No.10 than Odegaard.