James Maddison

Gazza M

enough smoke around this one now

the bell called that journos would start talking about this a few days after his tweet, and that's what's happened. the guy must know a few agents close to arsenal

60m though. I'm not convinced tbh. I see another hot and cold ozil type in maddison

Klaus

I think he's supreme quality but I'm worried about his injury record. The Leicester fans seem to think his hip is chronic. He only started 24 league games last season.

Anzac

I don't 'get' that LCFC would sell to a direct rival UNLESS he was crocked.

Gazza M

carrying over from the other thread, they don't see us as a rival. we're still bigger than they ever will be for the foreseeable future, and we're willing to pay them a satisfactory fee for one of their players. they're still in Dortmund mode in terms of their approach

Klaus

Dortmund Lite is pretty spot on. Their entire club model is based around selling indiscriminately. Every time a player kicks on they ship him out, unless it's a freak like Vardy who doesn't want to leave.

Anzac

Klaus wrote:
Dortmund Lite is pretty spot on. Their entire club model is based around selling indiscriminately. Every time a player kicks on they ship him out, unless it's a freak like Vardy who doesn't want to leave.

Agreed they do sell to make a tidy profit on a regular basis, but I don't agree they do so indiscriminately since they won the EPL. IIRC they've only sold to the current top4 in terms of big players and fees.

Anzac

Gazza M wrote:
carrying over from the other thread, they don't see us as a rival. we're still bigger than they ever will be for the foreseeable future, and we're willing to pay them a satisfactory fee for one of their players. they're still in Dortmund mode in terms of their approach

Historically we're part of the big6 but in terms of recent EPL seasons they're ahead of us on and off the pitch. IMO them selling a key player like Maddison would be 'worse' than when we sold Nasri, Toure, Clichy & Greedy to MC = we gave them a UCL core to enable them to get established within the top4, and only 'worse' in that none were considered key to our play at the time.

Anzac

At the end of the day if it happens it happens, but I am concerned that we are possibly/probably paying overs for both White and Maddison because they are English and EPL experienced rather than because of genuine quality in those positions/roles.

Gazza M

Klaus wrote:
I think he's supreme quality but I'm worried about his injury record. The Leicester fans seem to think his hip is chronic. He only started 24 league games last season.

I'm equally worried that we'd be massively banking on him continuing to develop at arsenal. I've seen a few too many big buys stall at arsenal in recent years. if it was pre-2012 Wenger getting him, I'd feel more confident he'd play his best football for arsenal

Klaus

Anzac wrote:
Klaus wrote:
Dortmund Lite is pretty spot on. Their entire club model is based around selling indiscriminately. Every time a player kicks on they ship him out, unless it's a freak like Vardy who doesn't want to leave.

Agreed they do sell to make a tidy profit on a regular basis, but I don't agree they do so indiscriminately since they won the EPL. IIRC they've only sold to the current top4 in terms of big players and fees.

Well they were ahead of all of those clubs when they won the league and they still happily started shipping players to them so I don't see how they're doing anything different right now.

Anzac

Klaus wrote:
Anzac wrote:
Agreed they do sell to make a tidy profit on a regular basis, but I don't agree they do so indiscriminately since they won the EPL. IIRC they've only sold to the current top4 in terms of big players and fees.

Well they were ahead of all of those clubs when they won the league and they still happily started shipping players to them so I don't see how they're doing anything different right now.

IMO it is significant that Mahrez, Kante and Chilwell all went to MC or CFC, whilst Maguire went to MU = the 3 richest clubs in the EPL - we don't fit the narrative.

That said it's only relevant as to Maddison's fitness, and then if he is value for money. If he's not a crock and they are prepared to sell to enable us to become a direct rival re top4 then that's their problem, although I am also curious as to who they'd replace him with and if we should be looking at that player instead.

Klaus

They were willing to sell Vardy to us right after they won the league, but he chose not to leave. It's not significant, it's just part of the way they operate.

Coombs

Exactly. Better we take advantage rather than watch like idiots.

Claudius

They have a £150m+ annual revenue gap to teams like us. They have to sell these players. If we can get one at a recent price, we should

RonBurgundy

Wonderful player, I'm on board.

banduan

Maddison is a seriously fun player. He only missed Euros cos he wasn't completely fit and England is stacked in his position. He's not actually missed that many games from injury but the big one he had last season was in summer.

HomeSteak

For the rumoured £60m can't we get Grealish?

QuincyAbeyie

Probably 20 more for Grealish plus he'll choose City who also want him.

Clrnc

Villa reportedly wants in excess of 80m.

Yeah would rather go for him.

Asterix

If there are signs that Grealish is on the market why on Earth would he come here?