Just realised Ade cost 3m. Ffs Wenger is really something else those days

Wenger pulled some absolute gems out of the bag for us. I was watching highlights of every game from the 07/08 season and it was crazy how little that squad cost. He extracted incredible value from the market in close to every position. His loyalty to some in that squad cost us in the end but what he managed just three years after the Invincibles with almost an entirely new squad really was exceptional. The man was a genius.

I think the competitive advantage we had in the market with Wenger evaporated as scouting networks improved. By that, I mean I think we benefited a lot from his extensive connections in the game, which enabled us to poach rough diamonds before others became aware. That loss of competitive advantage was one of the reasons I think Wenger suffered in his later years.

On Ade, easy to forget that a large proportion of the fanbase didn't rate him for his first 18 months or so. He also had a pretty awful track record in terms of goalscoring at Monaco so not sure TA is comparable. That being said, I'm not advocating we sign TA, just don't think the two situations are comparable.

Clrnc wrote:

Just realised Ade cost 3m. Ffs Wenger is really something else those days

And he was a grade A donkey when he arrived. For Wenger to get him for that price and the. Turn him into the player he became was incredible. Monaco actually rang us up to offer him. They were desperate to offload him to anyone.

And how poor his was post Wenger was equally impressive.

17 days later

From Locatelli to a new Xhaka contract. From Vlahovic and Lautaro to Tammy.

What is with wrong with this club!

At least it's just TalkShite so I'm still hopeful.

Just because he wants to come here doesn't mean Arsenal and Chelsea will be able to agree a deal. I'm sure they'd rather send him to Italy.

English overpriced mediocrity. Watch us cough up 50m to get the deal over the line

loan, option to buy, is fine by me.

spending anything on him, above a loan fee, seems foolish.

and if we bring him in, we better be fucking selling lacazette

CFC have reportedly agreed a 2 year loan deal with an option to buy for 35m with Roma.

Anzac wrote:

CFC have reportedly agreed a 2 year loan deal with an option to buy for 35m with Roma.

this was reported yesterday. Abraham hasn't agreed personal terms because he prefers staying in England. journos reckon he'll take a few days before accepting. hopefully edu doesn't get any bright idea to gazump roma

Chelsea wouldn't afford us that kind of leniency I think. they're making concessions because they prefer he doesn't play for another English club

Gazza M wrote:
Anzac wrote:

CFC have reportedly agreed a 2 year loan deal with an option to buy for 35m with Roma.

this was reported yesterday. Abraham hasn't agreed personal terms because he prefers staying in England. journos reckon he'll take a few days before accepting. hopefully edu doesn't get any bright idea to gazump roma

Have seen reports we have agreed personal terms with him despite CFC and Roma agreeing a fee.

Gazza M wrote:

Chelsea wouldn't afford us that kind of leniency I think. they're making concessions because they prefer he doesn't play for another English club

The interesting thing about it being that it suggests CFC do not need to sell to raise funds re Lukaku, but simply to make room for him in the squad.

So annoying that we can’t shift Lacazette. That’s the downside to Europe being broke

the thought of Abraham as centre forward with auba on the wing is bad. like, Michael Jackson bad. not the album, bad. like how bad he looked at the end of his life

Could be great at playing with the kids though.

Now that, Klaus, was BAD.

Klaus wrote:

Could be great at playing with the kids though.

😆

Can buy him for 40m euros but can't fork out another 5m euros for Xhaka

Yeah that's atrocious. Well done Arsenal for closing talks and holding firm. One of the most irksome things about the window for me, Roma's undignified approach. At least on basis of publicized aspects. The renewal though - different story. Pretty sure he could have been incentivized to stay or leveraged to another buyer through different means.

Clrnc wrote:

Can buy him for 40m euros but can't fork out another 5m euros for Xhaka

I thought they're loaning him with an option to buy? Really is odd if permanent considering how desperate Mourinho allegedly was to sign him.

According to Ornstein not only is it a permanent deal but Chelsea have a buyback clause as well. 😆 That'd be a horrible deal for us. If he flops we'll have paid 40m and if he succeeds Chelsea will take him back for a price lower than market value. If it really is a 2 year loan with an option to buy though that's a brilliant deal for Roma.

This is where we need to be more aggressive as a club. It clear Abraham would rather Arsenal. Whatever you think of him as a player its clear the club are after him. Instead of matching Romas bid we need to turn his head, make him pick us and then give Chelsea less than Roma offered. Thats how most clubs do it.

Klaus wrote:

Could be great at playing with the kids though.

Sigurdsson as an option if we can't get Tammy?

We have made an official approach for Abraham, confirmed by Romano.

This means we must be looking to sell both Auba and Laca perhaps?

I’d actually be happy with that. That would be what I’ve been banging about all this time, if you’re going to go young, then do it. Especially if your top quality guys are on the decline. We are just always a season or two behind the curve. But better late than never I guess. It also underscores why we might want to keep Xhaka considering his influence in the dressing room and professionalism. And of course the lack of serious interest from other parties.

flobaba wrote:

This means we must be looking to sell both Auba and Laca perhaps?

Hopefully.

Hopefully we don't replace them with another Chelsea reject though.

I just hope we can find someone with more to him than this fellow.

Clrnc wrote:

We have made an official approach for Abraham, confirmed by Romano.

Awesome! Recon this will get done too

Tammy to save our season , yayyyy how lucky are we