He's physically phenomenal, I wouldn't want to just give up on him yet, unless he truly commits Arteta-suicide the way Guendouzi did.

Burnwinter just put an end to the experiment. Too much thought directed here.

We spend sun £10m on players. Most the time you’ll get a Tavares. Move him on. Sometimes you’ll get a decent back up. Once in a while you’ll get a Mattinelli. I think we need to be comfortable with this. The key here is the team should move on quickly from the guys who aren’t in the 22.

MistaT I'm just hoping he does well enough so that we can flog both him and Eddie for dosh to spend on Hojlund.

5 days later

Sounds like Balogun wants to go:

Scored again from the spot last night.
Yeah he is very impatient, he did the same with England. Did not get a call-up, and even if it is not 100% now, it looks like he will play for the USA national team. Bad call, as a few more months of this form and he would have been in the England team. He is 21, he has plenty of time....

    I think it's fair enough. He's had a taste of 1st team football and wants to be somewhere where he is settled and 1st choice. He won't even get meaningful minutes here. I think he's more of a counter attack striker, making runs and getting the ball in the last action which doesn't suit us and we have Jesus, Trossard, Eddie for the 9. Sell him in the summer with a sell on clause.

    Lokonga needs to be sold too. Palace have started winning without him and Hodgson is bringing on Hughes and McArthur from the bench rather than Sambi. Hopefully we will get our money back. Tavares can go too.

    Only natural he will want game time now.. Would prefer to keep him instead of Eddie but doubt he would want to be possibly 3rd choice next season...

    Should be able to get a decent amount for him in the market, would try an put a buy back clause in any sale as well.

    HomeSteak He was angry when he wasn't given a chance previously by Arteta too. Kept posting on social media little jigs about him. If he wants to go, get a buy back clause. If not convince him 2nd choice at this stage is good for him, bin Nketiah.

    Don't really agree US is a bad choice. Very young team full of talents, can win the Concacaf and Gold Cup every few years whilst If he chose England he gets a very questionable manager and will win nothing. 50-50 choice

    US is ideal for him for national team. There is poverty across the forward line - he will slot in immediately, almost automatically get picked as the 9. Why choose England to compete with Kane for the next 3 years?

      HomeSteak I don't think its a bad call from him in respect to where his motivations seem to lie. He wants to be a big deal and a big player, he'll walk into the US squad before the World Cup over there and be their main striker. That'll be huge for him and propel him to stardom. Its probably why he's demanding football now too, he wants to get out there and show what he has. He seems very calculated about it all and fair enough if thats what he wants let him go, we can cash in and he can have his career away from us. We've enough Hale End grads who are good enough and actually want to be here.

      flobaba with the US hosting the World Cup he could become a household name over there too. Perfect opportunity for someone who wants to be a big star.

      Good that quite a few teams want him. We should ask for a big fee.

      5 days later

      flobaba he also has to weigh up regular trips across the ocean to play Honduras and Jamaica. CONCACAF is not a serious federation. If I were him, I’d definitely take my time over the decision

      7 days later

      He really left Arsenal man to be a CM somewhere, only to end up back-up right back at almost relegated Sotton...and with no contract offer in almost may. I don't know if it was him or his agent who made that call, but boy did he fuck up

        HomeSteak I don't know if it was him or his agent who made that call, but boy did he fuck up

        There are enough fucks to go around with how the whole situation unfolded. Could have gotten 20m for him.

        • goon replied to this.

          Big Willie

          I think it was £15m that Wolves offered. I think the clubs been a little unlucky, but ultimately I don't think a player who's never established himself as a serious contender to be a first XI player should be here at the age of 26. A lesson we should learn with Eddie. If we can't get 25m for him so be it, but even 15-20m is better than nothing.