goon remember how we used to be viewed as clowns in the transfer market. Chelsea are becoming that now. Except they have lots of dough to waste. They’re prepared to spend close to half a billion pounds with no clear strategy emerging and the team mired in midtable mediocrity. I love this new owner

  • goon replied to this.

      Claudius unlike some other big spenders Boehly and co are investors so I can't see them sustaining this level of spending either. If so that means if they get all this wrong they'll be stuck for a while.

        As long as our offer is reasonable and player wants to join us we stand a good chance. It depends on how keen the player is. Raphina only wanted Barca so Chelsea weren't able to do the deal. Likewise if the player stands firm and says he only wants to join Arsenal the club have a decision to make. They clearly want to sell the player which is why their trying to make this as public as possible.

        Being top of the league and moving in the right direction will help!

        The problem is that Raphinha would've gone to Chelsea if Barca and Leeds weren't able to make a deal. It was pretty clear that he was willing to go there but changed his mind when Barca became a real possibility.
        Likewise, if Chelsea's stupidity raises Shaktar's asking price beyond our limits, I imagine Mudryk will go to Chelsea as he sees going to what is traditionally a top team in PL as a huge upgrade from where he is now.

          How often is it the case though that the selling team dictates where a player ends up? Feels like 9/10 players have all the power there unless they’re indifferent.

          All it would take is for Mudryk to tell Shaktar that he only wants us or tell Chelsea he’s not interested and he probably gets the move he wants.

            goon You think Mudryk will say no to Chelsea if we can't do a deal? No chance , he will not lose sleep at all if he doesn't play for us

                No, I’m saying if he says no to Chelsea and everyone else he likely gets the move he really wants and a deal with Arsenal does happen.

                If Shaktar demand silly money go for Mitoma - I’m with Clrnc on that

                Chelsea are trolls but Shakhtar are cunts for egging them on. Scummy club.

                GooneriC No chance , he will not lose sleep at all if he doesn't play for us

                Disagree with that. Arsenal is infinitely more appealing than Chelsea. He won't get a sniff of Champions League next season, and will have to contend with a hellish landscape of malcontents as opposed to a young, motivated and unified outfit that can support his development.

                He'll think this one through carefully. Looks like it could get messy but I think it can still happen—we're just not used to being the more appealing destination since Mourinho times.

                  As much as I like the look of Mudryk, Shaktar's asking price is even crazier than Atletico's for a guy who's played 30 matches in the Ukrainian league. What do the conservatives want us to do if Shaktar don't budge and they don't want to loan Felix either? Do you have other targets in mind?

                  I don't see how anyone (was it Claude?) can love Chelsea's new owner. Regardless of whether it's stupid for them to bid that much for Mudryk, it might fuck things up for us as well. Isn't that much more important than being able to laugh at their overpriced transfers?

                    Vlahovic, despite the steady downplaying of those links, could be available for the stratospheric prices being discussed …

                    Vlahovic is too expensive for a backup striker to my mind, especially for the much touted Plan B which will be thrown on for 30 mins 10 times a season (maybe 15 at most). It's not like if Gabriel Jesus has a few months out, Vlahovic can fit in seamlessly. I'd rather bring in someone like Mudryk (no view on the specific player) who can rotate seamlessly with our existing starters. My vote for backup striker is Marcus Thuram (long-time proponent of his) who I think can rotate with Jesus from time to time and even complement him as the "Plan B" when necessary.

                    I don't usually like footballers doing this stuff, but Shaktar's valuation is ridiculous and he's doing it for us so fuck it. Keep at it.

                    QuincyAbeyie I think Raphina made it quite clear he only wanted Barca, that is why we backed down. Chelsea thought they could still force the deal through but once the player had decided it was only Barca, Leeds then had to deal with them. As long as our offer isn't ridiculous if the player only wants us we stand a good chance.

                    Also as we've seen with the details emerging about Chelsea's bid for Enzo Fernandes maybe Chelsea they won't go as high as Shakhtar are hoping.

                      Yeah, he needs to cut it out. It's not professional. Plus, if he will do this to Shakthar now, why won't he do the same or worse to us if/when he wants to leave us?