For 20m as a deadline day signing last year, he would've been such a great signing, but I agree that we likely need someone better given that he's going to cost a lot more now with a new deal and Villa operating from a position of strength with their strong start.

I like him. Perfect guy to come in when needed, and to be an 'impacter' the rest of the time.

Zubimendi is still the ideal signing, but Luiz would be ace.

Zubimendi is the one if possible. I seriously doubt we can get him in January especially with Real Sociedad most likely being in the latter stages of the CL, any high profile player in January will be difficult.

Qwiss Think he'd do fine as an 8, like an improved version of Xhaka.

      JazzG he can definitely play both but if we were talking about a Zubi, Rice, Ode midfield I'd stick him deep orchestrating and let Ricer do what he's been doing since Jorginho sat in behind him.

          lorddulaarsenal most certainly of interest. More of a risk coming straight from South America, but I'd be excited to see him come in.


            Clrnc Barrenetxea and dules fav Kubo had an excellent game last night again, tore Benfica apart.

            Surprised Oyazaybal isn't already at a big club. Have been performing at a high level for years now.

              Qwiss Would be an additional benefit in that both players can play either role, I think Zubimendi's passing and intricate play would lend him better higher up the pitch.

              This guy is suppose to be reliable....

                  Could be that song swaying me but Doug Luiz would be a good partner for Sir Declan Rice. Looks better on the ball than Zubimendi and is Prem ready

                  A lot tougher to deal with them now he signed that new contract - silly Billy.

                  We’re also being linked with Curtis Jones, albeit a move we may may next summer.

                    Prefer Andre. He's the new Casemiro

                    I wasn't mad at the links to Doug luiz links a few deadline days ago. as far as last minute signings go he would've been a handy one

                      JazzG The "Arteta’s connection to the Basque Country" stuff sounds good in theory, but it's also just what you get by joining a few dots off Wikipedia …

                          lorddulaarsenal good player Curtis, even whilst most on here refuse to rate him. I like Burnwinter's moulds here as a guiding light, and Jones doesn't fit into any of them. We're limited in terms of development projects and punts. Plus, Charlie Patino.

                              I think we need a right footed player playing in the the left sided attacking mid role

                              Burnwinter We have been linked to him for a while though. Supposedly didn't want to leave his boyhood club as they qualified for the CL. If you really want to believe rumours some say the reason Tierney was loaned on reasonable terms to help facilitate this transfer....

                              Gazza M I said at it the time as well and a few thought he wasn't all that. He's definitely elevated himself but always looked a handy player to me. Wouldn't take him over Zubimendi though and I doubt we will able to sign either in January.

                                  I think we should keep our powder dry until the summer unless a no.1 target is available, which seems unlikely.

                                  Let the team settle and make an assessment in the summer.

                                  10 days later

                                  Clrnc fair enough given his importance now and what his colleagues are earning.

                                      Qwiss fair enough given his importance now and what his colleagues are earning.

                                      I'm definitely not hating on his agent for doing his job, but a big element of Tomiyasu's "importance" this season is that Jurrien Timber's knee exploded in the first game of the season. Tomiyasu wasn't very good last season even when he played. Him and Ramsdale were both on Fraud Watch for me entering the season. As it so happens, Tomiyasu is playing the best football of his career so far but I think he still has a lot to prove before we make a really big investment in him.

                                        Damn, 100k? We could've paid almost a third of a Havertz with that amount.

                                        no club that could get a talent like tomiyasu for 30k is paying 300k for havertz. i'll never believe that unless i saw it myself. again this is why i prefer the american way of reporting sports salaries. it's public record. if i was havertz i would disclose my salary because people are using a media number to reinforce their negative opinions of him. there is nothing in his skillset that would allow him to be worth 300k so he would always be a failure if that was his true salary. even if he ends up with xhaka 2022-23 levels of end product.

                                          Meatwad if i was havertz i would disclose my salary because people are using a media number to reinforce their negative opinions of him

                                          I would imagine that player contracts prevent them from doing this kind of thing though

                                            5 days later

                                            QuincyAbeyie

                                            DDG is one of the best shot stoppers of the last decade and still relatively young. Wouldn’t mind this and woudlnt lose his shit in being number 2 like AR.

                                                Sicario2 - Tier 1

                                                I like him as a player but I don’t really get the links if I’m being honest. He’s not a 6 and he doesn’t seem like the sort of 8 we are trying to play with either.

                                                  Don't like Luiz for us , he's too slow and too small. Need a Rice type midfield machine , Palinha is the one

                                                  Douglas Luiz is quality but why would Villa let him go for anything close to his value in January?

                                                  David DeGea is shit, there is nothing else to it. He'd be a massive downgrade on Ramsdale and can't play at all the way Arteta would want. If that happens Artetas absolutely lost it.

                                                  Agreed. And if we just stopped signing rejects from (or with links to) rival clubs that would be a nice bonus too.

                                                  Park the midfield pursuit til the summer. Focus on getting a striker in this January