Lol, you really don't. I mean you can have a feel for how things are progressing, but It can all come crashing down at any time for any reason, precipitated by either party for good, or no reason at all. Until the final docs are signed, all else is fluff.

    flobaba that everything can come crashing down doesn't say anything about the likelyhood of a deal happening, it just says that the chance is less than 100 %.

    For example, Ornstein has reported on plenty on our signings that they're close right before they happen. Either he's had an idea that the deals were going to happen, or he's just the luckiest guy in the world when it comes to guessing.

        Luis Suarez, Yann M'Vila, Jamie Vardy, Gonzalo Higuain, Christiano etc. We could go on for arsenal specific signings that were extremely close. QuincyAbeyie how do they fit in your fait accompli deal framework?

            Claudius wait, so am I going to mention names that were reported on before they signed as a counter argument..? I have never said anywhere that a deal is 100% done before it's signed.

            You respond to me saying "you can usually have a pretty good idea of whether a deal is going to be signed" with "you can't always be 100% sure". It's just disingenuous.

              flobaba oh, I definitely think it was leaked by our team. Ornstein doesn't get as much information on Arsenal these days, but in my experience he doesn't really lie - he usually just stops talking. So when Ornstein says that the anticipation inside Arsenal is that Zubimendi is coming, I'd say the anticipation inside Arsenal was/is that Zubimendi is coming.

              Whether the leak was on purpose is a different question. It might've been because supporters were unhappy with the lack of signings, or someone talks when they shouldn't.

                Gazza M I disagree with that, he is exactly what we need there. We basically need a younger and more mobile version of Jorginho which is what Zubimendi would cover. A metronome passer who controls our tempo. Every top club in Europe want him, there is a reason for that.

                Thomas Partey has played 20+ games as our CM this season, his passing range is pretty good but hasn't really spiced up our play. Our bland play is more down to our No.10 and wide players, well one wide player because Saka is superb.

                    Zubimendi leak was obviously timed to quell unrest after we did nothing in the January window. Not that him to Real is a done deal either, these things are still always open until they are not. How many times were Chelsea and City ready to take Rice away from us?

                      JazzG I'm not sure, it's also because we can't move the ball quickly enough. We generally look more fluid and creative with Jorginho, despite his shortcomings. A Zubimendi type player is really a must.

                      • CPM likes this.

                        JazzG his passing isn't close to jorginhos, or parteys for that matter. watch the next few sociedad games and you'll see the difference

                            Qwiss Spain have multiple daily newspapers who just need to fill pages with rubbish about Barca and Madrid. A lot of what comes out is madness. But Real desperately need a real metronome

                              SimplyThePest interestingly, he has very similar progressive passing distances and completion percentages to Partey. Other interesting player in the wild is Pavlovic at Bayern. But he doesn't start a lot because he has two incredible mids ahead of him and he's always sick, but at 20 years of age, he is one to watch

                                He's a good player but De Jong is better IMO. Barca have a lot of talents in that area especially with Bernal coming back from injury, so I believe they'd be ready to do a deal. Only potential stumbling block are his wages.....

                                  Yeah. I’d take Zubi over him. Watch some Zubi games. He can help us with speeding things up. Thing I like about him is like Ousmaane Dembele, he is very two footed which means he can distribute both sides quickly and even when under pressure. Note that Partey has a right side bias.

                                  And then we can solve the other aspects of speed with Ekitike and Nico

                                    Zubi is top of my list. I do wonder if this Real stuff is why we are back on Guimares, who I'd also be happy to sign. I'm not sold on DeJong, he's a good player but wages, injuries and generally never quite reaching his potential make me a bit luke warm on him.

                                    Claudius And then we can solve the other aspects of speed with Ekitike and Nico

                                    I've got tickets for Athletic v Rayo Vallecano when in Bilbao in a couple of weeks time - looking forward to seeing Nico in action.

                                      Would be a blow to lose him. Orny seems to think he's still coming.