Striker Targets: Page 2 - The Arsenal discussion forum and community: One More in the Tolly

Striker Targets

samthegooner

RowJimmy While I just wrote at length why I DO want a classic 9, I would also add the caveat that if we had a chance at Wirtz this summer, I'd be all over it - even if it meant diverting funds from the 9 and settling for someone like Delap to add depth. I don't think we are in for him but if we have the chance to add Wirtz to Saka, Rice, and Saliba, we would arguably have 4 of the top players at their position globally and all just entering the peak of their career. You just HAVE to do that IMO.

flobaba

Just go for Osimhen. OP says he doesn't rate him, but doesn't say why. The man is a beast and is in his prime. Would command some serious wages, but he slots right in, and fits the profile. Works hard, gives us the aerial duel winning ability, and can score all sorts of goals - power shots, tap ins (positioning is top notch) and finesse.

Sicario2

flobaba no thanks. 1) injury prone and 2) Artera doesn’t do big personalities. This guy would be another Auba

lorddulaarsenal

He’d be excellent but looks brittle - his physical prowess will decline rapidly

samthegooner

He also reportedly wants huge wages. I wouldn't reject him but I think it's telling that we haven't been linked with him in past years - not sure he's one that Arteta wants. If we did want him, you'd think we would've gone for him last summer when he went on loan to Galatasaray.

USArsenal

samthegooner

On a loan, maybe. To purchase? No way. Even the Saudi's did not want to spend the kind of money that Napoli were asking for him. And that's saying something.

RC8

Sicario2

The previous Auba won us our last trophy 5 years ago

JazzG

Sounds like Ollie Watkins is not happy at Villa, should we be considering another move?

Gazza M

JazzG I was cool on him january, but I'm ice cold on him for the summer. he's the guy we begrudgingly sign on deadline day and pretend it was a master stroke.

flobaba

Only concerns i'd have is the potential for mid season departures in afcon years, but that is something we have the squad to deal with now. If we are willing to take the risk with Isak, I see no reason why we shouldn't be willing to do the same (or even more) for a player of his level.

Pipe dream though. Apparently he's a Chelsea fan.

Coombs

Pepe LeFrits we have such a painfully cumbersome transfer operation. Hopefully Berta fixes that. People would have you believe we're doing quantum physics when the reality is that the contracts are already written, just need to go in to work instead of fucking around on the BBQ.

Claudius

Coombs we’ve been signing and extending lots of players last few years. Please elaborate on cumbersome. Relative to what?

Tam

Gazza M I think he would have been a good signing in January, and in hindsight it looks like a real miss for both Villa and us given how things have panned out since then. At this point we've got to take a longer term view of what someone can offer us in that role.

JazzG

Gazza M Fair but I look at a lot of the links we have to strikers and none of them jump out at me, well apart from Isak but I think we all know that is a bit of a pipe dream. I look at the guys we've been linked to and none of them strike me as clear upgrades over Havertz.

I like Cunha but sounds like he is going to Man Utd, seems like a bit of a loose cannon as well. I've seen Ekitike in a few comps but looks an interesting player.

Coombs

Claudius we might be the slowest gun in world football when it comes to getting deals done. Too much haggling, too much indecision, and it's cost us over decades now.

samthegooner

JazzG I don't think we need a clear upgrade on Havertz personally. I think we just need a different option than Havertz in terms of profile so that we can adjust tactics on a match by match basis. I'd love someone that can mix things up when he's starting in place of Kai, play alongside Kai and offer firepower off the bench when Kai starts in his place. I think most of our targets fit this bill.

SimplyThePest

Coombs Everyone knows it too and cocks us around as a result.

Bernard Woolley

Coombs Yes and no. We have pulled off deals like Havertz, Tomiyasu and Timber that basically got published when done and Gabriel, Partey and Raya which were a short fuse. I know media gossip is not necessarily a true indicator of how long a deal has taken but it's the closest proxy I have. Of course, the other side is deals like Martinez (lost because we dallied) and Rice (where we got taken to the cleaners on the price).

Claudius

Coombs how much time do you spend following other clubs transfer business?
For example, the league winners Liverpool. What can you say about their transfer attempts at Bellingham, Tchouameni, Havertz, Caicedo, Musiala. All were linked. None bought.

RocktheCasbah

Bernard Woolley Rice (where we got taken to the cleaners on the price)

but.... but we got him half price, or no?

Don Pacifico

Claudius also worth remembering how they were misled on Zubimendi.

samthegooner

@Claudius brings up a good point. I lurk on opposing team's subreddits (...I know, I should check myself in for help...) and every single fanbase other than maybe Chelsea has the same complaints as we do about transfer negotiations and dragging feet. I think it just comes with the territory these days with the 24/7 news cycle. Gone are the days when we don't know about something and then it just happens (or at least it's very rare) so every signing becomes a saga from the point when one journalist/ITK/nobody publishes a rumor to the time when the official announcement comes. I can only think of a few exceptions recently (Fabio Vieira, Timber to an extent). I do think we keep our official business under wraps a lot better than we used to, which is both frustrating to follow but also fills me with quiet confidence that the powers that be are working in the background (until nothing gets announced like Summer 24 and this last Winter window). I don't think we are much better or worse than most of our peers when it comes to negotiations but hopefully Berta does bring some additional shrewdness to the negotiating table with purchases as well as sales.

Coombs

samthegooner I do think we keep our official business under wraps a lot better than we used to, which is both frustrating to follow but also fills me with quiet confidence that the powers that be are working in the background (until nothing gets announced like Summer 24 and this last Winter window).

I mean, this is it right here. For every example of another club failing to sign a player, there is a counter example. We aren't on the right side of that continuum nearly enough.

« Previous Page Next Page »