Transfer Rumours 2013/14

They've been in alot of competitions since 2005, hasn't done them to good so far has it

TS just fucked KL, litteraly

I don't see why you're taking the piss out of us for not winning the Champions League when you can't even qualify for the Europa League. It's like a kid with no legs taking the piss out of the guy who comes second in a race.

Yeah its just like that

Wrong thread

You're in no position to mock us for not winning competitions when you can't even qualify for them.

Plus the prize money for being in it is worthwhile as is the extra exposure to more potential fans

He's absolutely not worth that. Even to a relatively desperate Arsenal.

You've got me there, your increased exposure has really paid dividends in the transfer market.

I'd say it has when your best player wants to leave because of that competition.

If we'd have got in earlier and actually made a bid, it wouldn't have been £35m. While we dithered, Napoli sold Cavani and found themselves flush, Madrid saw the doller signs and up went the price. The original quoted costs were around the £25m mark, leaving Arsenal 2 months and £15m richer to bolster the rest of the squad.

What - Central Defender.
Why - Djourou, Squillaci and Miquel have all left during the summer. Vermaelen is once again unfit and out of form.
Likely Candidate - Ashley Williams - £10m
Outside Candidates - Toby Alderweireld - £5m, Mamadou Sakho - £??
Comments - More than likely Williams is still on the table, but I wouldn't expect anything to happen before deadline day. Surprisingly Alderweireld and Sakho haven't been linked recently, despite previous interest and the fact that both are seemingly on the market at a reasonable price.

What - Defensive Midfielder.
Why - The technical and versatile defensive midfielder is a growing trend, rather than the non-Wenger friendly Essien version. Most people will still say Arsenal need some muscle in their core...but most people have been saying that since Paddy Vieira said au revoir.
Likely Candidate - is there one?
Outside Candidates - Luis Gustavo - £15m, Matthias Ginter - £6.5m, Marouane Fellaini - £23.5m
Comments - Ginter seems to fit the Wenger bill more than the others, Gustavo is the most freely available and Fellaini is the proven Premier League product. Where it all goes wrong: Links to Fellaini have all, but evaporated; Ginter's price may be more than Wenger is willing to put up and as a 19 year-old, is not the finished product to inspire a title tilt; Gustavo has suitors at Chelsea, amongst others and Arsenal don't do bidding wars...or competing against any club in any way.

What - Creative, Versatile Midfielder/Forward.
Why - Arsenal created the 5th most chances in the Premiership last season, whilst Cazorla, Wilshere and Walcott are dangerous in behind the front-man, Podolski and Gervinho leave a lot to be desired.
Outside Candidates - Julian Draxler - £??, Cesc Fabregas - £??.
The Ones That Got Away - Bernard - £21.5m, Stevan Jovetic - £22m.
Comments - According to the papers, Arsenal have been front-runners in both the Bernard and the Jovetic deals at some stage. Jovetic had been linked since February and Bernard over the last month, but as with the Higuain transfer, dithering over other things has lost us these guys at fees potentially half that of the much talked about Suarez non-deal. Draxler has signed a new deal with Schalke and when it does come time to move, the vultures circling will be much bigger and badder than Arsenal. Fabregas on the other hand, is the public face of all Arsenal's efforts this summer.

If the papers were correct I would have pushed the boat out for:
Williams - £10m
Gustavo - £15m
Jovetic - £22.5m
Higuain - £25m
Total Spend - £72.5m

Bernard signed for Shakhtar yesterday.

Hence the one that got away. I'm not sure he even wanted to go to Ukraine, but I suppose the wodges of cash on arrival probably sealed that deal.

Shakhtar seem to have some kind of relationship with Brazilians, so he'll be on an absolute shit loads i'd imagine. Though he'll move on in a few years.

Gustavo isn't available for £15M.

Lucas Barrios to CSKA Moscow.

Bernard is third party owned iirc

Probably why he ended up in the Ukraine, the 3rd party companies get to keep their stake and 2/3 years down the line he'll hopefully move for 35 or 40m. As Cas said he didn't really want to go there, he was in tears after his last game for Atletico Mineiro and I think he had his heart set on a move to Porto.

For the 3rd parties to give up their stake in a player moving to Europe for the first time they'd have either demanded a fortune (which Arsenal wouldn't have paid) or wanted a huge slice of the fee Arsenal got if (more like when) they sold him on. Can't see Wengers economist brain liking that one bit either.

Would have to be the first one I think. Aren't third party ownerships against the rules in the Prem?

I love this transfer window.

They are, that's why they'd have either demanded a fortune to give up their share or came to a compromise within the rules like them getting a share of a sell on fee. That exact situation happened when Lazio were trying to sign Felipe Anderson, the deal was agreed with Santos long ago but an English company that owned 30% of his rights kept demanding different things and offering the player to other clubs in the meantime. Only when he said he was going to report them to FIFA did they play ball.

Apparently Cardiff are about to sign Gary Medel (who's a total nutcase, for those who don't know) from Sevilla for €13m.

Is the Cardiff owner that rich?

They've already forked out £17M on Caulker and Cornelius (the latter of which is already injured) and he's cleared Cardiff's debt so I'm guessing he must be loaded.

Yes, but it's probably the TV money that he's spending.

Third part ownerships are killing football. Absolutely despise it. Stopped us from signing Manuel Fernandes years ago /o\

Third part ownerships are killing football. Absolutely despise it. Stopped us from signing Manuel Fernandes years ago /o\

True.

Its probably the combination of wealth as much as anything.

He's a billionaire so he certainly has some money to splash.

Apparently Samuel Eto’o wants to go back to Inter.