SAKA BACK + ONANA BACK ON + MADDISON WANTS IN, BUT WILL IT HAPPEN?

by .

Well good morning my darlings, what have we on the cards today?

Saka is back in training. Wonderful news. Can’t wait to see what he brings to the table this season. Outside a few trolls on the night, the whole of world football seems to be behind the young English star. We all have massive hopes for him this season, let’s see where we land.

Inter Milan is currently fending off £100m offers for 28-year-old Lukaku. I cannot imagine for one minute they aren’t going to sell. That sort of number is just simply beyond the pale when they could wait another year and get Haaland. Still, that’s how the big boys roll and we are a long way off being at that sort of level. The good news is that a few outlets are reporting they might opt for Lacazette… and they certainly won’t be able to plead poverty if they are still tracking Hector Bellerin.

The market appears to have perked up a little bit. Newcastle apparently want to go all-in on Willock for £23m. Crystal Palace is open to taking Reiss Nelson on loan for the season. I suspect we’ll see more clarity across the board as our transfer ambitions ramp up a gear and players see whether there’s a chance to play next season.

Granit Xhaka’s deal is still gumming up the works as fans cry tears of sadness just a month after crying that he was going. The deal honestly doesn’t look that terrible, he’s basically getting another year added to his contract, which stops him going into that hellish place of 1 year left on the deal after this season. I’m not that fussed. Would I have liked an upgrade? Yes. Were there clear upgrades available? Not really. Reuben Neves was our reality and you know it. Locatelli was always a pipedream. If this new deal sees a transition of power between him and Lokonga… and maybe Azeez at some point, then I’ll roll with it. Granit was good last season, we missed him when he wasn’t in midfield, we just have to accept there are bigger problems to fry this season.

The three positions I am very worried about are as followed:

We need a CAM. Odegaard looks like he’s going to commit to a season of being on the bench, now it looks like we’re in all or nothing territory with James Maddison. The player wants Arsenal, the question is, will Leicester deal? It’s never a good idea to keep an unhappy player, and clearly, something is not right up there. He’d be the biggest statement signing since Bergkamp. A player on the up that immediately gives us the next level. I just worry we might find ourselves led on only to be rejected last minute.

We need to address the right-back situation. Hector Bellerin wants out, there’s no use keeping him around, let him be free and replace him. Next season really cannot be Cal and Soares. I like both of them, but only Cal moves us forward with his final third work, I’m just not sure he has the pace to be what we need next season. Also, if ball playing centre backs is what we’re after, Cal was excellent before his injury, surely he’d be one to consider as part of the 4? Soares just isn’t fancied, which is a whole different issue. We need to have a right-back.

The final piece of the puzzle has to be a goalkeeper. We are in a terrible state right now. Bernd Leno looks a busted flush, he’s not committed to the cause, and he doesn’t like his setup. The two keepers behind him are very green. Aaron Ramsdale and Sam Johnstone don’t set the world alight. There needs to be a sharp signing because our #1 looks prime for getting dropped in November. There’s some very sexy talk that Onana has said no to Lyon because a big club has promised him riches in January… that big club is rumoured to be Arsenal. And why not? Onana is elite with his feet. I’d wait 6 months for him.

If we make moves on those three positions before the end of the window, we’re going to be in the mixer this season. If we don’t, I think it’s going to be a tough season, because we’re going to an injury away from dreary football.

Is that enough for you? Yes? YOU COWARD. Of course it’s not. Jump into our DOUBLE podcast. I speak with Johnny (@iJohnnyCochrane) about normal things going on at Arsenal, check out his WILD views on Xhaka. Then I was joined by Seun (@SVCarboholic) and Dan (@dankoogs) from Touchy Gooners podcast to discuss why they are feeling pretty hacked off about a number of things going on right now. It is GOOD listening. Also, there’s a video if you want to comment on my hair you absolute weirdos. xxx

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G

Would love Maddison, a top 4 team player all day long

bacaryisgod

I’m excited for this coming season just like any other.

If you are an AKB or Arteta out, this season will probably be a defining one. His contract runs through 2023 so something’s got to give. If there are real signs of progress, he’ll probably get an extension. Don’t kill the messenger here, we know that’s a likely outcome if this season is an improvement on the previous one.

However, if we are showing the same inconsistency along with dull football and relatively early cup exits, the club will almost certainly cut ties with the manager.

Spudnik

The aggro this window is causing is like a hornets nest of Satanic wizardry.

Zacharse

Damn. Whats gonna happen next. Looks like even locatelli might be back on the table…

TR7

Buendia, Bailey, Ings and Young – smart work by Villa in transfer market. Zero net spend and they have strengthened themselves.

Guns of SF

Villa a serious threat to us this season

Guns of SF

The agent of Aouar is surprised we moving for Maddison? what kind of weird headline

Well, then give us Aouar quickish…

TheBayingMob

“Hleb. Epitome of average for me. Don’t kill me!” … I agree. I think people were dazzled by the odd step over, he never did anything IIRC. Bang average. My 5-a-side 1. Richard Wright. Hands down. Not terrible, just terribly average 2. Defender. Mikael Silvestre. A terrible Wenger signing and bang fucking average aging cast off from United I’m not sure why you wouldn’t go with our current star pairing we will likely see at Brentford … 3. MF1. Mo Elneny, average all round apart from his hair, and 4. MF2. Granit Xhaka. Just average, no other word sums him… Read more »

Champagne Charlie

Just popping in to see if anyone is holding up Ings as a signing to be jealous of, nobody bold enough to go there and rightfully so.

Sad I missed the tantrum from DNA, wasn’t he the same guy that flaunted his lifestyle on Instagram and claimed to shag nothing but 10’s in all the best Hotels in London during his only visit, because ‘that’s how he rolls’?

Internet remains undefeated.

TR7

Atlanta strongly linked with Tammy Abraham, looks like Inter will sell Lukaku to Chelsea.

Ernest Reed

Going to be a very lean season for Southampton, cant honestly see them staying up. Losing their only real goal threat in Ings is going to sting. But hey, they got the elite Theo, whose gonna be banging them in at will.

Crimson

Mustafi is available on a free. 🤣🤣🤣

prvhc

Looks like Lukaku to Chelsea is done……welcome Tammy Abraham ?

Champagne Charlie

Pedro

I’m convinced there’s a different metric for some Arsenal fans. Ings is decent, but 25 mil for a 28 year old with that injury record? And in his final year? Ambition indeed.

Tammy getting attention from Atalanta suggests Lukaku is likely and he’s moving out. Be surprised if we don’t let a deal reach a certain point and match terms if its viable. They ain’t getting near 40 mil for him from Italy.

Maddison and Lautaro just isn’t a thing imo. Maddison and Abraham far more plausible should we flog Laca.

If that link someone put up on here earlier about Maddison being a dick and missing their last game , then I’d rather not have him. Yes Grealish has been a dick in the past as have other players. But to take the piss out of you’re teammates like he did misbehaving, that’s bad. When Auba was dropped for turning up late he was rightly dropped, but in my opinion Maddison’s was just as bad. Plus his price tag isn’t worth it. Surely their are better cheaper options out their.

andy1886

Average 5 – a – side? I’ll include my over-rated (IMO) players who for me were average but some others seem to love (inspired by Kroenkephob’s inclusion of Hleb on which I agree). 1. Cech – was going to save us a dozen points a season but by the time we signed him he was over the hill. 2. Koscielny – loved by many but for me was made to look better than he really was by Big Per. Threw a tantrum to force his exit. 3. Diaby – became more of a legend the more he was injured. Supposedly… Read more »

Kroenkephobe

TBM
Nice one. You’re obviously a much more benevolent, lenient kind of guy than me. I’d put some of your choices in my squad of our worst ever five a side, esp Silvestre and the fox in the box. Good call on Richard Wright. He was hot shit at Ipswich but was distinctly ordinary for the 2 (?) seasons he was with us. Went from a third choice England GK to oblivion. We could be about to do the same with Grimsdale (which makes me shudder to be honest).

Champagne Charlie

https://mobile.twitter.com/cdavison_afc/status/1422997303523225600

Interesting to hear that guys in the industry are suitably impressed with the approach we make behind the scenes.

Kroenkephobe

Andy
Some good calls there too. Just relieved I’ve not got the Pro-Belarusian Gooner faction on my back by now over Alex ‘Rosa’ Hleb. He could’ve been a hero if hed had poisoned spikes in his boots in the NLDs. Kin ell I hope that James Bond reference isn’t too obscure.

Champagne Charlie

Also, someone tell Southampton we’ve got the England U’21 goalscoring record holder for sale.

15-20 mil and you replace your perma crock on less wages.

andy1886

Charlie, no wonder White’s agent was impressed – he’s just made a bundle on the deal. Hardly an independant opinion.

Davi

I’m a bit biased because in my mind the 07/08 side won the league, or was good enough to, and hleb and Flamini were definitely key players in that.
If they’d decided to stay on rather than making what turned out to be very poor moves, I don’t think anyone would remember them as average. If Eduardo hadn’t suffered the injury at Birmingham, I don’t think they’d be thought of remotely average. If if if

Lewis

Pedro makes no sense here. Got no issues with resigning xhaka for two extra years but then hopeful that he’s transitioned out with lokonga/azeez??? What’s the point in giving him a new deal then? Agree with the other three positions and I’d add in a striker because because Auba looks finished and laca just doesn’t score enough

Northbanker

Pedro – your hair looks a massive improvement over the pudding basin look you opted for previously lol

Davi

Andy – sorry but my recollection of big mert is that he was a very bad signing. A bit like Xhaka – obviously capable but in his case, so slow he could never be effective in the high line, with barely any protection we played under Wenger. What made it really bad though, was that he appeared to just jog back whenever the ball went past him, as though he’d given up.
Kos was out standout CB for years because he was also a good defender, but had the necessary pace for the system.

Almuniasaynomore

Kroenkephobe, I was about to put out an APB for you! Hope all is well. I’m very productive on the sketches at the moment, work will be getting in the way soon though and it’ll be back to speed reading to catch up with the occasional teaser to annoy you! Good question by the way. Bang average, neither poor,nor good,not easy but here’s mine: Gk: Fabianski, is he good or shite? I still don’t know. So he gets the nod. Df: Eboue: .Get him on ,get him off. Average but harsh I know. Suffered by comparison. MF Eddie Mcgoldrick, wasn’t… Read more »

Muppetman

I saw Mertsecker in one of his first few games in away end at Sunderland. Remember him turning like the titanic and injuring himself.

Northbanker

Please please let the Onana rumour be true. For me this is the most vital signing by far = more than a RB, CAM and CF. Leno’s distribution and lack of brain engagement is our biggest risk to playing out of defence successfully. It was back on full display v Chelsea. He is a massive liability

Davi

Muppetman – that’s funny, my mate used to call him “boat” because of his speed on the turn

Muppetman

So it was and Henry celebrated in front of us with the winner!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/16884594

Champagne Charlie

Andy Always seems to be grounds for dismissing views closer to the club than any of us are here. Is it because it has an ounce of positivity to it? If an agent took player X to another club after negotiating with us, only to bad mouthed us online later, I’m sure it would be eaten up with no mention that it too wasn’t independent – because he never got the pay day he hoped for him and his client with us. Where does it end? The guy is an agent to our latest signing and gave his insights on… Read more »

Muppetman

Ha yeah I was slightly wrong he injured himself controlling the ball not turning.

Zacharse

P
Locatelli front:
Juve and his agent met again end of last week for what was supposed to be round 2…maybe it was beginning of the week
Seeing a lack of reporting and bs about the annoyance of loca to not come to an agreement for transfer. Meanwhile pjanic hovering from barca who need something like 200m in sales to meet a deadline

andy1886

Charlie, stretching it a bit to use that as an example of positivity. I don’t care what the agent thinks, good or bad, because all he’s interested is what’s in it for him.

curse

so manure get Sancho and city one up them with Jack. reckon he’ll bang for them, no one is ever gonna get the ball off city now. talk about press resistance.

thought Romulan hated the chavs? hope they don’t get him, not cos I rate him, just cos we need an upgrade on Laca.

Mozi

Wow thought that was eric trump on the podcast then

Pierre

Charlie
“Interesting to hear that guys in the industry are suitably impressed with the approach we make behind the scenes.”

Impressed with the “scouting” apparently..

Signing players like Ben White for 50 mil and willian on 200 grand a week is not my idea of impressive scouting.

Martinelli , Lakonga , Mari requires good scouting and knowledge of players in different parts of the world, but nobody should be impressed by the scouting of White, ,Maddison , Willian , Ramsdale….

Champagne Charlie

Andy

An agent praising the depth of scouting isn’t something to like?

Whatever you say, I’ll ignore Ben Whites agent and give my full attention to the likes of yourself on here who are infinitely more connected I’m sure.

Godfather

Damn Mendy just let in a Leno kinda goal LMAO

Zambian Gunner

Pedro: Other than a goal keeper, CAM and a right back, don’t you think we also need a striker that gives us both physicality and pace? I
Danny Ings cud have been perfect.

Champagne Charlie

Pedro

Seeing that kind of tackle more and more it seems, almost like the game doesn’t recognise the risk of injury in anything outside studs making contact. Partey injured in the same manner.

On agents/scouts: it’s exactly the right kind of noises you want to hear from the club, and hopefully it’s a good sign of how we’re moving towards isolating players to make a difference in a specific system/collective.

Jim

Ings to Villa leaves Soton in dire need of a box striker who loves to nab a goal… enter mr Eddie Nketiah ! That will be £20m thank you Southampton. Also Laca is so clear of DIngs can’t believe I’m seeing such slander on Twitter.com

bacaryisgod

(Pedro, don’t bin me as I at least get a couple of effort points) In honor of Pedro’s new hairstyle… The point is, ladies and gentleman, that greedArteta — for lack of a better manager– is good. Arteta is right. Arteta works. Arteta clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit. Arteta in all of his forms — Arteta for world-class coaching, Arteta for youth development, for his transfers, for his process — has marked the upward surge of mankind. And Arteta — you mark my words — will not only save Arsenal Football Club, but that… Read more »

KAY Boss

Pedro, I’ve no idea what happened between you and guns, but if his view about Madison being average is his crime, then I beg to differ. Its his opinion and as such must be respected unless he went over board to attack your personality, then I’m cool.
Are we persisting with the goal keeping coach yet?

Guns of SF

I am Guns- that guy is GunnerDNA
I rate Maddison and want him and Aouar asap

Danny

This time last year we couldn’t believe Martinez was leaving and now we can’t believe Xhaka isn’t leaving plus his getting a 2 year bleeding extension!
We are so fucked.

KAY Boss

Grealish carrier, I’m afraid could be over before he touches down at city. I don’t think he’s of much need as to say us. We just don’t have the figures to go for him.
Had we had the £ and gone for him, the probability of him joining us over city could have been possible as hell be a guaranteed starter.
Talking of average, I’ve never seen a player so hyped than David Bentley. A quintessential average player the media hyped beyond his capability

Leftside

You get the feeling we may do some late deals or even a deadline day deal but I would swap that “thrill” for being prepared in advance of a season.

Has to be some smart/big moves because so far the ambition and ruthlessness spoken about at the end of last season is yet to come to fruition in my view.

TheBayingMob

Pedro … summer, I get it. One of the things I like about KC is the hot summer (and to some degree the cold winter, but last winter took the piss a bit). When we get into the summer and it gets cloudy and rains a lot it pisses me off!! Lol!! I think I need to move to a desert … I would consider Arizona but it’s full of Trumps nutters …

Dissenter

The Fofana injury puts Partey’s knock into perspective

Leftside

Goodness, that tackle on Fofana was horrendous. Looked intentional to me.

Gentlebris

‘A cat looking like you should never ever have a chance to speak to me on any level. You have to be out you got damn mind. You look like a school shooter. You’re a fucking clown. I see why you’re so sensitive. GTFOH!”’

DNA,

Maybe you should post some videos here and let’s see your David Beckham face on Tom Cruise shoulder.

Champagne Charlie

Just seen a video showing that the #34 who broke Fofana’s leg was victim of a Fofana challenge 1 min before. A nothing challenge, went down like a fanny and back up inside 30 seconds after he screamed and rolled about the floor.

Proceeds to lunge at Fofana and snap his leg at the next available opportunity. This is where retrospective punishment should come into play in a big way.

Absolutely intolerable. Would expect half my team to van Nistelrooy the cunt after seeing that in preseason.

Gentlebris

I’m still trying to figure out how a player would prefer to move to Aston Villa than to Arsenal.

Maybe we were right to not fight for Buendia.

His mental composition seems suspect.

TheBayingMob

Oh shit. That Fofana injury is a clean break on the lower left tibia and fibula. Hard to tell if it’s a compound. Hopefully it is high enough not to have fucked the ankle up as well but that was nasty. There should be more repercussions for shit like this. I’m not sure you can change the game but the guy definitely carried on through with the tackle, these players should be banned without pay for the amount of time it takes the other guy to recover. That would make them think twice. Horrendous. In a friendly.

Shaun

aouar,guimaraes,Onana,Tyler adams 80 Mill to complete our
squad

salparadisenyc

New Rules: Nobody state Danny Ings is just what we need, fucking laughable.

Shaun with you on Guimarães.

Shaun

as I doubt Man City won’t spend 160 m on
Kane and Levy won’t reduce the asking price I guess the new song for opposition fans will be Harry Kane, he wanted to go

Philmar

Arsenal have TOO many holes to fix and we are not rich so do a few bargain buys:. Buy Onana NOW – sign him up. Sell Leno in January or next summer. He is terrible with ball at his feet and it unnerves him and affects the rest of his game. Buy Aouar now – he is a bargain at this price. Loan Nelson and Willock so others can give them game time and develop them properly. Tell Maitland-Niles his present is at right back. Buy Bissouma and we are sorted. Sell Xhaka if a better offer comes in.

Philmar

Same old story…we have too much dead wood at salaries nobody wants – and due to covid only the EPL teams have the funds this summer cuz of the lucrative tv contract. The teams we could dump Lacazette,, Bellerin, Xhaka, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Elneny, Torriera, Willian and others cannot pay close to their value…and no guarantee the situation will be better next year. Covid eff’ed most of Europe’s teams. Maybe we should extend their contracts to protect their sale value – and loan them out for a fee.

Elmo

Philmar

You cannot sign Onana and Aouar. Either / or. If Onana pulls out from signing for Lyon, when everything was agreed, with Arsenal moving in at the last second, then Aulas will be in full rage mode and looking to put heads on spikes. That means any Arsenal approach for Aouar would be dealt with purely with the goal of embarrassing us.

Shaun

If Southampton can get 30 M for an injury prone Danny Ings with 1 yr on his contact we should be able to get for than 15M for Lacca

Dissenter

We need to send a giant bouquet to the Sheffield United management for rejecting all our attempts at self-impalement

It seems they have set us back on the past of common sense- we may be signing Onana after all.

Zacharse

Elmo
Think we passed on auoar a while ago…if he goes itll probbe the final week or day as lyon are holding out for an extra 5m etc

Zacharse

That fofana leg break is making me racist towards the spanish. Oof

Zacharse

Havent heard many people here mention sander berge…
Neves-level? Whatre the thoughts on him. Didnt really get a chance to settle at sheff

Champagne Charlie

Grealish has penned his deal with City according to Fab Rom, 100 mil and transfer record between PL clubs. Medical tomorrow.

Lukaku apparently very close to Chelsea for 100 mil all in.

Newcastle supposedly pushing for 25 mil outright purchase of Willock.

Looks like we’re entering a part of the window where clubs are blinking and deals are more likely to occur. Hopefully we see some progress with some transfers OUT, before bringing in a GK, AM, and CF.

Elmo

TBM

Yeah – just seen Nino’s ‘tackle’ on Fofana. Disgraceful. Even worse in a friendly. He’s only 20, but you can’t have guys like him just saying he’s devastated by what’s happened and he didn’t mean it; if you do something as reckless as that, you need to be banned for 3 or 6 months.

Zacharse

Liverpools biz has been way too quiet for my liking. Unless wijnaldum was on absurdly low wages theres n reason for them to have not bought someone. I guess the defender was a pretty big purchase…hoping they dont show reali interest in locatelli and he chooses to come to us!!! 🙏

andy1886

Diss, word is Onana is going to Inter next year. Their keeper is 37 apparently.

Goobergooner

“Granit was good last season, we missed him when he wasn’t in midfield, we just have to accept there are bigger problems to fry this season.” Pedro he wasn’t good last season. He just wasn’t complete shit. And our bigger problems to fry included a CB for 50 million plus, considering our *top 3 in defense*, yet now we can’t sell xhaka because we have no funds and couldn’t undersell him by what, a 5 mil loss max?!?! This club doesn’t have a proper clue. And it’s sad to watch. Even when Wenger was still the king in his dying… Read more »

Emiratesstroller

Personally I believe that Arsenal will complete two more signings in this transfer window. There is very little evidence that we are looking for a new Right Back in this transfer window. I agree with Pedro that the decision to keep Xhaka has been made on two counts. First because we need some “experience” in the team and second you can “rely” on him to be available to play in 30+ league games in a season. Also I don’t think that the club has the budget to buy two regular starting central midfield players this summer. The club has got… Read more »

Almuniasaynomore

Rich, I was busy today and have only read through the comments properly now. I see you are taking a break. I would say enjoy it but as it’s for work I’ll just hope it proves fruitful for you. I hope you return soon and continue to share your thoughts with us. As I’ve told you many times I don’t always agree with you but I enjoy seeing things from your perspective, it’s refreshing, take care. Wenger Eagle, You’re another who seems to be taking a break. I hope you don’t stay away too long, you are as close to… Read more »

Pierre

https://youtu.be/mS6-JYzz_Ns The Fofana leg break was unfortunate and i think there is an over reaction because he suffered such a bad injury I am going to go against the grain here and say if one looks at the tackle , the opposition player clearly goes for the ball and wins the ball, though it was a strong challenge The problem arises because Fofana didn’t follow the path of the ball and put his left leg towards the opposition player and that is why there is contact with the leg. If you watch the first part of the clip, for some… Read more »

raptora

100m Grealish and 100m Lukaku.

Covid market btw hahaha.

curse

how prickford and this prick are able to get away with assault is exactly what you should expect from a “civilisation” lol, that allows child predators to acquire billions.

Atmosphere of acceptance.

raptora

Almunia,
Only so many rebels can populate the blog at the same time.

Marko is back so Marc had to take one for the team. Thoroughly appreciated ofc.

Almuniasaynomore

Rap,
I’ll stick the head back down under the parapet so. Good night to you .

Words on a blog

What was Marc’s “crime”?

Crabregas

I must admit I didn’t think the challenge on Fofana was that bad, certainly not what I expected after readin 3-6 month bans. If he didn’t break his leg nobody would even be saying anything about it.

I think Fofana tried to plant his left leg to protect the ball and instead it was planted for the guy to come through.

There should be no retrospective bans for a challenge like that.

Appreciate CC saying he got done by Fofana a minute before so he may have wanted to go in harder which sometimes you do as a player

Tony 2

Foul on forfana. Straight red

raptora

Almunia,
Good night to you too.

Mr Serge

Raptora covid market ? Not for the oligarch and the state owned team it’s not

You can’t compare them with anyone else buy man u bro
Look at pool done their one buy
Anyone else really splashing out ?

Mr Serge

That was a nasty challenge to say the least especially in a friendly

MD-Gunner

Villa, here is a club that is ruthless, with ambition and have their shit together in the TW unlike Arsenal atm.

“Villa have had a busier transfer window than most and on Wednesday announced the arrivals of Danny Ings and Leon Bailey.”

And they are not finished yet in this TW, Villa is another contender for top 6, why? Their manager has a plan that does not reek with puking sauce.

Crimson

Love you Saka!

Pedro

MD, stop embarrassing yourself. If Arsenal had signed Ings you’d be rightly saying ‘why did we spend 30m on a 29 year old that is injury prone and has scored less goals that Lacazette in 3 out of the last 4 seasons and has half the assists’

Crying on here about how amazing Villa are, honestly. Unplug your computer and take a walk

RockyRoe

This BS theory of giving xhaka to protect value is doing my head in. He is 29 and has 2 years on his contract. We were offered 10 million for him, what kind of offer would be get for him when he is 30?31?32?

I see no reason why we should give him a new contract, keep if you are ant to, but him walking on a free in 2 years would cost less money than 2/3 years extra of his contract.

Pedro

That guy that did that to Fofana should be getting a ban for violent conduct. Disguting.

China1

Pedro this thing bout taking 10m for xhaka is a bad idea because you’d pay 35m to replace him makes no sense for multiple reasons 1) lokonga cost 17m and has already shown indications he may be a better player (jury is still out obviously but if he does there goes the you have to spend a lot to replace him theory) 2) you’re saying it as if 35m is what it costs to get a like for like. Only if we’re overpaying for neves… loca is one of the hottest properties around at the moment and was 38m if… Read more »

Moray

Villa have to compensate their fans for losing Grealish.

Buendia should be a good signing. Not impressed by the others. But at least they are showing ambition!

Pedro

China, You need to understand some things. Ben White was part of the summer plan Xhaka exiting was not, so it wasn’t budgeted for. If you are in a one in one out situation and you can get what you need for a key player, it’s better business-wise not to sell. I didn’t say Neves was too pricey, I just said that we can’t close the gap to make sense to our summer. Also can’t fathom how you can sit here all night calling Areta a novice/demand top 4 and suggest we replace Xhaka with a 21 year old from… Read more »

Moray

Rocky, I agree. There is a market for decent players at the moment. Xhaka’s profile is as high as it ever will be yet he’s received no offers over around 10m. So I’m not sure what “value” we’re protecting. Also, he’s paid Prem wages which is putting off clubs from the continent. With these doubtless increasing its simply making him even more unappealing. Yet another stupid costly decision from AFC inc. if Josh Kroenke didn’t have a brain full of sawdust and women’s knickers he would be furious at how his club is being run. We are simply adding another… Read more »