Spice is in the air, my nose is starting to twitch, I may even sneeze… transfer Scoble level is moving up a level.
The Portuguese press is reporting that Arsenal is interesting is moving for left-back Grimaldo, who was ahead of Nuno Taveres when he was at Benfica. The fee is €7m, which would represent at a €42m saving on what we were being asked to pay for Lisandro Martinez.
There’s a great article on the player here.
As touched upon previously Grimaldo has an excellent appreciation of space and how best to access the space in the attacking phase to bypass the defensive block.
This also extends to an ability to accurately play the diagonal pass across the field for his opposing fullback or winger if they have been left isolated against an opposition defender.
Having the ability to run with the ball, play short combination passes to advance up the near side of the pitch or switch the focus of the attack with a diagonal pass makes Grimaldo exceedingly difficult to play against.
I don’t know enough about the player to give you a deep run down, but it’s clear he has different attributes to Kieran Tierney. The player grew up in La Masia, he’s 26 years old so he’s experienced enough to deliver from day one, and he’s kind of an all-rounder left-back. He’s great in tight spaces, tactically astute, with a wide range of passes. He’s also a bit of a dead ball specialist.
This is where I kind of expected Arsenal to be with the back-up left-back, Lisandro Martinez was the dream, a super-specific specialist, but it looks like the deal was getting expensive, and we need to move on that position with urgency. This looks like a very solid plan B.
Also… Mikel Arteta sniffing around a Spaniard? A true rarity.
So let’s imagine these rumours are real, that puts additional funds back into the mixer. So… we’re once again being linked with a Brazilian. This time, it’s internet fan favorite, Lucas Paqueta. The fee is apparently £55m. He’s an 8, has all the flair you’d look for from a Brazilian, he’s a very Bang-Bang type of player. The journo that had the Gabi Jesus story is apparently behind this one, so who knows, it just seems like a lot of money when Youri Tielemans is there for £25m.
… but who knows. I said at the summer that there’s every chance that you could see an unexpected exit.
Player sales are going slow.
No movement for Hector, Bernd, Lucas T, Reiss, Ainsley, Runarsson… or any notable loans yet.
Ok, short one today, we’ll be back with a podcast at 9pm EST, so tune in!
Looooooads to talk about!
ALSO, why aren’t you subscribed to your Youtube channel? Get on it you monsters.
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Boink
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Tr4phy
Trop4.y
Read the whole bog and then saw no comments
Ok
Bring on The Grimster I say.use the extra dosh to fill another 3 positions & we’re laughing 😂 Get two CMs & a DM.Bobs your uncle.
‘I don’t know enough about the player to give you a deep run down’ then goes on to give a deep run down.
That will be a steal if we can sign him. It will also save us some money to buy more players. Better days ahead.
I pray that all our new players bed in before the full pre season training begins. That will give enough time to players to blend with one another.
Left, this blog averaged 1100 words per post last year, this entire blog today was 471 words, that was not a deep rundown at all.
No surprise there little interest in our players. Leno is the only one worthwhile and it sounds like Fulham are almost there. The rest are pony and everyone knows it. It’s the result of years of underspending/poor decision making.
If Grimaldo is as decent as it sounds, why didn’t we go for him originally instead of Tavares??? The price can’t have changed that much so soon???
Hope Brazil play more friendlies in Europe. If we sign another we could struggle after international break. I’d love Kante, yes not the player he was but I don’t think he’s been played in correct position by Chelsea too far forward
TeeCee
That may be the case but you can argue that we are getting low balled because teams feel we are rich. Don’t forget we spent the most in Europe last summer and until recently, we had guys like Ozil and Auba on 250-350k a week. Torreira for example is a good player and worth at least 20 million.
Wouldn’t bringing this guy cause conflict between him and Tavares ? They used to compete for the same position at Benfica right ? You move to a new club and you are competing with the same guy again .
There’s too much hype around transfers. Most of it generated by the press because they need something to wrote about. I cant really get my head around posters who get their knickers in a twist about will we, won’t we and why aren’t we going after X. Its a hugely complex process not helped by the fact we have no CL to offer. Really? let’s see what we can or can’t do. I’m sure Arteta is well aware that if we get off to a very bad start to the season his position will come under threat. The last thing… Read more »
No Rafa, Zverev, Medvedev, Federer or Berretini
Djokovic literally got a free pass to Wimbledon title.
Grimaldo would be a very good pickup for 7 mil. I have seen him play and he is a much better player than Tavarez. He is a more attacking fullback than Tierney too. And the risk is minimal considering the fee. You can get rid of him next year if he fails to adapt. This would be a smart signing. Paqueta is a very good player. But he has played as a CAM most of his career. It would be a big ask to come to the PL and become a starting CM in my opinion. Bit if the choice… Read more »
This Paquetta deal has to be agent/ media hype
Agree Habesha, Grimaldo and Tielemans feel like solid squad improvements for comparatively cheap money. If we can be opportunistic with one final incoming then we’ll have a solid squad come the start of the season, maybe not spectacular but dealing with obvious issues. Obviously Partey’s availability will be significant!
€7m if true is a steal for Grimaldo. This guy was valued at €25-30m not long ago and he is still only 26 and has nit had a bad injury.
If we are looking at 55m for a cm then surely savic has to be the target?
Hopefully he takes to the PL better than Alex Telles has though.
Nice post
I think Tavares can become a very good fullback, we shouldn’t write him off.
WengerEagle Grimaldo performed to a good standard even in a season where he actually had disagreements with the club. He was once thought to be the successor to Jordi Alba. And he is coming in to his prime too. He is quite a brilliant player technically. He is adequate defensively too. Not the best defensive fullback though. Would be a good pick up for €7 mil. He was being linked every year for a £30 mil move for the past 3 seasons. I would take him as an alternative to Tierney. TR7 Honestly I would sell him now if there… Read more »
Bob
We need obvious good age, good price players with quality. Grimaldo and Tielemans will give us that. May be even one more like a good winger if we sell well the rest of the window. €50 mil for Martinez doesn’t make sense. €7 mil for Grimaldo and €33 mil for Tielemans plus a huge bid on a player like Moussa Diaby makes so much sense to me.
I don’t think Pepe even registers on the Scoville level…
RP7
Yes congratulations to Novax.
Most of the CMs we are being linked with aren’t that much better than Tielemans if better at all. Maybe we should just sign him and put that to bed. Don’t want the club to spend more on a worse player.
Other than Savic the rest are his level and they all cost 55 million for some reason.
Yea RP7 I would Kante too as a Partey back up. Not at his very best anymore but very serviceable and would fit this new Arsenal like a glove.
I would hope we’d be able to sell these players for these prices and I’d include Chaka. It’s a buyer’s market but nobody in Europe other than PSG and Bayern have any cash
The Totts sold Bergwijn for £26m and are asking nearly £20m for Winks. Liverpool are likely to ge5 £17m for Neco Williams.
So these prices can’t be unrealistic
Leno- £8m
Bellerin- £8m
Torreira -£10m
AMN – £10m
Tavares- £8m
Nelson-£5m
Guendouzi – £9m sold
Mavropanos- £4m sold
Ballard -£2m sold
Pepe- £15m
Xhaka – £18m
Total £97 m and wages saved of around -£700m per week
I’m all for Kante but at 31 let’s not tie him down to a long contract.
TR7
I too think that tavares has a lot of potential as a footballer. I just see 1 problem with him and your thought. Imo he doesnt have good defencive insticts and instict is something that cant be tought. And i cant see how someone could become a great fullback while not being good at defending so i would say sell him on at first opportunity. Thoughts?
I find it funny that the same people that were whinging here 2 days ago, that Jesus at 200k was a problem. Even saying we may get stuck with him and not be able to shift him in the future. But not the tiniest word from them, that the inferior player Sterling, 2 years older, is getting over 300k. I just don’t get some people’s feelings about their own team Arsenal. Sterling… very good player. But we got the right one. A guy who works so hard off the ball and fits what we’re trying to do. The fact we… Read more »
T
While I totally agree with you on Tavares needing to up his defensive game I wouldn’t say he can’t improve that aspect of his game. For me the main problem with him is his inability to sense danger and get back in position in time something he can learn with time. I find him to be very impactful going forward, much more potent than Tierney in attacking third. At least deserves one more season in my view and then we can decide whether he is worth continuing with.
Nigel
Bang on. I was impressed last september. I might be astonished next september?! 🙂
A lot of people don’t fuck with over 30s in the blog James. Beware
Well either way i hope tavares gets a lot of games somewhere next season whether with us or somewhere else. Then we get to see how it turns out. The last thing i would want is for him to sit on the bench most of next season
“But not the tiniest word from them, that the inferior player Sterling, 2 years older, is getting over 300k”
😂😂😂 So Gabriel Jesus is also superior to Sterling?
Nigel, please name 10 wingers in world football that are better than Sterling right now. Including Ronaldo and Messi
Tee Cee, on Tavares vs Grimaldo I think we had a little more faith in Tierney not being a perma crock a year ago. Also, now Grimaldo is going into his final year, which makes a big difference in price…. but much more importantly, he had a big issue with his manager and disrespected him in a bad way. I think he wrote on the posted team sheet that it was a joke when he was left out. Basically the same reason as why Guendouzi went so cheap. I just hope that Grimaldo is warned by his advisors that he… Read more »
Also Jesus 45m, Sterling 47.5m. MUCH CHEAPER indeed.
Also why do you feel the need to compare Jesus and Sterling? Both different players and profile. Going to clubs at different stages of their development/project. It’s really not necessary at all, the comparison.
Sterling is worth his 300k pw. He’s proven to be a world class winger many times at city and a major protagonist in their glory years.
He’s world class and in his prime. 300k is the going rate for players of that magnitude in English clubs.
I love Kante as a player and as a person. Probably one of the players I love eventhough he is playing for a shitty team like the Chavs. But we shouldn’t go for him. He is on huge wages at Chelsea and has been declining the past two seasons. If he showed anything resembling the sort of player he was, Chelsea wouldn’t get rid of him. We should be looking for the next Kante if we are signing a DM.
“Also why do you feel the need to compare Jesus and Sterling? Both different players and profile. Going to clubs at different stages of their development/project.
It’s really not necessary at all, the comparison.”
Mystic, that’s what we do around here now apparently.
I’m surprised Pedro didn’t write a 1400 word Jesus>Sterling comparison piece like he did when Spuds signed Richarlison, whom no one here wanted anyway.
Tom, Sterling is elite, so is Gabriel Jesus. No need to talk about anything there bar the surprising transfer fee.
Richarlison vs Jesus was a talking point. My article riled Spurs fans. Weird you’re still talking about it.
I actually think City are weaker now having let Sterling and Jesus go.
Likewise Mane less Pool.
It’s an opportunity for the rest to close the gap.
I knew the Sterling defenders would come out when I said we got the better deal (context) and especially, the better player. I’m not a big fan of Sterling even though he’s clearly very good (as I specifically stated)…. But of course there’s always guys here who praise rivals signings over our own great signings. It simple: Jesus more complete player. Cost MUCH less in salary. Younger and works harder. Why complain about Jesus salary, but ignore that Sterling is costing a lot more at 2 years older. But some people just have to come on to defend Chelsea’s new… Read more »
Pedro, fair enough.
My point was no one here was asking for Richarlison and many, myself included, don’t even rate him.
But I’m guessing the main reason you didn’t dump on Sterling is the Arteta connection.
That would’ve been awkward
Kante just doesn’t feel right at this point..
seems like it would be very late to the party, and I don’t like sound of it at all for us. ……Brilliant career… but what do Chelsea know that would make them want to part with him?
Tuchel is a very astute man.
Let’s not do any favours for Chelsea’s new clown owner, by giving him cash to move older unwanted players.
Their wage bills and bloated squad will be an issue for them in the next few years, because Americans will not keep eating losses like the oligarch.
Everything before the word “but” is horse sh*t.
Personally I would prefer Amadou Onana to Kante.
Can Paqueta replace Xhaka ? I read somewhere he prefers playing as a box to box midfielder.
Tavares is an interesting player who definitely has some strong attributes for his age, such as speed, strength, power and drive. Where he lacks imo is positioning, concentration and composure- after a few errors- he goes into panic mode and gets a bit flustered. He’s only 22 and has around 2 years top level experience. And that’s been as a back up for Grimaldo and Tierney for the most part. He is a raw player with good potential. Personally i would rather loan him out for a year in the hope that he can stay fit and play regular thus… Read more »
Death and taxes ………….and Xhaka in Arsenal’s case.
I’m surprised posters still talk about Xhaka getting replaced.
Do any of you guys every watch chelsea? Kante fell off a cliff this season and every chelsea fan I know wants rid
At this stage he’s another Willian. A big no thank you from me
Big NO to Kante if we’ve learned anything from the madness of buying Willian and Czech.
Also, Jesus buy is better than Sterling. In team sport, we always look for the team player not only who’s better as individual.
Kante is 31 and on £290kpw.
Enough said.
We needed Jesus more than Sterling but I’d have been happy if Sterling had come too!
Habesha,
Great thought about selling Tavares if we bring in Grimaldo. Avoid future problems between the players, also, we wouldn’t really need Tavares then, unless we have a real suitor for Tierney.
There is interest from a couple clubs in getting Tavares as a wingback. But no loans with options. Only sell to move him on.
“Big NO to Kante if we’ve learned anything from the madness of buying Willian and Czech.”
The only crazy thing about the Cech transfer was Arsenal fans believing the hype he alone was worth 10-15 points of improvement in the table.
The club should let Tavares go out on a 2 year loan somewhere. Preferably somewhere he can make mistakes and still get picked every game. The upside in his game is HUGE. If he can iron out the rawness and deer in a headlight moments, I promise you guys, he wil return to Arsenal, a serial rapist. A full-throttled Tavares added to the firepower of Martinelli, Saka, ESR, Odegaard, Jesus and co, now that’s what I call menace.
His potential is that huge.
I really hope Martinelli hits Sterling’s heights. Every Gooner will be happy 😆
Naija 😂 what did you mean return a serial rapist?
Tavares may have potential but I wonder whether he can be a competent LB, the improvement needed is substantial.
That’s of course if he can iron the weakness in his game. Someone mentioned earlier that such a thing is instinctive and can’t be taught. Really hope that’s not the case.
Romano : Arsenal have not submitted any proposal for Lille winger Edon Zhegrova and there are no negotiations ongoing to sign N’Golo Kanté from Chelsea, as things stand.
Mystic, You are a dishonest debater. I never even mentioned the purchase price we paid to Man City vs what Chelsea paid because it’s close enough to not even matter. I mentioned only the salaries, for which Chelsea paid 50% more. That’s a huge difference, for the older player, who I don’t prefer over the younger, cheaper, Jesus. And Does Sterling press anywhere near as well as the “best in the world” according to Pep, or work as hard? The fact that you try to compare the sale price, shows you just can’t debate a point honestly. I know you… Read more »
Mystic
He would make a lot of premier league defenders bend over. Serial rapist.
I wonder what odds you’d get for Tierney to go a whole season uninjured. Shame as he’s a good player but he’s made of glass
Also Mystic
The Jesus signing will be good for Martinelli. It will hopefully revive the samba blood in him bcuz I wanna see Ituano Martinelli, the one that looked like Alexis Sanchez. It’s been 3 years since he joined I think he’s finally adjusted and he’s raring to go.
Najai+soccer – pretty distasteful stuff from you there and odd as an Arsenal player is likely on rape charges
How much is Jesus earning at Arsenal? 190k per week? That’s not too bad is it? Don’t why there is so much debate about it.
We had our chances with Kante, but Wenger just lost interest in that sort of player, and did it cost him.
Didn’t Kante struggle a bit last season?
Nigel, again, I don’t get why you are comparing the business we did with what Chelsea did. Like I said Chelsea and Arsenal are in different phases of their development/project. We both bought players in Jesus and Sterling that represents this. Chelsea are at a stage where they need a WC player, proven and ready to bang asap. Sterling has been the protagonist in many years for city so there’s a surety for him to come in instantly and deliver. We on the other hand are at a stage we have to find players that feel “let down” by their… Read more »
At least for this season, KT will have six weeks without matches during WC. This might allow him the perfect opportunity to rest ‘ mid season’.
This season may be more unpredictable with an International competition in November. Boxing Day may be too early for those players returning from WC have played many minutes in the tournament.
Tom
Amazing that you’d mock arsenal for finishing second in a season we beat Bayern in their own back yard in he champions league and were prevented form winning the title by a combination of horrendous injuries and scandalous officiating
The first 2 months alone cost us 5 points alone in incorrect refereeing
In what world is Gabriel Jesus better than Sterling? Can we just stop being ridiculous? We had no striker, we needed someone like Jesus, we got him, even though I believe a lot of other clubs would have wanted him. Can we just enjoy that and leave Sterling to be. I’ve been watching Sterling since his Liverpool days, watched him carry England, proved himself in ManCity winning them games they’ve thought drawn, that’s over 10 years of consistency. If we can extract that from Jesus then I’d be elated. But let’s not kind ourselves that Gabriel at this point is… Read more »
Really interesting to see there being some concrete links to Kante. Heavily implies that Partey is the player and we are preparing for life without him.
Clearly the ideal time to have bought Kante was 6 years ago but imo talk of his decline has been exaggerated. Just 13 months ago he won the CL as a star performer for Chelsea.
Even if he is no longer the player he was in 15-18 he is still a top drawer CM and levels better than anything we have minus Partey. He could be an excellent short-term solution in CM.
Worth noting that Chelsea were a bit of a mess last season and the turbulence behind the scenes added to that.
Most of their players if not all had worse campaigns than 2020/21.
Oh, read that post wrong by TR7. 🤣
No concrete Kante talk after all. Paqueta is a 10/wide player anytime I have watched him for Milan/Lyon/Brazil.
He isn’t a B2B.
Sorry weagle
I don’t agree. He really has dropped off.
Tweet…
Saliba & Gabriel Magalhaes cost Arsenal a combine £54m🤲
Chelsea are about to pay £41m for Nathan Ake. (Photo of Arteta laughing).
Also, people complained when we overpaid for a young English international CB.
Un
He is still easily a top 5-10 PL CM. No chance there are 10 better CMs in the league and he is closer to top 5. His age is a concern though and sticking him on big wages into his mid 30s. Not ideal…
I would just stump up the cash for Savic myself.
Ake is going for mad money, agreed. Combined £80m in fees between the City and Chelsea moves for an ordinary enough CB.
Letting Tomori slip out the backdoor was a massive mistake. Milan have got a really top drawer defender there and £25m was a snip.
Naija
I get what you mean now with the statement.
And yeah, Jesus could really help Marti to kick on. It’s due now. Really looking forward to this season
Chelsea are desperate. That is why they are going to pay 40 mil for Ake. They badly need CBs. He is a good player but not worth that at all. And I am glad if he is the one who turns out to be a replacement for Rudiger.
It’s hard to argue that Jesus is a great signing and then try to prove that Sterling is a poor signing, in the same breath.
Both are excellent signings
If we had CL to offer, Arteta wouldn’t say no both signings from city. That’s taking a project to mother effing level right there.
Habesha
For a club that have prepped behind the scenes so well for years transfer-wise and loan-wise it is kind of incredible to see Rudiger, Christensen, Alonso and Azpilicueta all walking out the door for nothing and Lukaku being loaned back to Inter for 10% of what they paid for him a year ago.
And one of their defensive pillars in Silva is 38.
“He is a good player but not worth that at all”
But that’s what he cost when City paid for him?
Why is he not worth that?
Ake is vastly experienced CB and can also play LB hes a very good player good on the ball no doubt that’s good business.
Yea, Chelsea are there for the taking this season. They have too many transitions taking place at the same time.
United too are caught up in massive changes.
City have taken some risks with their offense, some would say they had to freshen up their squad and cash in on players that were maxed out.
Liverpool are very much settled, Mane’s exit won’t change a thing.
We won’t have a chance to walk into the top-4, now or never for the ‘project’.
Eagle
I’m not sure
He’s lost his pace and energy and his passing has gone to shit
When it’s gone it’s gone. On paper you might say that but the kante of next season could be badly off boil.
I wouldn’t risk it
Just a reminder that Konrad Laimer and Aouar have a year left on their contracts as well as Tielemens and Renato Sanches. Point is whether or not Kante is or isn’t still good there are still options available.
I think that Pool will really miss Mane. Many will only realise how important he was to them when he has been gone for a while.
He was consistently their best big game attacker and more dynamic than Salah imo albeit not as overall consistent and prolific.
Chelsea are’nt overpaying for Nathan Ake though
The numbers bear that out..
If you wanted to rebuild a defense in a hurry, it’s a good way to start.
Thorough, You say Sterling is better than Jesus and it’s not even close. Sterling vs Jesus: Jesus… More goals per 90, a better shot conversion rate & the same assists per 90. Does Sterling press like Jesus? We all know the answer. Let’s not forget the stats Pedro demonstrated about Jesus production as a starter. That his averages are being held back by the fact he was used as a tactical sub so often, and that was his hard work helping the team in ways that are not really going to show up in stats. Two years younger. Significantly lower… Read more »
If Chelsea are willing to let Kante go, there’s a reason! No way we go near, I would say once bitten etc, but Willian, Gallas, Cech…the list goes on!
Sterling a great player, but £80m in wages for what will likely be a couple of good seasons before he’s over the hill. Great for Chel$ea but no regrets we didn’t go for him.
Right, back to Arsenal!
I still love Aouar as a player.
Aouar, Grimaldo, Sangare would be a great haul. Sangare could be TPs replacement if the worst happens.
I think Jesus alone would propel us to Top4 , If we have Partey available and then fit for like 25-30 PL games then for sure we nail 3rd .