So the plot thickens with Manchester City. Haaland is out, now we find out that Phil Foden had minor surgery for an appendicitis operation. You can be moving pretty fast after an operation like that, but not sure you can be playing elite-level sport right away. Those are two pretty big players to be missing as you head into a disgusting crunch of games.

… like I said this week, there will be casualties from this run for City. Points and players. No doubt in my mind.

There was also a disgraceful moment in the Spain vs Norway where Rodri scythed into Martin Odegaard with a high challenge. It was brutal, designed to damage, but it failed. Is Pep G sending out his hitmen on international duty to do damage? It seems that way. Guess who plays against him next? Kieran Tierney. Get on the black leather boots my man and show him what the Scottish version of a reducer looks like.

Jokes aside, doesn’t it show you the level of insecurity in the City camp when it comes to what we’re doing this season?

Talking of insecure, how funny is it watching Spurs fans going into a meltdown over Conte? He hasn’t been moved on yet. I love that their Youtubers are savaging him for taking no accountability for the shocking players he’s signed… and going hard at the dreadful football.

TOO ELITE FOR ARSENAL THEY SAID.

Anyway, another manager that has been on the radar of Arsenal fans, Julian Nagelsmann, has been dumped by Bayern Munich for Thomas Tuchel.

Quite something. His star has stuttered. The lowdown seems to be that he overcomplicated things and has a problem with communication. Spurs fans have been in my DMs talking him up for them this summer. I think this would be a worrying move.

1. Nagelsmann makes a lot out of a little. There’s a little at Spurs and he might turn them into something more dynamic
2. He’s a project manager, if he’s given time and money, he’ll turn them into something functional
3. He’s still very young, taking on a Bayern dressing room was a huge ask even for Pep G. Don’t write him off.

My hope is Spurs go back to Pochettino, who is a top-class manager, but I don’t think he’s on the level of Arteta.

Arsenal is being linked to Romeo Lavia of Southampton. I think City has first refusal on him and I’d imagine they’d spite-sign him just to stop Arteta, but who knows. He’s a #6, he’s been very good in an avg Southampton setup this season, and he has all the attributes Partey has, but in very raw form. I’d imagine he’d be easier to sign than Caicedo and probably more stable if we’re honest. I like this type of signing because he can grow into the role as Partey phases out. I’m also interested to see if we still go for Declan Rice. Some people tell me he wants Chelsea but Arsenal is offering more money, some tell me his family is bitter about how he was treated by CFC, what I do know is Arsenal have been backchanneling and Arteta no doubt has a presentation on how he’d fit into our system.

Mikel Arteta had Mudryk hooked on Arsenal because he offered him a very clear path to greatness. The Shaktar man was bullied into joining Chelsea where there was no plan and no desire from the manager. They signed him because we liked him. Now he’s unhappy, Zinchenko is publicly saying he didn’t want the move, hard to see how it works out for him there. I would be interested to see if we go back for him this summer. We’ll definitely be trying to buy a big winger.

Back to the #6. It was interesting to hear Jorginho’s agent talk about Italy this summer. I wouldn’t be shocked to see him move there if we won the Premier League. I’d also not be shocked to see him stay, he’s good for the dressing room, and he’s top quality for the Champions League.

This summer, the moves are clear.

We need a top quality #6.

We need a top quality #8.

We need a speed merchant winger with output.

We need a right back.

We probably need a left back if KT wants out.

We’ll sell Tavares and Lokonga.

I’m also interested to see what Phase 4 or 5 looks like for Arsenal. My interpretation of it is Arsenal buying a BLOW OUT player of unquestionable quality like a Haaland, VVD, or Allisson. Would we move for a striker like that? Who knows. Let’s see how Arteta deals with the Balogun ascension this summer. But going back to last summer, I did run a Tall Boy summer campaign and we ended with two short kings. I still think we need a Giroud like player to give us a sexier option off the bench or in games that require a beast.

CHECK YOURSELF. Isn’t it nice to be having conversations about how we can tweak and already elite squad?

It is.

Right, that’s me done.

See you in the comments. x