Apparently we’ve been quoted £70m for Upamecano and £50m for Rugani. Those two would sort out our defence. Add in Tierney for £25m. Obviously dropping £145m on those 3 defenders is never going to happen but it makes you realise what a leg up City and Chelsea had, both have spent those sums of money regularly on players and can drop that in one summer to sort out a defence....as City did.
So for years and years we work within our means and just a financially doped £150m, maybe 1/10th of what City have spent could/would have us right back in business with the best in the league.

His sole redeeming quality is that shot of his. And unless he's going to employ it a bit more, what else is there?

Good thing that doesn't happen on here.

Yep. You can pick a defeat and say if only. The fact is that after we drew with Tottenham we were still in a position where we were in great shape for Top 4. It was the relegation standard football at the end if the season that cost us. The culmination of that was the second half of the Europa League final.

It was just a pathetic effort all round. The easiest run-in and we made it look like we were playing prime Barca every week. Shockingly inept and one of the reasons why I think the jury is still out on Emery.

If we finish the window with another decent defensive signing then the ball is in Emery's court so to speak. No excuses.

He has a great passing range, is generally positionally sound, has great attitude and adds some much needed physicality to our side. He’s slow and has an annoying tendency for brain farts, but it’s ridiculous how some only want to see his flaws. Not really sure why all player analysis these days seem to suggest a player is either a star or absolute *%^@, but managers such as Emery, Favre, Hittzfeld and Wenger rates him highly so he clearly has something.

Absolutely correct Hazuki. Xhaka is a long way from perfect and I wouldn’t lose any sleep if he left. But bloody hell, the way some people talk you’d think he was another David Hillier.

If we finish the window with another decent defensive signing then the ball is in Emery's court so to speak. No excuses.

And for the record, before I get jumped by his detractors, I’m not even sure I’d have Xhaka as a starting player for us with everyone fit. Plenty of exciting midfielders at the club, and depending on what formation we play, how Ceballos adapts to England, and the development of players like Guendozi and Willock, there may not be room for Xhaka in the starting eleven.

Morning Socrates. If we pay the sort of money it’s being reported that Leipzig want for Upamecano, I wonder how long it”ll take for us to be accused of being financially doped? Whether the accusation is fair or not, I can see it happening.

I can't see that deal going through, Bern, not at this late stage in the window. They wouldn't have much time to replace him for a start.

I think the Bundesliga window closes on Sept 2nd, so that would give them a couple of weeks. But it's weird that we've left it so late, if this type of big transfer was what we wanted to do.

Koscielny has supposedly agreed terms with Bordeaux and they have agreed a fee of £5m with Arsenal. Could go through today

Completely agree with that, Haz.

Bennacer made his £14m move to AC Milan, meaning Arsenal pick up £4.5m from a sell-on clause we had for him.
Add the Koscielny fee and a nominal fee for Jenkinson and it all helps boost the spending power.
I think we will have made £25m from selling fringe players

Absolutely correct Hazuki. Xhaka is a long way from perfect and I wouldn’t lose any sleep if he left. But bloody hell, the way some people talk you’d think he was another David Hillier.

Confirmed by Ornstein. He also mentioned we're still after a central defender and Tierney, and we're in advanced talks with Nottingham Forest regarding Jenkinson.

Anyone know anything about this chap from Leipzig? He is only 20 so how could can he be?

Just goes to show how important the selling side is, Rich, it all adds up.

Imagine if we'd got decent fees for Rambo and Welbeck. That would have been £50m more in the pot.

Not seen him play, but he’s one of those names that makes people on the internet go nuts. Started for a good Bundesliga club at 18, and for France in the U21 Euros this summer, so he's clearly a highly rated young player. Wouldn't expect him to improve us much this coming season, but promising for the future.

Just watched a 9 minute compilation of about 100 tackles from him nd he went to ground... once :love4:

Looks strong and pacy and decent on the ball. Seems like we've left it a tad late tho.

The £70m valuation is crazy, but when Lewis Dunk is valued at £50m and James Tarkowski at £45m then it suddenly starts to look like good value in a twisted way. At least there’s a chance he turns into world class.

The market for prem clubs is crazy. Teams are paying £15-20m for players who got relegated or have never even played at a higher level than the championship.

Which is precisely why I think we could have gotten more for Bielik from another club. His stock surely had gone up after his performances over the summer.

L’Equipe now saying Coutinho is joining Arsenal on loan. Any other transfer window and I would’ve dismissed it immediately.

Seriously don't get that - but what do I know?

All gone

2012, DHD? Wow. Farewell the Unconvincibles.

Some decent memories nonetheless.

To be accurate McQ (and before Bern steams in), the BFG is still at the club.

To be accurate McQ (and before Bern steams in), the BFG is still at the club.

The £70m valuation is crazy, but when Lewis Dunk is valued at £50m and James Tarkowski at £45m then it suddenly starts to look like good value in a twisted way. At least there’s a chance he turns into world class.