I thought I heard at the time we'd gone above the buy-out clause in order the stage the payments. Usually buy-out clauses are required to be paid in 1 lump sum (or at least that what I've read). So if you can't afford £25m in 1 go because you haven't got the money or need to spread some of it on other transfers as well, you could offer £30m but say you'll pay them £10m a season for 3 years instead of £25m upfront

Two young, decent looking CBs is more than I ask for. I am not expecting Adams and Bould but it has to be a big improvement on what we already have.

I wonder if Barca has approached Wenger? I love the man but the planets aligned for him at Arsenal. I don't think he'll be successful anywhere else really. Adaption is not one of his strong points. Can't see Koeman as anything but a stop gap manager till they go after a big name. Sarri maybe? Koeman is a known name but I wouldn't say a big name. At least at that level.

As some have already pointed out, there are a lot of clubs around desperate for money post covid. Those with money could thus have a field day.

It's not just that clubs may accept a lower fee for players but that they are being forced to sell them even though they would ordinarily keep them. Thus, a lot of players who may well have been unavailable, except for an extortionately high bid, may be available at a less eye watering price.

The question is which are we?

Some real investment in this window could reap huge rewards for some clubs.

This deal is a classic example of how our scouting at this level has changed, and will be done going forward.
It was done purely off of video analysis and statDNA data.

Hey Hodd,

What do you make of us signing this kid from Huddersfield without even going to watch him or giving him a trial?

Another one.......Arsenal are set to sign 20-year-old centre-half Jonathan Dinzeyi after his release from Tottenham.

Wow. It’s like Arsenal are playing Football Manager 2020.

It’s the way everyone does it now
We WILL have seen him in the flesh at some point.
During lockdown we had some training on video scouting and TBH I can see the benefits, particularly with overseas players.
I think the use on the 3 we have signed during this pandemic are more down to the circumstances, but we will see it’s use expand.
The success of it sure won’t have helped the cause of our recently departed scouts.

Thanks Hodd.

Huddersfield let him go which is a bit odd if he's that good.

Same goes for the Spurs lad who they let go and has now joined us.

It’s just more effective and efficient to use the tools available
Under normal circumstances the player will be flagged in a live game - either through an in-country contact or club scout, depending on location etc.
Based on that someone will then watch the player on the scouting video app (hudl) and review vitals on statDNA.
This will the be pulled into a comprehensive report and based on that someone from the senior recruitment team will watch him live again; then a decision will be made.
It reduces the cycle time and cost significantly
We’ve lost out on a number of players in the last couple of seasons because the “old” model took too long.

I can’t speak for the specific details of each player, as I haven’t been involved.
The only thing I would say is that it could just come down to how well covered clubs are in certain positions e.g. club 1 may have 2 right backs in the 18’s already whereas another club may be short in that position. Not every player is “released” because a club doesn’t think they have the potential to be a pro.
The biggest decisions are made at u14, giving the players a chance to focus more on school work if they are less likely to make football their career.

Ah that makes sense in context. I do have a vague recollection of that now you mention it. Although I also had no recollection 5 minutes ago

I guess that it’s moved on a bit then since the time when Graeme Souness signed “George Weah’s cousin” for Southampton.

You're a legend Cesc
https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/cesc-fabregas-man-utd-arsenal-22539319

Don’t know if this is true or not but just read that Spanish clubs who participated in the Spanish furlough scheme are only able to spend 25 percent of any finances they generate through player sales.

What this probably means is that those clubs will have to swap players rather than sell if they want to re invigorate their squad as it allows them a greater potential budget.

Barcelona and athletico both participated in the scheme

It would be nice and a change to see a Leipzig vs Lyon final. Won't happen but still, would be nice. If that can't happen and it must be one of the other two, obviously PSG. Yeah, they are bought and paid for but so are the chokers.

It seems like it is between us and Napoli for this Gabriel chap from Lille. (how many transfers does it always seem to be us and Napoli chasing a player?) Apparently Napoli need to sell first and it is likely to be their CB Koulibaly.
Both clubs have offered the right fee and similar packages to the player. Lots of reports saying he's chosen us.
I can't admit to having seen him play but the type of signing is right for us. He's 22, left sided CB, has pace and power and is tall and decent in the air and decent with the ball at his feet.....and is only costing £25m. When you hear of the likes of Lewis Dunk apparently costing Chelsea £40m it makes far more sense to go after this lad.

Gives us a lot of CB but I'd expect a few to be moved on with some degree of ruthlessness.

Then the priority has to be to fix the centre of midfield. I would happily get Ceballos back on loan, and I wouldnt mind Coutinho on loan as long as the deal is right for us. If Torreira nd Guendouzi are off we need to try to generate £60m from the pair and invest it straight back in the midfield

Looks like Koeman will be going to Barcelona. Apparently Wenger has offered up his services to be the dutch national team boss.

No thanks!

Given the strange situation for the football calendar and the quick turnaround for the new season there is a great opportunity for teams to make a strong start to the new season and catch a few teams on the hop as they aren't quite match fit. Hopefully we can get our critical business done early and get a settled squad going in to next season.
We know we're going in to it with some long term injuries/recoveries already, Mari, Martinelli, Mustafi, Chambers. But we really need to hit the ground running

Haven't seen him either, but it's the type of profile that makes signing the Willian and Luiz sensible. If we were only going after those type of cheap, experienced players it would be one thing, but if they're a part of the strategy that means we can spend more money on the likes of Saliba and Gabriel then I'm all for it. They might not become the players we hoped for, but at least there's a chance they will form a great pairing in central defense for years to come.

I must say as it stands even if we made no more buys, its been a successful transfer period. I'd like to see a few things happen but I can't complain so far.

Wenger would be much better as a national team manager. That may not be a bad fit actually.

As things stand, I thought Willian was the only new player recruited so far?

You do realise that Koeman played at Barca from '89 to '95. Indicates he knows what he's letting himself in for.

All the same monies were shifted around, let alone having inflated prices. Smacks of a cover up as well.

Hey Zed,
Yeah, aware of his stint there. I actually made a post on here that I wouldn't mind him to replace Wenger when he was managing Soton.

I wish him well, but Barca go for currently successful managers. I can't help think they see him as a stop gap. Holland manager is a big job, him being Dutch helped but prior to that, Everton and and Soton? Hmmm....maybe they do see him as a permanent manger but I'm guessing no.

We'll have to wait and see.

...who Messi wants!

Apparently Arsenal has signed a young Totts reject. Jonathan Dinzeyi, 20, a centre-half.
This according to The Athletic and Talksport.

[Edit: Dinzeyi will join the U23s]

Apparently we have hired a new negotiator with a great track record. Messi will be a gooner.

Please note, I had no say in selecting any music that accompanies these videos

It'll be interesting to see what happens with Lacazette this window. He's got 2 years left on his deal so this summer is really decision time if we want to learn from past mistakes. Which means new contract or sell. Only players nearing retirement or with zero value should be exempt.

There were some murmurs of Juve being interested and a potential price of £30m which would seem fair (ish). Lacazette actually did a lot of good work in the last 10 or so games of the season and probably found his feet better in Arteta's system so if we keep him I wouldn't be unhappy. But I'm not sure how we can offer him a new deal on what I assume would be a wage increase.

Perhaps if the opportunity came along to sell a 29 year old Lacazette on £150k a week and replace him with (for example) 22 year old Edouard from Celtic for a similar budget but smaller wages

I'll be surprised if we see Lacazette in an Arsenal kit when the window closes. How do you think we are gonna pay for these players? lol.
I'm reading 30 mil to Juve which is a decent amount. Okay, its The Sun, you paper train the puppy on it but still rumors are he's going from other sources.

Every worldie Gnabry scores makes my heart weep. Although less chance he becomes this player with us through our blunder years than with Bayern, perhaps...

I've read a lot about how Gnabry came to leave Arsenal. I think there is a huge amount of circumstance, timing and (bad) luck.
His progression was good, he'd broken in to the first team becoming our second youngest player to play in the league for us. At 18 he made 10 appearances and scored and got a few assists - everything going well and on target. Then at 19 he got a serious knee injury and missed the entire season. The next season Arsenal probably quite correctly thought a loan for a 20 year old with only 10 senior games and a big knee injury would be the right thing to do. He went to Pulis at West Brom and never played. He came back to Arsenal we wanted to extend his deal but he wouldn't sign as he wanted more first team opportunties, so Arsenal sold him for £5m.

The mistakes Arsenal made were:
Sending him to West Brom without some clause or penalty for them if he didn't play
Not extending his deal earlier (but that is a tough call considering his injury and lack of games)
Not insisting on a buy-back or sell on clause when he left

I think Arsenal are a lot more careful and considered in where players go on loan now.

I agree I doubt he'd be the player he is now if he'd stayed with us. Of all the regrets we'd had over players leaving or leaving too cheap Gnabry is seemingly the one who is currently absolutely world class. I don't see many better attacking wide players in the world right now considering his goals, assists and doing it in the best team in Europe on the biggest stage. Also 13 goals in 13 games for Germeny.

Painful

Gnabry is the player some (misguided) people think Sterling is. Astonishing player. His left foot alone this evening was lethal.

Most big clubs have players they’ve let go and been reminded of ever after so there’s some solace there for us. Chelsea alone with De Bruyne and Salah is a laugh a minute, but even City and Barca have their high profile fair share, and Pogba at Utd - ridiculous debacle.

German clubs seem to be winning at transfers recently, and suddenly the place to go for young English players, Jude Bellingham at Dortmund is one I’ll be keeping my eye on.