No if he was he would be getting the bidder to offer 20% more than the asking price and giving it all to his mate

My guess is he’ll go to City to play under Guardiola again.

Very true.

Somehow this Sanllehi-Pepe debacle smells like money laundering.

This is also going to be an interesting development. We’ve just signed a 19 year old midfielder released from Huddersfield, this from arseblog



We’ve benefited from this as much as anyone, it’ll be interesting to see if any more uk based talent actually comes through premier league clubs as a result.

I’m not a financial whiz but laundering may not be the right terminology.

Fraud maybe better,

The example Arseblog used the other day was based on the Leno transfer, .... Arsenal start negotiating to buy Leno whose price was 18 million..... Sanllehi introduces his mate the agent Arturo Canales into it as an intermediary who he knows well and represents many Barca players and Unai Emery .... voila final transfer price is inflated to 22 million with costs for the multiple agents. It sounds like scratching people backs with cash for mates. Other business would probably call it fraud but in football it’s probably just another day for some clubs

Offs is there anything this political disaster doesn’t wreck.

I don’t mind it, there was a loophole for the uk somehow anyway that meant we offer pro contracts when eu teams couldn’t, and it never seems right offering kids big money to move far away from home.

Any idea what the kid’s name is Ash?

Would have meant we would never have seen Anelka, Fabregas or Bellerin grace our hallowed turf.

He's called Tim Akinola Bernard.

Yep, he’s a CM, former winger, forceful in the challenge and a decent burst of pace. It’s a long shot signing but apparently Mertesacker and others were impressed with his “underlying metrics” whatever that means. I wouldn’t have thought he will have any sort of a path to the first team but it’s all in the attitude isn’t it.

Well I think “grace our hallowed turf” is a bit Clive Tyldesley but yes I suppose, I take your point. The next British player that comes through we can say the opposite can’t we. We can still sign as many 18 year olds as we like.

Sorry to spam posts but just reading about why Sanlehi left and this smacked me in the face:

“The Athletic understands Arsenal exceeded the asking price for Bernd Leno and paid €5 million above the buyout clause for Lucas Torreira.“

I’m sorry 5m ABOVE the buyout!? That was never mentioned near the time and I missed it was it???

Sorry to see public health England being scrapped in a political stunt to divert attention from how badly the government dealt with the Covid situation.

Had some dealings with some people there once and found them forward thinking and progressive. The populism is wrecking everything.

It worked with my boy...

Thanks Bromley and Ash. Just did a quick search on him. The Metro says he was recently released by Huddersfield. Hence before we signed him. Unless I’m missing something (I didn’t read the whole article) I’d assume that means he either has a poisonous attitude or they felt he wasn’t good enough for them (and we’re talking Huddersfield, not Bayern Munich).

Seems a bit strange for Arsenal to be signing Huddersfield’s cast offs. But didn’t we play them quite recently in the League Cup? I’m not sure we did but there’s something in the back of my mind that we did. Perhaps he played a blinder?

https://www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.u ... 40231/amp/

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.

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.

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.

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.