Arsenal Transfer Rumours And General Chat

kronsington

no matter who they sign to replace henry i think we are going to be underwhelmed.. its a daunting prospect to have to fill henry's boots.. i think it will be one from martins, anelka or maybe even owen.. none fill me with huge amounts of joy but we need someone now! lets get it moving arsene, 4 players in, one or two out

gosplan

I think the Owen thing is a load of rubbish. He's not Arsenals style, is a huge injury risk and hasn't played really well for a few years at this stage.

The English media love him, cause he's English, and tout him around everywhere. I mean, who is going to pay 10 mill for a striker who's spent half the last three years injured?

He was great when he was younger at Liverpool but a lot of that was connected to his pace. He's put on a load of bulk and has had loads of injuries since then.

Total rubbish, the media mention his name, get an old Arsenal player to talk about him and then the speculation begins.

No way on earth will Wenger sign him. Non technical, permanently injured, overrated and heading towards 30.

gosplan

Not sure if there's any truth in it but Sunday papers today saying that Utd. and Arsenal are vying for Tevez.

Reports say that United are preparing a cash bid while Arsenal can only afford a 9m loan package for the year.

Would be very disappointed if this were the case given that Henry + Reyes + Ali would equal 30 million or so to spend, in addition to whatever the budget was anyway.

IMO United can't justify spending that much on another striker right now given their outlay this summer. Liverpool, once they have Torres don't need another striker, and still have their wide midfielder problem to solve.

He's a great player and I'd be disappointed if money was all that kept him from going to Arsenal. All this given that the Highbury development will probably leave us as good a financial position as any premiership club.

Galvasean

From what I hear Ferguson can't bid on Tevez until he sells a couple of players first for finance.
Besides 9million for a one year loan is ridiculous money.

PHB

It's not 9 million I think, it's like 5 million for wages, and a 4 million loan fee or something.

United seem to be raising cash for the purchase of some striker, and since they have until the end of the Copa America, they can do it in time.

gosplan

can Utd really afford it though?

I mean with no-one leaving as of yet they've spent big on Hargreaves, Nani and Anderson.

I know they're the worlds richest club but spending of that sort, with a massive debt to service, seems to be a bit reckless.

Galvasean

They are supposed to be selling Richardson, Smith and Heinze...

Oh yes back to the beloved Arsenal. Good old Sunday papers. So apparently Arsenal are signing Eto'o for £20million, Curtis Davies for £8million and are "Manchester United's only real competitors" in the race to sign Tevez.
What Arsenal football club are these guys looking at?

The Rooster

Arsenal sign Croatian international striker Eduardo Da Silva from Dinamo Zagreb. 4 year deal, undisclosed fee. Subject to a medical.

gosplan

Yeah, seems to be a fox in the box finisher type from his goals:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfXGOGzEAwk

also seems to have a good shot but obviously they're only showing the ones that went in.

Guess this puts an end to Tevez speculation. Can't really see Wenger signing a guy who scored 34 last year to be fourth choice with Bendtner fifth.

Looking more and more likely that there's not going to be a really big name come in this year. That's ok though, still a very good team who are set to improve dramatically.

Would really love some cover for the RMF position though, in case Hleb doesn't come good this year.

Pepe LeFrits

As usual Wenger completely dumbfounds everyone!

As I recall when we played Zagreb at the beginning of the season he was a very quick, tricky striker. Ran Kolo and Djourou fairly ragged at times. Terrific strike rate. Let's see how he does.

gosplan

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

Terrific strike rate. Let's see how he does.

Yeah, seems that he got 30+ last two seasons.

Nice finishing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYFfiveIGpk

Pepe LeFrits wrote:

As usual Wenger completely dumbfounds everyone!

One of the things I love about him. Every year I get sucked into the gossip and eventually remember that if a player is being linked heavily to Arsenal then there's usually little truth in it. I particularly remember the Reyes move coming out of nowhere.

Anyway, with the forward line sorted, I can't really think of anyone who's available and who'd also be a good addition.

Robhino maybe? But Madrid will probably keep him if he's keeps banging in hat tricks in the Copa.

I have heard very little about him to Arsenal though so it seems likely:D

eirebhoy

He scored a hattrick in Israel a few months ago.

Pepe LeFrits

I'm hearing he has cost £16m. At least, that's what UEFA.com says, Sporting Life says £6m.

Scored 34 goals in 32 appearances last season, 73 in 104 for Zagreb altogether according to wikipedia.

Pepe LeFrits

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/06/04/croatias_biggame_poacher_strik.html

Slaven Bilic: "There is a boy," he said, "who is very special. He came from Rio when he was 15, and you could put him now in the team at Manchester United and you wouldn't know he wasn't from there. Believe me, he will do things."

Raskolnikov

It seems like an awful lot to pay for an unproven kid who's practically been unheard of . . .

AnCapaillMor

16m is insane tho. Its the president who's saying it, so i'd say he's trying to appease the fans. typical Wenger signing, Bam!!! out of nowhere.

ErinGoBrath

Wenger makes a signing completely off the media radar yet again. Haven't seen much of da Silva but the press looks promising.

Also, Cesc's agent has made it clear that he's not interested in Barca or Real and is excited about being a key man in the Arsenal team next season.

I'd expected Wenger to sign a new contract any day know too.

As an Arsenal fan I'm finally breathing a sigh of relief...

tred

Raskolnikov wrote:

It seems like an awful lot to pay for an unproven kid who's practically been unheard of . . .

maybe but united pay double that for arugably 2 un proven kids as well a few weeks ago. He looks a decent player, and considering what Spurs payed for over rated Darren Bent, not a bad deal either.

Royale with Cheese

Apparently Arsenal are claiming it was £8m, I'm sure that means £8m up front + whatever. Let's say it's about £12m, figure in the middle of what both parties are claiming.

event

tred wrote:

considering what Spurs payed for over rated Darren Bent, not a bad deal either.

regardless of what you think of bent, spurs have payed £16 million for a player who has proved he can score in teh PL. If reports are to be believed, wenger has spent the same on an unproven quantity.

have you seen this chap play?

ErinGoBrath

event wrote:

have you seen this chap play?

Played against us in the CL and scored. Gave the CB's a hard time. Youtube him.

Agree that Bent is quality and a proven goalscorer, he's quite young too which will result in a good resale value should they sell him down the line.

tred

event wrote:

regardless of what you think of bent, spurs have payed £16 million for a player who has proved he can score in teh PL. If reports are to be believed, wenger has spent the same on an unproven quantity.

have you seen this chap play?

Yes I actually have, and hes got a sweat left foot. I am happy enough with this purchase, but remember Arsenal have Bendtner coming through as well, and fit van persie. Were well covered up front for Premiership.

GuanYin

I've seen da Silva a few times and I've always liked th elook of him, very intelligent player and ruthless in front of goal at any level. He may not like the physicality of the PL though, but it's a very interesting signing.

Arsenal have been lacking an out and out finisher since Wright left. Henry and Van Persie are both fantastic goal scorers, but they're work is mostly outside the box, if you look at Arsenal's play, more often than not, there is noone on the end of balls into the box from the wing, or noone in good position.

I wonder will this mean a change in style of play for them?

Pepe LeFrits

There are a lot of suggestions being made that the €24m being mentioned is the transfer fee PLUS the boy's wages.

It remains to be seen how this will work out but I'm glad he's been signed early. I don't want any transfers left until the last minute this time.

// EDIT - seems Arsenal have told Skysports £8m. Sounds about right.

Galvasean

The signing of Da Silva is good news*. Fabregas not wanting to leave is brilliant news!

He scored against england recently. He reminds me of Berbatov a bit. Hardly anyone knew about him this time last year and now he is one of the Premiership's top stars.

AnCapaillMor

Galvasean wrote:

Fabregas not wanting to leave is brilliant news!
.

I can see fabs being captain next year, as much as i hate to say it, i think henry held him and a few others back, definately reyes. I think we'll see a new Fabs without titi.

kronsington

ive heard of da silva but would be lying if i said i knew much about him.. good to see new faces arriving though.. quite a burden on the lad having to be "henry's replacement", im sure he will do well though, wenger doesnt been spend the money being mentioned on just anyone (usually!)

Royale with Cheese

kronsington wrote:

wenger doesnt been spend the money being mentioned on just anyone (usually!)

They showed Arsenal's most expensive signings on skysports news and it was a bit of an embarrassing list. With players like Bergkamp, Pires and Fabregas having played for the club... the top signings are:

Reyes
Wiltord
Henry
Van Bronkhorst
FRANCIS JEFFERS!!!

Throw Da Silva in there too. Ok Henry was a stroke of genius but Reyes and Wiltord weren't worth their fees and Van Bronkhorst was poor. Francis Jeffers? My god, let's pretend he never played for Arsenal. So when Wenger spends big, he generally doesn't get it all that right.

Sizzler

16m for this lad :eek: Hardly a bargain considering Henry was sold for the same...

Royale with Cheese

Sizzler wrote:

16m for this lad :eek: Hardly a bargain considering Henry was sold for the same...

BBC are now reporting it's £7.5m, I think Sky are saying something similar.