I don't know if that's true or if there's a concerted effort by the media to discredit us. I mean United just had THREE bids for Mount turned down. The media arnt jumping all over that the same way. If we had come in straight out of the gate with 100m bid for Rice do you think they would have accepted OR do you think they would have asked for 120m?
We have missed out before on transfers, so there is history there and of course it makes for a media story. But like you say, nobody is jumping on Utd with the Mount bids. What's most important though is that we don't overpay for Rice, simply to satisfy impatience. I still think £100m is too much for him, although I'm also aware that is the current market and we'll have to pay that if we really want to get him.
I'm a fan of Declan so I do actually think he's worth the £100m.(crazy as that is to say) To be honest I think in a better side we will see him score/assist a lot more. £68m for Haverts though seems like a lot. Im just trusting that Arteta knows exactly what profile of player he needs to round out the squad. Timber looks absolutely quality but similar to Tomiyasu in that he's not really a CB or a fullback.
Arteta and Edu's signings so far have been really good. I don't know much about Timber, and I was baffled at first about the Havertz deal. But you have to say that so far Arteta's singings and the way he coaches players to get the best out of them has been brilliant. Given where this squad was when he first came in to where it is now, is nothing short of remarkable. Okay there have been one or two that haven't worked out, Lokonga and Tavares spring to mind and the jury is still out on Vieira, but overall when you look at players like Jesus Odegaard White Gabriel Tomiyasu Ramsdale Zinchenko Trossard And the way that players like Saka, Martinelli and Saliba have come along in this team, then you know that you can trust Arteta to bring in and bring out the best in players
Tchouameni or Camavinga would have been excellent options I agree, but having seen both players sign long-term contracts at Madrid, there's no way Madrid are letting either of them go for at least the next two seasons - and that's if their potential falls off a cliff. Currentl, they're seen as integral figures for Madrid's future for the next 10 years. Kroos and Modric are on their way out too, so there'll be more minutes for them. Tonali would have been a good choice also, but he's now going to Newcastle (what a signing that is by the way). The other thing though with Tchouameni and Camavinga is question marks over their leadership and character qualities on the pitch - we know Rice has this and this is also what makes him such a special player.
Assuming we sign out targets and Arteta plans to continue with the formation he finished the Season with.. we could see something like this next Season. -------------------------------------Ramsdale------------------------------------------------ --------Timber/White--------------Saliba---------------------Gabriel------------------- --------------------Partey/Lavia--------------------Rice/Zinchenko--------------------- ----------------------Odegaard----------------------Haverts------------------------------- ------Saka--------------------------Gabriel--------------------------------Martinelli------ Bench: Timber/White, Zinchenko, Trossard, Balogun, Tomiyasu, ESR, Taylor.
I've read we're trying to make sure the structure of the deal, add-ons and everything is aligned to ensure the bid will get accepted. Although I don't know if City are waiting for us to bid first so they can match/better what we've offered. We shall see.
The thing is we may bid 90m +10m next which would meet West Hams valuation - therefore they should accept as the player wants Arsenal. However will they agree to sell or will they try to get City to bid even higher?
Actually our valuation is 120m, and Man City are bidding because Rice has indicated he's happy to go there. Your payment plans are a joke too, we want the money now, not in 5 years time when it's worth much less due to inflation. Maybe Rice has watched you bid the same amount of money in each bid and has realised that, for all the talk, you don't really have the ambition.
Considering City's offer hasn't exactly blown ours out the water, I don't think any of what you've said is true at all. Ornstein even said West Ham were 'unimpressed' and rejected it quickly. If City wanted him so bad, where's their ambition? They know what offers we made and didn't submit a substantially better bid than what we've done. So if they want him so bad, why not offer the alleged £120m that you want? If you want to play this game, we can, but it's petty and pointless.
It is though, because the money is paid in 2 years, not 4 or 5, and the add-ons are far more achievable for City than Arsenal.
There was actually no confirmation from any credible journalist that City's money was paid over 2 years. All I've read is that City's offer wasn't hugely different from Arsenal. Add-ons are probably more achievable, sure, but if West Ham weren't impressed by City's offer, then clearly they don't feel the treble winners are doing enough to sign your captain.
Timber is an interesting potential signing, but. wonder where we'll play him - RB or CB. As far as I am aware he's 5ft9 and that worries me a bit for the CB role. I do think we need to replace Holding.
The Rice saga is getting boring. I hope we have alternatives because nothing gets my goat more than the squad not being complete for the summer tour and the meat of the pre season camp. I believe we go on tour in around 2 weeks.
