Arsenal reportedly in talks to sign Ademola Lookman - multiple sources reporting this. I'm not sure how concrete the interest is, but I suspect we have a list of names and Lookman appeared on that list. With Atalanta signing Kamaldeen Sulemana from Southampton, and Lookman wanting a move since the Europa League final win of 2024 (where he got a hat trick), he could be a potential option. This could also be part of Berta's strategy where he talks to multiple players and their reps at once, agrees terms, then executes once the club have given the green light on which player they want. Will be fascinating to see how this transpires.
Its funny because If I think about our front line... If we signed Eze - I would prefer us to sign Gyokeres as the CF. I think Eze is a bit more for a creator, he's less direct, tricky, creates space.. I think Gyokeres would benefit well from that. Eze-------------Gyokeres-------------Saka If we sign Rodrygo - I think he solves a large chunk of our immediate need for goals. Sesko plays a little deeper - closer to a false 9 - The two would work great together. Rodrygo------------Sesko-------------Saka The advantage of Eze is that he also provides cover for Number 10 and has Prem experience. Saying that Rodrygo is still the dream signing though as this is guy who gets 30+ G/A every Season despite playing on his weaker side at Madrid - and he's still only 24. He's quite capable of hitting Salah levels.
With Tomiyasu's departure confirmed (which I'm still sad about), there's been some other interesting bits of news over the last day or so... Looks like the links to Madueke aren't going away. I'm hoping we don't do this. He's just not the calibre of player we need. Trossard also has a new agency. I wonder if he's doing this to help look for a move away this Summer. Which I think would be for the best personally.
You're kidding me. We're actually serious about Madueke. I can't believe this nonsense. WTF are we doing? Why do we keep helping Chelsea out?
And it just gets better. So, now Ornstein is reporting that we have agreed personal terms with Madueke (albeit nothing club-to-club is agreed). However, Fabrizio Romano has reported that Chelsea are interested in Nwaneri and will look to made headway if we can't agree a deal with Nwaneri. I swear, if we sign Madueke and give them Nwaneri, I think my head will explode...
I don't see Nwaneri going anywhere. He's the future at Arsenal, and I think we'll see loads more of him this season. I've got no idea why we're being linked to Madueke, we don't need him. Get Nwaneri tied down and lets go and get Eze too
I'm hoping it's just agent talk to get him a better deal, the optics would be terrible if we let Nwaneri go to Chelsea. The fact it's even a conversation is ridiculous in itself. Yes, I don't get the Madueke signing either. Unless he's backup for Saka, but why would we spend £40m+ on a backup winger? Why would he come to us if he's not going to get many minutes? Makes no sense. Just a poor allocation of funds if it happens.
In other news, we are now going to accelerate talks for Madueke. Chelsea want £50m (lol). I am hoping we do not pay anything close to that. And it looks like Gyokeres is the one we are advancing for between him and Sesko.
Christian Norgaard done. £10m + £2m in add-ons. 3 year deal. Pending official confirmation now. Also, positive news on Nwaneri's contract:
Can someone please explain to me how and why our FIRST offer to Chelsea is £50m (inclusive of add-ons) for Madueke? We're going to bail Chelsea out and they're going to upgrade that position when we're signing a player who I don't even think is better than Martinelli (and I would prefer an upgrade on Martinelli). On top of that, he's not even that good off the left, he's better on the right. But we have Saka there. Is he going to displace Saka? Is he going to be back-up to Saka? If so, why spend £50m+ on a backup winger? This just feels like a misallocation of funds. Don't like it at all. Also, why do Arsenal and Chelsea have 'a good relationship' (as Fabrizio Romano reports)? We should not be having a good relationship with our rivals like this. Insane.
This Gyokeres saga is really starting to drag out. Urgh. Not convinced we'll get this wrapped up in time for the weekend.
Noni Madueke to Arsenal now has the 'Here we Go'...sigh. Well, can't say I'm happy about this, but as he's soon to be an Arsenal player, I hope he proves me (and the vast majority) wrong by hitting heights none of us expect from him.
