Well it's because we actually put a record bid in for him in the past. If Wenger was willing to go to £20 Million it's highly likly he's willing to bid up to £30 Million this year. Like I already said we dont NEED another AM (its already our strongest position) but Gotze is such a high calibre of player with soo much potential, Wenger may feel he wants to build his team around the young German.(much like he did with Fabregas) Dortmund DO have a better team than us but on the other hand we are the richer club. Consider than Dortmund have several quality young midfielders breaking through the ranks, it is not unlikley that their board could cash in on a big name. (much like we have done in the past)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...t-blow-Mario-Gotze-decides-stay-Dortmund.html It ain't happening.
It's the mail... but still I don't think we really need Goetze. Another striker to augment our ranks, a proper goalie and a CDM or CB.
Exactly, blowing 30 million on a player we don't need is madness. A top striker or center back is a much better use of that kind of money. Begovic for 15m Top centre back 20m Top striker 35m There's our 70 million.
Think DM is more of a priority than CB and we can still find cheaper GKs, but we need an experienced one for sure
Top striker, top CB, top DM, top GK. We would see a huge improvement in our points tally next season if we bought this.
You guys still plowing the DM furrow. Really? Sometimes I just think you pick something you know isn't going to happen so that you can moan about it.
EVERY Spring there are rumours that THIS SUMMER Arsenal will FINALLY spend. Every year by the end of the season there is a long list of £20ml+ players who almost certainly will wear Arsenal shirt by September. Every year we hear that Arsene has £30, 50,70 ml at his disposal.. We were told about these £70 ml last year weren't we? Yet every time fans are convinced we will splash the cash the way we have never done before... Arsenal club does spend every year. Only, it is not £70 ml as predicted, but someth1ing closer to £10 ml. And the club also earns by selling players. History teaches fans nothing, absolutely nothing. We will not buy a top defender because we already have three of them and Wenger struggles to fit all of them into his starting line. We will probably buy a backup if both Djourou and Squillacci leave. I personally would like Miquel and Bellerin to be promoted. I doubt we will buy Begovich, because first, Arsene sees Szczesny as his long term No 1, and second - there is still an outside chance that Fabiansky will stay, now after he was given a run of games ( You should wonder why he is playing... ) I still think Wenger will talk to fabiansky as he is rating him very highly. And he will save on a transfer fee, if the guy stays. As fot Top Striker - we already have a new striker - Wenger said recently that he is working with Podolski in this position every day. Why would he if there are plans to bring a new Top level striker? To me Podolski as CF is such an obvious choice, the only reason he was slow to be introduced as one was the situation with Walcott contract. Theo wanted to be a striker as well, so shifting Podolski there would deter Theo from signing. Not when it is all signed and dusted and forgotten, Poldi can play central role. I think Wenger is reluctant to change right now, because of the importance of our games and the fight for top 4. But i am sure Poldi will play central in our summer friendlies. So, we will sign new players AS USUAL. A young central defender, a new right back if Sagna goes, but it will be a backup for Jenkinson, I hope it will be someone of Monreal quality, if Bellerin is not yet ready. Probably a new DM, if Arsene will find an affordable quality. And a new striker - but NOT a top level, just a backup for Poldi and Giroud. That is if we can get rid of Chamakh. So not expect superstars and anyone worth much more than £15 ml though. Wenger will be busy this transfer window - with Bendther, Denilson, Djourou, Park ( is he still on loan, or sold already? ), Chamakh. We need to get rid of them first, this is a priority. The important factor for Wenger is stability. Arsene said we finish 3rd or 4th because we start every season with a different starting XI that needs time to gel. If we keep our current form to the end of the season, Wenger would want to keep it. He says the team is finally growing and maturing. the least thing he wants is to disrupt it with new "super super quality" which may easily flop. You can dream of course, but this is the reality. Methinks.
Ok here's what I would try and do in Wengers situation. (Love a bit of fantasy football) So lets say the £70 Million figure is still correct.(although could be more now - this is what the transfer budget was around January) - Also EmirAlex - I would say this year IS definitely different. The board are now pushing Wenger hard to spend.Even releasing statements to the press - it's clear they want some investment in the squad this time round. Firstly we need to free up a few spaces in the squad. OUT: Squillaci - £1 Million Bendtner - £2 Million Mannone - £1 Million Djourou - £1 Million Denilson - RELEASED Arshavin - RELEASED +£5 Million - Budget total £75 Million IN: 1.CB - Mats Hummels. In my opinion there is not a finer defender in Europe. Dortmund would obviously be reluctant to sell but a £30 Million bid could well be enough to secure the German. Perhaps a slightly 'unrealistic' target but the fact remains Arsene has shown an interest in Hummels before and Dortmund have been willing to 'cash in' on big name players in the past. - £30 Million. 2. DM - Victor Wanyama. The 6'2 powerhouse is exactly what Arsenal need. The perfect foil for Carzorla and wilshere. We have been linked to alot of DM's of late but I would pick Wanyama above any of them. Not only is he he quick, powerful and aggressive he is also technically skilled enough to play our 'brand' of football. - £15 Million 3. CF - Higuiane - Cant be happy with a bit part role at Real Madrid. He is 25 now and must be looking for a permanent starting role. Sharp as anyone in and around the box Higuaine could be a brilliant signing. - £20 Million Bench: Rosicky, Koscielney, OXO, Giroud, Arteta, Gibbs. ---------------------Szcezney--------------------- Sagna----Hummels------Vermaelen----Monreal ---------------------Wanyama-------------------- --------Wilshere------------------Carzorla------- --Walcott----------Higuaine----------Podolski--
You seem to think my post was what I predict will happen. It's what I want to see happen. I predict something closer to your pessimistic outlook. However, there are a number of things different about this season: 1. No big name players are looking to leave (yet). Walcott is signed on, and while Vermaelen may leave, that could be a good thing if a new defender is bought to replace him. 2. We have paid off the debt, signed a bunch of new deals, and the board have explicitly stated that there is money to spend. 3. The pressure Wenger has come under is greater this season than any other. We are on the cusp of missing out on CL football, and haven't come close to winning anything. The board may force his hand this time. 4. We are making space for a defender and striker by ditching Chamakh, Djourou, Bendtner and Arshavin. 5. None of our goalkeepers have filled Wenger with confidence this season. In addition, a top goalkeeper is available for a fee we can afford, and none of the other big clubs can make a space for him. None of that makes me massively optimistic, but the situation is different to previous seasons.
If we can get Wanyama, then yes. Otherwise, I'm beginning to doubt whether players like Capoue, Song, Biglia, Strootman, or Toulalan would add much to the team. They are different types of player to Arteta (though Strootman is similar), and whether they would add something is questionable. However, they would give us other options, so if they aren't going to cost much, I suppose they may be worth it. I wouldn't consider them automatic first teamers like I would Wanyama though. So either go 25 million for Wanyama as a replacement for Arteta in the 1st team, or 10 million on one of the lesser players to use in rotation with Arteta (depending on the opponent). We need another midfielder anyway, and a defensive minded one would be most useful to the squad.
I keep hearing this, but I just don't think it's true. The big names that have left recently are Kagawa last season and Sahin the season before. If I'm correct Kagawa only had one year left on his contract, and Sahin had a release clause. Hummels' contract doesn't expire until 2017. On the other hand, if you were to bid £30m I think Dortmund would accept that, and whilst he is very good I think £30m for a centre back doesn't represent good value for money. If he were to leave, I can only see him going to Barca or Bayern at this stage, or possibly Madrid. Kurt Zouma and Marquinhos are very highly rated, and I'd suggest more typical Arsenal signings, and whilst they're teenagers and might not fill any plugs right away, we've seen what Nastasic as done this season for City. Zouma especially could be a great signing, and having Koscielny and Mertesacker as the starters with Vermaelen and Zouma to cover, as well as any young internal centre-backs, should be good enough. Other potential signings that I think could push Arsenal back into the top two are Higuain, Ignacio Camacho/Lars Bender (DMs) and another centre back I like the look of is Inigo Martinez, who's a little older than the two I mentioned previously.
I hear what you are saying, and we will definitely strengthen our squad. But it does not mean spending £70 ml or anything remotely close to that. I can not see us buying big. But if we spend £25 ml on two good players and keep all our regulars I will be happy. Even though I too believe we need to buy a proper top class CF..
And speaking about keepers - this is more realistic than Begovich. Belgian's stats are extremely good and Wenger loves stats. He can offer up to £6 ml for Mignolet I think. And he is French speaking which is a bonus.
The site I follow has Wanyama valued at 4.4M pounds. You guys are way over-selling this guy! He plays for Celtic in a very non-competitive, physical league, which is about the only place that this type of DM is going to still be of any use. I know you guys want to go back to the 90s, but the demise of Essien, Tiote, and just about everyone else in this kind of role, shows that you can no longer "free up" anyone any more. If you are playing the 4-4 defence the DM is just another one in the front rank and in transition, you need someone with great feet and ball control to get near today's midfielders. These big DMs just cant stay with them. Not only that, but with most people playing a 5 man midfield, your DM has to help pass it through. I just can't see this guy being substantially better than anything we have already. I don't see the big teams lining up to buy this guy and the few times I have caught Celtic games, he hasn't been as special as he should be at this level. He is slow to get the ball under control and he is at only 80% passing which is pretty dire for someone who isn't playing key passes in the final third. Ramsey is at 89%ish and you think he gives the ball away too much. Quite apart from anything else, he doesn't even really play as a DM. The guy plays up front for Kenya, and he frequently gets a long way forward when I have watched him. If you thought Song's discipline was bad, this guy's is horrendous!
You clearly haven't watched Wanyama play. He's a great passer, very slick, and was effective against Barcelona and Inter. All you've done is see he's a big player, and gone with a stereotype. Also, if you're using injuries to Essien and Tiote as an excuse to say the DM position is dead, I'm frankly stunned. Every top team has a player in the DM position - Javi Martinez, Khedira, Busquets, etc.
You can't have watched him much either, Celtic haven't played Inter this season A few Newcastle fans I speak to on another forum don't think too highly of Tiote either, he's turned to **** this season apparently.
I thin k we should try for Fellaini as a DM as he can go forward as well. He could be the replacement for Vieria that we never found and Diaby was meant to be. We will hopefully be in CL so can offer him that. The question is whether he will get a better offer than we can give him.
