Speculation on summer spending has begun once again with a mixture practical signings, the unknowns and the too good/expensive for us to ever have a realistic chance of getting them. First things first, our plans will depend on Qualification for the Champions league in terms of⦠1 â Money available 2 â Players who would leave 3 â Players who would require us to be in the Competition to join Hoping we do qualify another big hurdle that has hindered us in previous seasons is the inability to sell the deadwood to make squad space as well as space in our wage bill. Players like Arshavin, Squillaci, Chamakh were never going to be part of our first team plans this season but on 50k-80k per week we were unable to offload them to make room. I believe some of this deadwood are out of contract so there will be more squad place available this summer. Those not out of contract need to be kicked out (Denilson? Bendtner?) even if we have to pay them off. * OUT > Denilson, Bendtner, Squillaci, Djourou, Arshavin There are also a few players who either want to leave or I question their quality; * SELL > Sagna (6M?), Gervinho (8M?) TV (9M?) = Approx. 23M With these players out I would also promote a few of the youth players to get more 1st team action. * PROMOTE > Gnarby, Eisfeld, Miguel So then we need a minimum 5 new players; 2- STRIKERS, 1-RIGHT BACK, 1-DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER, 1-GOALKEEPER I donât know why Wenger doesnât buy more players from the Premier League. It may be because most he has got in have failed (Jeffers, Richard Wright, Silvestre) plus you typically pay more for these players however you know they can perform in the league and they wonât take time to adapt (i.e. Arteta). STRIKER Wenger has to make at least 1 big signing, as sign of intention to the fans and the players. Jovetic might fit that category and rumors seem strong with him. He has the quality and age my fear is where he fits in. We need a striker and Benteke and Remy both seems worth a punt. Remy would be the cheaper option and Iâve always thought he was suited to Arsenal, Benteke is younger and possible better but will cost at least twice as much. DEFENDER Hate to change our captain yet again but TV must be moved on in the summer, not convinced with him at all and Kos and Per have reminded us what impact a solid partnership can make to the team. Going back to getting a Premier League player Iâd go for Micah Richards. Heâs versatile which Wenger loves, strong quick and no longer in Man Citys plans it would seem, 24 yrs old meaning he can continue that British spine weâre creating MIDFIELD Diaby is finished (sadly) even if he doesnât leave the club his injury curse is too much. We need a real defensive Midfielder and I really likeâ¦Ãtienne Capoue â 24 yrs old, 6ft 2â heâs the right presence we need for Central midfield I also think we need a winger with better end product but hope AOC or Gnarby can make an impact GOALKEEPER Szczęsny had a horrible season before being dropped and although heâs done ok since getting back in I think we need a more experienced Goalkeeper as 1st choice and heâll have to earn his place. VÃctor Valdés has been the strongest link but Iâm not convinced with him, I think Begovic is the best choice but fear he might sign for someone else so if not him Iâd go for Simon Mignolet. Mignolet is only 24 so that happens Szczęsny but heâs undoubtly a better keeper. So hereâs who Iâd love for us to get in this summerâ¦. Simon Mignolet (24) / Ãtienne Capoue (24) / Micah Richards (24)/ Remy (26)/ Jovetic (23) - POTENTIAL COST = 70M Hopefully get the wage bill down as some of these signings might earn less than those going out plus there all the right kind of age to build a team around and a stong first team but also a strong bench; Mignolet, Richards, Kos, Per, Gibbs Capoue, Wilshere, Cazorla Walcott, Jovetic, Remy SUBS: Szczęsny, Jenkinson, Monreal, Ramsey, Podolski, Giroud, Arteta
Selling Vermaelen would be a mistake, he's out of form at the moment and Kos/Mert have formed a first choice pairing, but that doesn't mean he should be sold.
If we spent £70 million on those players then I'd lose all faith in Arsene Wenger's ability to be a professional football manager.
First of all in todays market those players would probably be nearer £100m than £70m. I also think we s=would struggle to get that much for the players you want to sell. After all we have Gazidiz doing the transfer negotiations now and hes rubbish at the job. Watching the Man U v Chelsea match with Rooney just coming on how about an offer for him! He would probably cost up to £50m but we might be able to get him for less. Other than that I think we need a CB, a RB if Sanga goes and there are rumours Fabianski and Manonne want to go for first team football so a GK. With current form Im fairly happy with the midfield but we need cover for injuries so a DM, bt I think that's it being realistic.
Selling Vermaelen would be batshit crazy. He's a fighter, can play in a variety of positions and is simple not having the best run of form. Also - I cant stand REMY - he's another Jermain Defoe. Will score a fair few goals but his overall play is garbage. OUT > Denilson, Bendtner, Squillaci, Djourou, Arshavin, Miguel and Diaby* (would like to keep him but to be honest he's just a waiste of a high wage packet.) IN > David Villa - One of the best finishers around. Lost a little pace with age but should be getting played down the middle. Pure Class. Cesc Fabregas - My favourite Arsenal player of recent years. The prospect of Fabregas linking up with Wilshere and Carzorla is mouth watering. Geoffrey Kondogbia - One of the big suprises of La Liga this Season. This young DM is already being chased by most of Europe's big clubs and for good reason. He's lightning quick, skillful and aggressive. Get in now before CITY/PSG come calling. Julio Cesar - An experienced keeper is just what we need. Cesar would be a good 'cheap' option. Home: -------------------------Cesar------------------------- Sagna-----Mertesacker------Kos/Verm-----Monreal -----------------------Kondogbia---------------------- ----------Wilshere-----------------Carzorla---------- -----------------------Fabregas----------------------- --------------Villa------------------Podolski----------- Away: bench: Arteta, Rosicky, Podolski/Giroud, Kos, Gibbs, OXO, Sczezney -------------------------Cesar------------------------- Sagna-----Mertesacker------Kos/Verm-----Monreal --------------Kondogbia------Wilshere--------------- Walcott-------------Fabregas----------------Carzorla -------------------------Villa--------------------------- I would love a Top Class centreback too but I think that's unlikley. Matt Hummels or Benedikt Howedes would be ideal
GK - Begovic - 15m 50k pw CB - Kyriakos Papadopoulos - 15m 50k pw CM - Fellani - 25m 100k pw ST - Higuain - 20m 100k+ pw WF - Vela (my personal choice - love the kid) - 4m 50k pw Total - 80mn Wages - 350-400k pw Sell/Loan (depending) - Squid (50k pw), Djuor (50k pw) , Arsha (70k pw), Gerv (60k pw), Cham (60k pw), Bendtner (50k pw), Denilson (50k pw), Diaby (50k pw) (proably others cant think of them) Raising - 20-30 mn Wages Saved - 430k pw Next year line up ----------------------Begovich / Wos------------------------------- Sagna/ Jenkinson--------Mert/Papa-----Kos/TV-------------Gibbs / Nacho ---------------Fell/Arteta-----------Ramsey/Wilshere----------------- ---------------------------Caz/Ros---------------------------------' --Theo/ Vela-------------Higuain/Giroud----------------Pod/Oxo NB - What I would love to see happen, not what actually will
CB - Mats Hummels. CM/DM - Geoffrey Kondogbia and Cesc Fabregas CF - Higuain and Jovetic. Now that's a 'wish list'.
Striker: Higuain/Jovetic CM and DM: Cesc and Kondogbia (Don't know much about him but everyone is rating him) CB: Hummels
As for Kondogbia, I watched him a few times, seeing as Sky show loads of La Liga games, and he is an impressive prospect. Only problem is that Real Madrid are also after him.
I think Kondogbia would be a great signing, looks technical enough to play for Arsenal but powerful enough to add some steel to the team. Wanyama is another good option at DM - physically the guy is a beast. There's alot of hype for both so neither would come cheap.
So we're alll talking about big name signings. Jovetic would be great as would David Villa but I dont see why Arsenal dont pull out all the stops and attempt to land Falcao. Chelsea have made Lewandowski their No.1 target while Real are chasing Edison Cavani - these were the two clubs previously interested in the Colombian. I think a £30 Million bid would do it. He's the biggest football star in Colombia's history and would be a very lucrative signing.(He's also the face of Puma for South America and it appears we are signing a long term Puma deal) [video=youtube;E1r05RnlqJY]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1r05RnlqJY[/video]
So we spend 70 ml to get a team which is not really stronger than our current one ? This team is still inferior to ManU, Chelsea and ManCity. (And I believe all of them will strengthen even more in the summer). I would not like to see more than two new first team players. Otherwise this is the same story again - 5 months of inconsistent football until we finally click in March. This is exactly why Wenger does not spend - top top players who are able to push us above 3rd are all out of our reach. Spending money on others, the likes of Jovetic, Remy etc is just that - spending money, just throwing it away for the sake of it. Above all Arsenal need consistency. First - we need to keep all our players. And that includes Sagna. Then we need to put all our money into two players - CF and DM, and both should be top quality. And i mean real quality, game changers, not Jovetic and Co. There is only a handful of them, and if we will not be able to get any of them, I would rather see current crop gelling together and fighting for the top 3 place. A back up for Giroud is needed anyway though. BTW you forgot about Chamakh. I would also keep Rosicky as he is our best midfielder.
Release Clause of 48 odd million he would cost at least 40 million and wages of about 150k+ which we wont do. Also the moment a bid is accepted the likes of Chelsea and City will get involved. Would LOVE to see him at Arsenal but not going to happen. Realistically the Top tier of Stirkers we can look at would be Jovetic, Higuain or Benzema (depending on who Real bring in), Gomez ( if they sign Lew and even that is pushing it)
