As for Bernard joining Arsenal, while he's a great prospect and looks likely to become one hell of a player, the quoted fee of £21m is far too much in my opinion for player that MAY not adapt well to English life. While he has greater potential than Chadli, I said previously I'd have preferred Chadli (this was prior to signing him by the way) over Bernard anyway as I think he's more suited to our style and I reckon he'd adapt to the EPL a bit quicker. Plus, for 7m euros, it's a no brainer in my opinion.
Small players can make it in the prem nowadays. Its not like before, its become a bit of a nancy league so i'm sure he'll be alright on that front. Also, there are a number of other brazilian players in their lower 20s playing in London so i'm sure he won't be too homesick. Oscar was pretty much an instant success. Sandro didn't take too long to get up to speed either.
also, i read Arsenal might lose Cazorla. Is that true? If so then Bernard for Cazorla is a backwards step. In a year or 2 it might not be but for next season i'd say so.
Strange move for us: Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas confirms the club are in talks to sign Valencia and Spain striker Roberto Soldado, but denied that a deal was imminent. Speaking in Hong Kong, where Spurs face Sunderland on Wednesday in the Asia Trophy, Villas-Boas says: "At the moment, he's just one of the players we are interested in." Soldado has scored 82 goals in 141 games for Valencia, scoring over 17 league goals a season for each of the last three years.
I wish, not likely though. Interest from Atletico, so would still be outside one of the top teams if he moved.
If Arsenal sold Cazorla they'd be mad. He was an instant success last season and in my opinion, their best player. To sell him would be a massive mistake (one I hope they make if rumour is true! )
Lots of reports in last hour that say Bale has agreed terms with Madrid at £6m per year. Probably more rubbish from spanish press but cant say Im bothered either way. I know I'm in the minority but if Bale went for £85m I'd not be that fussed. We could sign a £20m left back (Coentrao? Baines?) creative midfielder (Modric return?) replacement for Bale (Di Maria?) and a striker (Soldado? Torres?) for that money and we'd be much stronger over all and don't have to rely on Bale. Dont get me wrong I'd rather keep him but I dont think it'd be the end of the world.
£20m on a left back? Too much Modric? NO! Torres? NO! Di Maria? Dubious Aren't the reports all Marca and as such can be completely ignored? If Bale went we'd have our other players climbing over each other to be the next out the door: Sandro, Paulinho, Vertonghen, Lloris.
More Bale to Real news: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2374873/Gareth-Bale-set-sign-Real-Madrid-claim-Marca.html Apparently you've had your bid for Soldado rejected too
From today's Marca. Suggests that an approach may have been made. But, in no way implies that a deal is anywhere close.. http://www.marca.com/2013/07/23/en/...0cb71896ff128ad52c9d55e47ff7674d&t=1374584186
Ben Smith at the BBC has said that no deal has been made and that Bale has not asked to leave, although his future is still very uncertain.
The Soldado rejected rumour came from 1 story that Baldini had flown back to England. Valencia themselves said yesterday that they would discuss it internalyl today at 12 and that our offer was "very close" - Baldini could just have easily have gone home because they said "Yep we'll take it." Lazy journalism
what i don't understand is how come when other clubs say a player isn't for sale (eg, Valencia say must meet Soldado's buy-out or it ain't happening and if its after 3rd Aug then its too late) then it tends to be believed, but when Spurs quite categorically say Bale is not for sale its reported as "Spurs say he's not for sale but its thought a bid in the region of XX will be enough". ****ing fed up with it
Because Bale is probably the most coveted player in Europe at the moment and like it or not, he has his price. So there is always going to be speculation about what sort of bid will allow him to leave spurs.
If Bale went,then most of the team would follow,so it might as well be the end of the world,i don't think Levy would have told Paulinho a bare faced lie telling him Bale was staying,just so he would sign for us,i think Spurs should now report Real for tapping up our player,so this **** will stop!!!
I can't decide who are worse, the press or all the man utd children who think they can sign anyone they want willy-nilly. They're probably the same people actually.
