Reports are that Barca are going to offer one of these players plus cash for Fabregas. Whilst we're in need of a LB - and whilst they are both decent players, at 29 and 31 respectively, I'm not sure it represents good business or a long term solution for us. That said, if I saw either of them in an Arsenal shirt, I'd still be pretty happy.
The reason Barca want to offer players plus cash is becos' they can't afford £40-45 mill in straight cash. Taking either of these players would be a short term fix and a bit of a gamble, we should hold out for a cash deal and buy the best available players from the proceeds rather than take a compromise. Having said that Wenger would probably take Abidal for all the usual reasons (i.e French etc)
I know the Metro newspaper are reporting this story.Take a look at the gossip column on the BBC website
Yep, in the Metro http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/footba...-eric-abidal-or-maxwell-in-cesc-fabregas-deal
Yes it's Metro quoting 'spanish sources', enough for us to take it with a huge pinch of salt (Touche), a similar report mentions Toral and Bellerin also bing offered, seems like we could be in for some Barca rejects
Yes mate, I think most of these stories have to be taken with a pinch of salt - I wasn't knocking your Vieira story fella, just that the Sun have a reputation for spinning yarns and you're right that 'Spanish Sources' are notoriously unreliable. But I can definitely see Barca offering us a player/cash deal.
Both of these players have already joined Arsenal. The problem is that Arsenal took them straight from the Barca Youth Academy & Paid just a few hundred thousand for each. Barca want significantly more and are trying to factor that into the Fabregas deal. They won't go above ~£34m because they feel they are owed ~£6m for these two players being "stolen."
I'm not sure it represents good business or a long term solution for us. =============== We don't neccesarily need a long term solution. Gibbs, Traore and Botelho are probably not ready for a first team berth at LB. Having someone to come in and give one of these 3 time to mature would be ideal, tbh.
