We need him back in the team We also need a proper out and out striker. Ivan Toney on loan in Jan please
Come on, that’s never happening in a million years . Also even if Brentford would entertain offers like this, as Raya is still technically on loan to us, you can’t have two loan players from the same club. So it still wouldn’t happen. I think people who expect us to get a striker this January are going to be sorely disappointed. Baring in mind we are already having to be careful because of FFP concerns.
One sale would allow us to buy Toney. Sales are immediate. Purchase figures are amortised over contract length. Sell Nketiah for £30m. Buy Toney for £75m over 5 years, FFP would be more than fine.
The Athletic are saying Brentford won't sell unless bids in the region of £100m are put on the table. We're not going to do that mid-season. Brentford are in a relegation scrap currently and cannot afford to let go of their best player mid-season. And I don't think we're going to sell Nketiah either unless we get a fee in the region of £35m-£40m, which I can't see happening, partly because of how much Arteta likes Eddie, but also, I can't think of a PL club/club abroad who will offer that much given his limitations. Considering we had to sign Raya on loan with an obligation to buy (activates in Summer 2024) in order to meet FFP requirements, I don't think we're as financially well off as you think we are.
I would pick Zubimendi over Toney if we are only signing one player this January. £53 million release clause and exactly what we need in midfield. (£100 million for Toney is way too steep.) No Party and no Xhaka has negatively impacted the way we play - The key reason we haven't really played to the same level as last season is our midfield is simply not as good with the ball right now. Rice is more of a physical presence - a ball winner. We need another passer in the team - If Rice is going to play as the 6 then we need an 8 who can 'playmake'. The balance isn't right. Zubimendi would give us this balance.
Onana is a good player, but again, does this profile of player really solve our issues right now? I don’t see what this does for us other than stabilise us in midfield (which I guess does help us in one aspect). We need to be more clinical and spending £50m on Onana limits the possibility to sign an attacker of some capacity.
Some good news for us on the footballing front based on the Dubai updates. Gabriel Jesus, Fabio Vieira and Jurrien Timber have all been in training - for Timber, I'm guessing it's still very early stages of rehab, but great to see him on the pitch considering most thought he would be out for the whole season. Partey is also expected to be back to full fitness before the end of January. I'm certainly not hanging my hat on him staying fit for the rest of the season, but if he can give us at least 10 injury-free games between now and the season's end, at least it will ease the load off some of our midfielders. Also, Sam Dean reporting we are interested in Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna. Highly-rated forward. Don't think it'll happen in Jan, as Bologna want £50m+, but it could be one to watch in the Summer perhaps.
Shocked to see the footage honestly, he's sprinting, doing high speed reaction drills with the ball.. they are well past the early stage rehab now. Great news - he's a special player. Im hearing he'll return to training next week.
Whatever. His weetabix legs will be injured again by mid February. Timber is the more important return. Someone on twitter posted a compilation of Timber from the city game earlier today. Proper full length compilation of impressive stuff. From one bloody game. This guy is so good. Partey, Jesus and Tomi being back will be useful but all three are too unreliable at ever being available so no point pinning any hopes on any of them.
I would love Isak at Arsenal. Newcastle don't seem to need the cash though. An unlikely transfer unless the player himself pushed for the move.
https://www.sportbible.com/football...eta-sergio-busquets-barcelona-146108-20240124 According to Spanish news outlet AS, Real Sociedad star midfielder Martin Zubimendi is very close to accepting an offer to play for the North London club next season. Would obviously mean - either Partey or Jorginho leaving in the Summer. But I do think he's the ideal Partner for Rice. Sits deep - Busquets-esque with a phenomenal range of passing. ----------------------Zubimendi----------------------- -------------------------------------------Rice----------- --------Odegaard-------------------------------------- If we can add an Isak or Vlahovic - that would pretty much make for a complete squad.
