Saliba is apparently close. Im super excited for this transfer (even if he does go on loan) - The kid has mad potential. Also I may be the only one but I think Arsenal are taking the right strategy with Zaha. (despite all the media criticsm) £80m is cleeearly too much so bidding £40m is a smart move - It's shows the player we are serious (it also unsettles him - a ****ty tactic but it works. He is likley to ask the club to let him go now)
Sky now reporting that the reported £45m budget is a smokescreen and we could spend “up to £70m” on the Zaha transfer. That certainly makes more sense on why we are chasing him now. He’s definitely not worth £70m though...
If we don't get Zaha, I hope we can get Ismailia Sarr. That kid is rapid and has potential to be a top-class player. He absolutely ruined us in the first leg against Rennes. And he is lethal on the counter. In fact, due to him being 5 years younger than Zaha, I actually think I'd prefer for us to sign Sarr instead.
I'm going to be pretty ****ed off if we end up spending £70m on Zaha. Don't get me wrong he's a cracking player and would undoubtedly strengthen us, but there are other wingers available, Sarr, Ziyech, Carassco, all available for around £30-£35m. I'd rather we put the other £35m towards a CM or another CB, especially if we're going to have to loan Saliba back to St Etienne.
The advantage of a Zaha is that he is premier league proven. Hopefully we can drive the price down. But then again he is worth that much to Crystal Palace whether we like or not so...
Yeah I like Sarr alot and at 22 he's far from 'peaked' yet plus he can also play as a CF so he would give us cover in that area.
I dont really get this 'Premier Proven' argument. Think of the best signings in EPL history (Henry, Ronaldo, Berkamp, Aguero, Zola, Cantona, Schmeichel.. etc..) most have come from European Clubs.
One thing I forgot to mention is he'd also be half the price of Zaha, too. This transfer would make so much more sense both financially and in the long-term.
Soo the Saliba deal looks to be done. 5 years apparently and fee wont come out of this summers budget. Back on Loan for a Season.
While I think this is a great signing, and I can see his value skyrocket even further over the next 12 months, lets be honest... This does NOTHING for us for this upcoming season. Im a bit annoyed we have not signed any first team players for this season yet.
I can see why we've done this, but yes we still need a CB for this season. And a CM, and a Winger....oh and a LB.
That doesn't really matter. Saliba is for the future - the guys a TOP talent. I havnt been this convinced about a young player we've signed in years. Of course we still need another CB and we also need a Ramsey replacement. Those should be our priorities IMO. Hopefully Unai/Raul will add a LWB and a RWF too but its not going to be easy on this budget.
How the **** did we end up with the only billionaire who doesn’t spend any money on a club - the old board should be shot for their utter incompetence
To make this transfer window so much spectacularly better, reports in France saying that Spurs have outbid us for Saliba and have gone 'above and beyond' to steal him from us. This is ****ing unbelievable if it's true.
At last. But seriously, if we were going to bid what they wanted anyway, why wait so ****ing long to do it? ****ing twats. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48979998
I have no idea what our transfer strategy has been so far, but it is clear that it's not worked. Now the club have realised the desperate situation we are in, and they are doing what they should have done in the first place.
