Archive for the ‘Transfer News’ Category

After Saturday’s defeat at Fulham I’m sure you all are wondering, as I am, if Arsene Wenger is going to be signing a new midfielder for Arsenal. Reports today [¹] suggest that one mooted prospect, Gokhan Inler of Udinese, has stated that he does not want to move to Arsenal.
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Here’s an interesting one, Arsenal have signed veteran French defender Mikael Silvestre from Manchester Utd on a 2 year contract.

I don’t know how much they paid for him yet but it seems to show that Wenger believes that the young defenders Senderos, Djourou and Song will be good enough for the big time within 12-18 months.

I would imagine Wenger has bought Silvestre for cover for Gallas and Toure in central defence and for Clichy on the left. There is no chance Wenger would play Silvestre ahead of Clichy on the left as first choice, but it will be interesting to see if he gets a chance of starting in place of Toure.

It is not often that Arsenal sign someone from Man Utd (Brian Kidd in 1974 apparently), but Silvestre’s importance there has been increasingly marginalised by Evra and Vidic, especially since Silvestre spent most of last season on the treatment table. Let’s hope he stays fit and isn’t another sicknote

While I am not overwhelmed by this signing I do think it is a good one. At 31 Silvestre is not going to be a long term fixture, Wenger obviously knew he needed an experienced central defender and I think he was not willing to buy someone in their prime because a) they are too expensive and b) he thinks the youngsters will come good.

What do you think?

Cesc Fabregas has once again had to come out in the press to deny rumours of intention to leave Arsenal for Real Madrid. Pleasingly for Gooners, Fabregas was quoted by Arsenal.com saying :

“I am happy at Arsenal, my future is here and the priority is to achieve success and win trophies at Arsenal. I think that some people are just trying to make mischief but my intentions are very clear.”

Reports had surfaced in the Spanish press that Fabregas was frustated at Arsenal and would leave next summer if not this. However, Fabregas scotched those reports, adding

“I have not spoken to any media so it’s frustrating to read quotes that I have supposedly said about my future”

Amen to that, and don’t be going anywhere Cesc
In other Cesc news, as evidenced in the picture above from Arsenal.com, Fabregas was back from his summer holiday and training with Arsenal today.

I say maybe because the source is the Daily Mail, esteemed purveyors of scaremongering right-wing nonsense, mind-numbing celebrity minutiae, the flimsiest of rumours, and, well you get the picture. So anyway, the Gunners definitely maybe put in a £5million bid for Swiss Udinese midfielder Goekhan Inler, presumably as a possible replacement for Flamini. We’ll have to wait and see on this one.

Senderos

This morning brings the news ^[1] that Newcastle United have made a £4million approach for Philippe Senderos. Quite a few fans do not seem to rate Senderos as having enough composure in the pressure games against the biggest teams, he is sometimes now less than third choice after Toure and Gallas, with Song perhaps favoured for the future.

Senderos is bound to want to play first team football, he has had a lot of support from Wenger against his detractors in the past, and I think Wenger still believes that Senderos has the talent to become a first team player, while in the short term providing valuable defensive cover with Alexandre Song off to the Olympics. At the start of the transfer window Wenger said that he was not interested in signing a new central defender, further signifying his position to continue developing Senderos.

All this makes it somewhat surprising that the Arsenal board, while reported by the Daily Mail to be holding out for something closer to £6million, are considering the £4million Newcastle bid.

Do you think it is worrying times when Arsenal are draining talent without purchasing any tested replacements? How bad is the financial situation and can Song or Djourou step up this season?
Let us know what you think with a comment.

Today there are reports^[1,2] that the Football Association are considering taking action to stop the trend of players harassing and surrounding referees. Under the mooted new rules the referee will still be able to speak to all players, but only the captain from each team will be allowed to approach the referee.
Whilst it’s a shame that this needs to be enforced, it is necessary with the increase in this activity in the last few seasons leading to hostile environments for referees.
I never really understood why players so consistently do this, when it is clear that you will never be able to get the ref to change his mind. I thought that most people knew that refs only take orders from Fergie

Michael Johnson for the Gunners?

Arsenal have been linked ^[3] with another midfielder, 20 year old Michael Johnson of Manchester City. Johnson, having not much more than a year’s experience in the Premiership would be a purchase that would seem to fit in with the Wenger style of buying on potential. However it is easy to think that if Arsenal are to challenge for the title this season they will need to find someone to fill Flamini’s boots. Johnson surely isn’t ready yet and at a report price of £12m he sure is pricey. Personally I would really like to see Gareth Barry brought in to fill this role but at the time of writing it looks unlikely.

Nasri excited by Arsenal move, Missing his mum.

Speaking of midfielders, Samir Nasri has been speaking to French sports paper L’Equipe about Arsenal.

“I love the game, I’m passionate and Arsenal’s football culture made me dream,”

“I had a lot of fun watching all their games last season. To me, this culture and the way they play represent what football should be.”

“When you see how they play in England, it means I need to improve on the physical level and in the air, as well in terms of intensity and regularity,” he commented.

“The team plays in 4-4-2. I had a chat with Arsene Wenger and I’m going to play on a wing because that is where their playmakers are, splitting with the full backs.”

“My parents won’t be with me anymore so I’m going to have to cope with it and learn to be independent, In the meantime I have asked the club to have someone cooking for me and cleaning because I’m not used to being autonomous, I’ve always been living with my parents.”

I think he is certainly right about needing to improve his strength and physical presence, I have seen him in some Marseille games where he looked easily hassled. But of course he is still pretty young and as he becomes older he should not be so lightweight.