Transfer Rumours from the Last Couple of Months (Well Sort of...)

In the last months, a lot has happened, Koscielny has signed and taken the #6 shirt. Fabregas won the World Cup with Spain and Robin van Persie almost did with the Netherlands. Eduardo has moved on to Shakhtar Donetsk for around £6 million. It's a shame, but I think that it's probably the best thing for both parties, he looked lacklustre last season, and wasn't holding down a regular 1st team berth. Good luck to him. Joe Cole has, annoyingly, signed for the Scousers; I was really hoping that we'd get him... Still you win some you lose some. Mark Schwarzer's move across London to the Emirates still hasn't materialised, despite him making some emphatic statements in the Aussie Daily Telegraph saying: "Who wouldn't be keen to go to Arsenal? At this stage in my career it's an amazing opportunity to play at that level and one I really want to take... It's taken a long time and the season's very close, on one hand you understand them not wanting to disrupt too many things but I want things resolved as quickly as possible." (click here to see the full article). To me this sounds like a man who wants out, he has also, reportedly, handed in a transfer request, I really hope we sign him. If we don't, I think I'd prefer Szczesny to take over, although I really don't think he's quite ready, next season yes; now, I'm not so sure. If he is, I would've thought that he'd be in a position to be our #1 for the next 15 to 20 years... It shows how young he is.

In my opinion we're still a man light in the centre of defence too. I'd like to see either Phillippe Mexes of Roma or Montpellier's Emir Spahic come in to fill that gap. Having said that, Nordveit has shown real promise over preseason, and might have a chance of breaking into the first XI at centre back; we'll see.

With the season about to start however, this is what I think the line up will be against Liverpool on Sunday:

Almunia

Sagna Vermaelen Koscielny Clichy

Nasri Song Wilshere

Walcott Chamakh Arshavin

Hopefully, come the end of the transfer window though it will look somewhat more like this:

Schwarzer

Sagna Vermaelen Spahic Clichy

Fabregas Song Arshavin

Nasri Chamakh Van Persie

 

Transfer Rumours from the Last Month (Well Sort of...)

The transfer window now open, one transfer already sealed, it's now time to ask "who's next?" If the papers are to be believed, much of the current Everton squad will be putting pen to paper soon, with Jagielka, Arteta & Peinaar (and I think possible Rodwell & someone else too...) all linked within the last month. Now more realistic transfer links:

• 
  
  Koscielny from Lorient c.£8.5 million
• 
  
  Joe Cole - free transfer
• 
  
  Mark Schwarzer from Fulham £3.5 million
• 
  
  Winston Reid from FC Midtjylland £1.25 million

The Koscielny move sounds like it's about to happen, the only hold up being that Arsene Wenger has left his Blackberry in London, and  I feel  that him and Vermaelen at the back will be a strong pairing, with Djourou, Nordtveit and (hopefully) Campell as cover.

Joe Cole would certainly add some strength and depth to the squad, and I've been rooting for his signature for a while. He should put pen to paper within the next week, after England have returned home post losing to Germany... I bet Theo Walcott is happy that he didn't go, they've been awful.

Mark Schwarzer I think will be a great signing, at 37 he's at the tail end of his career with maybe 2 or 3 years left in him, providing the perfect amount of time for Szczesney to be out on loan gaining experience. In the meantime, he's a quality shot stopper, and proven at the highest level.

I think that Winston Reid would be a shrewd signing by Wenger, at £1.25 million, he's not too expensive, and is worth taking a gamble on, at only 20 he would represent a typical Wenger signing. The right-back really proved himself with New Zealand at the World Cup, scoring their first goal of the finals, securing them a historic point. Extremely capable, and with no real cover for Sagna, he would certainly be a great addition to the squad.

As predicted a month ago, Fabregas still hasn't left, and I doubt he will anytime soon; the less said about the subject the better. Campbell looks like he might be going to Celtic on a 2 year deal. I really hope he doesn't but I can understand why he'd opt for that, with 1st team opportunities looking limited for him next term. The only other player recently linked with the exit door is Alex Song, I think it was Fenerbache who were rumoured to have bid £4 million for him. No chance, arguably our most improved player last season, and probably missed more in his absence that RVP or Cesc.

So to sum up, I hope that those 4 players are signed and that noone else leaves - with Merida, Senderos, Gallas and Silvestre already gone - if things do play out as I hope, I think we'll have a squad really capable of challenging for silverware next season.

Now all that remains is to wish Philippe Senderos the best of luck at Fulham - unless they're playing us -and for the rest of his career. Also farewells to Fran Merida - now of Athletico Madrid - Mikel Silvestre and William Gallas, who are currently clubless.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours 20/5/2010

Much of today's gossip hinges around Cesc Fabregas actually going to Barcalona. Reading around today, this is looking rather unlikely. Sandro Rosell - one of the Barca presidential candidates - has come out and said that Barca have debts between £450 & £500. Million. Yaya Toure has seemingly said no to a move to Arsenal; shame that!!! I really don't see why we're continually linked with defensive midfielders, Song was excellent last season, and I really rate Eastmond, especially when he's playing that Alex Song role. Also linked to us because of the Fabregas transfer saga is former gunner Hleb, and Everton's Micheal Arteta. I really don't see either of them happening, nor do I see Cesc going to Barca... not this summer anyway; more on that later. A slightly more likely move is for Valencia midfielder David Villa for £17 milllion. Yes, he's a creative player, yes, potentially he could replace Fabregas, but I really don't see why you'd spend £17,000,000 on a creative wide-man, when Joe Cole is available on a free transfer, and is already hugely experienced in the Premiership. Please sign him Mr Wenger, whether Fabregas stays or goes. The Mirror have suggested Man United's Michael Carrick as a replacement, although I really can't see Fergie selling a fairly decent player to one of his title rivals. They also suggest West Ham's Mark Noble who we've already been linked with this month, but again I can't see this happening.

In other positions, we're supposedly set to table a £12 000 000 bid for Lyon 'keeper Hugo Lloris. I really hope we don't sign him. At risk of sounding like a stuck record, I really believe that we should get David James in on a Bosman style free transfer, send Wojceich Szczesny out on loan in the Championship to say... Leeds (who are rumoured to be interested in securing his services for next season) to gain experience, and then either ship Fabianski out on loan, or on a permanent deal.

Moving to our front three, Theo Walcott is believed to be top of the Juventus shopping list. I think that we can be very confident of seeing Theo in an Arseenal shirt next season. Unless they're prepared to offer Man City style silly money, after his end of season form, why would AW let him leave. I know that a lot of Arsenal fans don't rate him, and don't think that he's progressed enough in the 4 years he's been at the club, but give the lad a break; he's probably only had about 1 season's worth of playing time, and you can't develop properly like that especially when you spend a lot of that time injured.

Now, as promised, why I don't see Fabregas being in a Barca shirt next season: that Fabregas was going to be bid for has been circulating for what 3 days now? I think that was this story in any way genuine, there would have been more news than the press saying that Fabregas said that he wanted to go. I really don't see it. I don't quite know why I have such faith that he'll be staying, call it hope, call it desperation, I don't care. My gut instinct is that he will still be the Arsenal captain next season, still wearing the #4 shirt next season, still challenging for the Premiership title next season, and still as influential at Arsenal as ever next season.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours 19/5/2010

I must start off by thanking all the journalists out here for their  helpful contribution to this blog, linking no fewer than 9 players with moves to the Emirates today.

For a change, there was only the one 'keeper linked with us today, West Ham's Robert Green, but I think that this speculated move is about as likely as the Pope being Protestant!!! If the rumour-mill is to be believed though, the Hammers could be set to lose two players to Arsenal, as former Gunner Matthew Upson has again been linked with a return to North London. There would certainly be merits to the projected move; he is after all a solid, experienced defender, who could be picked up on the cheap.

Rather worryingly, it seems Sol Campbell is waiting for Gallas and Silvestre to play their hands before committing to another year with Arsenal, he has apparently been offered a new one year deal. I really hope he signs, as he's probably been Arsenal's player of the second half of the season.

Today has also seen Arsenal linked with: Kwandwa Asamoah, Yoann Gourcruff, Bafetimbi Gomis, Guiseppe Rossi, Arda Turan, Edin Dzeko & Jack Rodwell. I feel that the only one of these worth really writing about is Gourcruff. He's a quality midfielder, who has worked well with Chamakh at Bordeaux. Were, and this is a huge if, Fabregas to leave for Barcalona, I feel that he could be a suitable replacement, although, if Ramsey is as good as he was pre-leg break, I think that he'd be surplus to requirements in midfield, especially with an exceptionally promising Henri Lansbury returning from a fruitful loan spell at Watford.

Arsenal Transfer Rumour(s) 17/5/2010 and a bit of conjecture. Oh, and the new kit?

Another bleak day in rumourland, only an unlikely link with Emiliano Viviano, the Bologna goalkeeper, and further hints about Buffon wanting out, though I really can't see him coming to Arsenal; and anyway, as I've been saying, I'd prefer David James.

Now with this vacuum of rumours, I've looked back into the past to see who we've been linked with this season... David Villa. Towards the end of January, when everyone was getting quite cross at the lack of a new stricker, Wenger commented on Villa's unavailability, but how he would've liked to have signed him. For AW, this is tantamount to admitting that he bid for him, and I hope he did; but I hope even more that he'll try again this summer, possibly offloading Eduardo to make space, as I really can't see him ever returning to his pre-Birmingham form.

According to the 'Metro' "there are rumours circulating" (around the Metro office so they have something to write about methinks) that Fernando Torres is eyeing up a move south to the Emirates. He's another player I wouldn't mind seeing at the club, I think he's probably the best striker in the Premiership (sorry RVP), and would really add some menace to our front-line. I'd love to see both of the aforementioned duo arrive, alas I sincerely doubt that it will ever happen... although I'd be delighted to need to eat my words!!!

Now, next season's kit: if you visit http://www.metro.co.uk/sport/football/826537-new-arsenal-home-shirt-pictures-leaked-on-internet you'll be able to have a look, 'cos for some reason I can't get the image into this blog, but I'm sceptical about how genuine this is, as the crest doesn't quite look right, it looks like there's a curve in the fabric there, and the crest doesn't. The image of Silvestre wearing it below looks dodgy as well, it would appear that we have a new, messed up crest next season if that is kosher.

So, until tomorrow...

Arsenal Transfer Rumours 16/5/2010

A number of new names today, Wenger is again being linked with a move for AC Milan flop Klaas Jan Huntlaar, I can't see this happening though, especially with football's worst kept secret (Chamakh's move to Arsenal) set to be confirmed in the coming few weeks. However, he is a player who I wouldn't mind seeing in an Arsenal shirt, and he is impossibly good at over-head kicks!!!

We've been linked with 3 centre backs in today's press, Philippe Mexes of Roma, Phil Jagielka of Everton and Pape Diakhate of Dynamo Kiev. The only one of these that I could see happening is Mexes, he's good in the air, and has scored a number of goals for Roma with his head. I think he's an interesting prospect, and could complement Vermaelen in the centre of the Arsenal defence. I think that Arsenal only need to sign a centre-back if Gallas goes - and this is looking increasingly likely - as we have Djourou returning from injury, and promising defender Harvard Nordveit retuning from a successful loan-spell in the Bundesliga.

We've also been linked with two goalkeepers today, Steve Mandanda and Mark Shwarzer. I think that Mandanda is at the same level as Almunia, and could even be a step back; Shwarzer on the other hand is - in my opinion - the second best 'keeper in the Premiership, after Manchester City's Shay Given. I can't see Fulham letting him leave however, so as I said yesterday, Portsmouth's David James is probably the way Forward for Arsenal until Szczesny is ready to take up the mantle.

To round up, a rumour I missed yesterday, James Milner. I wouldn't mind seeing him in an Arsenal shirt, but I feel that we already have a lot of very talented midfield players, so I'm not sure where he'd fit in. And anyway, I'd prefer to see Joe Cole come to the Emirates if we were going to sign another midfielder.

Arsenal Transfer Rumours 15/5/2010

There isn't really anything new today. However, it's been reported that Arsene Wenger is now set to bid £8 million for Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart. I think that before any bid for a 'keeper is registered, Mr Wenger will sell Fabianski beforehand. I wouldn't dislike seeing Joe Hart come to the Emirates, however I'm not convinced that he would be the right 'keeper for the club. I feel that Arsenal should try to make do with what they have for the next season or two, before handing Wojciech Szczesny the number 1 jersey. In the meantime, I feel that David James on a 2 year deal would be the way forward. I can't recall if he's out of contract at Portsmouth on not, but I would imagine that AW could pick him up for less than £5m.

Referring back to old rumours... Joe Cole. Now I don't know what people think of the idea of signing him, however, I feel he's the sort of player who'd fit in at Arsenal. He plays good, creative passing football and will be available on a free transfer. In my opinion, his signing would be a real coup, him choosing us over Chelsea, and other interested teams.

Hopefully tomorrow, there'll be some more interesting prospects put forward; rather than just the revelation that Nasri isn't overly keen on William Gallas!!!