rodri to atletico for €20-25m. i didn't watch much villarreal this season because they were boring but it seems like a smart buy. they've been missing a defensive midfielder that can play some football since tiago basically

So are Spurs really getting rid of Dembélé? Would love to have him tbh although it's probably too much money for a soon to be 31 yo

I think Dembele wants a big payday in China. I think there were enough signs last season that he's beginning to regress, and constantly has to manage an ankle injury.

I think a move at this point probably suits both parties as we should still get a decent fee.

Kovacic is not leaving, especially since Zidane will stay no matter what

I approve Bale to Spurs as well

Arsenal closing in on the first transfer of the Emery era. Lichsteiner on a free. Good backup to Bellerin.

Ornstein reporting Sokratis to Arsenal is close. Solid signing.

Good player but would have been better when he was alive IMO.

Dude's finished

I'll believe it when I see him put pen to paper

Sokratis and Lichsteiner would be an encouraging start to say the least

Are you being serious? Genuinely asking. A 34 year old fullback is encouraging?Sokratis would be much better, but still an older player. You guys need to rebuild at some point as oppose to make up the numbers. These are the kinds of moves that will allow you to tread water and stay in 6-7th place. What is the value in that? You can compete with Everton without doing anything in the market basically. It is going to take more than this to compete with the Top 5.

This is just my opinion, and a couple of these types of players are inevitable since you need to overhaul such a huge portion of the squad, but I wouldn't exactly feel uplifted. I'm trying to think of similar players we are linked with that don't excite me, and I honestly can't come up with anything. We are looking for top quality and big potential, not guys that have already peaked at a level that is debate-ably good enough for what we are trying to accomplish.

Lichtsteiner seems like a fine backup. But Mustafi > Sokratis.

Lichsteiner as backup for bellerin seems fine, just need someone to give him a breather as bellerin played almost every game last season.

Think Ramsey/ Mikhi/ Ozil/ Auba/ Laca is v good in terms of attacking talent and with a more competent manager that could be enough for top4.

Obviously would be great to sign 50m CBs but that's not the reality of where arsenal are. A keeper upgrade and a new CM and I think we'll have done decent business. Last year's squad on paper is not the 6th best in the league imo so I think it's reasonable to think with additions like these they're very capable of making top 4.

If you've not got a) the squad or b) the funds to have a t4 squad it's not the worst idea to stay in the periphery. It'll be a rare occurrence that everyone else has a good year so t4 is never that much of a longshot.

I don't hate our defense on paper. Everyone except Mustafi was pretty good when they played last year, albeit in a small amount of numbers. Chambers, Holding and Mavroponos are all young. With Koscielny maybe being done and Mertesacker being done we are weak at CB. Our FB situation is fine, Lichsteiner is fine because our RB backup last year was literally a youth CM prospect.

We will likely splurge on one player. I think it's likely to be a central midfielder over a gk or cb, but I don't know who. We need a Kante type but I don't know who is available to fill that role.

All we had to do last year to get top 4 was have a top 6 record away. Instead we had I think the 14th best away record after our last matchday win.

Mavroponos, Holding, Nelson, Maitland Niles, Willock and Nketiah were all young players who got decent minutes (mostly EL) last year

Last year.

BBC reporting bale earns £400k p/w after tax.



Which is £40m per year. Plus the the rumour of 23% increase over all of wage.

They’d officially not have enough revenue to pay him unless he takes a massive wage cut.

Yes im serious. Having an experienced FB and CB is not a bad sign especially for 16mill both. Apparently we are looking to bring in a keeper (Leno) and another young FB from Germany.

Having players of that caliber is hardly bad for the team.

Serri is also mentioned in a couple of papers. From my perspective we are addressing quite a few obvious issues really early in the window. I quite like that.
The objective is getting back to top 4, maybe picking up a few cups alongthe way.

Not like we can shine City's shoes without spending like 600milllion...or maybe not even then. See Utd for example

I wouldn't be holding my breath here.

No, but you're hoping one is maybe good enough to be a PL starter and another is good enough to be a 3rd/4th option.

Chambers has been playing in the league for 5 years now and it is pretty obvious to anyone who watched him that the dude doesn't have the level.

How much patience can one show towards a white brave young english centerback

can't believe you forced me to look it up. the £200m was 15-16 the latest.

revenue in the 16-17 season was £300m and im sure it's grown in both 17-18 and 18-19 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-a8286241.html

maybe it's too much to bet on a single player that gets injured a lot, but they have the money to do it if they want and the only consequence would be little or no profits for the owners for a couple of years

fabinho to liverpool for €50+m seems real. i really wanted to see him at atletico tbh

ya i'm pretty ok with Arse signing Sokratis & Lichtsteiner

hopefully we find out, with Holding as well

Again, Chambers seems to be a guy who can play 12-15 games a year and not be bad. That's fine. No one is saying he should be starting a majority of games or anything.

Fabinho would be a very nice pickup for Pool. Keita-Fabinho is a big step up over their current midfield.

Chambers should be moved on I think. Holding and Mavrapanos loaned out to get experience.

Niles is good enough to get games for us and work himself into the starting XI