not sure how reliable the info is, but Bruno Guimaraes would be a really interesting Xhaka replacement.
Moving on from Locatelli to Guimaraes is a welcome upgrade in Arsenal’s “Plan B” transfer targets. Also sounds like Ødegaard is gonna be closer to £40mm than the initially rumored high-20s.
He was much more important of a MF for Lyon last year compared to Auoar. Would be a great signing if they can get him.
I thought the high 20s number was crazy, I think 40 is still good value. Locatelli never seemed like a real option, I would hope they've moved on by now. I heard Bruno has been looking great at the Olympics but I think he was up and down for Lyon last year. he definitely has huge potential.
you're our resident Ligue 1 expert, but I read he got benched in the second half of the season, is that true?
I don’t follow Lyon closely but everything I heard last season was that he was better than Auoar. I would be happy with either of them at this point though. Anybody except El Neny would be great.
They aren’t really comparable players though are they? Aouar more a 10/8 and Bruno more of a 8/6 with Paquetá more comparable to Aouar
Well Caqueret was the best of the lot at Lyon but Guimares was pretty vital for them.Caqueret is just a pipe dream at this point for where we are. We had narrowly missed out on him last year so this link is not a surprise. I think he'd be a good partner to Partey in a pivot, perhaps better than Neves in some regards. Edu has connections to him from his time with the Brazilian team and is friends with Juninho and his age profile seems to be what Edu/Arteta are looking for (low 20s) Also, i don't think Odegard's value was ever deemed to be in the 20s. It's always been high 30s, mid 40s as a reasonable price. Chris Wheatley thinks it'd be around 35 million pounds and some Madrid source mentioned 50m euros, which is around 40-42 mill pounds.
really wish we’d replace xhaka with a more attack minded 8 than a 6/8, especially since lokonga seems to be more of that 6/8 imo
Not as concerned with 6/8 debate more so than I think speed is more critical. Xhaka is just too slow and that showed consistently in terms of being a liability be heavier in attack/defense. Definitely think we need to cover more space or have the ability to press up quick.
i’d like some more creativity next to partey feel like we never saw partey or xhaka really threaten much in the final third when played together (no runs in the box, give and go’s in the final third, etc). i’d like to bring in an 8 who can do that and doesn’t just stay parked in the middle of the pitch 30 yards out recycling possession imo
Your opinion is sensible. I would push back a little on your use of “obviously.” Even at even money, I would take Odegaard. I think Maddison is a very good player but I am a little concerned he may have peaked. He likes to party (not a sin), and his injury history make me slightly wary about his upside from here. Leicester seems willing to let him go - though if it is just due to a clash of personalities with BRog then I’m inclined to take Maddison’s side. I think Odegaard still has upside from here, not convinced Maddison does.
Please be a negotiation tactic, please be a negotiation tactic… Arsenal preparing to offer Granit Xhaka new deal after Roma fail to make suitable offer https://theathletic.com/2741327/202...ke-suitable-offer/?source=user_shared_article
didn’t even know there were recent links for willian to the middle east, so i’m going to take the second part of his tweet as good news since it sounds like he’s trying to get out
Not totally shocking. Italian teams are broke. Juve can’t even come up with £30mm for Locatelli who desperately wants to play there.
making massive changes to your plan based on a few million difference from your valuation, when hundreds of millions are on the line always seemed so stupid and short-sighted to me. everyone wants to win every deal when it happens when the only real way to win deals is to win matches after you make them. I still wonder how different last season could have gone if they paid the Partey fee on the first day of the window instead of the last. not sure if that was possible, but just using that as an example.
Yeah we just ate millions and took a cut rate on a great keeper last summer. Kind of worrying that we don’t have more outgoings. A lot of clubs where our loose change is going won’t be in Europe either. Not there yet but I’d prefer to not be in a position where teams are waiting for an injury to add to their rotation.