Afternoon all.
Yesterday, Arsenal announced that goalkeeper Karl Hein has signed a new contract which I think is good news. He’s 22 years old, 6’ 4” tall and already playing at international level for Estonia.
Hein is happy:
I’m delighted to extend my contract and continue my journey in this amazing club after six years. Hopefully, there will be even more good memories and successes for the club.”
Mikel Arteta is happy too:
Karl has continued to impress us with his attitude and commitment to getting better every day. We value being part of his continued development and I want to congratulate him on earning a new deal with the club.
Hopefully, this is an indication that the transfer/contract team are up and running with summer holidays in the past.
Whether Karl Hein steps up to fill the number 2 keeper remains to be seen but I think he’s more likely to go out on loan to a club where he’s the first choice goalkeeper rather than second or third. Logic alone suggests that if Mikel Arteta prefers not to play the likes of Nketiah, Smith-Rowe and Nelson, no way would he gamble on a young goalkeeper who has rarely made an appearance for the first team. I could be wrong of course, totally wrong.
Youngster Chido Martin Obi is yet to make a decision over his future apparently although I strongly suspect he knows what he’ll do next. The options are to stay at Arsenal or, according to Fabrizio Romano, move to Bayern Munich. I read an article suggesting he’ll make his mind up before the end of the month. When did these kids get so big for their boots eh? He’s 16 years old for goodness sake and if he doesn’t want to commit to the club which has looked after him for the last couple of years then just go. He might be good for his age, very good but he’s no Ronaldo or Messi just yet. He may never be as playing senior football is a lot harder than playing for the academy. Just ask Eddie! Or any of the other Arsenal youngsters who’ve left thinking the grass is greener elsewhere.
England play tonight in what was a crucial match to progress through to the knockout stages, but is now about finishing top of their group as results yesterday put Southgate’s team through to the next round. Top the group and England will avoid Germany but to do so, Southgate will need his team to come up with a much better performance than we saw against Denmark. Denmark face Serbia at the same time as England play Slovenia.
England will finish top of their group if they beat Slovenia, or if they draw and Denmark fail to beat Serbia. If Denmark beat Serbia and England draw then both countries will be level on points so goal difference will be the deciding factor. As it stands, England are ahead by one.
Simply put, England just need to win, but so do Slovenia because a win would see them through to the knockout stages.
Catch up in the comments.
Good morning Rico, welcome news that Hein is staying also a sure sign that Ramsdale is on his way.
All teams are wary of breaching Profit and Sustainability Rules. No team can make a loss of £150 million a year on a rolling basis. The financial year expires on the 30th June so any transfer deals made before July 1st count towards the loss limit. Any club close to the limit will wait for the new financial year to kick in when they can spread the cost of transfers over the length of the contract. Monday next is the earliest we can expect big deals to be announced.
Of course, the reverse applies to clubs on the brink who have to sell to avoid breaching the rules.
Morning Cicero.
Could be Ramsdale stays for another season whilst Hein goes out on loan. Or we sign a backup keeper and sell Ramsdale. A right old guessing game eh…
Villa aren’t hanging around in this transfer window.
Afternoon Rico and wise guys.
Man United lent out Henderson for what, 3 or 4 years and eventually sold him for a nice fee. Arsenal need to do the same with Hein. Too many load their minds over our youngsters but the academy is becoming an increasing source of income and we’d be foolish not to utilise it. We missed the boat with Okonkwo!
Personally I’m not too upset out the prospect of Cozier Duberry leaving as long as we get a good sell-on option as seems the case with Omari Hutchinson.
ACD is a good lad, quite talented if a little lacking in authority on the field, I see him more in the Fabio Vieira mould than the Bakayo Saka. If he leaves he’ll go out on loan straight away from his new club. He’ll probably get a nice signing – on fee and his agent will get a nice bung, which is after all their ambition…
I was initially quite keen on Arsenal doing a deal to sign Nico Williams, he seemed and sti does have all the tools we’re requiring but his wages are huge and he’s going to want a serious uplift to up sticks and leave Spain. Plus his agent and family will probably want some kind of renunciation as well so my enthusiasm for Nico has kinda gone a bit adios’ o…
Butchered by spellchecker…
Obi Martin Obi is Danish, it’s obvious really isn’t it.
Anyway living in Germany is perfect for the young Dane and Bayern are, let’s be honest, a bigger club than Arsenal, but with a lot less financial muscle.
It’s probably all about money, of course it is, his agent and family will want the best deal possible regardless of 1st team exposure.
The funny thing about Chido is that when I’ve seen him playing in the U21’s – he towers over most other teenagers at that age, even if he himself is a 16 year old (17 in November) – I’ve often wondered if he can remain as dominant and effective in the men’s game when his physicality is nullified?
We’ve all seen kids playing football and noticed how the big guys can intimidate their smaller brethren. Go back a couple of years later when the tiddlers have shot up and technique is more of an influence and the one – time big lads look quite ordinary…
Afternoon Kev, speak for yourself 😂
I was surprised we let Arthur go for free Kev, especially off the back of a decent season with Wrexham. Missed a trick there I think unless he wanted to leave and refused to stay on.
Afternoon Rico and all,
Going by stories on the internet, ESR has told Arteta he want’s to stay and fight for his position, I’m not sure that is a smart move as I can’t see Arteta changing his mind and playing him
Afternoon Geoff, I’m sure Mikel Arteta will let him know if he’s in his plans or not. I’d rather he stayed and we sold Vieira.. plus he’s homegrown..
Rico, I’m pretty sure that Okonkwo has sat on his hands for the last two years – agent advised of course – and now he’s got his reward, a nice signing on fee from Hollywood.
So frankly we couldn’t do anything to keep him. Although we maybe should have tried to sell him him 12 to 24 months ago?!!!
Arsenal should actively look to sell Fabio Vieira this summer or I reckon he’ll just see out his contract and leave for nix.
Ditto Sambi Lokonga.
Ditto Nuno Tavares.
Ditto Marquinhos.
Possibly Kev..
Gallagher in for Alexander-Arnold. Yep, that should sort the teams problems out… lol
I would say more than just a strong possibility Rico, more likely a probability.
Still it’s almost June 30th when contracts expire and PSR kicks in.
July 1st is when the transfer window starts in earnest – possibly… 😉
Perhaps Kev but I’ve no idea for sure so it’s still a possibly from me. 😝
Maybe Rico? 😆
You’ve got to accentuate the positive; eliminate the negative; latch onto the affirmative; don’t mess with Mister In-Between. 🎶🎶😉
Good morning
charles watts said this on Arsenal’s interest in Spain winger Nico Williams:
‘You have to remember that release clauses in Spain have to be paid in full and that makes deals very expensive as clubs can’t spread the transfer fee out over the length of the contract like they usually do.
But in Williams’ case, the wages are also understood to be a pretty significant issue. Athletic Club are big payers. They have to be to ensure they keep their team together given the unique way the club operates.
So Williams is on good money and the word is that interested clubs have been surprised by the wages he would want to move this summer.
Arsenal are good payers, but they have a wage bill that they have worked hard to get in check in recent years. So they won’t do anything stupid and undo that hard work.
Williams is a talent, but he is still young and relatively inexperienced. For Arsenal to immediately make him one of the highest earners would be a risk, because it could unsettle the squad a bit, especially if he were to come in and suddenly be earning more than some of the experienced players who have been at the club for a while. So all that sort of thing has to be taken into account when it comes to potential deals.
Ha ha Cicero.
Morning guys.
Another scintillating performance from England…..
PSV winger Johan Bakayoko seems to be the most recent winger rumour.
Can’t see us breaking the bank for Williams..
Good morning Rico, it started off a little brighter but soon degenerated. Turgid seems to fit the bill.
Morning Rico
Scintillating?? what were you smoking lol. I was on the edge of the seat throughout the whole game. nearly fell off when they had their first shot after 25 something minutes.
BAkayoko would be a good signing. seen him play twice and can easily play on both wings. He is fast as well. plus can adapt to Artetaball.
Morning Devil, I was being ironic.
I’ve not seen Bakayoko play.
I know you were Rico. I was continuing with it. lol
I thought you were having a grumpy morning Devil. 😂
I see Mustafi has retired to be a coach. Not a defensive one I hope. 😜
You missed a word there Rico “driver”. 😉
Ha ha Cicero, I wouldn’t get on his coach…
Mustafi the manager, I can see it now, his team loses and he blames everyone else – why change the habit of a lifetime…
England play Slovakia in first knock out round 17.00 Sunday.
I think that England have a repeat of the Lampard/Gerrard problem. Two very good players but no manager could find a way to get the best of them when playing in an England shirt. It seems that Southgate has fallen into the same trap with Bellingham and Foden. There isn’t room for them both behind Kane.
Perhaps the solution is to drop Kane and push Bellingham into the number nine role allowing more freedom of movement for Foden.
Southgate has to do something to liven up the squad, dropping his talisman may be difficult for him but even Ronaldo was hooked off yesterday when Portugal needed a goal. Sunday could turn out to be Southgate’s last throw of the dice.
Morning Cicero, you’re an early bird this morning.
I think you have a good point about Foden and Bellingham. He’s squeezing them in instead of looking at the teams structure. I know Kane scored the other night but I think his better days are long behind him. The only time he shows a bit of gusto is when he sings the national anthem and it’s taken him years to do that. There is often something about the England manager’s past and present which stops them from dropping the media favourites.
Good morning Rico, I was awake early but managed another three hours sleep in the coolness of predawn. 😴
Lucky you Cicero, I was out with the hound just after 6am. By the time I was up and ready, I realised it was cooler. Still, with the cricket later, weather permitting, I’ll have all my chores done and dusted. 😂
New post up.