Loan exits gathering pace. Is Balogun teasing us?

 

Morning all.

I’m probably in a minority but if Arsenal secure just one deal this month and it’s the Folarin Balogun, I’ll be pretty happy. Firstly it’d mean Klopp has failed in his attempt to lure him away from Arsenal but more importantly, he’s pretty much one of our own having been at the club since he was 9 years old. He’s also the only striker in the squad who is capable of holding the ball whilst brushing off defenders too he plans where his layoff pass is going. Ok, he’s not come across someone as strong as VVD yet but hopefully that day won’t be far away. His Twitter comment is either him winding up Arsenal fans, or he’s staying. Fingers crossed it’s the latter.

Newsnow has conflicting headlines surrounding Mesut Ozil. One suggests he’s in advanced talks to join Fenerbahce this month whilst another suggests he’s heading for the MLS with DC United. Either this month would be ideal for Arsenal because removing his vast salary from our wage bill will help the club move forward in the summer.

The Sun report that any new contract offer for Alexandre Lacazette has been put on hold. True or not, who knows but I doubt his sudden found form will have any bearing on whether or not he’ll be offered a new contract. He’ll be 30 years old in May and if Balogun is staying, surely he’s the one our attacking play should be built around. In my opinion, this is a good time to sell Lacazette, whilst his form will attract attention from other clubs.

Sokratis is another player rumoured to be on the move which is no great surprise. Genoa and Olympiacos are the clubs he’s linked to in The Mail/NewsNow and Matt Macey is set to undergo a medical at Hibernian today before a loan move which will take him to the end of his Arsenal contract.

The footballing experts, or rather ex footballer Rio Ferdinand, who’s never stepped foot into coaching or management of football, has been criticising Arsenal for William Saliba. Admittedly, it’s strange that the club would a much sought defender and then not play him but what perhaps gets forgotten is no one other than the player himself and probably Edu/Arteta know where he’s at in his life both physically and mentally. Saliba played for the under 23’s and got sent off, he’s been training with the first team too but clearly, Mikel Arteta doesn’t think he’s ready for the first team. Whether you or I agree is irrelevant really but we don’t know the ins and outs of what has gone on. The most important thing for the player is to be playing and if that can’t be with Arsenal, then the loan makes sense. It’s very easy to judge a manager and his decision making from the outside but perhaps sometimes, unfair.

As said yesterday, William Saliba will either come back to the Arsenal a more mature and experienced defender who will be part of the club for the next few years or should he be sold, it’ll probably be for a profit. Either way, it’ll be good business.

See you in the comments.

 

 

 

60 thoughts on “Loan exits gathering pace. Is Balogun teasing us?

  1. Michael Twyman says:

    Must say a very thought out and measured post.
    I for one agree think we should concentrate on moving players on in this window and give the youngsters a chance for the rest of the season.
    Ozil moving on would be excellent news even if we have to pay some of his rather extortionate wages for the next 6 months.
    As for Balogun certainly hope he signs a new contract and joins the rest of the youngsters pushing this team forward.
    Have been following the Saliba situation quite closely and we don’t really know what’s been going on apart from newspaper speculation. I hope this loan spell gives him a chance of first team football and for him to get his mind in the right place. After that whether this summer or even next he comes back and proves it was the right decision

  2. potter says:

    If Stan really is serious about raising the profile of Arsenal in America having a New York born player would have to be a useful asset .
    From what I have seen of him he looks promising but still raw probably on a normal timeline next season would be his introduction period but these are not normal times
    .
    If we are counting Aubameyang as a centre forward we have 3 players already in line for that one position , Balogun would make it four and really is vying with Eddie for the occasional cameo appearence.

    He is different in style to Eddie and perhaps is more suited to the physical game whereas Eddie is apoacher that can use speed and awareness to get past the traditional Premier leagus centre back , I just wonder if he is ready for that confrontation just yet.

    Having said that he is definitely worth keeping and so Arteta has to find some time for him so that he can map his direction to the first team but whilst keeping him happy Arteta must be careful that it’s not at the expense of Nketiah as we will need both of them in the future either to play or sell .

  3. Devilgunner says:

    Good afternoon Rico and all

    So many news on NN. And since 101% of it is crap I don’t tear what little hair I have left on me head about what I read. However, after taking many news with a dragon pinch of salt, some of them are a bit worthy to mull over. Macey going is good. We need another keeper and it either means one of the young professionals is stepping up or another is coming in.

    According to some Chambers has been deemed surplus to requirements. If yes (which is sad imo, as I like the attitude of the player) why shouldn’t he be offered as makeweight for Buendia with Willock going there on loan? Norwich would be getting an EPL experienced player who is still young and can play in three different positions. Then again, I dont know if it is really true that Chambers is deemed surplus to requirements.

    Like Kev, I take the Ozil news with a pinch of salt. Or two. Or three. However, fingers crossed the following is true…….. https://tbrfootball.com/report-arsenal-star-mesut-ozil-agrees-three-and-a-half-year-fenerbahce-deal/

  4. sheila says:

    I 100% agree with your comments about Balogun. I too would be VERY happy if we only signed him AND a NO 2 Goal keeper as Matt Macey has left for Hibs & Runar is not good enough for the PL YET
    We are looking at The Brentford No 1 ( don’t think he will leave as Brentford may be promoted then he would be a No 1 in PL, and the QPR Goal keep who is 6’4 & looks good
    Unfortunately unless we REALLY try I think Balogun is off, his tweet says ‘I’m coming after the Liverpool loss was not a good sign to me that he wants to stay with us

  5. rico says:

    I didn’t look at his tweet that way Shelia. You might have a point. Seems odd to attach Arsenal vids together with him comment though.

  6. rico says:

    Interesting.

    QPR have recalled goalkeeper Dillon Barnes from his loan spell at Hibs, Macey is heading to Hibs and we’re linked with QPR keeper Seny Dieng.

  7. potter says:

    Seny Dieng on load from QPR to Doncaster

    Year Weekly Wage Yearly Salary Club Position League Age Contract Expiry
    2020 £1,600 £83,200 Doncaster GK Sky Bet League One 24 30-06-2021
    He is 6foot 4 ”
    and has played for Doncaster in league 1 . They have played 18 games and let in 20 . Don’t know if he’s ever present though.

  8. Joaquim Moreira says:

    For me, Ozil can go to Fener or the United States or both.
    Saliba played at Saint Ettiene alongside Fonfana (currently at Leicester). It seems to me to be a good defender, although I never observed it very closely. It is possible that he will return.
    Sokratis may actually be on his way to Olympiakos or Genoa (Genoa (!) is in the relegate places in Italy).

  9. Devilgunner says:

    Potter….Dieng has played in all games for Doncaster this season. 27 games across all competitions

  10. Cicero says:

    Doncaster have concede the most goals in the top five of League 1. At least the lad knows how to pick the ball out of the back of the net.

  11. rico says:

    Sussed it. Seny Dieng Has played for QPR this season and not Doncaster. Not sure where the loan story came from. Anyway, QPR are flirting with relegation and have conceded a lot of goals.

    Either Dieng is poor, the defence is poor or all of them are poor. 😜

  12. rico says:

    Afternoon Rick, yes and he’s on loan from QPR, how confusing eh..

    Five goals for JJ so far this season, more than Auba. Lol

  13. Rick says:

    Afternoon Rico.
    There is so much going on at the moment that I find confusing.
    Part of me says that that Edu and Mikel are doing great things for the
    young boys and part of me thinks the opposite.
    I mean what are they doing for AMN ,Willock and Reiss Nelson.
    When will they get the same chance to play ln their best position like
    ESR Saka and Martinelli..

  14. rico says:

    Totally understand where you’re coming from Rick. I’m baffled by the lack of playing time for AMN and Nelson especially. I think AMN would be a better option in midfield than Xhaka but perhaps it’s just about balance between youth and experience.

  15. sheila says:

    Seny Dieng is the QPR GK we are interested in, he was their player of the month & a couple of QPR fans told me he was OK & could easily play i the PL so I would be happy with him as out No 2 although I have not seen him play

  16. rico says:

    Runasson certainly doesn’t fill me with any confidence so I hope we find someone better than him. He looks well out of his depth. Odd signing that’s for sure.

  17. allezkev says:

    Adam simply has no tolerance of poor grammar, so whatever you do don’t upset him…

    100% agree with you Rico, the one deal I want the club most to do is Balogun, all the rest is just media noise as far as signings are concerned, none of the players we’re linked to get my juices flowing, beg ya pardon…

    Selling a few members of our squad, who are not part of Arteta’s plans is a good thing, the more big wasters on big wages we move on the better. It opens the way for more of our youngsters to progress and I’m sure that a majority of our fan base would prefer that to another clutch of big timers or big wages just taking the piss out of all of us…

  18. ScottfromOz says:

    Here is a tip from left field.
    KDB to us.
    Ozil goes, wages sorted, Stan surprises us all and shows some ambition by coughing up, BOOM, we have a competitive squad!
    It’s just that easy 🙂

  19. ScottfromOz says:

    Rick, you know I’m right behind playing the young guys, but if I’m honest, I don’t see the impact Nelson, Willock and AMN have had as anywhere near as big as Saka, Martinelli and ESR at this stage.
    Blend them in at the right time and they’ll show us their best but I’m not sure we should throw them all in at once, YET 🙂
    They’re our future, all of them imo.

  20. Cicero says:

    More on Ozil this morning, he has agreed a three and a half year deal with Fernebahce. That should mean he will leave this month. Although another report says he will remain at Arsenal until his contract runs out in the summer. Who or what to believe?

  21. Cicero says:

    Chaos in the USA as Trump supporters storm the Capitol building. Facebook and Twitter close down Trump accounts for inciting violence.

  22. potter says:

    Arteta on Balogun’s contract: “Well, you need three parties to make a deal. For sure the club wants to make a deal & the manager wants to make a deal; the player wants to stay; & I’m not sure about the agent” #Arsenal
    From Twitter so who knows it’s validity

  23. Devilgunner says:

    Good Morning Rico and everyone

    Cicero…..do you think that the chaos in USA is the result of blonde politics?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

    The above quote on Twitter was taken from Arteta’s press conference. So maybe its a hint. But it could be any direction so nothing concrete can be taken from it.

    Rekik is already training with the U23. So signing may be immininent.

  24. rico says:

    I think someone said on here before that Balogun’s agent is the same as Saka’s. Hopefully he’s just pushing for the best deal but Balogun has the final word IF he really wants to stay.

    Afternoon Devil, Potter, Cicero and all.

    Ozil will go if the deal is right for Arsenal said Arteta. Any deal which sees him leave the club permanently is a good deal imo.

  25. allezkev says:

    Apparently he is due a loyalty bonus in the summer so maybe that’s holding up developments, it kind of explains why Dr Sogut consistently states that he is staying to the end of his contract?
    It could also explain why he’s refused to leave in the past?

  26. Aussie Geoff says:

    Hi Rico and all So let me get straight Arteta will not pick Ozil but at the same time will not sell Ozil unless it works in Arsenal favour, how ever Ozil can just sit back and collect his weekly pay and then in six months time get a bonus for nothing and then leave for nothing.
    Now we also have Auba on big money who is not scoring and starting to lack pace and some times looking like he has no interest in being at the club, no wonder why we are in such a mess.

  27. rico says:

    You have to wonder how much money these footballers need in their life. Ozil is a millionaire several times over yet he wants to hang around for a bonus? Pff!

    Hi Geoff. Rightly so in my opinion. It’s about time the club toughened up over contracts I reckon.

  28. potter says:

    Quite a collection of young gifted black players , . Apart from Cantwell at Norwich , reminds me of a song from the 70’s

  29. Limey says:

    Reports that Nketiah is being offered to clubs for £15m + £5m in add ons.I also see that West Ham have agreed a £20m fee with Ajax for Sebastien Heller.

  30. allezkev says:

    Hi VCC, I wouldn’t sell Nelson but that’s a decent price for Nketiah, next season John Jules and Moller will be pushing for inclusion in the 1st team squad so even if Balogun leaves I’d still be tempted to sell Nketiah.

    Limey, West Ham paid £45m for Haller, that more than a 50% loss if true…

  31. Cicero says:

    Omar Rekik, a nineteen year old central defender from Hertha Berlin has been signed for a fee of £540,000.

    I fail to see the logic in the Arteta/Edu transfer strategy. Send Saliba out on loan, buy another young, inexperienced central defender, offer Chamber for sale or loan. All the while we have Mustafi, Sokratis and Luiz hanging around the club and Mavropanus out on loan.

    It jus don’t make sense.

  32. allezkev says:

    Cicero, I think the Rekik deal was done in the previous window so it was just a case of doing the paperwork which was messed up at the same time as they messed up the previous Saliba loan deal, I don’t think that Arteta was responsible for those mix ups.

    Is Chambers for sale or loan? I’ve not read anything concrete only the usual speculation we get during transfer windows, it’s all a load of noise from the media who lets be honest, won’t have much to write this window about transfers as nobody has any dough.

    Apparently Arsenal have 92 professionals on our books including those out on loan, it could be the most we’ve had in modern times?

  33. ScottfromOz says:

    Cicero, I’m in the opposite camp.
    Saliba desperately needs some time back home near his family.
    Obviously Arteta doesn’t rate Chambers highly enough to keep which I don’t really agree with but that’s irrelevant.
    Arteta said they’ve been tracking this guy for a while, he spent some time at City a couple of years back so obviously he’s impressed Mikel.
    We can try to get rid of these other guys, but you can’t sell what others don’t want to buy so not much we can do there.
    Building a squad means getting rid of players and bringing new ones in and that’s what’s happening.

  34. allezkev says:

    Only two clubs in the Premier League have spent any money so far in a week, Man Utd spent £18.7m and we’ve spent £540k, Barely 24 days of the window left!

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