Morning all.
Two bits of news hit the headlines yesterday afternoon.
The first came from Fabrizio Romano on Twitter as he suggests that Arsenal have made a move for Benjamin Sesko. “Concrete talks” he says which is still a long way away from the player actually joining Arsenal this summer so at this stage, I’m not getting overly excited about this story. Yet.
If reports in the media last summer and again in January were/are to be believed, Sesko is the player Mikel Arteta has had his eye on for a while. The Slovenian International forward certainly ticks all the boxes, on paper at least and he’s still a few years away from hitting his peak.
I know I often think, say even, if Arsenal want him then just get the deal done but transfers aren’t quite as simple as that. The player has to want to join Arsenal first and foremost and the selling club which in the case of Sesko is RB Leipzig, have to willing to sell. Arsenal’s stumbling block might be if Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle or even the two Manchester clubs decide to outbid us. I very much doubt the signing of Liam Delap would stop Chelsea from trying to scupper any deal.
The second bit of news came from James McNicholas of The Athletic who reports that Gabriel is close to signing a new long term contract at the club. Now this I can believe. Gabriel is 27 years old, he’s a brilliant defender, one of the best in the Premier League in my opinion and his presence in our back line has played a huge part in why we as a team don’t concede too many goals.
I know we’ve said it before but extending the contracts of players already at Arsenal is just as important as signing new players, especially when it comes to the likes of Gabriel, William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri whose contracts only have a couple of years left. Thomas Partey and Leandro Trossard are expected to sign new deals too.
If, and it’s still a big if of course, both Martin Zubimendi and Benjamin Sesko are Arsenal players before this transfer window closes temporarily from the 10th to the 16th June, then it would be a great start to the summer window that’s for sure. That would leave nearly three months for the club to any other business. A winger and a goalkeeper being the minimum in my opinion.
See, I told you I’m not getting overly excited. Yet.
Catch up in the comments.
We had the chance to sign Šeško last summer for his release clause of £55m and then Arteta told him that he’d have to understudy Havertz (who isn’t even a striker) and the kid, rightly, turned down the move to sign a new deal at Leipzig.
Now we’ve come crawling back and we’re learning that, just like in the Bolivian marching powder business, yesterday’s price is not today’s price.
Congratulations to all involved in this debacle.
Not sure that’s 100%, I read he wanted to stay put for another season because he was still young. That was from the player by the way.
Why RB Leipzig could sell Benjamin Sesko this summer:
According to a new report from Sky Germany, Sesko has a clause in his contract that would allow him to depart the German club for an agreed upon fee. While the Slovenian international doesn’t have a formal release clause, he does reportedly have an agreement in place as part of his contract that would allow him to be sold in the summer. According to the German broadcaster, this clause is performance related and will change depending on how well the player performs between now and the end of the season. Sky claims that it currently stands at €70m, but could rise to €80m depending on how many goals and assists Sesko bags for Leipzig before the end of the season. Either way, it would seem as though Sesko will be available for Arsenal or their Premier League rivals for at least €70m this summer.
Good morning Rico, good news about Gabriel and a new contract. I’d like to hear that his rehab is progressing well.
If we do sign Sesko, competing with Havertz for the striker position will be a non-event if the you tube clips are to be believed.
Morning Cicero, the report I read suggested he will be ready to go when the new season kicks off.
I agree re Havertz/Sesko. Only one winner imo.
Sesko interesting,
I thought the same as you Rico, he was not ready to take the next step, however from what I can find on the internet he refused to join because he was told he would be 2nd choice behind Havertz , if this is true then we would have to make him first choice or I can’t see him wanting to come and sit on the bench
That’s because it’s not true Geoff. It’s the media stirring the pot again I’m sure and people still believe it. However, he apparently said himself, he was too young and wanted to improve before making the next step.
Morning Rico, yes I guess we’re going to get a whole host of tall tales about why Sesko didn’t join last summer or last January and that the club or Arteta or both are complicit in making stupid decisions…
When you consider how stupid Arsenal are it’s makes you wonder how on earth they finished 2nd in the table 3 years in succession with the best defensive record, shambolic isn’t it?
Just a thought though, Sesko and his agent are, let’s be honest, fond of a pound note or even a dollar bill.
They knew that there was a shiny new contract on offer at Leipzig just waiting to sign, that would earn Leipzig a bigger transfer fee and put a nice bonus in the pocket of Benjamin and his advisor, safe in the knowledge that they could repeat the trick 12 months down the line with Arsenal or whoever.
So now Arsenal are going to have to pay a much larger fee, in order to structure any payments, happy Leipzig, Sesko will get a larger financial package, happy Benny and his agent has made two nice earners in two years instead of just one, happy parasite.
Whilst in the wings Chelsea wait for Arsenal to do all the hard yards before they swoop in with a bigger offer…
You heard it here first, well maybe not first but you know the drill.
Morning Kev, I do hope the signing of Delap means they have who they wanted but yes, they are usually there or thereabouts ready to swoop. Much depends on the player I guess.
I’d still try to do a cut-priced deal for Ollie Watkins, but I guess there’s only so much the club can do due to PSR.
How much are Chelsea supposed to be paying for Delap then Rico, didn’t Ipswich pay £30m for him in the first place? You’d have to imagine that his value is up around £50m now and Chelsea’s finances must be stretched close to their limit now?
Although they do appear to operate under different rules to everybody else!
Id imagine Villa need to raise some pennies so you never know re Watkins. He’s getting on a bit though. 😜
There’s also the CL issue Rico and with Chelsea being out of it for now it’s seems this is the time to get business done as most players want the CL.
He had a £30m get out clause in his contract Kev, according to Sky Sports anyway so they’ve got a lot of potential for a sensible fee. Thats why I’m surprised we didn’t go for him.
Yeah, I get the age issue with Watkins but he still has a nose for a goal and he’d love to play for us for a couple or three years.
They have CL football Kev, secured it on the final day of the season by beating Forest.
He would, if reports are to be believed, he was cheesed off back in January when Villa declined our offer. If memory serves me right, he didn’t start many games after that.
£30m, that’s disappointing Rico, means the Chavs can buy him and turn a quick profit, as is their habit.
Oh yeah, that’s right about CL, those bloody blue bastards always seem to come through at the end.
I reckon they could be dangerous next season, you know in a Liverpool sense – nobody expects!
Exactly Kev, it’s a win win situation if he does well.
At 30 years old, I would give Ollie watkins a miss,
I don’t, I think their camp will be unhappy with so many players to keep pleased. 😜
After Arsenal beat Chelsea 1-0 last March they played 9 fixtures losing 1 drawing 2 and winning 6 including wins over Liverpool, Forest and Man United. They don’t concede many goals anymore and win many games 1-0.
Thanks for that Kev. 😂
Depends on the price I guess Geoff but I think that ship has probably sailed
Just trying to cheer you up Rico, in fact have a look at the 14 players they’ve got out on loan, Transfermarket value them at a conservative £200m or so… 😕
They collect players at an industrial rate…
I read they have 31 out on loan Kev. Something like 40 at the club. It’s ridiculous.
Just checked, Chelsea have a massive 31 senior players listed with a further 21 players out on loan. Sky Sports.
would be nice if we could find a player like Giroud who can score useing his head and not only rely on his feet,
Marquinhos has joined Cruzeiro on permanent deal until 2028 according to Fabrizio Romano
Did we get a fee?
I don’t expect we will get much if any for Marquinhos,
We paid them Kev. 😜
I hope you was joking then Rico 😬
Well by splashing his name about and linking him with numerous clubs, including Arsenal, Sane has got what he wanted, improved terms to stay at Bayern. Clever work by his agent.
Good morning all.
Mariona Caldentay has won the UWCL Goal of the tournament award for 2024/25. 🏆
I was Kev. 😝
Morning Cicero, good.
I’m not surprised re Mariona, such a lovely player to watch..
Mariona Caldenty has won more awards, 2, in one week than Spurs, 1, in seventeen years.
Glad to hear it Rico 😬
Arsenal probably talked to the agent of Sane, Arsenal talk to a lot of agents I suspect, but it never goes any further than just a chat.
Interesting, but the players we’re really after don’t generate a lot of chat from the player’s entourage, you usually get chat after Arsenal have moved on. So when we got all that nonsense from family members of Gyorkeres a week or so ago, I felt we weren’t hot on him anymore…
Manchester Disunited managed to beat a Hong Kong side three one last night. After going one down after nineteen minutes they were rescued by three goals from two ex Arsenal youngsters, two from Chido Obi and one from Ayden Heaven (spelling?).
R I P Loretta Swift, aka Captain Margeret “Hot Lips” Hoolihan of the 4077th MASH.
Switt not Swift! Bloody spellcheckers!
Never watched MASH…..
Perhaps I’m too young. Lol
Arsenal told Sesko asking price by RB Leipzig’
Arsenal will have to fork out an initial £75m to sign RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko, Mail Sport reports.
Mikel Arteta is in the market for a new No. 9 and Sky in Germany are reporting that talks have been held between the clubs.
Mail Sport claim RB Leipzig sport director Marcel Schafer has told Arsenal counterpart Andrea Berta that they want a fixed fee of £75m for the 21-year-old.
That would mean the overall cost of the 21-year-old’s transfer fee could be higher with add-ons.
Fabrizio Romano
@FabrizioRomano
🚨🔵🔴 The agreement between Barça and Joan García on long term deal is now very advanced, almost done.
Negotiations underway with Spanish GK with club confident to get his green light in the upcoming days.
Barça want to get it done asap and anticipate Premier League clubs.