Morning all.
It’s happened again. Another off made to Brighton for Moises Caicedo by Arsenal, this one a reported £70 million, another rejection. Brighton want £80 million for their player according to reports so will Arsenal stump up the extra £10m, or will they walk away?
Is Caicedo worth £80 million? No, never, not in my opinion but is he worth that amount of money to Arsenal right now?
There’s a big difference between the two questions I think because whilst I don’t believe any player of Caicedo’s age is worth such a vast amount of money, if, and I know it’s a big if, him coming to Arsenal ensured we could win the Premier League and perhaps the Europa League Cup too, then he’d be worth every last penny.
Whilst pundits, fans too, discuss who Arsenal do or don’t need, only Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff really know the answer and there’s never a guarantee that even they’ll always get it right. But, if Mikel Arteta believes Caicedo is the solution to our midfield deficiencies, then I really hope the club can get the deal over the line before the transfer window closes tomorrow night. Being greedy, I’d like the club to sign a striker too, even if it’s a loan. In fact I’d say a loan would be the better option.
No doubt you’ll have seen Flo Balogun’s goal for Reims against PSG last night. What a cracker it was. Imagine he wasn’t already an Arsenal player. Imagine Arsenal had just signed him this month and he did that in his first game against Man City. Well, he’s already ours so surely he has a big chance of forcing his way into Mikel Arteta’s plans for next season? Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Flo Balogun, the much needed three strikers if we’re going to be playing European football again next season which is looking highly likely at this moment in time. Winning the League looks likely right now but as we know, things can turn pretty quickly in football.
Another striker on Arsenal’s books is Mika Biereth who Arsenal snapped up 2021 from Fulham. He’s on loan right now at RKC Waalwijk but he’s only featured in seven matches. He’ll be 20 years old next month but could really do with being at a club who can fulfil his needs. By that I mean, play him. Still, there’s plenty of time for him to blossom. Just as there is for Charlie Patino who himself is still only 19 years old, 20 this year. I know, not that much younger than Moises Caicedo but, without being disrespectful to Brighton, Arsenal don’t tend to, nor can they really afford to, throw youngsters into the team and hope they swim. Not these days anyway as it seems to me that Mikel Arteta likes his younger players to have gained some experience elsewhere first. Even 24 year old Auston Trusty is out on loan which is understandable having come from the MLS.
As often seems to be the case, a lot of decisions lay ahead for the club in the summer. Who goes, stays and comes in. A manager has to be ruthless really because he has to do what’s right for the club which doesn’t always mean it’s what a player wants. It must be hard to hear the words “your being sold” if that person is settled at the club. I’m certainly glad I’m not the one making the kind of decisions Mikel Arteta has to make.
Reports suggest Thomas Partey will be fine for the Everton game which if true is really good news. If we come away from playing a Sean Dyche team without an injury though, I’ll be amazed.
Two days of this transfer window left. Come on Arsenal, get a midfielder through the door. Sander Berge is for sale apparently…
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico, yes, pay the fee and spread the cost as Chelsea have been doing, say a 6 year contract as he’s only 21, if Arteta thinks he can make the difference then do it, I mean who talks about the fee we paid for Ben White now?
Good morning Rico, if Brighton want £80 million and are not prepared to accept less, then the ball is firmly in Edu’s court, pay the money or walk away. A dig in Thomas Partey’s ribs from one of Sean Dyche’s players on Saturday will probably put him out for a couple of games. Is an extra million or ten really too much in such circumstances?
Morning Kev, Cicero.
That’s how I feel. £10m is peanuts when talking about the other £70m. If it wins us the league or at least secures CL football, I think £100m is handed to Arsenal anyway.
Sell Sambi to raise the money. Lol
Marquinhos heading to Norwich on loan apparently.
Rico, as you already pointed out, even Arteta and Edu can get it wrong too at times. Caicedo is a good tackler and ball winner with a big engine; however he’s not good on the ball or pass range. The way Arsenal plays everyone on the team is good on the ball. If they are bidding 75m for him, I think it’s not for him to be backup. I think that there is a possibility of a formation change with Ode, Partey, Xhaka and Caicedo all on the field together.
Whether he is worth it or not, is subject to conjures, some might consider the fact that he has only play about 30 EPL games, and there are better, cheaper and more experienced players available: Savic, Madison, Neves, Brozovic, Kamara, Onana….etc., for 75m or less all of these are possibilities.
I do wonder why Arsenal have bid for him mid season. From the selling club’s point of view that is exactly the wrong time to sell a player as the chances of getting a replacement are slim. If Arteta really wants him a summer bid would not have antagonised Brighton the way this one has. It can hurt you. Back when Modric was playing for Spurs Chelsea put in a disruptive bid. Levy put his foot down and the following season told Modric he’d sell him to Madrid but not Chelsea, so that’s where he went. I’m not sure Arsenal really need reinforcements right now anyway. At the end of the day the league title is everything, you play your strongest team in those games. If that means putting out a youth side in the Europa that’s what you do.
Obi, perhaps Arteta believes he can improve that part of his game, he’s still young in footballing terms.
I disagree Jod, I think the player has cheesed Brighton off rather than Arsenal, plus, I think they’ve already signed a young midfielder who might be to replace him.
Your theory is good on paper but in reality, imo it’s a recipe for disaster.
Rico btw, why stop at Sambi? Add in Taveras too. You can get about
15 -20 for both. Both will be just supplement to the requirement next season anyway.
I think it’s pretty plain why Edu is trying to sign Caicedo, we are short of midfielders now Jod. We need to strengthen the midfield for the run in to the title. By the summer the player’s price may well be even higher. A bird in hand…..as the old adage goes.
Cancelo – I want to play.
Pep – I am not playing you. I have new formation.
Cancelo – I want to leave.
Pep – OK. Off to Bayern you go.
I guess we know where Arteta gets it from. There’s only one way. My way.
The Marquinos loan to Norwich City could be a good move all round, he needs playing time, City need a bit of quality and they play good football, we should get a better player back in the summer.
For sure Obi, I forgot about him.
Apparently, Arteta turned down an offer for Lokonga, and will not consider selling or loaning him out until we sign a backup player for Partey.
Good luck to Marqinhas who is going out on to Norwich City for the rest of this season.
going by a report in NN, Arteta has been told look at Martin Zubimendia a midfielder with a 53 million pound release clause.
Yep, Monaco I think it was Geoff. £8 million which is a joke if true.
David Ornstein
@David_Ornstein
🚨 EXCL: Arsenal Women make world-record offer to sign Alessia Russo from Man Utd. With no breakthrough in new contract talks (current deal ends this summer), #AWFC have submitted huge bid for 23yo England striker. Not accepted yet
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It is very complicated and time is short. We need a midfield player. I don’t think we can dispense with Lokonga.
Fabrizio reckons we’re considering Jorginho 😳
Chelsea need to move players on and Arteta likes him but it just smacks of desperation if we bring in another Chelsea reject. He’s not the most nimble midfielder around and his wages would be steep, but who knows, it might turn out to be a master stroke although if we signed him for half-a-season I’d rather hope that we didn’t need him too often – that’s if we could get him on loan, the Chavs might want a permanent deal and he might want a 3 or 4 year contract?
The fee for Russo is reportedly “more than the £400,000 Barcelona paid for England midfielder Keira Walsh in September”. A new World record fee for a woman footballer.
Let’s hope the Jorginho bid is a ploy to get Brighton to accept a more reasonable fee for a Caicedo. I wouldn’t have thought that a 31 year old would be in Arteta’s preferred age range.
For all the puff about getting the business done early, it looks like we’re back to the last minute trolley dash. 😕
I am starting a rumour,
Arsenal is looking at buying Zaha for 20 million pounds plus Lokonga.
New post up now
Sadly Cicero, I think it’s beginning to sound real…
I think Caicedo is way overpriced and not what we need. I would prefer we put that money into securing Rice from West Ham, we will really be motoring then. Have you seen Flo Balogun’s goal for Reims against PSG last
night it was real class. Watch it on https://highlightsfootball.net/video/paris-saint-germain-vs-reims-highlights-3/ . He must come back to The Emirates next season; as you say with him we will have a frightening forward line