Morning all.
Arsenal are one of two clubs interested in 20-year-old Watford and Colombia winger Yaser Asprilla, according to a report in yesterday’s Mirror with Everton being the other. Right now, the Watford winger/midfielder is on international duty with Columbia but his involvement has been limited so far. Columbia face Uruguay on Wednesday night/Thursday morning in the Copa America semi-final.
This story is very different to one which suggests it’s Raphinha Arsenal are after again. One is extremely experienced (and expensive) the other is young at just 20 years old but has already featured in 81 matches for Championship club Watford.
I think it’s fair to say that Raphinha’s move to Barcelona hasn’t gone as well as he perhaps hoped and, according to internet reports, has often been criticised by fans because of his low par performances. A number of reports have him linked to Arsenal, one even suggested Eddie Nketiah could be part of the deal, and as Kai Havertz has proved, if there’s a manager to get Raphinha’s career back on track, there’s a good chance Mikel Arteta is the one. Personally, I’d rather we swerved a player like Raphinha though.
Another new name hitting the Arsenal interested in headlines is Brian Brobbey, a 22 year old striker at Ajax. The report in the Sun, yes, I know, suggests Mikel Arteta wants him as backup for Gabriel Jesus. Basically, a replacement for Eddie Nketiah should he be sold but whether that proves to be Brobbey or not is a different matter.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are open to offers for defender Jakub Kiwior, according to a Daily Mail report which goes on to suggest Arsenal are willing to listen to permanent bids, but will also consider loan offers as long as they include mandatory buy options.
With Riccardo Calafiori being heavily linked to a move to Arsenal, it’s no great surprise that a Kiwior would be linked with a departure. Most of his appearances have been at left back but only when both Zinchenko and Tomiyasu have been unavailable so unless Mikel Arteta is going to change tact completely, the Polish defender’s playing time is going to be limited even more should Calafiori move to Arsenal.
That’s about it for this mornings gossip.
Catch up in the comments.
Lokonga nearing Arsenal exit
Latest from Sky Sports senior reporter Dharmesh Sheth:
Sevilla are advancing in talks with Arsenal over the signing of midfielder Albert Sambi Lokonga.
The deal is understood to be an initial loan with performance-related conditions, which would permit the loan turns into an obligation to buy.
Lokonga spent last season at Luton and has two years left on his Arsenal contract.
Morning all.
Gossip, without evidence, just saying……..
Now that Olise has signed for Bayern I fully expect Palace to come come calling for Nelson or Nketia or both. The cash in their pockets must be scorching them by now!
May be wrong but……???
They’re always without evidence Wavy. 1 in a 100 might come true 😜
Let’s hope so re Palace, it’s not like they’re going to play for us anymore..
Let’s hope we can get the Lokonga deal done, so we have one less on our books, also seems very quiet on any strikers coming in
It’s quiet full stop..
Brobbey has been around a few clubs in the Netherlands, started at Ajax, went out on loan a few times and is now back at his boyhood club. His value is put at €35 million ad his wages £72.000 per week cheap as chips😉 He’s in the Dutch Euros squad.
A young winger from Watford makes sense, we must know quite a bit about him as they train next door and joining us is hardly an earth shattering move and he will have seen Arsenal’s infrastructure looking over the fence.
If that free’s up Nelson and Nketiah to go and we get reasonable money for them it might mean that we can promise ESR more pitch time who in my opinion is the better of the three. Should he go too and Odegaard gets injured we would only have Vieira to come in and that would be disastrous in my mind or use Zinchenko forward .
Looking at the squad on .com we really can’t let ESR go unless we buy and if we do buy would we get better for the amount of money available ?
Good afternoon Rico and all
Quite a nice bit of gossip up here. All that is needed is that we all be around a table with a glass of wine for me. You forgot to mention Grealish, Rashford and Sancho. Arteta can get their careers back on track as well. Plus they are English.
I doubt we will get any of them lol
Arsenal published ticketing report for last season. According to this report Arsenal banned 20,000 members and 54 season ticket holders for attempting to obtain tickets in unauthorised way, while the
Club also confirm 24 season tickets were cancelled last season due to lack of use.
Potter, I still believe that Zinchenko should not be sold but rather be used to rotate the wingers position or even that of Odegaard. Especially in the cups. If Zinny is used up there sharing responsibilities with Saka, Odegaard, Trossard and Martinelli I think it will make sense. If ESR is kept that is a bonus as well.
Money should be spent on midfield and a striker.
Money should be spent on midfield and a striker.
Remains to be seen who goes , Jorginho has re-signed but should it be Partey then we would need to see what is available and whether we have something in house . Personally I don’t know what the prospective Italian can do or whether Timber is able but certainly a proper striker is a necessity . Havertz holds the ball well and blows hot and cold , Jesus is not a top striker for me but a player that spends more time in and around the box is what we need .
We need players that can change the pattern when required . A box playing forward would be just that.
Perhaps Southgate has been watching us with Jesus and that’s why Kane is so deep and ineffective.
To break down defenses you need movement and with our wide players and midfield coming through we have it everywhere apart from the penalty box . Players like Wrighty always made a nuisance of himself , drew players out of position and was quick enough to pounce on the loose ball. Sadly that player doesn’t grow on trees , I thought Eddie might be able but sadly no.
According to Italian media Arsenal are expected to close negotiations with Bologna for Riccardo Calafiori within the next 24 hours. The deal is £42million with 40% going to Basel due to a large sell-on clause in the players’ contract.
Calafiori is to sign a contract until 2029 in North London.
Afternoon Rico and assembled.
That was an interesting piece in the Athletic regarding the academy.
Even if we go back to the Wenger years and look at his use of academy players through rosé tinted spectacles we see that many of our best ‘products’ were not if we’re being honest from within the academy but foreign youngsters signed as 15/16/17 year olds from foreign academies so maybe there has been a gradual decline in the technical level of the local youngsters we’ve sourced.
Failing that maybe our scouting hadn’t been as good as others in the London and SE or our inducements to parents/agents haven’t been as tempting?
According to the Charles Watts podcast Arsenal are in for a ‘mystery’ German signing and it’s not Kimmich…
Leroy, come on down. 😉
Go on Arteta and Edu…buy Barella and make me a happy supporter.
Might have to watch the England v Holland game then Cicero. lol
Potter, ditto re Smith Rowe, he’s miles better than Vieira and he deserves to be selected ahead of him too imo.
Afternoon Devil, Kev.
Those are old rumours Devil, these today are new. Still rubbish though I suspect. Lol
3-20 Potter, totally agree. Havertz’s talents are going to waste, he could quite easily play on the left of a front three with a proper striker in the middle. Not always perhaps but we’d almost certainly be better imo.
I’ll be watching it Rico but not with any great hope of seeing an England goal fest. 0 – 0 Half-time, 1 – 1 Full-time. Then penalties after extra time and that will be a lottery. 😕
Can’t see England winning penalty shootouts Cicero 😜
After the quarter final game Saka has 11 MOTM awards in just 28 starts while playing for England. He also has the distinction of having scored in the WC and the Euro in the final stages. Plus he has more goals for England in the Euros than DB07 himself.
No player has more MOTM awards for England since Saka made his international debut in 2020.
A few stories going around that ESR in talks with Fulham, If true this could be a good deal for ESR as he deserves more game time, As I can;t see Arteta giving him it,
Afternoon Rico and all.
Will England add golf to its banned activities after Saka tripped over his own golf bag, how embarrassing,
Kev I hope you’re right. I have always been a big fan of Sane. That pace!
Is it still there though ? he’s nearly 29 and It seems that after one year in the Bundesliga Kane doesn’t seem to be able to raise more than a trot.
According to the Grauniad, sorry, Guardian Arsenal are hopeful of signing Calafiori this week following further talks with Bologna.
I think the days of Arsenal signing high profile, high maintenance players such as Sane are well and truly over.
I certainly hope they are Cicero..
Off subject but a terrific quote but I don’t know who said it.
“”Once It was footballers trying to become millionaires, now it’s
Millionaires trying to become footballers.
I like that…
The Athletic reckon Mikel Merino is on our radar.
Yes Nigel, me too, he’s the type who could fill in anywhere across the attack, a classic Arteta player and one who he’s worked with before.
Of course Bayern would want a lot of dough because they’ve been spending a lot of dough recently and there’s the wages to consider.
A nice thought if nothing else.
Good afternoon Rico and all
Anthony Taylor has left the Euros and will not referee any other game in Germany. The fans signed a 32k petition for him to be punished after the game Spain vs Germany.
Kev, Sane would be a great addition, especially as he can play in various forward/Advanced midfield positions. he is more effective on the right and left not as much in the centre. However, as you rightly pointed out, the transfer fee plus wages might put Arsenal off.
Afternoon Devil.
I was surprised the penalty wasn’t overturned by VAR. Yes the players hands were by his side but weren’t tucked it.
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=972141311589346&set=a.207151234755028
Don’t know if this will open but it’s interesting.
Am I right in thinking SK has bought the stadium?
Cut n Paste Potter…
Is this what you mean Rico:
KSE subsidiary StadCo LA, LLC to purchase Emirates ?
Posted by: Boston Gooner (IP Logged)
Date: 01 July, 2024 09:07
KSE subsidiary StadCo LA, LLC. Have started the process to purchase the Emirates Stadium home of Arsenal Football Club.
StadCo LA own the Sofi Stadium Stockbrige Capital Group . The company owns and operates the home of LA Rams and LA Chargers .
The purchase has been made possible by the recent vote after Chelsea sold property in its organization and the memeber of the English Premier League ratified this sale.
The process has started in this financial year and the price is said to be over £900 Million pounds although this is book value and no cash might ever change hands as effectively the American branch of KSE is buying the UK branch Stadium.
We are reliably told the plans are to expand the Emirates Stadium from 60,000 to a 75,000 capacity.
The book value of Arsenal Football Club has never been healthier at this point in time .
Exclusive by #ArsenalFanaticsNews
[www.facebook.com]
That’s good news then Kev..
That’s it for some reason I could not get it to copy , probably Norfolk .
I see that Ipswich have paid £38m for 2 players – £20m to Manchester city for Liam Delap (I think he was on loan in the Championship) £18m to Hull for Philogene,seems a lot of money for pretty much untested players.
Some of the players we want to sell are on big wages,it’s hard to give that up I suppose.
Will be interesting to see how tonight’s game goes,Spain have been by far the best team so far and France have been rubbish,but you wouldn’t be surprised to see France win ( well I would but you never know)
Tomorrow’s game is more 50/50
Ipswich have a lot of promotion money to spend I guess. But agree re our player wages, who will offer Eddie £100k a week?
I’m rooting for Spain..
Wow, what a strike to make it 1-1.
Apparently the quote was by Tommy Doc.
He saw it coming then…
New post up.