Morning all.
Declan Rice is giving me a headache, well, not him but the constant repeating of headlines relating him joining Arsenal. Ultimately, the decision is his because regardless of what figure any club offers West Ham, it’s always the player who chooses his next destination. It’s also West Ham’s prerogative to set the transfer fee but they’re not stupid either because on both sides of any deal, there has to be a compromise at some stage. Rice has one year left on his contract.
Personally, I hope Chelsea continue to price Arsenal out of a move for Kai Havertz but if it is he who Mikel Arteta wants and eventually gets, then we’ll all hope his move is a success story.
It wasn’t that long ago I was scratching my head over Arsenal paying Brighton £50m for Ben White but he’s turned out to be quite good hasn’t he?
Fabio Vieira remains a mystery though. Hopefully he’s pumping iron in a Portuguese gym as I type and consuming vast amounts of carbs and protein between sessions. I jest of course but if he can build himself up a bit, it might help him survive in this league. He’s 23 years old now, the same age as Sambi Lokonga and I think it’s fair to say that at this moment in time, neither have really settled into Premier League football. Rumour has it, well, the newspapers etc, that Vincent Kompany wants Vieira on a season long loan with Burnley. Good move for all I think. His contract at Arsenal runs until 2026 so there’s still time for him yet. I don’t think the Arsenal documentary on Amazon did him any favours.
There’s an 18 year old at Southampton called Dominic Ballard who is one to watch this season. Admittedly, he didn’t play much for the senior team last season, just twice I think but he’s said to be a pretty tidy player already. Fabrizio Romano reckons a few English clubs are already showing a little interest in him and it’d be good if Arsenal are one of them I think. Why not go for him now whilst he has just one year left on his contract and before he’s exposed to the wider world of football. Southampton, having been relegated, will probably need to raise some money.
Also in the news is the PSG want Mikel Arteta to be their next manager story. The newspapers have differing angles with some suggesting talks are ongoing and others saying the Spaniard has pretty much said thanks but no thanks. Another angle suggests Mikel Arteta is more likely to sign a contract extension at Arsenal. The thanks but no thanks tilt is the one I believe is more likely to be true because he has unfinished business at Arsenal. What manager walks away from a club which has just come close to winning the Premier League with a team/squad which he can finally see as being his? Plus, who’d really want the job at PSG?
Anyway, stay off of NewsNow if you want to remain in control of your mind because there’s a lot of misleading headlines out there. What will be will be and if we don’t end up signing Rice and/or Havertz, then so be it….
Catch up in the comments..
Morning Rico and all,
If Vincent Kompany likes Lokonga and Vieira, then maybe we can make a deal with him, buy Lokonga and we will loan you Vieira for 12 months, and if we don’t want him back, then Burnley will have first option of buying Vieira.
Hi Geoff, not sure about Vieira but rumour is he wants Lokonga.
Wolves have agreed a £47m fee with Saudi Arabian side Al Hilal for midfielder Ruben Neves, reports talkSPORT
£47 million? Wow.
I can’t see Arteta being interested in PSG, their managers seldom last a full season before getting the elbow. No chance to get a grip on the squad and hardly time to get furniture arranged and the kids in school.
Covers on at Edgbaston. Bazball in abeyance for now.
Perhaps they would do us a favour and take Pepe for 47 quid.
Back on two wickets fall then more rain. Maybe we’ll get a lucky draw.
I reckon they were wrong to restart, too dark.
Enrique close to becoming PSG manager apparently
The Portuguese starlet previously featured in the 2021 edition of the competition and was named Player of the Tournament.
Mais Futebol are now reporting that Vieira has been forced to drop out of the tournament due to an unspecified medical condition.
Not another unspecified medical saga.!
Reports that Arteta is willing to sell Party if the price is right.
Yes the Partey leaving Arsenal bandwagon is gaining momentum with the rumour that he might go to Saudi Arabia, which if true would mean Arsenal getting a far better fee for him. The Saudi League definitely seems to be determined to become a serious player in world football, I wonder how serious a threat they’ll become over the next few years?
Fabio Vieira has been an un mitigating flop of Willian proportions since he signed, despite many attempts by Arteta to integrate him into the group he remains an enigma which makes me wonder if, despite his words of encouragement, what Arteta would do if an offer of say £30m came in for him?
Fall of his chair in surprise, I should think. 😉
Then take the money and run
🤣 Cicero.
I hope the club would accept a £30 million offer for Vieira too, not that there’s likely to be one this summer imo.
Not now he is injured
In-growing toenail?
Morning Rico and all,
Saka is playing with sore Achilles, according to Gareth Southgate, if true Saka should be dropped to prevent him from coursing any more damage.
Balogun, according to reports has told Arteta if you don’t play then sell me, if this report is true then good Balogun, as no players should tell the manager / coach who to pick.
There is serious Saudi investment in Chelsea through Todd Boehly’s sportswashing company and now we see the benefits with maybe 4 or 5 deadwood players being linked with the Saudi league on considerable fees that basically allow Chelsea to wriggle out of FFP with a lightest of touch that would impress Man City, the sportwashing champions of the EPL.
Careful Kev, a report suggests that Arteta has given permission for Partey to “pursue an opportunity to sign a contract with a Saudi owned club”. That could bring us a larger fee than if he moved to a European club. There are calls for an investigation into Chelsea’s dealings along with Wolves sale of Neves.
Morning Cicero, all.
New post up now