Morning all.
There’s nothing quite like a piece of transfer gossip to get our hopes up of a new player arriving up. Yesterday, there was a story about Viktor Gyokeres, which was on many newspapers back pages after Portuguese outlet Record announced that the striker had told Man Utd he doesn’t want to join them because he wants a move to Arsenal.
The truth is more likely to be he wants to be at a club who will be playing Champions League football next season. Recently, there have been reports suggesting the player is prepared to go on strike to get his move.
Sporting CP’s club president Federico Varandas is quoted by Record as saying:
”I want to make one thing clear: We at Sporting have common sense. We said two things (at the start of the season): that we would not demand €100m and that the value would depend on the performance of Viktor. How did he perform? 63 goals, 17 assists (club and country), fantastic form, one of the best seasons in the history of Portuguese football. Even then, Sporting will not demand his release clause.”
“But people should know that threats, blackmail and insults will not work with me. I can guarantee one thing: Viktor Gyokeres won’t leave here for €60million plus €10m in add-ons. He won’t, and the game the agent is playing will only make the situation worse. As of now, we haven’t had one offer for him.”
The Athletic have an article this morning which explains how the transfer process usually plays out which isn’t as I thought it would. (The experienced agent and Sporting Director supplying the information remain anonymous)
Virtually no one is bidding for a player anymore without already knowing that they’re going to come to their football club or have a strong interest in signing for that club.
Despite the rules over transfers saying that a buying club is not permitted to make contact directly with a player or his representatives before speaking with his club, it happens almost all of the time. Clubs don’t complain though because they are all doing the same. By the time an offer for a player is made, the player being signed has already agreed to join the club wanting to sign him.
In theory, most clubs tap up other clubs players. That might be why certain clubs who have plenty of money to spend get deals over the line a lot quicker than Arsenal seem to. I suspect that’s the reason the reports about Martin Zubimendi have been flying around for so long too because the player, or rather his representatives, have already told Arsenal he wants the move.
The appointment of Alonso at Real Madrid might seem to have muddied the waters but I’d imagine Zubimendi would have known a while ago that that scenario would unfold.
Going back to Gyokeres, if he didn’t want to move to Utd, they’d have known that ages ago. Long before now, that’s for sure. That’s not to say he’s joining Arsenal of course but just because there’s nothing going on publicly, there will I’m sure, be a lot of talks going on behind the scenes.
The transfer window proper opens tomorrow so I think even the most pessimistic of fans can expect Arsenal to soon sign a few players.
Catch up in the comments.
Morning Rico, yeah we’ve been bruised by the Mudryk saga but in general, as with Declan Rice the player decides where he wants to go before a transfer fee is agreed.
No doubt agents working for Real Madrid are in contact with the agent of Saliba. Agents are talking to Zinchenko’s agent, agents are talking to Kiwior’s agent and people working for Arsenal are in contact with people representing the players we’re interested in, that’s why it’s virtually impossible to keep anything a secret anymore.
Good morning Rico.
Well that looks like we will need to come up with anything between £70 and £99 million if we want Gyokeres.
Morning Kev, Cicero and all.
My immediate thought was what’s the point in having transfer rules is most clubs aren’t adhering to them?
However, as much as I’d like to think Arsenal do things properly, what’s the point because other club will always be ahead in the transfer game.
Sporting can set the fee they want I guess but they have to be sensible, especially if Gyokeres only wants to join one specific club. They won’t want to be left with an unhappy player.
We have come a long way from getting your mum a washing machine !
The transfer system has always been dubious so say the least . It used to be the odd brown envelope (George ) or a back hander to the agent then passed on in part to the player all very clandestine . Now it’s in the open , why would anyone wish to expose it , the media , papers , facebook blogs , Tik Tok get their stories from it and it keeps the pot boiling .
As many of us have said in the past until it’s on .com it isn’t worth addressing but it’s a drug and we are all addicted in one form or another.
Morning rico. Time to stop messing about, if we want to be a force, sign both Sesko and Gyokeres, potential if needed to play two up top, one out wider, rest and mix in with Havertz, let’s have an attack that’s not so flaming predictable. If not both, then one plus Rodrygo, let’s have variation like Pool had last year. Not asking for much am I, as we also need squad numbers, but without we won’t be winning the league. How serious are we?
Anyway , “”Viktor Gyokeres won’t leave here for €60million plus €10m in add-ons “” however he might if you replace Euros with pounds , it comes somewhere between their comment of £61 million and the conversion rate of £ 80 million.
I know what you mean about the rules and tapping up Rico but the clubs vote on the rules and they all bend them for transfers so such is life I guess
If Arsenal decide that Gyorkeres is their man and Gyorkeres decides Arsenal are his club then we can wait until Sporting come around.
But bear in mind a lot of those inflammatory statements are made with the fan base in mind, privately Sporting will want to do business.
I guess that’s why many fees are undisclosed, that way Arsenal can claim we paid £50m and Sporting can claim they got €80m.
Agreed Potter.
Morning Andrew, agree there too. We keeping hearing about Arsenal and ambition but let’s see it in black and white.
Exactly Kev, they are all at it so it would be hypocritical to complain.
Only six clubs haven’t made one or more signings this summer.
Leeds, Fulham, Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Wolves and Arsenal.
let’s see it in black and white.
Preferably RED and WHITE
Ha ha. Red and white then.
Gyokeres is very injured. He has to be managed very carefully. Like “by tweezers”.
He was released from the Swedish national team; in the last Sporting games he played about 2 games: one came on and the other left in the 2nd half.
If he stays at Sporting, he will be a source of problems for the club. That’s my opinion.
Nwaneri starts for the England U21s against Slovenia. Kick-off 5pm live on Channel 4.
Gyokeres could be a smoke screen to hide the real target Sesko.
Just switched on, good to see our young player starting.
I thought his club asked for him to be released from international duty Jm?
I haven’t a clue what this commentator is on about. He’s a 100 mph talker..
Not the really true. Sporting team is in holidays
I meant for Sweden. His country not club.