SUMMER TRANSFERS - Your thoughts on who did and did not sign

[Red Gunner]

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: "If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won't necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn't get the most out of my career."

Benteke is further quoted as saying: "Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

"If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I'm convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner."

Benteke's agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: "This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I'd prefer he didn't speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

"If he was unhappy at Villa we'd have seen that. But he's not."

[augie]

Still dont believe that he is the type of striker we need - if we had moyes as manager then I could see us utilise benteke's skills but what use would he be playing tippy tappy football with loads of passing but fcuk all penetration and almost zero crosses ? Would much rather sign darren bent who is a proven goalscorer and who would provide the pace needed

[1989]

What makes you think victims would happily agree to sell to us?

Well they are an ITV4 team at best, and he deserves a lot better. Like him or not, he is a class act in the EPL

I'd love to have Suarez, but the victims will never sell to direct rivals (unlike our club ). Plus he comes with too much baggage and that would put Wenger off anyway. We all know he likes to sign nice quiet boys who won't rock the boat...

[1989]

Stepanovs

Silvestre

Squillachi

Santos

Please no more defenders whose names begin with an "S".

Senderos as well

[1989]

Still dont believe that he is the type of striker we need - if we had moyes as manager then I could see us utilise benteke's skills but what use would he be playing tippy tappy football with loads of passing but fcuk all penetration and almost zero crosses ? Would much rather sign darren bent who is a proven goalscorer and who would provide the pace needed

What's with your fixation with Darren Bent Augs? He's currently Villa's 4th choice striker and isn't close to the player he was in his prime (wasn't great even then). How is he the man to take us to the title next season or at least challenge for it?

[StuartL]

Christian Benteke casts doubt on his Aston Villa future

Christian Benteke has cast doubt on his future at Aston Villa by indicating that he would like to leave if a leading club such as Arsenal try to buy him.

Villa want the striker to sign a new, improved contract but Benteke has given a press conference on international duty with Belgium before their friendly against the USA in which he is quoted as saying that he may demand a transfer: "If Aston Villa say I must stay, I won't necessarily accept that. I do not in any way want to feel I didn't get the most out of my career."

Benteke is further quoted as saying: "Of course playing the World Cup in Rio is in my head. But I have no fear of falling out of the team. There is no point in me getting into a tug-of-war with Villa.

"If the chance comes up for me to join a club like Arsenal, I'm convinced we can reach a compromise where everyone comes out a winner."

Benteke's agent Kismet Eris told the Sun: "This always happens when he goes away with the national team. I'd prefer he didn't speak to journalists but the Belgian team insist he does a press conference.

"If he was unhappy at Villa we'd have seen that. But he's not."

Benteke is about the level of signing we can expect this summer - not Cavani, or Huguain or Jovetic all of whom would be large fees and huge wages.

£15m or so for Benteke on £60k a week, slotting in nicely in our pay structure would be Wenkers wet dream.

From what I have seen of him, he has pace, is strong and in his first season in a shitty team has performed very well.
We could then ofload Gervinho for about £10 (m) and have upgraded for very little outlay, leaving large amounts for def mid / experienced keeper, etc etc.

Not the first time that the lad has mentioned wanting to play for us either.....

[UlsterGooner]

If we were going to sign all these players we have been linked to we would have the bloody league wrapped up by now

[Top Londoner]

Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of agreeing terms for the transfer of Swansea centre back Ashley Williams in a move which could hasten the departure of Thomas Vermaelen from the Emirates.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -exit.html

[northbank123]

Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of agreeing terms for the transfer of Swansea centre back Ashley Williams in a move which could hasten the departure of Thomas Vermaelen from the Emirates.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -exit.html

Saw that but then realised the original scoop was from goal.com and therefore ignored it.

We're only seeing so many bollocks rumours this early because there's no English team in the CL final and no major tournament, hence the need to fill column inches.

[Top Londoner]

Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of agreeing terms for the transfer of Swansea centre back Ashley Williams in a move which could hasten the departure of Thomas Vermaelen from the Emirates.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -exit.html

Saw that but then realised the original scoop was from goal.com and therefore ignored it.

We're only seeing so many bollocks rumours this early because there's no English team in the CL final and no major tournament, hence the need to fill column inches.

Yep, exactly NB.
Some days I am resigned to thinking that the 'warchest' is just a fallacy, and I am being enticed (again) onto the Gazidis/Wenger/lazy journo transfer speculation big dipper.
Other days I just get despondent.

[northbank123]

Arsenal are reportedly on the verge of agreeing terms for the transfer of Swansea centre back Ashley Williams in a move which could hasten the departure of Thomas Vermaelen from the Emirates.



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... -exit.html

Saw that but then realised the original scoop was from goal.com and therefore ignored it.

We're only seeing so many bollocks rumours this early because there's no English team in the CL final and no major tournament, hence the need to fill column inches.

Yep, exactly NB.
Some days I am resigned to thinking that the 'warchest' is just a fallacy, and I am being enticed (again) onto the Gazidis/Wenger/lazy journo transfer speculation big dipper.
Other days I just get despondent.

I know mate, I know it's all bollocks yet I still feel the need to research these leads before concluding that they are in fact bollocks

[1989]

I would take Williams just for this:




He ain't a bad old defender either.

[Top Londoner]

Stoke goalkeeper Asmir Begovic has revealed he wants to sign for Liverpool.

Begovic claimed in an interview in his native Bosnia that he would be moving to Anfield in July for pre-season training.

The 25-year-old said: 'I want to start preparing on July 10, with all the players of Liverpool.'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... quest.html

[Robin_L]

I'd love Begovic at Arsenal, great 'keeper and the only thing worth prising away from Stoke before the bombs fall.

Bare minimum requirement for me personally would be Jovetic and Gonalons (or equivalents at that sort of level in that position). The next most important things are an experienced goalkeeper to keep Woj on his toes (I'd like Cesar on reasonable wages) and to get Sagna to stay, or sign a replacement if he does not.

Signing Monreal is pushing Gibbs on, we need that on the other side as well with Jenkinson.

So at least 2 signings just to tread water as far as I'm concerned and really I'm thinking 4 to start making some headway.

Williams would be a decent addition, not at the expense of Vermaelen though.

[STLgooner89]

I would take Williams just for this:




He ain't a bad old defender either.

"He could have killed the lad!!!!!!!!"