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

[Red Gunner]

Mikel Arteta: It's 'about time' Arsenal competed in transfer market

Mikel Arteta says it is "about time" that Arsenal made aggressive moves in the transfer market, as he reflected the sense of excitement in the club's dressing-room at the prospect of Arsène Wenger doing precisely that.

Wenger is determined to sign a world-class forward and Liverpool's Luis Suárez has become his priority. Arsenal are in talks over the Uruguayan and they are prepared to test Liverpool's resolve with a £35m offer, which would most likely be rejected. If they go to £40m, however, it may leave Liverpool with an awkward decision, even though they are loath to sell to a Premier League rival.

Arsenal, who are in a position of greater financial strength due to renegotiated commercial contracts, have also lined up a £23m deal for Gonzalo Higuaín of Real Madrid while they want a midfielder to play with Arteta and, possibly, a new goalkeeper.

Arteta feels that the prospective additions are essential if the club is to compete for a first trophy since 2005 and he noted how a transfer coup would lift the mood of everybody at the Emirates Stadium.

"The club have said they are going to be very ambitious in the market and have got the financial resources to get big players," Arteta said. "I think it's about time. When you compare us to the other top English clubs and the money they have paid, we are very far apart. The value of this club is the class and what it means is very difficult to match. Now, financially, they are very strong so maybe we will be more aggressive in the transfer market. There has never been a tradition at Arsenal to pay crazy, crazy money.

"I am excited. They made it public that they are going to go big and the sort of players they have been linked with makes me happy.

"It creates a good atmosphere and we need to do something because the other teams are doing it, and I think we will.

"I believe we can be contenders again but it also creates a genuine atmosphere for the fans and they need that because we haven't won trophies in the last years. They need something back. I believe in what we have but if we can strengthen a bit, then we are going to make the gap with the other teams much closer. That's what we're looking for."

Arteta recalled last summer, when Robin van Persie made the high-profile and morale-sapping defection to Manchester United. Alex Song also left for Barcelona, while the previous time out, Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri departed for Barcelona and Manchester City respectively.

Arsenal, though, will not lose any stars this summer and it feels as though they are on the front foot.

"There's a difference [in spirit] when you are trying to sell players and when you are trying to buy," Arteta said. "The difference between those two concepts is very big. If we do well [in the transfer market], I think you will see the difference on the pitch. We're not that far away. The fact that we haven't won it [a trophy] for eight years makes it harder mentally to believe but that's what we need to do.

"I was disappointed when Robin left. He was the best player in our team, he made the difference for us. I didn't want him to go but we had to accept that he wanted to move on to a new challenge."

The midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also spoke of the side-effects of a statement signing. "Whenever a new player comes into any team, it adds competition for places, which gets the best out of the players and keeps everyone on their toes," he said.

"As a football fan, new signings at any club excite me. Even when I see new signings at my old club, Southampton, you always take notice. You always think about what that could change in the team."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013 ... -transfers

-----

Manchester United target Cesc Fabregas and Marouane Fellaini

David Moyes has made a €30m (£26m) bid for Cesc Fábregas and could pair the Barcelona star with Everton's Marouane Fellaini to form the heart of his Manchester United midfield next season.

Moyes has identified the need for two midfielders, at least one of whom must be able to contribute goals, which Fábregas has proved he can do in the Premier League when at his former club, Arsenal. Fellaini also has an eye for goal; he scored 12 times for Everton last season.

Moyes considered Real Madrid's Luka Modric before deciding on lodging an official offer for the former Arsenal captain. The deal hinges on whether Barcelona – who purchased the player from Arsenal for €29m (£25m) in 2011 – are willing to sell.

Publicly they have maintained the midfielder is not for sale – "the player is not transferable," a source said – but any indication that they would consider allowing him to leave would force Fábregas's hand as it would be clear that he is not considered central to the plans of Tito Vilanova, the Barcelona coach. However the news of United's bid came as a surprise to Fábregas, so the player's thoughts are not yet known.

Moyes has turned his attention to the 26-year-old after Thiago Alcântara joined Bayern Munich from Barcelona for £21.6m. Yet it is thought that Moyes could have signed Thiago over the course of the past weeks, with the delay in his finally leaving for Bayern being down to United's manager not being completely convinced by the 22-year-old. Although it is understood Thiago was keen on joining United, there were suggestions from some at the club that he might struggle on occasion to cope with the physicality of the Premier League.

Last month Fábregas said he wanted to stay at Camp Nou. "I've always said that I'm happy at Barça. Whoever says that I'm leaving doesn't know me and has never spoken with me," he said.

"Nor with my agent, because he knows that I don't want him to talk with other people about me. I'm very private and I don't even talk about these things with my family. If someone says anything that isn't that I want to play at Barça, it's completely absurd."

As first reported in the Guardian two months ago Moyes has long retained an interest in Fellaini, the Belgian he took to Goodison Park in 2008 for £15m from Standard Liège. Although no official bid has yet been made, the 25-year-old falls into the category of being is a genuine option for Moyes who is now considering returning to his old club with an offer. Fellaini, whose contract runs until 2016, has a release clause of around £23m and a portion of any fee received by Everton would have to be paid to Liège. It is thought the release clause expires in mid-August.

Although Fellaini is far from the finished article, Moyes believes if he were to move to United he could become a high-class operator. The 6ft 4in Belgian would offer a physical presence currently lacking in United's midfield and, having operated in a deep-lying position and further advanced, is also versatile. As with Fábregas, Fellaini carries a goal threat from midfield, an area the Scot is keen to address.

Following Everton's first pre-season tour game, a 2-1 defeat by Austria Vienna in which Fellaini was captain for the second half, Roberto Martínez, the manager, talked up the prospect of him remaining at the club.

"He's still a very young man but I am really looking forward to seeing Marouane working hard and making sure that he sets really good standards," he said. "Marouane is an international footballer and he's going to be involved, if all goes well, in a World Cup next year."

Adnan Januzaj, United's 18-year-old attacking midfielder, is in talks with the club over a fresh contract, with the Belgian attracting interest from Barcelona and Juventus. Januzaj was United's stand-out player in the first half of Saturday's 1-0 defeat by the Singha All Star XI in the club's opening pre-season tour game in Bangkok, before he faded.

Moyes's predecessor, Sir Alex Ferguson, initiated the discussions with Januzaj, who was signed from Anderlecht two summers ago. After Saturday's defeat, Moyes said: "If he continues to play like that, he'll get more chances."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013 ... e-fellaini

-----

David Villa reveals England interest before Atletico Madrid deal

Former Barcelona striker David Villa says he was ready to move to the Premier League this summer, before Atletico Madrid made a bid to sign him.

Villa, 31, joined Atletico in an initial £1.8m deal, rising to £4.4m if he sees out his three-year contract.

Both Arsenal and Tottenham had been linked with the Spain international.

"We had a move to the Premier [League] in mind but then Atleti appeared and within three days all my personal terms had been agreed," Villa said.

"From a career point of view, they weren't lacking anything. They finished third in La Liga and will play in the Champions League. They beat Real Madrid to win the Copa del Rey.

"Starting from now, the best club in the world for me is Atletico Madrid."

Atletico, who sold striker Radamel Falcao to Monaco for a reported £50m earlier this summer, could use Villa as a direct replacement for the Colombian, who scored 32 goals last season.

"I have to talk to the coach Diego Simeone about playing in a number nine role, where Falcao played," he said.

"But I am simply at his disposal and will play wherever he wants. Falcao was loved here but hopefully I can make sure his absence isn't felt."

Villa scored 48 times in 119 games for Barcelona after joining from Valencia in the summer of 2010 for £34.2m. He is Spain's all-time leading scorer with 56 goals from 92 appearances.

"I left Barca because I wasn't playing, not because the World Cup was on the horizon," he added.

One of his first games for Atletico could be against his former club, in the Spanish Super Cup in August.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23323391

[Perryashburtongroves]

Wenger can't name a 'spectacular' new signing because there isn't one and he is, as always being a lying prick.

[QuartzGooner]

2) Drop Ramsey/Arteta and play Cesc in a deep playmaker role. But I think that could weaken us defensively and also limit Cesc a bit.

This one.

No point moving Cazorla to the left, he is far better in the middle.

Wilshere and Cesc patrolling central midfield means we lose a bit of box-to box power, but we gain a lot of cute passing, decent tackling and overall positional sense which helps out defensively.
Plus flexible bench options with Rosicky and Arteta, Ox and Ramsey etc.

I am all for it.

[Herd]

It would not surprise me is we sign Yossy Benayoun cheap and available for a Socialist type of wage !

[Top Londoner]

Roma have reportedly tabled a fresh £6.92m offer for Arsenal forward Gervinho, as boss Rudi Garcia looks for a reunion with the Ivorian striker.

Gervinho was left out of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia through sickness, with the absence also giving the 26-year-old time to consider his future.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/ar ... 93682.html

[Herd]

Roma have reportedly tabled a fresh £6.92m offer for Arsenal forward Gervinho, as boss Rudi Garcia looks for a reunion with the Ivorian striker.

Gervinho was left out of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia through sickness, with the absence also giving the 26-year-old time to consider his future.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/ar ... 93682.html

SELL SELL SELL

[markyp]

2) Drop Ramsey/Arteta and play Cesc in a deep playmaker role. But I think that could weaken us defensively and also limit Cesc a bit.

This one.

No point moving Cazorla to the left, he is far better in the middle.

Wilshere and Cesc patrolling central midfield means we lose a bit of box-to box power, but we gain a lot of cute passing, decent tackling and overall positional sense which helps out defensively.
Plus flexible bench options with Rosicky and Arteta, Ox and Ramsey etc.

I am all for it.

I really like the look of that,shame its just fantasy,the reality is Sanogo up top and add ramsey back to the midfield

[augie]

Mikel Arteta: It's 'about time' Arsenal competed in transfer market

Mikel Arteta says it is "about time" that Arsenal made aggressive moves in the transfer market, as he reflected the sense of excitement in the club's dressing-room at the prospect of Arsène Wenger doing precisely that.

Wenger is determined to sign a world-class forward and Liverpool's Luis Suárez has become his priority. Arsenal are in talks over the Uruguayan and they are prepared to test Liverpool's resolve with a £35m offer, which would most likely be rejected. If they go to £40m, however, it may leave Liverpool with an awkward decision, even though they are loath to sell to a Premier League rival.

Arsenal, who are in a position of greater financial strength due to renegotiated commercial contracts, have also lined up a £23m deal for Gonzalo Higuaín of Real Madrid while they want a midfielder to play with Arteta and, possibly, a new goalkeeper.

Arteta feels that the prospective additions are essential if the club is to compete for a first trophy since 2005 and he noted how a transfer coup would lift the mood of everybody at the Emirates Stadium.

"The club have said they are going to be very ambitious in the market and have got the financial resources to get big players," Arteta said. "I think it's about time. When you compare us to the other top English clubs and the money they have paid, we are very far apart. The value of this club is the class and what it means is very difficult to match. Now, financially, they are very strong so maybe we will be more aggressive in the transfer market. There has never been a tradition at Arsenal to pay crazy, crazy money.

"I am excited. They made it public that they are going to go big and the sort of players they have been linked with makes me happy.

"It creates a good atmosphere and we need to do something because the other teams are doing it, and I think we will.

"I believe we can be contenders again but it also creates a genuine atmosphere for the fans and they need that because we haven't won trophies in the last years. They need something back. I believe in what we have but if we can strengthen a bit, then we are going to make the gap with the other teams much closer. That's what we're looking for."

Arteta recalled last summer, when Robin van Persie made the high-profile and morale-sapping defection to Manchester United. Alex Song also left for Barcelona, while the previous time out, Cesc Fábregas and Samir Nasri departed for Barcelona and Manchester City respectively.

Arsenal, though, will not lose any stars this summer and it feels as though they are on the front foot.

"There's a difference [in spirit] when you are trying to sell players and when you are trying to buy," Arteta said. "The difference between those two concepts is very big. If we do well [in the transfer market], I think you will see the difference on the pitch. We're not that far away. The fact that we haven't won it [a trophy] for eight years makes it harder mentally to believe but that's what we need to do.

"I was disappointed when Robin left. He was the best player in our team, he made the difference for us. I didn't want him to go but we had to accept that he wanted to move on to a new challenge."

The midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also spoke of the side-effects of a statement signing. "Whenever a new player comes into any team, it adds competition for places, which gets the best out of the players and keeps everyone on their toes," he said.

"As a football fan, new signings at any club excite me. Even when I see new signings at my old club, Southampton, you always take notice. You always think about what that could change in the team."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013 ... -transfers

Always liked arteta - not shy about speaking about what the team needs and is also very aware of the feelings of the fans and their rights to expect more back in return for their support

[nut flush gooner]

If Barca accept Utd's offer for Cesc, if he does decide to leave, and if we don't take up our 1st option on him, then there can be no way back for Wenger.

He cannot keep banging on about 'lack of quality' in the market and then not sign Cesc for less than we sold him for, it would be utter madness.

All ifs and buts I know, and depending on what Cesc wants, but we have to be interested if he's available.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfedR3WUOok

Black and white from minute 9 onwards in this video. Cesc is one of those footballers I am prepared to give slack. He is quoted as saying that he sees himself playing for arsenal, barca and no one else.

If Barca negotiate with manure, it will be against cesc's wishes in my opinion and leave him with a very difficult decision. Arsenal hold the aces here, they negotiated a deal with barca that allows him to return. He is still young, quite frankly this will be the biggest display that the £70m warchest we allegedly have, is the biggest load of bullshit going.

On a separate note David Vila says that Athletico took three days to do what premiership clubs couldnt do in months. I cant help feeling those comments are aimed at us.

[Top Londoner]

Got this from a Liverpool transfer rumour site.

30m + Gervinho values Suarez at about 25m.

[BournemouthRED]

Groundhog Day

[highburyJD]

No way will we let Cesc go to ManUre. Would be insanity.

[Top Londoner]

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will reportedly not stand in Manchester United's path as they bid to sign Cesc Fabregas for £26million.

Red Devils boss David Moyes responded to losing out on Barcelona starlet Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich by reportedly making a concrete bid to take Fabregas away from the Catalan giants. Barca are yet to make an official response to United's bid, but the fact Arsenal had a £25million buy-back clause inserted into the deal when they sold the Spanish international for £30million two years ago was also an obstacle United had to overcome before they could strike a deal.

However, reports are claiming that Wenger would not get in the way of United's bid knowing that the Gunners will pick up 50 percent of any sell-on fee. Therefore it will be down to Barca to decide if they can afford to let Fabregas leave given that he has struggled for first-team football at the Nou Camp, while Brazilian starlet Neymar has also been added to their attacking options this summer. Fabregas could be tempted by a move to Old Trafford where he would almost certainly be guaranteed first-team football in the build up to next summer's World Cup, while he would also be reunited with former Arsenal team-mate Robin van Persie.


Read more at: http://www.clubcall.com/manchester-unit ... 07431.html


all good fun, eh?

[highburyJD]

Least believable story of the year
If we want to maximise income getting a chunk of 25% is not the way to do it
Buy him for £25M we could sell him for more
Motes would happily take Tets, Jack and/or Cesc directly from us

Ludicrous BS from clubcall

[rodders999]

Roma have reportedly tabled a fresh £6.92m offer for Arsenal forward Gervinho, as boss Rudi Garcia looks for a reunion with the Ivorian striker.

Gervinho was left out of Arsenal's pre-season tour of Asia through sickness, with the absence also giving the 26-year-old time to consider his future.


http://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/ar ... 93682.html

SELL SELL SELL

Exactly. Guaranteed we turn another profit this window. Arsene PLC 2013