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

[augie]

Btw can I just add that I feel that if shrek wasn't English he wouldn't get as much support on here as a potential transfer recruit - I feel that weight, fitness and attitude issues are being totally undervalued by some Gooners

[northbank123]

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain is a key target for Napoli

Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain is a key target for Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis as he prepares to reinvest the funds generated by Edinson Cavani's sale to Paris St Germain.

De Laurentiis, who on Tuesday night expressed his disappointment Uruguayan striker Cavani had opted to leave Italy, tempered the news by revealing he has now made 124.5million euros (£108m) available to new coach Rafael Benitez in the current transfer window.

Cavani moved to the Parc des Princes for 64.5m euros (£56m) and a chunk of that fee could now be paid to Real for their wantaway Argentinian forward Higuain, who has also been linked with Premier League club Arsenal.

Quoted in La Repubblica Sport, De Laurentiis admitted in a question and answer session with fans on his official Twitter account that he is pursuing Higuain, his Madrid team-mate Raul Albiol and Internacional striker Leandro Damiao.

He said: "It's true that we're negotiating for Gonzalo Higuain and Leandro Damiao.

"The money we got for Cavani was 64.5mil and added to the 60mil we had set aside for the transfer budget there will be 124.5mil to carefully invest on Napoli.

"There are various names on the table, we're assessing the situation.

"(Albiol) is undergoing medical tests and we hope he passes them."

Napoli have already signed Belgian winger Dries Mertens from PSV Eindhoven and Real striker Jose Callejon as Benitez plots another Serie A title challenge, after the Partenopei finished second to Juventus under Walter Mazzarri last season.

The Bianconeri have not been resting on their laurels, however, adding prolific duo Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente to their frontline in recent weeks.

"Is there an area of the team where we're better than Juventus?" De Laurentiis added. "It's too early to tell.

"Are we targeting the Scudetto or a Champions League semi-final? We're always aiming for the maximum and we'll be competitive both in Italy and in Europe.

"Benitez was an excellent appointment and the new boys are settling in."

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news ... for-Napoli

How do all the 'done deal' boys feel about this one now eh ?

Higgy isn't coming
Rooney isn't coming
Cesc isn't coming
Fellaini isn't coming
Suarez isn't coming

Some cheap old shit from Ligues 1 & 2 might come in (on 31 August when we're already 5 points off the lead)

Who the fuck said Rooney, Cesc or Fellaini are coming? The only ones we've made bids for are Higuain and Suarez. Stop talking shit.

Erm... the media. And a ridiculous number of Arsenal fans if you typed in any of their names on Twitter at the right point.

[Dan_85]

I see Arsehole Wenger has basically ruled Rooney out because of the "problem with his wages" Idiot, I thought this guy had an economics degree?! His wages are only a problem if our income stands still or regresses, which of course it won't as we a) have new comms, shirts, TV and sponsorship deals coming into play in the next year or two, b) the majority of clubs income increases year on year anyway and c) actually signing an elite player or two makes you a more attractive proposition for sponsors bringing in yet more money.

If we were turning over income of £90m odd like we were in 2005, then yes it would be a problem. But not now, and not going forward. Speculate to accumulate you stubborn old fucker. Honestly, this is getting ridiculous now.

[BournemouthRED]

I don't want Rooney, but you gotta love his logic haven't you!?

Doesn't want to pay Rooney 200k a week but happy to pay diaby, arshavin, squilachi, chamakh probably the same if not more in combined wages a week for literally doing nothing!

[northbank123]

I see Arsehole Wenger has basically ruled Rooney out because of the "problem with his wages" Idiot, I thought this guy had an economics degree?! His wages are only a problem if our income stands still or regresses, which of course it won't as we a) have new comms, shirts, TV and sponsorship deals coming into play in the next year or two, b) the majority of clubs income increases year on year anyway and c) actually signing an elite player or two makes you a more attractive proposition for sponsors bringing in yet more money.

If we were turning over income of £90m odd like we were in 2005, then yes it would be a problem. But not now, and not going forward. Speculate to accumulate you stubborn old fucker. Honestly, this is getting ridiculous now.

I agree with the overriding theme but it's not just about what we can afford to pay - bringing in a player with an attitude like Rooney's on double (at least) what anyone else is on isn't going to do wonders for the dressing room - players might accept it for very few players, and I don't think Rooney is one. I don't honestly seeing him fit in at Arsenal (or wanting to come).

[greengooner]

Am I the only one who cringes with every goal we score on this Asian tour, another few 7-8 nil wins and the senile old bas**rd in charge is going to think that Le Chapman is good enough when the real games start and why should he sign anyone. By the time we get bummed by City in another money spinning friendly it will be to late. I genuinely have given up all hope of Wenger sorting out the fu**ing glaring problems with our first eleven, I mean why would change his penny pinching ways this year as opposed to any other of the last eight years, my record of attending every season since 89 is going to grind to a halt, money is to tight to piss it away watching the same sub standard s**t from the same sub standard players.

[augie]

Am I the only one who cringes with every goal we score on this Asian tour, another few 7-8 nil wins and the senile old bas**rd in charge is going to think that Le Chapman is good enough when the real games start and why should he sign anyone. By the time we get bummed by City in another money spinning friendly it will be to late. I genuinely have given up all hope of Wenger sorting out the fu**ing glaring problems with our first eleven, I mean why would change his penny pinching ways this year as opposed to any other of the last eight years, my record of attending every season since 89 is going to grind to a halt, money is to tight to piss it away watching the same sub standard s**t from the same sub standard players.

The answer to your question is no..........loads of us know that the old c.unt will continue to use comprehensive results in games against shite teams like this, to boost up his notion that we are as good as anyone

[Red Gunner]

Arsenal join Chelsea in battle for Manchester United's Wayne Rooney

José Mourinho has stated that Wayne Rooney is Chelsea's only remaining summer transfer target, with the club having no contingency plans should Manchester United resist selling the striker.

Chelsea have had a £20m straight cash offer rejected for the 27-year-old, who is also of interest to Arsenal. Arsène Wenger, who is keeping his options open on Liverpool's Luis Suárez and Gonzalo Higuaín of Real Madrid, said that Arsenal could afford to pay Rooney, despite him earning £250,000 a week.

Wenger also indicated that United might be disappointed in their attempt to sign the former Arsenal captain Cesc Fábregas from Barcelona. United have had a £26m bid turned down and Wenger, who has a good relationship with Fábregas, said that he believed the midfielder would stay at the Camp Nou for another year.

...

United not only rejected Chelsea's offer, they made it clear that they would not sell him to a direct rival. But Wenger, who lost Robin van Persie to United last summer, is open to taking Rooney and exacting a measure of revenge. "It happened to us," he said. "It can happen to them."

Wenger, who revealed that the club captain Thomas Vermaelen would be out for "two months at least" with a stress fracture to the back, said he was "not specifically after one name" on the market. "We have not the problem of the wages of Wayne Rooney but it's very difficult for us to talk about any specific case. We work well but we are not close to sign anybody. The competition in Europe is very hard at the moment. There's a lot of money and not many players."

Arsenal negotiated a clause in Fábregas's contract when they sold him to Barcelona that gave them first refusal should he leave. Wenger suggested that they would be interested in him but he does not envisage it becoming an option. The Barcelona manager Tito Vilanova wants to keep Fábregas but it is understood that the club's board would be open to offers.

"Fábregas has decided to stay one more year at Barcelona," Wenger said, after Arsenal's 7-1 win over a Vietnam XI in Hanoi. "Unless he has changed his mind, I don't know... but that's what I've been told. We have the clause in the contract so we would be on alert but at the moment that's not something we're after."

United's insistence that Rooney is not for sale is complicated by the player's desire to leave, with Chelsea believed to be his favoured destination. Rooney is unhappy with his drop down the pecking order at United and he was described as "angry and confused" after David Moyes appeared to suggest that he would play second fiddle to Van Persie. Moyes did not intend any slight. Rooney is likely to have to submit a transfer request to force a move.

Ed Woodward, United's executive vice-chairman, has left the tour in Sydney to return to Europe to attend to urgent transfer business. The club have an interest in David Luiz, together with Everton's Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines but the top target is Fábregas. Moyes's Old Trafford debut comes on 26 August against Chelsea.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2013 ... ter-united

[Leyton Gooner]

Where's McD gone? His role as chief bollocks regurgitator has been taken over by this Red Gunner fella

[I Hate Hleb]

Where's McD gone? His role as chief bollocks regurgitator has been taken over by this Red Gunner fella

There comes a time in almost every profession where you just have to hand the job over to the younger generation.

[AFCasap]

I don't want Rooney, but you gotta love his logic haven't you!?

Doesn't want to pay Rooney 200k a week but happy to pay diaby, arshavin, squilachi, chamakh probably the same if not more in combined wages a week for literally doing nothing!

this this logic is one of the main reasons why wenger (if he wasn't so tight with his Ponzi scheming boardmates) should have been frogmarched out of the club years ago

[I Hate Hleb]

Btw can I just add that I feel that if shrek wasn't English he wouldn't get as much support on here as a potential transfer recruit - I feel that weight, fitness and attitude issues are being totally undervalued by some Gooners

As is his actually ability and the all out effort he puts in by others. Augie, the fact is that Rooney is English and I think he would fit in very well with the likes of Jack, Ox, Theo, etc who are his England team-mates. Also what a boost that would give to the rest of the squad to have a player of his quality as a team-mate. Personally I think signing him would be good for the club, both on the field in terms of improving the team, and off it it terms of commercial interest, and would be well worth the £200K a week he's allegedly on.

[northbank123]

Is it just me or are United going a bit crazy in the PR dept?

Not unlikely that they leaked the Fabregas bid and know they've ensured it's plastered everywhere that their CEO has returned from the tour to supposedly tie up a transfer deal. Most of the glory-hunters I have the misfortune of knowing were starting to get very itchy about Moyes and his inactivity especially since Thiago deal confirmed - or am I just being cynical?

[Red Gunner]

Where's McD gone? His role as chief bollocks regurgitator has been taken over by this Red Gunner fella

There comes a time in almost every profession where you just have to hand the job over to the younger generation.

If people find it annoying and want me to stop, I'll stop. I don't do it for fun, I just want to generate discussion.

[g88ner]

Where's McD gone? His role as chief bollocks regurgitator has been taken over by this Red Gunner fella

There comes a time in almost every profession where you just have to hand the job over to the younger generation.

If people find it annoying and want me to stop, I'll stop. I don't do it for fun, I just want to generate discussion.

No, carry on - it may all be bullshit, but it's still the most popular thread on here ... which doesn't say much for the rest of the forum really