Unrealistic summer transfer wankfest III

[Remi Moses]

If he was on our list already, fair fucks, otherwise run away from that one.

According to Shaun Connely "We can confirm that Arsenal and United held discussions at the beginning of the year"

[nineteenninetynine]

My question is why are Arsenal selling? Is it a case of freeing up a reasonable amount of money through the finance rules to fund a big transfer elsewhere? Is there issues with him away from the pitch? Is he just not that good?

Unless we are making the approach and leading this, I’m a bit wary as to why Arsenal are letting him go.

[Remi Moses]

My question is why are Arsenal selling? Is it a case of freeing up a reasonable amount of money through the finance rules to fund a big transfer elsewhere? Is there issues with him away from the pitch? Is he just not that good?

Unless we are making the approach and leading this, I’m a bit wary as to why Arsenal are letting him go.

Selling would offset their spending and gives them immediate revenue as he's an academy player.

But I think the main reason is that his best position is midfield and his pathway is blocked. He made just 5 starts last season and they have Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Merino and now Guimares.

[Felwin]

My question is why are Arsenal selling? Is it a case of freeing up a reasonable amount of money through the finance rules to fund a big transfer elsewhere? Is there issues with him away from the pitch? Is he just not that good?

Unless we are making the approach and leading this, I’m a bit wary as to why Arsenal are letting him go.

This is my worry. I get that there may be sensible squad/financial reasons for the Gooners to sell but it's a bit unbecoming of us taking their cast offs.

But I think the main reason is that his best position is midfield and his pathway is blocked. He made just 5 starts last season and they have Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Merino and now Guimares

Remi, I know what you mean but if he's good enough, they make space for him. It's not like there's this canyon of quality between us and Arsenal. They're better than us at the moment obviously, I'm not deluded, but they're also a club that pride themselves in bringing lads through (like us), so for them to want to sell a player that was being hyped the last few seasons.... Something more is going on IMO

[Remi Moses]

Remi, I know what you mean but if he's good enough, they make space for him. It's not like there's this canyon of quality between us and Arsenal. They're better than us at the moment obviously, I'm not deluded, but they're also a club that pride themselves in bringing lads through (like us), so for them to want to sell a player that was being hyped the last few seasons.... Something more is going on IMO

I don't buy that line of reasoning. A fringe player's inability to break into an elite side doesn't necessarily reflect a lack of quality. Targeting underutilized talent from elite setups remains one of the most effective recruitment strategies. Arsenal recently pivoted to a "ready-now" model of buying players who can impact the first team, blocking the way for young players very close to that consistent level. Performance is entirely context-dependent, there is a long list of players who struggle at one club and flourish at the next. The track record speaks for itself: Salah, De Bruyne, Ødegaard, Cole Palmer, and Isak all went from "unwanted leftovers" to global superstars. Kobbie Mainoo last season was not far away from being sold for £40-50M!

[Fuck the Glazers]

My question is why are Arsenal selling? Is it a case of freeing up a reasonable amount of money through the finance rules to fund a big transfer elsewhere? Is there issues with him away from the pitch? Is he just not that good?

Unless we are making the approach and leading this, I’m a bit wary as to why Arsenal are letting him go.

Probably cos they're one of the leagues top 3 biggest spenders over the last couple of years so they have to balance the books.

As others have said Arsenal are well stocked in that area. I also think his ceiling is set higher than usual cos he's English.

[Felwin]

Remi, I know what you mean but if he's good enough, they make space for him. It's not like there's this canyon of quality between us and Arsenal. They're better than us at the moment obviously, I'm not deluded, but they're also a club that pride themselves in bringing lads through (like us), so for them to want to sell a player that was being hyped the last few seasons.... Something more is going on IMO

I don't buy that line of reasoning. A fringe player's inability to break into an elite side doesn't necessarily reflect a lack of quality. Targeting underutilized talent from elite setups remains one of the most effective recruitment strategies. Arsenal recently pivoted to a "ready-now" model of buying players who can impact the first team, blocking the way for young players very close to that consistent level. Performance is entirely context-dependent, there is a long list of players who struggle at one club and flourish at the next. The track record speaks for itself: Salah, De Bruyne, Ødegaard, Cole Palmer, and Isak all went from "unwanted leftovers" to global superstars. Kobbie Mainoo last season was not far away from being sold for £40-50M!

Can't argue with that. Well put.

Can't shake that gut feeling that there's something off about it. Maybe it's the whole tone of it, Arsenal offering us a player like they're so brimming with talent, they can chuck one out. And singling us out like we're some paupers in need of help from them. But if it's true that we were interested and had him on our list, maybe that's why they asked us.

Either way, if we do the deal, hope he's a goodun.

[Jason]

Remi, I know what you mean but if he's good enough, they make space for him. It's not like there's this canyon of quality between us and Arsenal. They're better than us at the moment obviously, I'm not deluded, but they're also a club that pride themselves in bringing lads through (like us), so for them to want to sell a player that was being hyped the last few seasons.... Something more is going on IMO

I don't buy that line of reasoning. A fringe player's inability to break into an elite side doesn't necessarily reflect a lack of quality. Targeting underutilized talent from elite setups remains one of the most effective recruitment strategies. Arsenal recently pivoted to a "ready-now" model of buying players who can impact the first team, blocking the way for young players very close to that consistent level. Performance is entirely context-dependent, there is a long list of players who struggle at one club and flourish at the next. The track record speaks for itself: Salah, De Bruyne, Ødegaard, Cole Palmer, and Isak all went from "unwanted leftovers" to global superstars. Kobbie Mainoo last season was not far away from being sold for £40-50M!

Can't argue with that. Well put.

Can't shake that gut feeling that there's something off about it. Maybe it's the whole tone of it, Arsenal offering us a player like they're so brimming with talent, they can chuck one out. And singling us out like we're some paupers in need of help from them. But if it's true that we were interested and had him on our list, maybe that's why they asked us.

Either way, if we do the deal, hope he's a goodun.

Can't see it happening. I think he would be a great purchase on ability alone, depends what fee is as well, but he isnt the long term answer for left back. He wants to play cmf as well.

Arsenal fans online unequivocally do not want him to leave, so thats shows how they value him.

[Remi Moses]

Can't argue with that. Well put.

Can't shake that gut feeling that there's something off about it. Maybe it's the whole tone of it, Arsenal offering us a player like they're so brimming with talent, they can chuck one out. And singling us out like we're some paupers in need of help from them. But if it's true that we were interested and had him on our list, maybe that's why they asked us.

Either way, if we do the deal, hope he's a goodun.

Can't see it happening. I think he would be a great purchase on ability alone, depends what fee is as well, but he isnt the long term answer for left back. He wants to play cmf as well.

Arsenal fans online unequivocally do not want him to leave, so thats shows how they value him.

When a player is "offered by intermediaries" sometimes its from the club, but most of the time it comes from the players end. It's a way of either trying to initiate a bid or testing the market without creating bad PR for either the club or player.

I would firmly see him as the 4th midfielder who could cover LB as a stopgap as he comes inside rather than overlapping, which is what we need to help Rashford/Cunha & cross for Sesko.

The more i think about Mainoo/Tielemans/Santos/MLS as a quartet the more I like it. All technical and press resistant and good duellers. Mainoo/MLS carry first, Santos/Tielemans pass first. The main concern would be a general aerial weakness, and our ability to attack and defend set pieces. The control that midfield would offer would be awesome.

[Felwin]

The more i think about Mainoo/Tielemans/Santos/MLS as a quartet the more I like it. All technical and press resistant and good duellers. Mainoo/MLS carry first, Santos/Tielemans pass first. The main concern would be a general aerial weakness, and our ability to attack and defend set pieces. The control that midfield would offer would be awesome.

It's definitely a big change from what we've had, but also a big change from what has worked for the top clubs in recent years. You're almost guaranteed a physical battle in the centre of the park, not only with pressing and duels but with the opposition running you into the ground. Part of me can't wait to see some silky passing that we've missed for what feels like decades now tbf, but surely the physical profiles aren't what you want for a 50-game season, what with all the injuries, minutes in the tank and natural weaknesses in that quartet (+ Mount)

Aerial weakness is also exacerbated by Martinez probably being a starting CB (until he's inevitably injured). He might have pocketed Haaland a couple of times through his intensity, but he loses duels every game if we're being honest.