It’s already started. Yesterday little bits and bobs of transfers started to happen, players left to make room for other players, and some shock signings happened. Arsenal seem to be sitting out on the festivities, but their silence betrays that they probably aren’t.
Arsenal set targets
Arsenal officials were locked into meetings all day today, according to reports, and have identified their transfer targets for the traditional trolley dash. With that said, this is more a “extra depth and quality” dash than a “plugging the gaps with any player” dash like last years.
One of the players they have identified seems to be Fulham’s Clint Dempsey. He’s definitely leaving Fulham and wants to play Champions League football.
In all honesty, this is exactly what Arsenal need. People have been asking for an experienced PL goalscorer to take the pressure off Podolski and Giroud. At 29 he has a few years left, there’s no questioning his workrate, and he can also play on the wing. He offers a different dimension to our other wingers, and seems a natural replacement for Arshavin and Benayoun. This seems likely.
Theo resolution?
Yesterday it seemed that Theo Walcott was off after allegedly rejecting a contract extension. However, it now seems that he’s managed to negotiate a softening of Arsenal’s usual policy on contract rebels: If you don’t sign, you’re out.
He genuinely wants to stay at Arsenal, but wants to get a deal more in line with other England internationals, which I suppose is fair enough, though he isn’t worth 100k a week. It seems he won’t be sold this summer, unless an incredible offer comes in, and negotiations are ongoing with his contract. I see a compromise, but who knows?
Bendtner to Juventus
We’re all sick and tired of wherever Nicklas Bendtner is going to go, but now it seems like his alleged move to Juventus could go forward after their move for Dimitar Berbatov fell through.
In an amusing story from today, Berbatov has agreed deals with Fiorentina, Juventus, and Fulham in quick succession. He’s probably the most hated man in Italy today. He’s hired an Italian agent to find him a club, and it’s believed Arsenal are prepared to accept a fairly low bid for him now.
Deathly silence
In all honesty we haven’t really heard a peep of Arsenal news recently. The club seems to have gone into a total media lockdown, though one shouldn’t mistake that for a lack of activity. On deadline day transfers can turn on a needle, and the last thing the Club need is reports being linked and other clubs coming in to gazump them.
Don’t panic. If Arsenal don’t sign anyone this window it won’t be for a lack of trying. As I said, they were locked into meetings all day, and apparently have 14 negotiations (in and out) going on at once. They most likely will, and the next couple of days could either be stellar or useful, depending on who comes in.
Just to note, Marouane Fellaini was left out of Everton’s League Cup squad yesterday, but he turned up at the game, so there’s probably nothing going on there. Shame, he’s my dream signing. Oh well.
See you later.
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