Arsenal Transfer Rumour – Clichy wanted by Roma and Juve

On June 20, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers1 Comment

Hello all you Gooners, anyone heard anything about this Clichy rumour? Roma and Juve are both interested, the papers claim.

The evidence lies in two quotes, neither of which really link them directly, all they say is that they think he is a good player, so don’t get too worried by this rumour!

Firstly, Roma manager Luciano Spalletti:

“Clichy is an excellent defender of international class. He is also still very young, so has plenty of football improvement left in him. Certainly it would please me a great deal to see Gael Clichy in a Roma shirt. We will have to wait and see what develops.”

Secondly, Claudio Ranieri (ex-Chelski) Juve manager:

“Having worked in England with Chelsea, I know the Premier League players very well and I have to admit that Gael Clichy is one of the most impressive players right now. He is an important player, above all, because of his versatility. I believe he can play anywhere down the left and across the defence too. He could come to Juventus.”

It strikes me that these quotes are both from interviews where journalists may have just asked ‘do you think Clichy is good?’ These sort of quotes just mean that they think Clichy is a good player, and who doesn’t after seeing his performances last season, of course he is in demand.

He is loyal, so I don’t see him going anywhere!

Nasri deal confirmed by Marseilles

On June 20, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers25 Comments

Marseilles President Pape Diouf has confirmed that Arsenal and Marseilles have reached a deal over Nasri and that the player is completing a medical with the Gunners.

“There is an agreement between Arsenal and Marseille but Nasri is not officially an Arsenal player, he must first complete the medical.”

This is the first official news we have heard out of either club, so surely as soon as Nasri passes the medical he will announced as an Arsenal player.

Who is happy?

Arsenal Diogo bid – for real or publicity stunt?

On June 20, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers3 Comments

Whilst scrolling throught the reams of regurgitated Arsenal news in the early hours of the morning, I came across an item which I can’t remember seeing before.

Apparently Arsenal made a bid for Diogo Luis Santo, a 21 year old Brazilian, playing for Portuguesa de Desportos. Their directors claim they have rejected a bid from us.

The buy-out clause is about £16 million, but they claim that the offeres they have recieved were too low.

“We have already refused an offer from Arsenal because it was too low, until now, the biggest offer made to us came from Italy, with €12 million (£9 million).

“We will only start to think of selling him from €15 million (£12 million). Benfica have approached him via representatives that intend to bring him to Portugal, but there has not been any proposition yet. We have previously been contacted by Sporting but an offer was not made.”

Now considering the fact that so many clubs are apparently interested maybe they are saying they rejected a bid from Arsenal as a way of hyping up the player and his value, and also increasing publicity and interest in the player and alerting potential buyers.

This would mean that they advertise his desirability and the fact you will need to bid high. This doesn’t necessarily mean we have bidded for Diogo. I think it is more likely to be a way of pushing bids from Benfica and Sporting up.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see what comes of this. Do you reckon we actually bidded for Diogo?

Nasri signing with Arsenal after medical

On June 20, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers

According to La Provence, Samir Nasri is in London for a medical with Arsenal. He didn’t leave the Euros with the rest of the French squad after they got knocked out. Instead he was taken by private plane to Le Bourget at 1pm on Wednesday, and then flew on to London from there, arrving Thursday.

The Grove is waiting expectantly for him as he is expected to complete his medical and finally sign on for the Arsenal! It is thought that the signing may be announced today (Friday), which would bring to a close the biggest transfer saga of the summer.

The financial side of things have been sorted out with Marseilles, and Nasri is expected to sign a five year contract.

After that he’ll be off on a three week holiday to relax before the new season.

Expect an announcement soon Gooners!

Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Arshavin, Camacho

On June 19, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers10 Comments

The Mirror is linking us to Andrei Arshavin. They say we will pay £10 mill. The guy is a 27 year-old midfielder, he plays for Zenit St. Petersburg and he’s very, very good. I’ve seen him play a few tiomes and been impressed.

As for Arsenal signing him, I think it’s unlikely. We hear these sort of rumours everyday, and something with no evidence whatsoever can officially be classed as a ‘rumour’ at this stage.

That doesn’t mean I wouldn’t like to see us sign him, but we have other options. The benefits of signing Arshavin is that he has experience, is at the peak of his career, and is an excellent attacking player.

We’re also linked to a kid called Camacho from Spain. He’s apparently an impressive, young Atletico Madrid midfielder, and Chelsea want him too! He is captain of Spain’s Under-17 squad, and to be honest, I think he’s probably on the Arsenal radar, but we won’t sign him either!

Oh yeah, we’re not signing Albiol either! His agent said it!

Nasri to finally sign after France exit Euro 2008?

On June 18, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers2 Comments

According to La Provence, Samir Nasri’s transfer to Arsenal will be finaised in the next few days. I expect this transfer was put on hold for Euro 2008 and it was widely expected that Nasri would sign on for us after France were out of the tournament.

La Provence ran an article about Marseilles transfer ambitions and mentioned this:

“In a few days, the departure of Nasri with Arsenal will be made official, considerably reducing the wage bill of the club.”

This makes sense in the context of Marseilles tranfers, because they are rumoured to be after Ben Arfa, and transfer money from Nasri, as well as a lower wage bill would free them up in the transfer market.

Hopefully this will go through in the next few weeks, it’s always enjoyable to see a new signing, but I won’t be hysterical if it all turns out to be rumour!

Update 0140 hours 19 June:

Even the BBC is running it!

Barca negotiate for Hleb and Adebayor, but will either go?

On June 18, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers1 Comment

Barcelona have been involved in transfer negotiations for Alex Hleb for some time now. They are also apparently looking to pick up Adebayor on the way as well.

Hleb seemed more likely to leave than Adebayor. Wenger recently faxed AC Milan to tell them Adebayor ‘is not for sale — not for money or gold’.” and I can’t see that his attitude to Barcelona will be any different over Ade.

According to Barcelona they might not sign Hleb either. Barca vice-President Marc Ingla:

“The negotiation with Hleb is still in progress and despite him being a player with special qualities, if his club are not ready [to sell him], we have other options in mind,”

A lot of the rumours seem to have been started by papers with nothing better to write and fuelled by statements from agents. Players words can also be twisted to misprepresent them as well.

Adebayor has spoken this summer already about his desire to stay as an Arsenal player, and that is the only outcome I can see. Hleb has not been so forthcoming, and his agent said he wanted to leave, but as time passes it looks less likely.

The whole situation will be done and dusted come the end of the transfer window, so wait and see, but don’t be suprised if both of these players are wearing Arsenal shirts next season.

Arsenal make £1.65 million!

On June 17, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers3 Comments

Fabrice Muamba the ex-Arsenal midfielder has left Birmingham City for Bolton for a reported fee of £5.5 million. The reason this affects us is because when Birmingham signed Muamba from Arsenal we put a 30% of next sale clause into the deal.

This of course means that we get 30% of the cash which Bolton paid. If that is £5.5 million, then an astute piece of buisness just brought us an extra £1.65 million for Wenger to spend at the shopping mall we call Euro 2008!

Van Persie linked with Inter + Transfer talk: Ade + Hleb

On June 16, 2008September 4, 2010 By jamesgillespIn Transfers1 Comment

It has been suggested that Jose Mourinho is looking to sign RVP from us for his new club, Inter Milan.

I wouldn’t be suprised if top clubs are interested, but as you know, here at ArseSpeak we’re cynical and we know that the media aren’t trustworthy. Yes, clubs may want him, but will he actually leave? It is doubtful.

The same can be said of Adebayor, our 30-goal a season striker who has been linked to the other Milan club: AC. Now the president Silvio Berlusconi has said that Ade is too expensive for them.

Silvio Berlusconi:

Berlusconi

“He costs a lot.”

Adebayor is also now in contract talks with Arsenal, so much for that one!

Another bit of news is that Aleksandr Hleb may not be leaving Arsenal after all.

Inter, the original ice cream bandits, who tapped him up in February now have a new manager, and don’t want him. Barca have spent so long bumbling about I don’t know whether it will happen and Real and Bayern were always dubious links. I reckon that there’s a 50% we might see Hleb staying, watch this space!

All in all I don’t think we will lose many more players this summer (maybe Hleb), I hope we don’t. Just be a little critical of some stories you read Gooners.