Arsenal transfers 25/26

I could get behind this. Maybe we can tempt Palace with Lokonga or Holding in a swap deal to bring the price down?

Fikayo Tomori (25) from AC Milan also suggested as an option by Statman Dave in his most recent YouTube video. Seems to have similar attributes as Guehi.

Tomori is really good but he isn’t leaving a starting berth at AC to sit on our bench.

I’d still like an experienced CB.

Any suggestions?

Not really. Thiago Silva, Varane’ and Ramos’ don’t come around often.

I’d settle for Chris Smalling. Saliba, Kiwior and Gabriel are all pretty young. Guehi might not be the answer.

Moving Trustee, Mari and Holding out and bringing in a reliable CB is the type of upgrade needed. Ben White and Tierney being able to slide into a back three really gives us options.

He’s a gooner, you never know. :sweat_smile:

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Who? Guehi or Tomori?

Tomori.

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I’m really not sure about Chris smalling tbh. I think we have enough of ex-Utd players at Arsenal.

I’m not against us signing a new CB in the summer, but for me, this is probably 4th on the list of transfer priorities behind 2 new midfielders and a right-sided winger to compete/provide an alternative for Saka.

What’s your view on Guehi and Tomori? Any other suggestions for a CB signing?

Not a big fan of either tbh. Bit pricey to compete with Saliba.

I do think however that perhaps the club is trying to protect themselves in case Saliba goes next summer or his injury proves to be serious.

Unless White has real competition at RB to make him a CB option, I see cb as a huge priority. Holding can’t be sitting on our bench next season. Ditto for Nelson and Vieira. Those are our three priority positions - cb, cm and wing.

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I think we need two midfielders still though. This is my priority list for the summer:

  1. New No.6 - Rice
  2. New No.8 - to replace Xhaka - Mount
  3. New right-sided winger (to provide competition for Saka) - ? Maybe Diaby or Raphinha
  4. New CB (to replace Holding) - ? Maybe Guehi
  5. New RB (to replace/upgrade Tomiyasu) - ? Maybe Fresneda or (edited) Livramento
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Rice is not a number 6.

Declan Rice is 100% a Defensive Midfielder/No.6. Yes he could potentially play a more advanced Xhaka role for us, but his bread and butter is in front of the defence.

He can play the role to a good standard as he can cb. I see him more of an 8 though.

With expected departures this summer, how much could/should we be raising from sales?

Can add or take away a few names here, but I’m guessing this is the lot that could go to raise funds

Runarsson
Holding
Tavares
Tierney
Patino
Pepe
Balogun

Should be looking at a minimum of £110-120m from those names really if we can find the buyers. Holding should be fetching around the 20 mark, Patino 10 based on potential, Pepe must be a taker at around 10 (Christ, what a loss but better than nothing) etc

Runarsson - free
Holding - £15m
Tavares - £10m or another loan
Tierney - £30m
Patino - £15m plus future clauses/add-ons/possible buy-back
Pepe - Contract cancelled or another loan
Balogun - £25m plus future clauses/add-ons/possible buy-back

So if we’ve got a Ā£150m budget, I think we’ll do well to get Ā£50m this summer if you remember that some of the above fees will be paid in instalments. Away from the UK EPL and the bigger European clubs there’s still not much money around.

Edit: I think there’s a chance that a second defensive midfield signing will be contingent on one of Partey, ESR or Vieira leaving. I have a feeling Partey is on his way out.

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I agree.
The rumours of us buying Rice and Caicedo are way off because we aren’t going to spend more than 150m on two midfielders unless Partey or Xhaka or both leave.

But if we are offered 50m for Partey we could take it and put it towards both Rice and Caicedo, although that’s a lot to happen in the same window.

Just curious as I’m not really upto speed on matters, but why do you guys think Partey is on his way out?

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I think Partey will only go if we are genuinely after two midfielders.
But it’s probably more likely we’ll get Rice and keep Partey, with Xhaka, Vieira or maybe a younger signing used as cover.

Getting rid of Partey would be the kind of dumbarse thinking that brings us back towards being a top 6 team. He’s arguably our best player.

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