Not to mention if you had two of him you could play the 2nd literally anywhere
I feel Buendia at £30m was a better value signing than Maddison at £60m+
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Aouar would be better at 20 or 25m too.
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Last two posts are incredibly optimistic, if either of those two make to produce half of what Maddison has in the EPL they will be phenomenal business. Rarely works out like that though.
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Saka’s agent be like ‘these guys are paying 200k to someone who didn’t even get into England squad’
Agreed but that ship has sailed. Plus there is a homegrown tax. We only have so many none homegrown slots
Maddison is better than Aouar, much better distribution and creativity, while also being able to carry the ball forward and offering a goal threat. PL proven too
My primary worry is health but if he checks out OK then I’m fine spending up to 60m on him.
We need more goals and assists from midfield and Maddison is one of the best 4-5 non front three players in the league in terms of npXG+XA/90 over the last two years. Even Bruno and Grealish are not that far ahead of him on that metric if averaged over the last two years, only KdB is head and shoulders above.
Buying him is kind of scary though because it’s like buying a classic car. If Leicester are willing to sell him for a decent price, you have to wonder why.
Strangely enough I think Buendia at £30m is the bigger risk than Maddison at £60m
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I can’t speak on Aouar but you can’t really argue with Buendia as an effective creative spark and credible goalscoring threat. His sample over the last two seasons is impressive.
I just don’t think the difference in terms of production and talent between Maddison and Buendia isnt £30m+ tbh assuming in the unlikely event Leicester would sell at £60m
How so?
When the fee is £60m+ the player need to put up big numbers in the league. I don’t think Maddison has ever hit 10 10 in goals and assists.
It’s also valid to question what is it about a move to Arsenal that would enable him to put up similar or better levels of productivity than what we’ve already seen Leicester where the system is more refined, successful and implemented by a better coach in Rogers
Buendia’s output in the Championship was nothing short of superb no doubt and I think he gave a good account of himself in the EPL during his first stint but the numbers really show the difference you have between the two leagues. I don’t think Buendia is a bad player at all but I think a lot of Arsenal fans will be shocked by him not setting the league alight next season.
You’re essentially looking at paying double for someone you know can hack it at the top level in the best league and is already performing with a very good side. That for me represents the better value.
And of course, if Buendia flops you’ll see him going to Spain or Italy for peanuts, Villa would be lucky to recoup half. Whereas Maddison will always hold a solid market value in his prime. Not that I believe either player will flop because I rate them both. Just Maddison for me is an Arsenal signing and Buendia went to Villa for a reason.
Arteta would likely play him in the center of that three behind the striker? I’m assuming we’re continuing with a back four but who the hell knows.
Really warming up to this again ffs. Isn’t Aouar more of an 8 than a 10 though, different profile compared to Maddison altogether. Houssem and Partey with Maddison ahead is noice.
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Loan ESR to Villa for 6 million and buy Aouar with Maddison.
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Easy peasy. Edu get it done cunt.
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He’s a good player and will certainly improve us if it happened, a goal threat and something we need.
I do think for the price and wage you could do better though, I don’t think he’s a top tier player.
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Who do you have in mind? an affordable, goal-scoring CM?
Willock. 
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Worth considering the wages too. Buendia would be under 80k pw max whereas Maddison is gonna be around 200k pw.
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Well affordable is going to rule out a lot of names.
I do think Buendia would have been better bang for buck though when you factor in wage and fee.
In saying all this I’m not complaining if this happens, I rate him as it isn’t my money as long as we still sign a CM, RB and CB also.
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