He’s a very good squad option so it’ll suck to lose him.
I’d rather have him as our back up RB
I don’t think that is being assumed.
We have six senior midfielders for three positions in Odegaard, Partey, Xhaka, Vieira, Elneny, and Lokonga, plus a promising youth player in Patino who could get some minutes in lesser competitions, plus also ESR and Zinchenko who can also compete for minutes at the 8 spots.
That’s nine guys who could contribute some in three midfield positions this year. Adding Tielemans on top of that really seems like overkill UNLESS one of the senior midfielders is also leaving. As GCmaniac noted, it could be Lokonga out on loan or Xhaka.
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This is the year that we must aim for top 4. With enough quality (and a bit of luck on injuries), we definitely can challenge it.
Ode and Partey are sure starters among all.
We all know what Elneny and Xhaka can bring to the table. A stop gap, that’s it. They are not going to improve and they are not levelling up the team in any way.
There are so much unknown for Vieira… he looks good in highlight youtube videos, but we don’t know where he will play and shine. He may contribute like Santi as a skilled CM, but also may end up as a crook and not doing anything.
Lokonga, please send him out on loan.
Patino is not yet ready for a team that challenge top 4.
To complete this midfield, we definitely need Tielemans or someone as good as (or better).
Xhaka and Elneny can only be 2nd options/rotations.
It will be madness to put our fate on someone that we have watched multiple seasons and knowing they do the team more bads than goods.
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We need to buy a CM as the squad needs it long term.
Elneny, Torreira and AMN are all out of contract next summer.
So if the right player is available, we have to secure them whenever the opportunity presents itself. The numbers issue will go away in 12 months so I feel like that shouldn’t inhibit our activity this summer.
Tielemans is likely to be available for free next summer, but we may not have a free run at him then.
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I think AMN and Torreira will be sold. Convinced by that.
Partey, Lokonga, Elneny, Zinchenko, Xhaka and Tielemans.
I do wonder with Tielemans if we are just playing smart with Leicester, as they need to sell before they buy apparently, so maybe we are waiting for them to reduce the price. Or maybe, we have othe preferred targets and he is a back up.
Old gag but here goes;
£20m + AMN for Tielemans
Or
£25m + AMN, Rúnarsson, Mari for Tielemans
On a serious note, likely waiting for Torreria and AMN to go, they really are surplus. I don’t think Xhaka will have to go for Tielemans to come in.
Youri Tielezette staying at Leicester.
SMS SMS SMS
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At this rate, the good old fashioned carrier pigeon will do as well.
Seriously though, SMS will fill the void quite well if we can’t get Tielemans.
I get the impression that we absolutely can get Tielemans, but Arteta doesn’t rate him that high. He apparently wants to sign for us. SMS would be the better target though, but I still believe Tielemans would be a very handy signing.
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Yeah, think Tielemens improves the quality and depth of our squad immediately as he’s a pretty decent player himself.
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It does look like we’re stringing him along. Will be interesting to see if we react to Man Utd stepping up their interest if the FdJ deal falls through.
Probably drive the mancs into another bloated price.
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Unless an undertable agreement was made in between Arsenal and Tielemans, otherwise no way Arsenal is risking Youri’s patience for that long and not making a bid.
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We are not buying this guy
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that could be the main reason
Does feel odd that we haven’t moved on him when there’s lots or credible sources telling us that he’s on our list. They could easily be wrong, of course.
I just don’t want to give United a chance to sign him. A repeat of the Lisandro saga will result in those dumb manc cunts United inflating Tieleman’s price to stupid levels.
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We probably do have some leverage in that case tbf. He apparently wants to join us and if it came down to it he would choose us over them(via Ben Jacobs).
So he can simply reject a move to Man Utd if he knows we’re in for him as well.
The contract situation also puts pressure on Leicester where they can’t really play hardball to get us to match whatever Man Utd will offer.
I guess the only worry is Tielemans getting pissed with Arsenal standing him up like this and changing his mind.
I think we can safely close the thread.
With how important midfield is, I can’t believe that Edu would wait until we sell some players in order to bring one in.
I know Zinchenko can play midfield but I find it hard to believe that the club view a rotation of Vieira, Zinchenko and Xhaka in that Left 8 spot as good enough.
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