afc Arsenal Summer Transfer Window

[Turkish]

It's not ridiculous considering his stature and importance to Everton etc. It's ridiculous considering his ability.

This sums up my feelings in one sentence, especially regarding English talent. Yes, I understand teams want to hang on to their players but ffs, £18mil to anyone and everyone OUTSIDE the Arsenal means we've bought a top quality world class international defender, and all eyes will be on him.CLEARLY this is not the case.

No, it doesn't.

No it does. When City bought Lescott, the day Sky Sports News done the comparsion of all the most expensive defenders in history, and I heard all the names and then Joelan Lescott in like 3rd or 4th, I actually couldnt stop laughing and it reinforced how much they got knocked.I was like if someone in the moment had given Man City a reality check, surely they wouldn't have done the deal. Its actually unfair on Lescott to be his names amongst them names.

Was the rest of the worlds eyes on Jolean Lescott or Kolo Toure last year? No.

[TF S4DK]

Again, risks.. Our wage structure limits us greatly and it needs to be looked at. Its 2010 not 1998, football is about money. U invest in your team and you will reap the rewards. EVERY YEAR we lose vital players, EVERY YEAR we are getting players taken off us. When is it actually going to end? Because with Wenger in charge I dont see it getting any better from here.The way Barcelona's players have spoke about Fabregas and Arsenal, we might aswell be Everton to them. We are in danger of losing our big club status and not taking risks will make sure of it because right now taking risks is the only way out.

To be honest I don't want to dwell on the past cos I think a number of other factors played a role in the past, and from this point forward, I don't forsee the same problems, the club realises it lost players by not rewarding them and have taken measures to make sure it doesnt happen again. This summer we haven't lost a player due to their personal finance.We are Everton to them.

[TF S4DK]

Was the rest of the worlds eyes on Jolean Lescott or Kolo Toure last year? No.

Yes. It was on everyone at Man City and the positive in Lescott case is that he was one of many signings...Hansen and the rest of the media couldnt wait to rip the defence apart and Hughes lost his job.

[Turkish]

The point is, if Wenger spends 60m on three players for moderate improvement on "name" players, and returns a year later with nothing to show for it, he's getting sacked and thats the truth. Hence why every window he never raises expectation too much. Every failed transfer is a stain, however how much people remember the stain will be due to the fee. In 2010 no manager is really untouchable, especially when funds are tight. Jagielka for 18m+ could very easily be looked at the same way we looked at Aquilani for 20m.No its like Real Madrid saying Fabregas wouldnt get into their team, Fabregas would, and they are Barcelona's domestic competition. Therefore he is a great signing for Barcelona albeit even if he wont get in their team.

Your telling me Wenger would get sacked after buying big one summer? I dont believe it but if there is truth to it he made it like that for himself with his young potential buys and his stubborn attitude. He hasnt wont anything for 5 years, theres not even a sniff of his position being under pressure AND a new contract is there for him to extend. Tbh Wenger is the safest manager in football.The fee of the player does not stain a managers reputation more then the player himself. When you look back on any managers career you look at what they've won, the type of manager they were, the style of play they taught, can you seriously tell me when Ferguson retires people are gonna be saying "sick manager but what a flop Berbatov was eh." Wenger has stained his reputation at Arsenal and only silverware can clean them stains but with another summer of false hope I can only see another trophyless season. You say Wenger has never raised expectation which is ludicrous to say. Yes during the January windows Wenger has in general kept quiet and not raised our hopes but for the past 4 summers he has promised "WORLD CLASS" players and delivered NONE. On February 1st 2010 Wenger came out and said he enquired about Chamakh and Villa but neither were for sale. Wenger stating an interest in DAVID VILLA is not raising our hopes? I knew he was chatting sh*t soon as I heard it and I knew we'd just cop Chamakh for free and the Villa talk would end before starting but to say Wenger never raises our expectations is wrong.

[Seth Rollins]

It's not ridiculous considering his stature and importance to Everton etc. It's ridiculous considering his ability.

This sums up my feelings in one sentence, especially regarding English talent. Yes, I understand teams want to hang on to their players but ffs, £18mil to anyone and everyone OUTSIDE the Arsenal means we've bought a top quality world class international defender, and all eyes will be on him.CLEARLY this is not the case.

No, it doesn't.

No it does. When City bought Lescott, the day Sky Sports News done the comparsion of all the most expensive defenders in history, and I heard all the names and then Joelan Lescott in like 3rd or 4th, I actually couldnt stop laughing and it reinforced how much they got knocked.I was like if someone in the moment had given Man City a reality check, surely they wouldn't have done the deal. Its actually unfair on Lescott to be his names amongst them names.

And now you're going to see Jaglielka there who can't even dislodge:FerdinandTerryLedley Lego Man KingDawsonUpsonCarragher FFS./Lol @ going Everton with £18mil and not coming back with Rodwell. Now THAT I would understand.

[Turkish]

Yes. It was on everyone at Man City and the positive in Lescott case is that he was one of many signings... Hansen and the rest of the media couldnt wait to rip the defence apart and Hughes lost his job.

Hansen and the rest of the media cant wait to rip anyone, especially if there English. The English media is not a representation of the world and although a lot of eyes were definetly on Man City, Lescott and Toure have come through the season not justifying there price tags but still in the first team for next year. This is cause they strengthen the areas that need strengthening. Yes there not worth the price paid but they will still do a good job and if the correct players are put around them can be part of something great. They took a risk, no it didnt pay off in the first season but both Lescott & Toure still have a big part to play in City's push for silverware.Tbh Man City are a different case altogether anyway.

To be honest I don't want to dwell on the past cos I think a number of other factors played a role in the past, and from this point forward, I don't forsee the same problems, the club realises it lost players by not rewarding them and have taken measures to make sure it doesnt happen again. This summer we haven't lost a player due to their personal finance.

We lost out on Gallas this year. Some may say thankfully but him going meant the attention was turned from goalkeeper to centre back as our main area of strengthening. And personally I feel Gallas still had something left to offer.

[TF S4DK]

Your telling me Wenger would get sacked after buying big one summer? I dont believe it but if there is truth to it he made it like that for himself with his young potential buys and his stubborn attitude. He hasnt wont anything for 5 years, theres not even a sniff of his position being under pressure AND a new contract is there for him to extend. Tbh Wenger is the safest manager in football.The fee of the player does not stain a managers reputation more then the player himself. When you look back on any managers career you look at what they've won, the type of manager they were, the style of play they taught, can you seriously tell me when Ferguson retires people are gonna be saying "sick manager but what a flop Berbatov was eh." Wenger has stained his reputation at Arsenal and only silverware can clean them stains but with another summer of false hope I can only see another trophyless season. You say Wenger has never raised expectation which is ludicrous to say. Yes during the January windows Wenger has in general kept quiet and not raised our hopes but for the past 4 summers he has promised "WORLD CLASS" players and delivered NONE. On February 1st 2010 Wenger came out and said he enquired about Chamakh and Villa but neither were for sale. Wenger stating an interest in DAVID VILLA is not raising our hopes? I knew he was chatting sh*t soon as I heard it and I knew we'd just cop Chamakh for free and the Villa talk would end before starting but to say Wenger never raises our expectations is wrong.

If we produced nothing and he still wanted more money yes. If Wenger went to war with the board over money he'd be gone. Signings rase expectation. This week I seen Liverpool go from a club back in the dark days to a club to never right off via one signing. Transfer fees and people perception on them matter. As when the on the pitch performances go wrong, first thing people do is look at how much money you've spent.No. But when Wenger retires they won't remember shite like Almunia, the negativity of just signing 16 years old, etc. Thats just the nature of the game. But while your in the job, your transfer history is a big part of what gets you season to season if you aint winning. If Rafa Benetiz had Wenger's transfer record, he'd still be Liverpool manager. if Wenger had Benetiz's transfer record, he'd be gone.Wenger talks about winning the title, this being his greatest squad ever, etc... Talk isn't actions.If we bought Joe Cole or David Villa, the media would be proclaiming us title favourites, not cos he's the final piece we need but cos he's Joe Cole/David Villa, thats just the way it is with big name signings.

[TF S4DK]

Lol @ going Everton with £18mil and not coming back with Rodwell. Now THAT I would understand.

Exactly.

[TF S4DK]

Man City played in just the English Premier League last season, thats "the World" to them right now. So the English media matter. Arsenal play to the World, so thats the eyes to them. You watch a lot of Spurs players get found out this season.Once the season starts again Toure and Lescott will come under scrunity again, but your right Ciy are a different case as they can afford to burn money, sack managers freely, and re-write the rulebook.We let Gallas go. If we really wanted Gallas he'd be our player. Koscielny in fee and wages for two years is going to cost us over 11m. Gallas at most would have cost us 8m in two years wages.

[TF S4DK]

Arsenal and Everton target Jan Vertonghen today revealed that he wants to move to the Premier League, but only after spending one more year in the Netherlands.In an exclusive interview with Goal.com UK, the £10 million-rated 23-year-old Belgium centre-half explained that his ambition is to follow his friend, countryman and former Ajax colleague Thomas Vermaelen to England.But he wants to win his first Eredivisie title with Ajax and fine-tune his game over the next 12 months before accepting an offer to join a leading Premier League club.You're another graduate of the famous Ajax finishing school. How did you rise through the ranks?When I was six, I joined an amateur club called VK Tielrode in Belgium where I lived. At 12 I went to my first professional club [Germinal Beerschot], which was half-an-hour from home. They had a co-operation [agreement] with Ajax and I went there at 16. There were a lot of clubs interested – the most famous in Belgium like Club Bruges and Anderlect – but Ajax is a beautiful club with a very good reputation for its youth teams. I spoke with a lot of people and everybody thought Ajax was the best club to join.Was it difficult moving abroad at such a young age?Leaving home at 16 was hard but I met my current girlfriend and she has been a big support to me. I immediately knew I was at the right place. The Academy was very professional and everything was properly arranged. Danny Blind, who is now the assistant coach, was a big influence and big help in my early career. He knew a lot about my private situation, he was always very supportive and was a central defender himself in his own career.Did you leave school at 16?I’m still studying. I never stopped studying. The most important thing when I joined Ajax was to combine it with school. I’m doing a sports marketing degree at Amsterdam High School and have two more years to go. It takes four years because I’m a professional footballer.Is it difficult to combine studying with a full-time football career at one of the world's most famous clubs?It’s vacation at the moment so I only study a few hours each week but during term time I will go in to High School one day a week. It’s good to be busy and meet people other than footballers. And keep my brain ticking over. I do sports marketing because it’s interesting. I don’t think about later and what I will do after my football career but you never know what will happen. Maybe when I get injured I will have to do it already.It is quite rare in the UK for a footballer to study. Is that the same on the Continent?I don’t know anybody else who is doing it. It is quite amazing. The tutors from school really understand me. They reschedule exams for me to fit into matches and training. I also like hanging out with my friends and playing on the PlayStation but my mother always says I have to study in case of injuries and stuff.How did you get into football?My family is more into cycling but I have two brothers – one older and one younger – we had a big garden and we were out playing football all the time. In my family no-one did high level sports at all. We were the first to do it. I was always playing for pleasure. When you are not playing in your club, you are playing in your garden. I was always playing with guys one year older. Even at my professional club in Belgium, I was playing with guys one year older. When I moved to Ajax, I played with my own age group.You have played in a variety of positions during your career. Why is that?I have played a lot in midfield and also for a period at left-back. For the national team, I am a defensive midfielder, which has helped me a lot with my technique. For Ajax, I am a central defender. Central defence is my favourite position.Is there pressure playing for Holland's most famous club?There is always pressure for Ajax. The supporters are very critical all the time. As a young player it is difficult. I have played four or five years for the first team and I am used to it now but you know you have to perform.You have a lot in common with Thomas Vermaelen. Would you like to follow in his footsteps?We have never played together in central defence, perhaps because we are both left-footed, either for Ajax or the national team. When he was at Ajax we were always playing together in the team but sometimes I played left-back and he played centre-back, and sometimes the other way around. I lost a friend when he went to Arsenal but for my career it was good. We get on really well. I speak to him sometimes a few times a week. I see him with the national team and he sometimes comes back to Amsterdam for a few days when he is free and we hang out together. He is one of my best friends and I’m very happy he has been such a success at Arsenal. He tells me really good things about Arsenal and living in London.Have Arsenal been interested in you?I heard they made an enquiry and also a few other clubs. I read something in the newspapers. I have always said to myself I want one more year at Ajax, hopefully be a champion and then move. I am ambitious. I want to play in the Premier League. The Premier League is my favourite competition but I need one more year before I am ready. I always said I don’t want to move this year so the clubs never come to me. They always went to Ajax and Ajax always said they don’t want to sell me so I stay for another year.What do you make of the situation with Martin Jol nearly joining Fulham?He told us before training on Thursday morning that he is staying, which is positive for us. I was not really surprised that he did not go to Fulham. I know he wanted to win the title with Ajax. That’s what he told us – that he wants to become a champion with Ajax. That’s brilliant for everyone. Everybody is happy that he stays. He gives players more confidence. He was the one who thought I’m more of a central defender. The goal for the season is to be champion. It’s seven years since we were last champions.Do you expect Luis Suarez and Gregory van der Wiel to stay?I hope they will stay one more season. I think they will. It will be hard to keep them because they are good players. But they really want to play in the Champions League with Ajax so that can help keep them. Champions League qualification is next week and we need them in the team.

[TF S4DK]

Maarten Stekelenburg is the latest goalkeeper being targeted by Arsenal as a possible replacement for Manuel Almunia.Arsene Wenger appears to have given up on Fulham's Mark Schwarzer after being priced out of a deal and now feels that the Ajax shot-stopper is the answer to his continued search for a new number one.Wenger struggled to gain confidence from the displays of both Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski last season as Arsenal finished third in the Premier League, 11 points adrift of champions Chelsea.Meanwhile, suggestions that Almunia may be on his way out of the Emirates were further heightened when he was completely left out of their recent 3-0 friendly victory over Austrian side Sturm Graz.The 33-year-old watched on from the stands as Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny were both given time between the posts, with Atletico Madrid rumoured to be interested in acquiring Almunia's services.Joe Hart, Lyon's Hugo Lloris and Ukraine number one Andriy Pyatov have also been on the radar of The Gunners during the close season, but it now seems that Stekelenburg is at the head of Wenger's wishlist.The 27-year-old, who has been at Ajax since 2001, impressed in goal for Holland at the World Cup during their run to the final and is thought to be available for around £4 million.Meanwhile, Ajax manager Martin Jol has been told that he will need to sell before bringing in any new players of his own, with the 27-year-old among the club's most sought after assets.

[Seth Rollins]

£4mil? And Foolham want HOW MUCH for Schwarzer??? KMT.

[MetaFives]

Sorry, Jagielka for £18m?We can sign Zapata for that much...

[TF S4DK]

Zapata aint worth that either.

[TF S4DK]

Arsenal are preparing to offer Raul a lucrative one-year contract Raul following his release from Real Madrid on Monday.The iconic former captain at the Bernabeu is now without a club and weighing up his options, with Arsenal included, but Schalke are reportedly favourites to land his signature.Whilst revealing that Schalke have approached him however, the 33-year-old also confessed that he would be interested in a move to England, with Tottenham and Newcastle rumoured to be keeping tabs on him."The German team is interested in me and I have had very deep discussions with them," he said."In a few days I will know whether I'll be going to the Bundesliga, but there are other teams that are also interested. What is clear is that my future lies in Germany or England.""I have had the feeling (for a while) that this is the time to move on. I have worn the Real Madrid shirt for many years.I'm 33 now and it is time for some younger and stronger players to come in."Also it was my last opportunity to have the experience of playing abroad. I have taken the decision with my family and I want to keep competing."

[TF S4DK]

Hatem Ben Arfa could be on his way out of Marseille, with Arsenal, Newcastle, Galatasaray and Werder Bremen reportedly chasing his signature.The French winger was part of the side that won the French title last season following his transfer to the Stade Velodrome from Lyon in 2008.French newspaper L'Equipe states that Newcastle's representatives will meet with Marseille to discuss a transfer, although with the Magpies having little to spend this summer a loan deal could be settled.With Ben Arfa thought to be available for a fee of around 7 to 8million euros, his agent Michel Ouazine stated that even if he is not a first-team regular, the player will only join a club that will take his career further."Hatem has reached a turning point in his career," Ouazine told L'Equipe."His choice will only be a sporting one."Hatem could also remain at l'OM. He can't leave at random."

[Michel Kane]

LOL @ Raul

[Heero Yuy]

L OOOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHHHHHH L @ Raul

[Turkish]

Where are these stories from?

[Former]

Sol Campbell to sign for Newcastle. Wenger needs to definitely pull his finger out now. GK,DEF and FWD needed. I dont see Chamakh being all that, looks like a slightly better version of bendtner and i bet even he will bang in more goals then Chamakh this season. All the goals will come from midfield again.

[Former]

Where are these stories from?

http://www.360football.co.uk/Arsenal

[TF S4DK]

Arsenal's pursuit of a new goalkeeper appears to be nearing a climax after Cagliari president Massimo Cellio confirmed the Gunners are in for Federico Marchetti.The 27-year-old’s profile rose unexpectedly during the World Cup when he replaced Italy number one Gianluigi Buffon for the final two group matches after injury to the Juventus star.And, although the Cagliari stopper conceded four goals as the Italians crashed out of the tournament, Arsene Wenger is nearing a deal for the former Torino keeper.The Arsenal boss is keen to end his goalkeeping woes, with Manuel Almunia heading for the exit after Wenger ran out of patience with the 33-year-old Spaniard. Lukasz Fabianski has also failed to instil confidence into his manager and, hence, Arsenal are now looking elsewhere for someone to wear the number one jersey.Veteran Fulham goalie Mark Schwarzer has been linked with a move to the Emirates, as have Russian number one Igor Akinfeev and Holland international Maarten Stekelenburg.But Marchetti appears to be the new frontrunner to succeed Almunia, after Cellio confirmed the club had been approached as regards to his signature.He told Sport Italia: “The only real club that is pushing for his signature is Arsenal.”Wenger will be hoping to tie up a deal with the new Premier League season just over two weeks away, and reports suggest a transfer could be concluded by the end of the week.

[TF S4DK]

Sky Sports News understands Sol Campbell is to undergo a medical at Newcastle United ahead of joining the Premier League new boys.Campbell is currently searching for a new club after his short-term contract at Arsenal expired at the end of last season.He has held talks with both Celtic and Sunderland, but the 35-year-old now appears poised to link up with Newcastle.The centre-half is due to be put through a medical on Tuesday and, providing there are no major problems, he is expected to sign a contract within 24 hours.Magpies boss Chris Hughton knows Campbell from his time at Tottenham Hotspur and has previously been non-committal on his interest in the former England international.However, it now appears that Hughton is ready to add Campbell's experience to his squad as he seeks to establish Newcastle back in the top flight.Hughton has so far snapped up James Perch and Dan Gosling over the summer and the capture of Campbell will be a welcome boost for the club.

[thinkingthuglife]

Marchetti looked sh*t in worldc up. we betta not sign that prik.

[MetaFives]

Barcelona board spokesman Toni Freixa has bemoaned that Arsenal are unwilling to negotiate the sale of Cesc Fabregas. The Gunners skipper has been strongly linked with a return to Barca this summer, and the Primera Division champions have already seen a reported €35million (£30m) offer rejected.Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stressed that he intends to keep the Spain international at the club as he sees him as integral to his side.Barca have stated they are doing all they can to land Fabregas, who has five years left on his current contract, but the Gunners will not enter into talks."Arsenal don't want to sit down and negotiate with us," Freixa told reporters on Monday evening. "It's not a problem with the wishes of Cesc or of Barca - they simply don't want to negotiate."Meanwhile, Freixa also confirmed that the club are in the market for a holding midfielder following the departure of Yaya Toure to Manchester City."The technical secretary is working hard on that," Freixa said.