Re: The Official Arsenal Winter Transfers/Rumours Thread

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

Sam's is more realistic than RG's at least lol.

[SamuelJayC]

Sam's is more realistic than RG's at least lol.

Yep lol.

I'd suspect the possibility of another winger/attacking midfielder or a DM coming in too. Though prob depends on Arshavin finally leaving.

[Jay29]

To sum up our window so far then:

Goalkeeper
Definitely not a priority this month but a couple of rumours about linking us with keepers. Vicente Guaita, Asmir Begovic and John Ruddy are some of the keepers mentioned. Each would pose a significant challenge to Szczesny's place but would not be too content as backup, so a signing here this month seems unlikely.

Fabianski and Mannone look certainties to be leaving the club, most likely in the summer. Martinez appears to be our no. 2 now.

Defence
The link with Yanga-Mbiwa has remained from the summer window, but a move this window seems unlikely, even with Djourou gone and Miquel likely to go on loan, too.

Jonas Olsson is another that's been linked with us for a supposed £3mil.

It's unlikely we'll sign a centre back this month. The lack of an option-to-buy in Djourou's loan deal suggests that we believe our current three centre backs is adequate enough for the remainder of the season.

The club will be hoping Squillaci will be brought by somebody. Anybody.

Midfield
There has been a few rumours for this area but not many strong links. Lewis Holtby was one we had been linked with but he's moving to Spurs in the summer. Isco is another, with his £17mil release clause being public knowledge, but as with Holtby, we don't appear to be looking at brining in a central playmaker.

Arda Turan has recently been linked with us, but it appears we have our attention on another Atletico player.

There's also Wilfried Zaha, who's many people's pick for likeliest player to sign for Arsenal. Speculation has cooled a bit recently with Walcott's situation taking a tentative step towards the positive, but reports are suggesting he's definitely leaving Palace this month and he's desperate for Arsenal.

That much-wanted defensive midfielder doesn't seem to be coming so far. Etienne Capoue has been cited as a likely signing, but there doesn't appear to be much movement on that front. It'll be interesting to see if there is any substance to the reports of us activating Mohammed Diame's £3.5mil release clause.

Andrey Arshavin is likely to leave, but to where, we don't know.

Attack
This is where the excitement is happening.

Supposedly, we had three targets to bolster our attacking options: Edin Dzeko (who we had interest in in the summer), Demba Ba (likewise) and David Villa. Dzeko is not going to leave City this month with things going better for him there right now and we didn't follow up on our interest in Ba because we have Giroud. He's since gone to Chelsea.

David Villa wants to leave Barcelona and has, supposedly, been talking with certain Arsenal players about wanting them to free him from his suffering. There have been conflicting reports about whether Barcelona would let him leave this month or not; some saying no, others saying they would for £14-16mil. We have a definite interest but who knows whether we'll actually go all out to get him. One to keep an eye on, but don't get your hopes up.

There were also some strong suggestions that Klaas-Jan Huntelaar would be arriving this month, but he's signed a new deal with Schalke so this one is dead.

The other attacker that's been regularly linked with us is Adrian Lopez. It appears that he's our backup target if we can't get Villa. Low release clause and a long-standing interest suggests this is our most likely signing this month.

Some reports saying we've bid for Negredo floating about, too.

Then there's Walcott's contract situation, which is, for all involved, frustratingly without a resolution thus far. It seems that Walcott will sign, but there are the odd reports from decent sources saying that this is not drawing any closer to a satisfying conclusion.

Elsewhere, Chamakh has left.

---

Did I miss anyone significant?

[RealGunner]

Great summary!

I think we might get a CB this transfer window. We surely can't rely on 3 players with 2 of them kinda injury prone. Would love Mbiwa asap but of course it can't be that easy. Maybe Jonas Olsson would be a good backup option.

In midfield we have also been linked with Will Hughes . Think if we can get him for 5m or so that will be a great deal. Watched him in the last Under 21 game. Couldn't believe he is just 17.

But he would be for the future. Should try and get Capoue/Diame for now.

Villa would be a dream upfront. I am still skeptical and i don't think it will go through but u never know.

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

Question.

Would you be happy if Theo signed a new contract and you bought say.... Capoue and Mbiwa?

Shores up key areas but isn't anything to excite you, but probably would strengthen you quite significantly.

[Jay29]

I'd be content with that, but a bit wary since there'd still be some doubt about our attack; whether the flanks are productive enough, whether our strikers are consistent/good enough, etc. Would probably a need an attacker on top of a holding midfielder and a new contract for Walcott for me to be happy with this month's business.

[Chumlum]

Question.

Would you be happy if Theo signed a new contract and you bought say.... Capoue and Mbiwa?

Shores up key areas but isn't anything to excite you, but probably would strengthen you quite significantly.

Two very good players coming in, in positions the squad could stand to strengthen (versatile CB and a holding midfielder). So from a realistic perspective, sure. But attack needs some kind of strengthening too IMO.

[urbaNRoots]

1. One of Capoue/Mbiwa/Diame/Sissoko
2. One of Villa/Adrian
3. Will Hughes and
4. Luke Shaw

Is what I would try to get in this January... the last two are luxury signings, if we can get them good if we don't... meh. But we have to get one of the first two, preferrably Capoue and Villa

Arteta Diame/Sissoko
Cazorla Wilshere Villa/Adrian
Giroud/Walcott

or

Capoue/Mbiwa
Cazorla Wilshere
Walcott Giroud Villa/Adrian

Just hope Wenger has a backup plan if he can't sign the players he primarily wants and doesn't 'panic buy' players who are available but simply not good enough.

[Raptorgunner]

Mr Lewis ‏@lukeronaldo

Cazorla and Villa picture taken 3 days ago #Arsenal #Villa #Barcelona pic.twitter.com/M4MadbLZ

[urbaNRoots]

Question.

Would you be happy if Theo signed a new contract and you bought say.... Capoue and Mbiwa?

Shores up key areas but isn't anything to excite you, but probably would strengthen you quite significantly.

I would be happy enough with one of these two, Walcott AND a winger that can play as a striker ala Adrian or hell even Villa if we can get him (but doubt it). Don't think we need both (Capoue AND Mbiwa), as both can do each others job aswell as their job. That's not too much for January I'd say: Capoue = less than £10m, Walcott 90k/week () and Adrian = £11.5m.

[Raptorgunner]

Question.

Would you be happy if Theo signed a new contract and you bought say.... Capoue and Mbiwa?

Shores up key areas but isn't anything to excite you, but probably would strengthen you quite significantly.

I would be happy enough with one of these two, Walcott AND a winger that can play as a striker ala Adrian or hell even Villa if we can get him (but doubt it). Don't think we need both (Capoue AND Mbiwa), as both can do each others job aswell as their job. That's not too much for January I'd say: Capoue = less than £10m, Walcott 90k/week () and Adrian = £11.5m.

Do we have the money to buy both?

We have 30m to buy players plus contracts.
15% must go to Ivan, what ever he can steal from the budget he can give it to himself as bonus.

[furiouswindbottom]

Our mumbling about has allowed Spurs in to pinch Holtby. FFS! We are too slow in the transfer market. Even if Wenger has identified his targets to Gazidis, he seems to arse about for so long they end up elsewhere or we end up buying anyone in the last few minutes, hoping to save a few quid.

Expecting some of Villa, Sneijder, Zaha, M'Villa, Baines, Capoue and Shaw to be on his list...but we'll dither about so much we'll get none of them. Look at the Theo situation FFS! We could lose him for free over a few grand a week.

I can imagine the interview if Barca allow Villa to talk to us. Villa gets off his flight, slightly stressed and excitable due to his wife about to give birth. He wants to get in and out as quickly as possible to be at his wife's side. If he signs he will come over a few weeks after the birth of his child. Villa's agent says his client is in a hurry and wants 120k per week over 3 years. And he will sign right now. Gazidis ponders for twenty minutes and says 80k. Villa says 120k or I'm outta here. Gazidis ponders again and says 81k, then 82k. Villa leaves and is never seen in the same room as Ivan again. However, Man City hijack his taxi outside and sign him before the engine starts.

With 5 minutes left of the window we'll probably end up with Stewart Downing and Daniel Obertan for 10 million each. Even worse, we pay 25 million for Balotelli after Wenger says' I can tame him'. After signing, Balotetti takes offence at the colour of the sky and smashes Wenger's car with an axe before going on a rampage in the canteen. He is arrested and sectioned for 20 years under the mental health act.

Either that or he'll parade Diaby and Walcott around the Emirates as 'our new signings'.

Come on Arsenal! Clubs are moving for their targets already!

I'm hoping the board can prove me wrong...but I'm not holding my breath.

[Sina]

According to L'Equipe, Zenit have offered more than 10 million euros for M'Vila, but the player does not want to play in Russia.

[Jay29]

Have some patience, people. It's only been five days and the amount of complaining has already reached obscene levels.

We didn't "dither" around on Lewis Holtby. He obviously wasn't a target of ours otherwise we would never have allowed such a bargain go without putting in an offer. The fact that Spurs got the deal done so quickly suggests that they were the only club to actually offer him a contract.

I wish people would get over this transfer. Spurs can sign good players now. We don't need every single good playmaker that happens to become available. We already have good playmakers at the club. What does Holtby bring to the team that we don't already have, other than depth?

[MJ]

Signing Holtby would spell the end for Ramsey's Arsenal career, and I know nobody wants to see that happen.

[MJ]

Barsenal DNA

[SamuelJayC]

Official: Djourou joins Hannover on loan until end of the season -

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/djourou-agrees-loan-move-to-hannover-96 …

[SamuelJayC]

L'Equipe: Zenit bid €10m + add ons for Yann M'Vila. Player reluctant to go to Russia. Doesn't like QPR's contract offer and QPR bid too low.

[djoe26]

I read it somewhere that Spurs were in for M'vila but dont know if its true.

[Sina]

Austin ‏@Frimponged

Steve Rowley has been in Germany recently to watch 17-year old VfL Bochum star Leon Goretzka. Bayern & Barca also interested. #afc [Kicker]
Goretzka is seen as one of the most talented youngsters of Germany. Rowley doesn't watch every player himself so he must be a bit special.
Simon ‏@simonafc

@Frimponged Very special. Rejected Barca in the summer. Wants to finish school in Bochum before moving.

Get IIIN Arsene

[SamuelJayC]

Ajaccio confirm interest in Arsenal's Sebastien Squillaci, but stress that "If there are no departures, there will be no arrivals"

[SamuelJayC]

Cruzeiro announce that they've loaded striker Wellington Paulista to #WHUFC. He'll travel to London on Sunday for a medical.

West Ham strikers: Carroll, C.Cole, Maïga, Chamakh, Maguire, Vaz Tê, Wellington

oh chamakh...

[djoe26]

@AnonymousFC0

Arsenal are waiting for Mohamed Diame to regain fitness before pursuing their interest. He has a £3.75m release clause. #AnonymousFC

[REWB]

man if we get diame id be so happy, looks the perfect player for us?

[SamuelJayC]

Falcao likely to join Real Madrid in summer, meaning Higuain should leave the club for around £20m. No offers yet. - via @GuillemBalague

[Raptorgunner]

So we have not signed anyone yet?

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