Re: The Official Summer Transfer Rumours Thread

[Sina]

Player Profile

Learn all about Matthias Ginter, Arsenal's teenage Bundesliga target
By Ross Dunbar

The 19-year-old Freiburg holding midfielder or defender is in Arsene Wenger's sights, so Ross Dunbar told us all about him




Matthias Ginter is regarded as a jewel off the recurring SC Freiburg conveyer belt.

He has adapted seamlessly to the frenzied nature of the Bundesliga - a contrast to his humble education at the Freiburg Academy.

Ginter’s talents were recognised by the DFB in 2012 who awarded him the prestigious U18 Player of the Year award named after German legend Fritz Walter.

Given his prominent rise to first-team football, it was a deserved feat – and another landmark achievement for the humble club of the Black Forest.

At the same time as the Perestroika-like turnaround in German youth football at the turn of the millennium, Freiburg invested around 9m EUR into a brand-new academy in their picturesque surroundings.

“SC Freiburg have great visions, but both feet on the floor,” remarked FC Bayern’s Uli Hoeness at the opening of the school. “There is exemplary talent and the patrons are the same as for one another. That impresses me.”

Freiburg are proud of their “Training Club” status in German football: the first club to do so in the early 1900s.

Their comprehensive youth scouting network brings in more than 600 children for Freiburg’s regional trial days, and a young 10-year-old Ginter made a firm impression.

“I can still remember very well how I was able to play for the club as a ten year old and how excited I was there.” He told Spox.com

A year later, he swapped local club SV March for the Freiburg Football School and progressed from U12 to first-team.

On the way, he already came across Streich who had been a youth coach at U15 and U16 level. “My brother had previously told me some funny stories about him. He's just very emotional and very honest and straight forward.” He added.

Things were swimmingly well at youth level for Freiburg and Ginter; clinching the South-Baden Cup at U15, U17 and U19 level and being German champions twice.

Meanwhile, former coach Streich was promoted to take charge of an ailing and lacklustre first-team with Freiburg five points adrift at the bottom of the Bundesliga.

Aged just 17, Ginter was invited to the winter training camp in Spain and two days after his 18th birthday, he marked his first fleeting appearance, as an emergency striker, with a significant winning goal against FC Augsburg.

It sprung some life back into the Black Forest side who ended the season in a comfortable position, as the youngster racked up 13 appearances.



Despite his relative striking prowess – he scored 14 in 25 U19 games for 2010/11 – his days at the forefront of the attack were over.

In a uniquely Freiburg confidence in youth, Streich opted to switch Ginter’s position to a defensive-minded player, using his sound technical ability to good effect.

Ginter reflected: “It sounds weird for many, perhaps, because most want to play as aggressively as possible, however it suits me best in central defence. I can see that now. In this position, I see my future,”

Since then, the 19-year-old has been an anchor of the back-four with 23 league appearances over the 2012/13 campaign.

His versatility has been invaluable to Champions League-chasing Freiburg, being used sparingly in the “No.6” defensive-midfielder role.

Streich’s exuberance on the touchline reflects the ferocity of Freiburg’s pressing strategy, which is more advanced 4-4-2 approach.

Ginter’s physique and robust defensive mode complements an adept change of pace, reading of the game and suiting the higher defensive line.

As reported this morning, Arsenal have been keeping tabs on the teenager and will watch further at the U21 European Championships in Israel.

But given the number of confirmed departures already, including Jan Rosenthal to Eintracht Frankfurt, Max Kruse to Gladbach and Daniel Caligiuri to Wolfsburg, Streich will be unwilling to let go potentially the mainstay of his side this summer.

“He has a contract here for many years,” Streich told regional newspaper Badische Zeitung.

He went on to refute suggestions the 19-year-old will be leaving Freiburg after helping them secure a place in next season’s UEFA Europa League.

At £5m, Ginter would be a really smart investment for Arsenal and he has been immersed in a background that would ease the transition to London.


Mirror

[Jay29]

Geoff's basically saying that there's more than meets the eye with this talk about Wenger's new contract, but he won't go into any detail, which perhaps suggests it's transfer related (leaked information can affect transfers, you may recall).

I guess we'll see if anything happens in the next couple of days.

[RealGunner]

One of the reason of Arsene's new contract is that most Players respect Arsene. He is a big lure.

[sportsczy]

The word in France is that Wenger is not going to sign anything until certain things happen...no idea what those certain things are; but likely has to do with transfers. I don't think this will happen quickly imo because big transfers take time.

[Sina]

how has Ginter played so far?might catch 2nd half

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i rather wait than speculate about what gonna happen

[urbaNRoots]

how has Ginter played so far?might catch 2nd half

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i rather wait than speculate about what gonna happen

Very well, unfortunately Bernd Leno messed up twice in the first half and Netherlands are leading 2-0 at the moment.

[Sina]

Future Arsenal Legend

[SamuelJayC]

Arsenal may answer defensive problems with surprise move for Toon's Taylor

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2336974/Newcastle-defender-Steven-Taylor-Arsene-Wengers-Arsenal-wishlist.html#ixzz2VSBnh2wm

[SamuelJayC]

Been watching Germany-Holland since half-time, Ginter has done well in this half, at least. Not sure about first.

[RealGunner]

Arsenal lining up Marouane Fellaini bid

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article3784741.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_06_06


Yes|No ?

[REWB]

no please, not needed. he isnt a good dm and is okay as a box to box, but we can do better. he suits a long ball style, not our style

[urbaNRoots]

Arsenal lining up Marouane Fellaini bid

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article3784741.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_06_06


Yes|No ?

No.

[Sina]

for 10-15M Yes
for 20M+ No

[Jay29]

Yeah, I'd be concerned about the fact he hasn't played in a deep midfield role for a couple of seasons now and has only really excelled in an advanced position. It'd be a huge gamble to spend £24mil on a player who may not even be able to fill the position we want him to.

[Jay29]

Arsenal can afford Rooney, says Gazidis:



Best go and prove it then, Ivan.

[RealGunner]

Wayne Veysey ‏@wayneveysey
Huge Arsenal news coming up....


I will laugh if it's the Arsene contract news or the fellaini one

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

Chamakh signs a new 4 year deal.

[Sina]

Goal.com Exclusives

[Lex]

BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal make £22 million bid for Fellaini

[RealGunner]

http://www.goal.com/en-gb/news/2892/transfer-zone/2013/06/06/4031002/arsenal-launch-stunning-22m-fellaini-bid

lmfao as expected

[Sina]

so is this that record breaking transfer thats was whispered about
pls go

[Jay29]

GOAL EXCLUSIVE... even though The Times has already reported the story.

[Great Leader Sprucenuce]

If you actually do pay big money for Fellaini and play him as DM/CM you want shooting tbh.

[RealGunner]

I'd play him as a CB on fifa personally

[Jay29]

Same article says we now have a £100mil transfer budget and that we're still after Ashley Williams despite nothing happening on that front for a few weeks now.

Also claims that us signing Fellaini would "send shockwaves throughout English football".

[RealGunner]

LMFAO what shockwaves

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