27 Jul 2021 18:03:58
Evening Ed,
This is a rumour that I'm not expecting to carry much substance but but reports tonight are suggesting Arsenal are interested in Lautaro Martinez. Is there any truth in this? Could Bellerin be included in the deal perhaps with them being interested?
We would need to raise an incredible amount of funds in the remainder of the window, I just can't see it.
Look forward to your response :)
Thank you.
{Ed002's Note - Lautaro Martinez (S) Inter don't want to sell and long-term admirers Barcelona and Manchester City are looking elsewhere although Barcelona would like to add him in 2022, but significant sales would still be required and they have added Aguero and Depay. Real Madrid are trying to convince the club otherwise and will offer an assortment of players they no longer want in exchange. Atletico Madrid are interested if he becomes available but money would be an issue without a major sale. With the coach departing Inter the club will be better placed to raise the €140M they need before selling to buy. There is support for him from an ex-Chelsea player who is a potential Director of Football at the club but he would be a little down the list at Chelsea. I am not aware of any approach from Arsenal but they do want a striker. The player would want Champions League football I imagine.}
27 Jul 2021 19:18:50
Excellent, thank you Ed! If we want a striker then it's a fabulous target. Hopefully whoever else we have in mind is of similar age and ability.
28 Jul 2021 10:42:22
Ed002,
As always your info and time dedicated here is appreciated, that goes for all the eds.
I know you have strong opinions on how Arsenals hierarchy is structured and you haven’t been happy with current representatives approach to transfers.
But can I ask what you think of the current situation with regards to the approach they are taking because I’m scratching my head here while some fellow fans are being distracted by a couple of new signings and rumoured links.
I’m concerned right now because I do not see a clear plan here. Guendouzi out when we needed that type of CM is fine by me if it’s for conduct and disciplinary reasons, but we still need a player of his type. Saliba is clearly a personal dispute the manager has somewhere and he may have to answer for that sooner rather than later.
Balogun was convinced to stay obviously with a promise of a fair shake within the first team squad this season.
Smith Rowe has signed on and his preferred position is as a 10.
Not expecting you to know the inner workings of a club who it would flatter to call hap hazard in their transfer approach right now, but can you tell me what you think about rumours like this one above where we seem to be targeting players for positions that hamper young players with massive potential while other positions like RB and CM are seemingly seen as less of a priority?
Like I said I know you won’t have details but you have a broad knowledge of talented young players of which we have a few and I’d love to hear your opinion on whether the decision makers here right now have the eye or sense not to panic because it looks to me like Edu cannot be trusted in that department.
Basically I’m saying replacing Bellerin and co with an actual RB is a far more pressing issue than adding another centre forward to a list that has Auba, Martinelli and Balogun already on it even if we lose Lacca and Eddie.
Would you agree?
{Ed002's Note - Edu has an advisor who helps the club out and is likely the person who enquired about Martinez but there has not been a direct approach to Inter - so it would be someone acting on behalf of Arsenal talking to his agent. No doubt they would have been told that negotiations can start around €100M.
In terms of the players you have mentioned, Guendouzi really wanted out and has had a great deal to say about Arsenal to his new side. Saliba has had his career disrupted by Arsenal and wants a permanent exit - there is no option right now but there is an agreement with the lady from Marseille that she can make a proposal later in the season if she wants. In terms of replacing Bellerin the club has a very clear idea who they want - but they need to start bringing in money through sales and with time passing the sale of Bellerin may be getting more difficult. A reluctance to negotiate has made the move of Xhaka difficult and the club need to sort out the situation with Willian to free up wages.
The focus is not immediately on youngsters but on recovering as much of the money spent as they can.}
28 Jul 2021 12:29:11
I also imagine ED, regarding Martinez regardless of the transfer fee, we’ve got a few strikers on the books that needs cutting back with about 3 youngsters trying to push for a starting spot. And Martinelli will need to start getting playing time otherwise other teams will I’m sure come in for him and I’ve read Arteta sees him as a 9 so be interesting to see what happens there.
{Ed002's Note - It is a good point. I am surprised Martinelli does not get more time already. Lacazette is clearly on is way out. Nketiah is another who is looking at options to move on and kickstart his career. I expect a S will be added but it will be a more modest signing than Lautaro Martinez.}
28 Jul 2021 16:53:56
Thank you for the speedy response Ed, have a good one 🤙.
{Ed002's Note - You are welcome.}
28 Jul 2021 17:10:06
Hello Ed002, Brilliant info as always. Just out of curiosity : (a) Is that advisor Kia?
Also, (b) I think what Shambo wanted to ask you (apologies Shambo if my assumption is flawed) is your opinion on Edu and how good he is in his job. I have heard a few podcasts and some journalists with decent pedigree say that he is 'ruthless' and generally that he is well aligned with what is best for the club.
I also understand that getting deals done and selling players is a much more complicated science than just the competency of a technical director. But someone like you might be able to understand and review the work Edu (and to some extent Richard Garlick) is doing at our club. I remember you mentioning the mess our executive committee had become during the days of Raul.
How far have we come in repairing that?
Thanks in any case
#COYG.
{Ed002's Note - Kia and Edu are close and Kia has been paid as an advisor in addition to transfers he has organised. Remember Kia is a "representative" of players rather than a licensed "agent". Adding Richard Garlick as Director of Football Operations in addition to Edu has seemingly not clarified all of the issues and overlap between staff responsibilities. All of this means that there have been quite a few players unhappy with their lot. Nearly all have left, but not all. Two very experienced players don't think that Arteta is tactically astute enough at this level. What will be interesting is where Coutinho ends up.}
28 Jul 2021 20:10:39
Thanks Ed appreciate the more detailed and insightful information we have been received especially on this thread. Long may it last.
28 Jul 2021 23:12:23
Absolutely love this info Ed. Really gives us a reflection of what the club is doing and helps us be more realistic about what we expect. And realistic doesn't . want negative at all.
I feel we'll improve from last season, just how much is not clear. Anyways we'll have a full documentary to watch it in detail, innit?
#COYG.
29 Jul 2021 02:05:36
Ed, this is some brilliant feedback and much appreciated.
However, it makes me despair to think how incompetent so many people are that are in positions of authority and influence at such a once well regarded and soundly run footballing institution.
I can only assume this is a manifestation born out of absenteeism on behalf of the ownership. It seems their approach has been to balance gradual decline, consciously initiated by using the club to fund other ventures as opposed to investing in it on the field, by offering up strategic compensatory appointments of ex club players to positions of so called influence to decrease the likelihood of all out rejection across the fanbase.
It’s pretty evident Edu was appointed because the romantic side of the fans would find it difficult to attack him initially and this would buy the Kroenkes time. The fact Edu does not trust his own abilities to fulfill his obligations under his own judgement, yet he remains in the role, is evidence of alternate non footballing motivations on behalf of the owners, that or they are even more clueless that originally feared.
To now learn that Kia is being given full remit to indulge his own personal massive conflict of interest, getting paid by us to recommend and supply players to us that he represents in a third party capacity, is absolutely nauseating and again screams of systematic incompetency and gross negligence at ownership level.
The appointment of Arteta, while not confirmed yet as a completely poor choice, should also now be under the spotlight in my opinion to be scrutinised as to whether fans again were played on an emotional level so that the corporate interests of The Kroenkes could be afforded more breathing space at a time where they were facing massive united fan revolt, while we have since learned they were simultaneously planning to participate in a breakaway league which had no bearing again on our ability to perform or strive to be better where it matters most, on the pitch.
It’s no surprise players are not confident of Artetas appointment and tactical proficiency if they care about the club or are aware of the inner workings behind the scenes. There is plenty of evidence of tactical ineptitude and poor man management already so much so that you will find it hard to find one fan who will tell you Arteta has more than this transfer window left to prove himself.
I also understand the Kroenkes have dismissed proposals from fans groups to have a seat at the table and option to buy shares so that we can have influence over the motivations behind some decision making processes we are no longer privy to due to the majority ownership and policy under which they operate.
I can see why ed002 finds these methods so distasteful, we are being run by a very sneaky and unethical corporate driven entity who are soulless when it comes to their so called attachment to our football club or the game itself on a broader level.
Nothing will improve until they are gone and there is a complete overhaul. The best we can hope for is that they buckle in times of pressure and invest, but even if this is one of those times right now we still have corruption and incompetence, let’s call them Kia and Edu, overseeing the distribution of this investment into players like Willian while obscene amounts of money evaporates out of the footballing community into pockets of men like Kia and other ‘third party reps’. Is it any wonder this club is attracting corrupt vultures like Kia and Raul when the absentee landlords are never around to impose checks and balances.
I’m disgusted.
{Ed002's Note - There are other people in the mix as well - some of which had promises made to them that were not kept.}
29 Jul 2021 18:11:58
This is deeply disturbing Shambo! : (.