Arsenal Rumours Archive June 07 2014

07 Jun 2014 19:49:19
Hi Eds, please what does first-refusal clause mean?

{Ed002's Note - It means if a club accepts a bid for a player, then the option would be there to match that bid. At that point the player can decide what he wants to do. So, for example, if Arsenal had first refusal on St Etienne's goalkeeper Stephane Ruffier, and Napoli made a bid of €6M to take the player to replace Pepe Reina, and that bid was acceptable to St Etienne, then Arsenal could exercise the first refusal if they want and match the Napoli bid. It would then be down to Ruffier to decide where he wants to go.}

08 Jun 2014 19:25:55
In plain English it means if the a team makes an offer and it is not enough they can F Off . :)

07 Jun 2014 17:07:25
Ed's in your opinion will Arsenal spend a substantial amount of money on a striker, and what are the chances of di maria

{Ed002's Note - I cannot answer the firt question as I have no idea what "substantial" means to you.

However, Arsenal, Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Juventus are all interested in Di Maria. There has been an offer from Monaco and an rejected PSG offer, although they may well return with another offer. If he cannot stay at Real Madrid, the player would not object to a move to Italy should the opportunity arise and Juventus may give him that opportunity, perhaps as part of a package deal that could see players being exchanged. If not, he would be beyond the means of Juventus without them selling either of their prized assets. Madrid seem keen to hang on to him but Jorge Mendes has been looking for a deal for the player and has persuaded Real Madrid to provide a price at which they would sell him. He is however in danger of pricing him out of the market with some pretty outrageous wage demands.}

07 Jun 2014 18:03:41
ED02. I think the question Haymaker is probably asking is what in your opinion would you say Arsenal would beprepared to pay for the right striker.
In my opinion anyone of any quality is going to be in the £35 million plus bracket. what's your opinion Ed.?

{Ed002's Note - I don't like discussing money as it simply confuses most football fans. £35M? Is that the total cost excluding wages but including everything else? Or is that just a vague guess for want of a number?}

07 Jun 2014 13:59:42
Ed02 I have a question for u?Ed02 you have said that draxler have given mixed responses about arsenal and they have moved on now? Does it mean arsenal are looking somewhere else? Thanx I will really appreciate your reply

{Ed002's Note - Arsenal are no longer looking at Draxler.}

How come after all the chasing and scouting?

{Ed002's Note - Use the search engine.}

07 Jun 2014 10:39:51
Lots of reports linking us to Insigne, from what I've seen he looks a decent player, any news on this

{Ed002's Note - Fiorentina are interested in striking a deal for Insigni. Napoli are hoping he does wll in Brazil so they can get other clubs interested and an auction going.}

06 Jun 2014 16:08:26
Ed002 is there any update on the striker situation? Any chance you could shed some light on who our priorities are in this position?
Thanks

{Ed002's Note - This is the status of all of the forwards I can recall Arsenal showing any recent interest in:

Morata has been dragging on from last summer when a number of clubs were interested in taking Morata on loan - this included CSKA and Arsenal. Real Madrid also thought that Liverpool would ask for Alvaro Morata as part of any transaction for Suarez but they never got that far in discussions. With a new striker arriving in the summer and Jese Rodriguez playing the way he is playing Morata may well be available for loan or sale. It was clear that there was interest from Arsenal in January and that interest remains. There is also interest from Juventus who have held discussions with Real Madrid and from Spurs. Dortmund and Napoli seem to have dropped what interest they had. If a sale rather than a loan is to happen, then Real Madrid will look for a buy-back clause which may be of a concern to the London clubs.

Porto are prepared to cash in on Jackson Martinez with varying degrees of interest from Valencia, Inter, Arsenal, Napoli, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, Spurs, Galatasaray, Juventus and Barcelona in recent months. However, whilst Porto will seek his full release clause of 40M euro but would likely need to settle for less (€36M for want of a number). Two bids from Juventus were turned down and Milan baulked at the asking price. This has left Valencia who are looking to make improvements this summer, Napoli who have spoken with Porto and the player and have "broadly" struck a deal twice - but have struggling to get the detail finalised - and perhaps Spurs who would need to match the Napoli deal. Arsenal is a possibility but the price will not be attractive. Whilst certain parties at Chelsea would like to make a move for the player, someone very influential remains unconvinced. Inter will look to a "creative" financial solution.

I understand that Napoli, Spurs and Arsenal had Lacazette watched on a number of occasions before the end of the season and that previous interest from Roma remains. He had a good season this summer I would expect that there will be interest in him from a number of clubs, possibly including Liverpool who have had him watched perhaps with a view to someone leaving. Lyon would like to keep him and will demand a very significant fee for the player (which has already put off Juventus) and an even higher fee still from English sides.

Benzema's performances have picked up and I suspect that whilst the interest of PSG and possibly Arsenal remains his future will not be decided until a replacement arrives.

There has been some interest from Juventus and Arsenal. Barcelona will be willing to let Sanchez move on and would be open to using him in a player exchange deal. There have been discussions Juventus in respect of Sanchez and there is no secret that his agent has confirmed that they would be willing to meet the terms that the player desires. However, they are far from agreeing a figure with Barcelona for the sale - very far indeed. Barcelona will be willing to let Sanchez move on for a very significant fee or would be open to using him in a player exchange deal. Barcelona were looking to replace Fabregas with Vidal and were looking to that as an option whilst there is such a difference between what is being asked and what is being offered. However, with talks dragging on and Juventus wanting to keep Vidal their attention shifted from Vidal to Koke and then to Rakitic.

Arsenal and PSG would all like to strike a deal with Milan at some point but El Shaarawy is generally happy where he is and Milan have no intention of selling unless a very significant offer is made. Previous interest from Monaco and Spurs remains unconfirmed and Napoli dropped out of the running over the summer when they signed Callejon, as did Manchester City when they signed Jovetic. Do not be surprised to see an offer from Chelsea if they cannot get another target.

A number of clubs have been looking at Bayer Leverkusen's Heung Min Son even though he only moved last summer. Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, CSKA Moscow and Juventus have all had representation at games in recent months. Juventus are not planning on following up their interest.}

Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Marseille, Rennes, Fiorentina and Lyon have shown some interest in Griezmann in the past year and reA number of clubs have been looking at Bayer Leverkusen's Heung Min Son even though he only moved last summer. Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs, CSKA Moscow and Juventus have all had representation at games in recent months. Juventus are not planning on following up their interest.}pordedly Barcelona tool a look at one time. Whilst Griezmann has said on several occasions that he has no plans to leave Spain anytime soon, the financial problems being faced by Real Sociedad may still see him leave the club in the summer. He has had a good season which have led to enquiries being made by Juventus, Arsenal and Chelsea; and Manchester United and PSG having the player watched on more than one occasion. Interest from Juventus has gone due to the asking price.

Balotelli is playing up again and could well be leaving in the summer. Monaco and Arsenal have previously shown some interest and PSG might be interested.

Someone associated with Arsenal told me a while back there is indeed interest from the club Michy Batshuayi - but I suspect is would be one for the future for them. Additionally, Anderlecht have declared that they would consider resigning the player, Swansea, Porto and Benfica have made enquiries and Everton, Milan, Monaco and Lille have watched him in recent months.

PSVs Zakaria Bakkali has attracted attention from Chelsea, Arsenal, Norwich and Augsburg. I spoke with a "specialist" in the Netherlands leagues but he is a light year away from first team football in the EPL and any move this summer would potentially be a dent in his career - although Chelsea will look to send him to Vitesse Arnhem on loan if he moves to them.

Lille's Divock Origi has attrracted a little interest from Arsenal and Montpelier - but that is all I am aware of.

Barcelona will listen to significant offers for Pedro. Manchester City, Arsenal and Manchester United are known to have enquired with his agent in recent months. PSG has spoken with Barcelona about the player last summer and in January. So there is really very little right now. It would not be a surprise to see interest from Liverpool if someone were to leave.

Remy may well move on this summer and QPR know they will struggle to keep him. Arsenal is perhaps an option. Interest from other clubs, such as Liverpool, at this time would seem to be no more than speculative.

Reus will move to Barcelona.

Valencia, Arsenal, Atletico Madrid and Zenit have shown an interest in Rodrigo who is owned by a third party rather than Benfica. Regardless of what speculation there is, my understanding is that Rodrigo's future has already been determined and that it will be with Valencia. If Arsenal wish to strike a deal, it will not be with Benfica they need to negotiate but his third party owners, or perhaps the owners of Valencia - who might well be the same people.}

07 Jun 2014 12:10:40
Wow, thanks ed002, very thorough and informative. I think the fact that Cavani and Falcao aren't even mentioned says a lot about the "big signing" we're all hoping for. It's just not happening. For me, Martinez is the pick of that bunch. I may have to start going on about him like Dags does with Remy.

{Ed002's Note - The entry for Greizmann should read as follows: Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Marseille, Rennes, Fiorentina and Lyon have shown some interest in Griezmann in the past year and repordedly Barcelona tool a look at one time. Whilst Griezmann has said on several occasions that he has no plans to leave Spain anytime soon, the financial problems being faced by Real Sociedad may still see him leave the club in the summer. He has had a good season which have led to enquiries being made by Juventus, Arsenal and Chelsea; and Manchester United and PSG having the player watched on more than one occasion. Interest from Juventus has gone due to the asking price.

Thank you for that extensive response

Thanks for they response ed!

Many thanks Ed. That was huge.

Wow thanks for the response Ed! I think some of those expecting the likes of Cavani shoud lower their expectations now

{Ed002's Note - And as promised, an update about Hulk. I can confirm that Arsenal has not spoken to Zenit at all about Hulk and certainly not made any bids.}

Thanxxxx ed002
(^.^)/

Just TWO small questions.
1. How many players r we lookin to sign?
2. And which players r we lookin to sell (for example Arteta, Rosicky, etc). If so is there interest from other teams in them?

{Ed002's Note - I really don't want to be trying to figure that out. The club are looking for a goalkeeper, in defence, in midfield and attack. Add to that a youngster or two.}

Is the Reus deal to Barca a definite Ed?

{Ed002's Note - Nothing can be said to be "definite" whilst the transfer window is closed, but Barcelona are pretty sure it will happen.}

06 Jun 2014 23:09:27
is there any interest in hulk, and do you think he will be a good signing?