10 Apr 2019 20:18:23
Any chance of a update on transfer targets Ed? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - Try in a week.}

1.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 10:17:31
Have you got time to do it yet Ed? Thanks.

{Ed002's Note - GK, LB, CB, CM, RW wanted

Nick Pope (G) don't rule out a bid

Nicolas Tagliafico (LB) if Kolasinic leaves - as LB may be the lowest priority - interest from elsewhere and his club don't want to sell
Junior Firpo (LB) – looks to be heading elsewhere and very expensive
Alex Grimaldo (LWB) price may be beyond Arsenal and interest from CL sides

Samuel Umtiti (CB) Barcelona a re keen to move him on and UE is keen to take him if the right deal can be figured out - Arsenal want a loan to buy - but could easily be priced out of a move
Ibrahima Konate (CB)
Boubacar Kamara (CB) - very unlikely as talks progress with another side - interest raised by a well respected scout who was then sacked by Minislat
Matthias Ginter (CB) I am not aware of interest from Liverpool - enquiries from two EPL sides (including Arsenal) came to nothing. If he did move he would want to be a started which will cut out Bayern, as will him having no interest in being used as cover for multiple positions. He would be expensive and is apparently happy.

Adrien Rabiot (CM/AM) - Emery wants him but wages will be very high and interest from elsewhere will likely win out. Obviously Rabiot is in a position now where he can negotiate a summer deal (let's assume that to be a signing on fee, a wage/bomus package, agent and third party fees) with any club outside of the remit of the FFF. This includes Arsenal and a number of other sides.
Kai Havertz (CM/AM) option to Rabiot but won't happen as his future is largely mapped out.
Joe Aribo (CM) remains of interest - but is he ready to step up?
Nicolo Barella (CM) Napoli and Chelsea failed with approaches in January - and he wants to be a starter and stay in Italy - so very difficult.
Ever Banega (CM) - Emery again likes the player but the club are not so keen, but if the preferred choices are not available he may need to be considered.

David Brooks (AM) Arsenal has watched him and may make an offer if Oezil were to be moved on

Ismaila Sarr (RW) was watched earlier in the season before Arsenal moved on a well respected scout. There was certainly no discussion about the player whilst any Europa league tie but there is interest, although the price may be prohibitive at €50M
Cengiz Under (RW) enquired after but seen as too expensive at €40M
Nicolas Pepe (RW) Out of Arsenal's reach
Suso (RW) watched again but expensive - although is homegrown
Cristian Pavon (RW/F) Arsenal may turn to an old Wenger target - there is interest from Ajax, Barcelona and from another English side who have been told that when he moves it will be to Barcelona - but their focus is on another player right now

Ivan Perisic (LW) too old and pricey
Benito Raman (LW) watched but concern over the step up
Leandro Trossard (LW) was certainly watched at the start of the season by an Arsenal scout who has since left the club. He is young but I know that Wolfsburg has also watched him. I am not aware of any deal being made and that seems a decent sum of money to pay for a LW when a RW is the real priority.
Ryan Fraser (LW) has the advantage of being home grown

Outbound:

Petr Cech (G)
David Ospina (G)
Emi Martinez (G) Arsenal may try to keep him

Stephan Lichtsteiner (RB) could leave
Nacho Monreal (LB) time to go

Laurent Koscielny (CB) could leave
Shkodran Mustafi (CB)
Callum Chambers (CB/RB)

Mohamed Elneny (DM)

Aaron Ramsey (CM)

Henrikh Mkhitaryan (RM) agent wants big money and has spoken to at least one Chinese side

Mesut Özil (AM) if a deal can be found
Danny Welbeck (S)

2.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 12:54:58
Thank you Ed. Do you think Arsenal regret letting some well respected people go now that Sven has also left?

{Ed002's Note - The problem is the orgainisation at the club. Arsenal already have Raul Sanllehi in the role of Director of Football. What they need is a new chief scout or a bit of a restructure as Sanllehi was very much a football administrator. This means that whoever arrives to replace Sven Mislintat needs to adapt to work in a slightly odd set up where he would be given the title of Technical Director or Chief Scout but would not have the overall say over the football side of things - as that would still be in the hands of Sanllehi - and that could make it difficult to recruit the right person.}

3.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 15:51:09
Thanks Ed, as always great info, some promising targets and departures. Is pope the only GK we are looking at with both ospina and cech leaving?

{Ed002's Note - Right now he is the most likely because Arsenal have too many GKs.}

4.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 16:08:04
Cheers Ed, I would be happy if we were able to get him, probably the best we can obtain knowing they are coming in as a back up.

{Ed002's Note - Right, there is Leno ahead of him.}

5.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 16:56:43
Ed every time you give a list it’s like arsenal can get none of their primary targets. Is that the case or not?

{Ed002's Note - Clubs have to work within their means. Arsenal are a side with a massive wage bill which cannot be ignored.}

6.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 17:03:31
Bennacer and David Neres are two names coming up a lot recently Ed, are we interested in either?

{Ed002's Note - Ismael Bennacer (DM) Napoli has shown an interest in Ismael Bennacer because they see their preferred otion of Bruno Guimaraes heading elsewhere. Arsenal already have Xhaka, Elneny and Torreira in the same position. As for Neres, Arsenal have looked at Ismaila Sarr, Cengiz Under, Nicolas Pepe (won't happen), Suso and Cristian Pavon - I would not put him in front of any of those which puts him down in sixth place for me.}

7.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 18:39:59
Eds do you think Reiss Nelson will comeback and look to regularly start at Arsenal? Does Emery like him? I feel anyone of the Wingers you mentioned will add to our squad depth and Reiss Nelson/ can be a menace coming off the bench.

{Ed002's Note - I would doubt it given the club are looking at numerous RW.}

8.) 16 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 18:49:16
They are stupid sometimes Ed aren’t they. Where do u think Umtiti will end up?

{Ed002's Note - Juventus will be offered the player for a lower price than Arsenal as part of some horse trading and may take the risk as they have an aging defence.}

9.) 17 Apr 2019
16 Apr 2019 21:58:53
What about Alaba ed or was that just newspaper nonsense.

{Ed002's Note - There have been no approaches for him at all Munich say.}

10.) 17 Apr 2019
17 Apr 2019 06:30:35
This was amazing. Thanks Ed.

11.) 17 Apr 2019
17 Apr 2019 10:17:36
Hi Ed,

Appreciate you putting the list up

However from the looks of things we are only interested in players we can't afford or who do not want to join us? Would it not make more sense to scout players we can realistically afford? Also regarding LBs, you said Tagliafico could be an option if Kolasinac were to leave - are there any reasons as to why Kalasinac would leave?

{Ed002's Note - Well Arsenal can afford Tagliafico but his club don't need the money so don't need to sell. Umtiti on a loan to buy would be an option; Ibrahima Konate is certainly affordable. Ever Banega is a player that UE likes and he is affordable. Again Brooks, Pavon, Perisic, Pavon, Troussard and Fraser are all affordable. Kolasinac has suggested a conspircay with an old Arsenal player over Tagliafico being of serious interest.}

12.) 17 Apr 2019
17 Apr 2019 11:21:07
Lovely stuff Ed002. The wages situation makes it quite clear we are looking at a 2 season job minimum in terms of restructuring.

Personally I'm at the stage where as long as we clear out Mustafi I'll consider it a good window!

13.) 29 Apr 2019
29 Apr 2019 01:15:00
Only a could leave for Lichtsteiner, Ed? Surprised not to see Teirney (? ) on that list too, I remember a lot of talk about him not long ago. Looks like a big rebuild in the summer.

{Ed002's Note - (a) Right, as I said Stephan Lichtsteiner could leave. (b) Arsenal are not one of the sides who have approached Celtic about Kieran Tierney and if that changes I will say. Right now I would not hold your breath.}