10 Jul 2024 09:41:17
Morning ed002, do Arsenal still have Toney as their first choice striker?

{Ed002's Note - Ivan Toney (S) Brentford do not want to sell but are aware Toney may look to move up a step and will reluctantly look to perhaps £70M as a sale price in the summer - but will likely not get anything close to that. It would be driven by situation which could see him run down his contract next season and leave as a Free Agent - so Brentford will seek a new cantract. Newcastle no longer offer the chance of a return to the club who previously could find no use for him in the three years he was there. Arsenal, Leeds, Manchester United, Spurs, Chelsea and West Ham have all sent scouts on more than one occasion to watch him prior to his ban, but Chelsea and Spurs have preferred options meaning West Ham, Arsenal or Manchester United are likely best placed to complete a transfer, lthough Spurs are struggling to sign their two preferred choices and may turn to him. Was first choice for Arsenal but that has disappeared as the price does not drop to perhaps £40M. Aston Villa are losing Duran and could look to him.}

1.) 10 Jul 2024
10 Jul 2024 11:03:19
Great info Ed, thanks. Do Arsenal have a ‘first choice’ forward option? Intrigued to know if we will go for a main striker or a wide forward.

{Ed002's Note - It probably looks like this right now:
Karim Adeyemi (LW/S) Versatile forward who has not regained his form since moving to Dortmund and has been rather inconsistant. Prior interest of Atalanta fhas gone. Offered to Chelsea, Arsenal, Spurs and Liverpool but each has preferred options. A wildcard might be Juventus as cover.
Jonathan David (S/AM) Lille, like many French clubs were hit hard by the loss of broadcast revenue and will need to sell some of their more valuable assets even though they do not want to. Jonathan David is valued by Lille at an unrealistic €60M. Napoli and Spurs no longer see him as a possible addition due to his price. Real Madrid have previously declared an interest but their focus has turned away as they wanted to include a player in any deal. He has been recommended to Chelsea by an ex player but the club have preferred targets - although his agent remains very keen on the move and remains in discussions with Chelsea. The Manchester United coach tried to take him to Ajax and could potentially look to taking him to Manchester United but I suspect that option will go if ten Hag departs. Aston Villa or Milan may offer a viable solution but the fee is a huge issue. A wildcard would be Brentford or Arsenal.
Ivan Toney (S) Brentford do not want to sell but are aware Toney may look to move up a step and will reluctantly look to perhaps £70M as a sale price in the summer - but will likely not get anything close to that. It would be driven by situation which could see him run down his contract next season and leave as a Free Agent - so Brentford will seek a new cantract. Newcastle no longer offer the chance of a return to the club who previously could find no use for him in the three years he was there. Arsenal, Leeds, Manchester United, Spurs, Chelsea and West Ham have all sent scouts on more than one occasion to watch him prior to his ban, but Chelsea and Spurs have preferred options meaning West Ham, Arsenal or Manchester United are likely best placed to complete a transfer, lthough Spurs are struggling to sign their two preferred choices and may turn to him. Was first choice for Arsenal but that has disappeared as the price does not drop to perhaps £40M. Aston Villa are losing Duran and could look to him.
Ollie Watkins (S) Agent is looking for options and has spoken with Arsenal.
Victor Osimhen (S) Napoli made it clear to Chelsea who enquired in 2021 that even €100M would not buy the player - but they do maintain an interest and he has been first choice and expect an offer to be made in the summer. Al Hilal may well have offered Napoli the €200M they were looking for, but that may not suit the player just yet. PSG and Real Madrid could look to him as an option but Madrid would want to offer players in exchange. He has signed a new contract and, at the behest of his agent, included a release clause. Arsenal have a preferred option and see the price as too high. There is a suggestion that Liverpool have negotiated directly with the player and his agent and not spoken to Napoli. Given Napoli registered a complaint against Liverpool over another player last year, it would seem unlikely, or particularly stupid. In the players hands next summer - may decide to stay but there will be a return from Michael Emanalo with a very good offer but I understand that Chelsea will inform Napoli that they will pay his €130M release clause in full in the summer.
Dusan Vlahovic (S) Only joined in January 2022 but financial issues that Juventus now have and goalscoring problems will determine that he is sold in the summer – but they will hold out for €70M. Regardless of his loss of form, there will be a lot of interest if he is and his agent has approached Manchester United, Chelsea and PSG. Real Madrid are also keen but, like Chelsea, have preferred targets. Chelsea were open to an exchange of players last summer but right now there is no push as his wage demands are seen as excessive and they will look to other targets first. PSG have him as a possible Mbappe replacement - but not first choice - but don't lose sight of them. As a wildcard, Arsenal may rekindle interest but would likely want to include players in any deal. Juventus have already drawn up a list of potential replacements and are working on those but a new contract on lower terms might suit them best.
Viktor Gyokeres (S) After only joining last summer Sporting have no interest in selling but fear a club could simply pay his €100M buy out clause in full and try to persuade him to move. Sporting fear Chelasea may do that and have avoided the subject during discussions over another player and a separate issue - and Chelsea has a preferred option. He has attracted scouts representing Manchester United, Spurs and Arsenal with Arsenal seeing him as an option to Toney. Spurs may offer a wildcard option but have a preferred option to effectively replace Kane which they failed to do last summer. Sporting are looking to a new contract and an increase in his buy-out clause. Injury will keep him out to probably mid to late July or so. Will likely stay.
Serhou Guirassy (S) No.
Benjamin Sesko (S/F) No.
Joshua Zirkzee (S) No.
Borja Mayora (S) No.
Artem Dovbyk (S) No.
Victor Boniface (S) No.
Karim Benzema (S) No.
Alexander Isak (S) No.}

2.) 10 Jul 2024
10 Jul 2024 12:40:19
Wow thanks so much ed002, that's brilliant!