The Rumour Mill, who do you want/think your club will sign/sell this summer

[Dtab]

I heard about Ronaldo and Guily to Liverpool

Doubt we can afford Guily,but would be good.The one reason a Ronaldo deal could be feasible is he shouldn't be 'that' expensive and Rafa's a tightwad when it comes to transfers - doubt we'll see a £10m+ deal again for some time.Which is no bad thing when you look at our previous £10m+ signings

 

[Gooner14]

Henry is off to Barcelona. FACT*

*Not a fact.

Cheater

 

[Weebull]

On a serious note though, and since HangTime pretty much nailed every point I was thinking of making:

-Arsenal look at buying a quality centrehalf, Keown hasn't been properly replaced yet. In the event that Campbell cannot rediscover his form and fitness I think an strong experienced parter for Toure would be good. Relying on Senderos is not an option because the only backup really is Cygan and Djourou. If we can bring someone in I'd like to see Cygan sold.

I don't think anyone would object to Cygan being sold, but I'm not sure who we'd bring in. I think Toure and Senderos should be our starting pair from now on, and Djourou seems good enough for a backup role. So really we need just one more central player to replace Fat Sol whether he goes or not. Realistically though, we're not going to find many fantastic central defenders that will be happy being third choice though, so I'd expect a typical Wenger gem there.

-Possibility of Cole joining Madrid for around the £10-12m mark. A bargain for Madrid but unfortunately I think Cole hasn't won himself many friends at Highbury over the last 15 months or so and is perhaps seeking a move to a club that will pay him a better wage. Slim chance of him moving to Chelsea although that will likely involve a higher fee of £16m. The emergence of Clichy means that selling him wouldn't be overly damaging to Arsenal's first team.

I've said it before, but for some reason I just can't see Cashley actually going this summer. He's had several transfer window chances to leave since the Chelsea scandal, and he's still here, so I get the feeling he'll still be an Arsenal player next season. He might be a money-grabbing git, but he's still a fantastic player, and a great asset.

-Lehmann
-Henry

Agree on point one, disagree on point two.

-Hopefully Wenger will resist the temptation to bring in more tricky forwards/wingers. We have plenty of them even with the sale of Quincy and Bentley and despite Pires poentially departing.

Actually, I think wingers is something we're lacking in now. With Pires possibly leaving, the sale of Quincy, the decline in form of Ljundberg, and the probability (from what Wenger has said) of Walcott playing up front, I think we're actually a bit short on the sides now. The only other names not above are Reyes and Hleb, and the latter is still getting to grips with actually playing out there. So imo we could do with at least one more winger to come in and flesh out the ranks a bit.

-Depending on how he rates Song I suppose there is the potential for a squad player to be signed in central midfield. Beyond Gilberto and Fabregas nobody has really established themselves yet although presumably it is hoped Diaby will be the longterm replacement for Silva.

A new central midfielder is still my main consideration though. As good as Gilberto has been recently, I think it's been from the CL games mainly. He doesn't seem to play well when we get in those nasty physical games with the likes of Bolton, Blackburn, ManU, etc, which is exactly when you need a strong defensive mid the most really. So someone decent to come in and push for the main spot (thus forcing Bert to play better in response) would be perfect. Diarra maybe, or apparently Kolo's brother is a bit decent there.

 

[PinkFloyd]

Yeh I had heard the Liverpool move for Ronaldo rumour before, still don't take much belief in it, personally I am worried he could be another Morientes to an extent. A once great striker thats past his prime, although in Ronnie's case he isn't that far past in and was a much better player than Morientes ever was as far as I am concerned.
I'd like his to get a good solit right midfielder too, don't like us having to play Gerrard there.

 

[Davey_Pitch]

The trouble is Everton get linked with every striker out there. I just hope we actually sign one.


A good one.

Yup, we need another good striker to put pressure on Beattie and McFadden. Both have played well in recent months (though not always at the same time), but we need a 3rd quality striker to bring on to change things around.

I can see Gravesen returning to Everton for roughly what we let him go for, but not being anywhere near as good as he was when he left. With Birmingham down I hope we make a bid for Pennant, and I can see us making a move for Mikel Forssell as well (which is fine as long as he stays fit).

 

[Gooner14]

Not really sure what Arsenal will be doing in the summer. Here's some possibilities and/or things I'd like to happen:

-Bergkamp and Pires will let their contracts expire and leave.
-Arsenal look at buying a quality centrehalf, Keown hasn't been properly replaced yet. In the event that Campbell cannot rediscover his form and fitness I think an strong experienced parter for Toure would be good. Relying on Senderos is not an option because the only backup really is Cygan and Djourou. If we can bring someone in I'd like to see Cygan sold.
-Possibility of Cole joining Madrid for around the £10-12m mark. A bargain for Madrid but unfortunately I think Cole hasn't won himself many friends at Highbury over the last 15 months or so and is perhaps seeking a move to a club that will pay him a better wage. Slim chance of him moving to Chelsea although that will likely involve a higher fee of £16m. The emergence of Clichy means that selling him wouldn't be overly damaging to Arsenal's first team.
-Lehmann only has one year left on his contract so at some point we need to start sniffing about for a replacement. Poum is getting on a bit now and Almunia isn't good enough, so we should be looking at players like Shay Given or perhaps a slightly younger, established keeper from abroad.
-Failure to qualify for next season's Champions League could see Henry considering a move. He'll only have a year left on his contract so he will be in a strong position to engineer a move abroad to e.g. Barcelona. The only saving grace is that being one of the world's best players he should command a reasonable transfer fee even with only a year left. He says he plays to sort out his future before the world cup which should give us sufficient time to sort out a replacement, e.g. Torres.
-Hopefully Wenger will resist the temptation to bring in more tricky forwards/wingers. We have plenty of them even with the sale of Quincy and Bentley and despite Pires poentially departing.
-Depending on how he rates Song I suppose there is the potential for a squad player to be signed in central midfield. Beyond Gilberto and Fabregas nobody has really established themselves yet although presumably it is hoped Diaby will be the longterm replacement for Silva.

Some interesting points.

I've never know someone to take as long as Cygan has to recover from a hamstring injury!

I don't think we'll be after any fullbacks even if Cole or Ralph go with Gilbert, Eboue, Clichy, Flamini and Djourou.

A CB of some desciption would be great, a sort of Gallas type player who can play across the whole back line.

No to Torres, he's crap.

Song is the worst player to wear an Arsenal shirt since Gus Caesar. FACT *

*really a fact.

 

[Ripper]

- Darren Fletcher asks for the Captains arm band
- And gets it

haha made me laugh, along with the "Shoot Traore" comment

hopefully Smith is available ASAP and comes back without a problem. Ronaldo gets kick up ther backside and fergie signs some DECENT MIDFIELDERS. Premiership proven midfielders preferably, boa morte/scott parker would do the trick i reckon. Might not seem "high profile" but players like that are just what utd need.

 

[daz.wallace]

I heard about Ronaldo and Guily to Liverpool

I have heard this a few times as well, doubt either will happen though.

As for a right winger, wont speedy's work permit be sorted for next season?

new left back and a decent striker would do me

selling Traore to the bluenoses would be the icing on the cake

 

[memphisto]

Man Utd

We sell

Fletcher, fortune, silvestre.

Everyone else stays and we sign at least 2 quality Central midfielders, gattuso and Ballack would be great but dont think we would get either.

 

[Pigeon_Killer]

As for a right winger, wont speedy's work permit be sorted for next season?

All I've heard from Benitez is that he hopes it will be sorted during the summer. I thought he was bought as cover for Kewell so assumed he was to be played on the left.

 

[memphisto]

pretty sure he is a right winger.

 

[IceBus]

Do you think we could get Scott Parker though? I think he'd fit in well at Man Utd and he's a very talented player imo.

 

[memphisto]

be the third time ive said we should sign him, should have got him before he went to chelsea was perfect replacement for keano imho.

Then said we should have signed him last summer when he went to newcastle.

would love to see him at Man Utd though i would rate it happening as doubtful at best.

 

[Dtab]

All I've heard from Benitez is that he hopes it will be sorted during the summer. I thought he was bought as cover for Kewell so assumed he was to be played on the left.

Nah,we got Zenden to cover for Kewell,so its a good job Harrys come good (better at least ) Gonzalez is on the right,but afaik can be a striker too.

 

[Vandle]

Some good posts in here

Arsenal have been sniffing around young zog , hes been offered a 3 year contract yesterday - whether this is a result of the intrest or just his agent trying to get him the deal is moot point , I just hope he signs it.
I think Owen will spend next season with us despite what many have predicted.
Shay Given has been offered a new contract too , again we need to hold onto him - by my reckoning he has earned us more points than Alan Shearer this season and has without doubt been our player of the year.
Kieron Dyer has gone to see the magical Richard Steadman in the US to help him with his injury.
Hopefully he will tell him his carreer is over and we cash in the insurance policy on him , then we can execute him and hang his dismembered burning corpse from the gallowgate end of St James Park.

I would love to see the back of Amdy Faye - THE worst player I have seen play for Newcastle.
I think Milner will sign for Villa , hopefully we can hold out and get a decent fee for him.
Luque will hopefully be on his way back to Spain but I very much doubt we will even get half of the £10m we payed for him.
Likewise for Boumsong.
And Babbayaro.
And Butt.
And Bowyer.
And Carr.

Hopefully Elliott and Clark will not be offered new contracts.

We need a striker , a centre half , 2 fullbacks and a central midfielder just to compete where we were a few years ago.

In terms of rumours Ive heard loads including the return of Bellamy and Jonathon Woodgate on a pay as you play type contract , which would please me no end.
The savings on Shearers wages alone would finance 2 or 3 players.

Of course , we dont have a manager in place yet and we are skint.
Regardless of this I fully expect a hollywood signing from Shepherd to pull himself out the clarts once again after a disapointing summer.
Ronaldo or Torres my money would be on.

 

[BaZ87]

Nah,we got Zenden to cover for Kewell,so its a good job Harrys come good (better at least ) Gonzalez is on the right,but afaik can be a striker too.

Gonzalez is 100% left sided and he will be getting a spanish passport this summer so won't need a work permit (which he can get now Chile have improved in the Fifa rankings).Don't know why your all so desperate for a LB, we've got Riise who i think has been excellent this year (suppose we may need cover, as we can't rely on Traore or Warnock) and Fabio Aurelio (Valencia) looks nailed on to join on a free. We need a RM, 2 strikers(presuming both Nando and Cisse leave), 1 high profile (Torres or Villa would be nice) and 1 cheaper and possibly another CM, as i'll be suprised if Didi stays after the lack of games he's had.
Should be interesting to see how much cash Rafa gets, rumours say he will get £15m + sales, but if we get the investment sorted it may be as much as £40

 

[Gooner14]

Kieron Dyer has gone to see the magical Richard Steadman in the US to help him with his injury.

Did you see today Dyer admitted he wouldn't play again this season and would miss the World Cup!!! What does his TV licence expiring have to do with his injury

I would love to see the back of Amdy Faye - THE worst player I have seen play for Newcastle.

I raise you Song who is worse that Faye. Song is worse than his Uncle Rigobert. Thats saying something

 

[Randell Floyd]

I can see Andrei Shevchenko leaving Milan due to the fact over the last two seasons, this one in particular he's slowly loosing 'that thing' that made him the number one striker in the world ( bar the 25 stone goal a season Ronaldo that is! ) and he and Milan will benefit from taking the riches of Roman at this stage of Milans and Andreis path.

But I do belive he might be 80% of what Chelsea where missing this season, a 30 goal a season striker with lethal qualitys ( oh and of course, a striker that doesn't model himself of doing a Klinsmann ) and with the money they have would be a worthy buy and it's seems none of the top 5 world strikers are remotly interested in moving to Russias finest football team.



Ruud? To be honest it's time to sell if we get a decent offer. He might score a lot of goal, but I belive he chokes the side and has a negative effect on out team play, and at 29 he isn't young. With his sale and the millions already pledged I would be looking at one of the top ten players in the positions we need replacing.

On the striker front with Ruud gone?
From all the games I've seen Rossi play, and he's now scoring for fun, it's time he played with Rooney on the big stage, the lad can do everything from running with the ball, holding the ball and his shooting is a class above. Give him a season or two and he'll come on leaps and bounds with the big boys, infact I believe he has the skill to become the worlds best striker if he improves the level he has been, and builds a little boy mass.


edit:

Also SAF needs to be slapped with a wet kipper and get rid of all the 23yo+ baggae that we seem to be carrying with the likes of Fletcher, Silvestre ( worse left back in the history of the non league ) and let the new batch of kids in instead of dominating the reserve leage and touring the states!

 

[5ingh]

fortunes contract expires in the summer. manutd ain't renewing his contract

 

[Vandle]

Did you see today Dyer admitted he wouldn't play again this season and would miss the World Cup!!! What does his TV licence expiring have to do with his injury



I raise you Song who is worse that Faye. Song is worse than his Uncle Rigobert. Thats saying something

Yeah I saw him , he's deluded man.
Mind you , giving him a bumper 5 year £80k per week contract by the last manager would inflate his ego a bit.

Faye is worse and this is why:- When Rednapp discovered him and brought him over for a trial he gave him a false name because he was so good and he was afraid of other teams snatching him away.
And that my friend , is FACT.