Number of players tipped to be signing for Arsenal this summer reaches 101

by Sir Hardly Anyone

Journalists who announce transfer rumours as the truth, researched by themselves through utlilising their deep rooted set of contacts are, in my view, not to be trusted as far as I could throw them, and I am a poor thrower of people, lacking both distance and control.

These fellas have cold, clammy, accusing eyes which give out a disapproving gaze intended to make you feel you’ve just thrown up in front of a minor royal if you ever dare contradict them face to face.  They are an unnecessary product of the type of entity that the cat is likely to bring in through the cat flap just after you have washed the kitchen floor.

They are the caterpillars in the salad, and they have thus far this summer come up with 101 players who will sign for Arsenal.  Here is a chart of their wild ramblings…

We have five new names on the list today (cunningly marked “New” and seven updates, marked, well I’ll let you guess.

No. Player From Source Information
1 Yacine Adli PSG Sport Review.  Talk Sport says the deal is certainly on for a mere £250,000.  Mirror says it is for sure. Barcelona Manchester City,  Bayern Munich and Juventus want him.  He’s a wonderkid.  All set to sign NOW (DZ)
2 Toby Alderweireld Tottenham Football London Man U interested.  FL urges urgent action
3 Marco Asensio  Real Madrid Guardian Liverpool will pay up to £131m, Chelsea also keen.
4 Álvaro Odriozola

Arzallus

Real Sociedad Football London Mainly right back can also play on the wing
5 Leon Bailey Bayer Leverkusen Talk Sprout; Football London Cost £100m, he’s a winger or a midfielder who gives assists.  Chelsea more likely
6 Mario Balotelli Nice Football London (who else?), Mirror, La Gazetta dello Sport “He’s rebuilt his reputation in France”
7 Ever Banega Sevilla Daily Star, 101 Great Goals, Estadio Deportivo and Sports Keeda, agent spotted.   €20 million release clause Argentine player, central midfield
8 Mehdi Benatia Juventus Sport Review.  He’s a 31 year old centre back.  The manager wants him. Dortmund are the rivals
9 Jack Butland Stoke The Sun, 101 Great Goals Liverpool also after this keeper
10 Karim Benzema Real Mad EPR Scouts, Football Transfer Tavern, Diario Gol, Deal agreed £35m.  No €60 million,
11 Emre Can Liverpool Fourth Official Liverpool won’t give him an extension
NEW Matteo Cardinali Roma Tuttomercatoweb, Mirror, Express A 17 year old keeper.
13 Jasper Cillessen Barcelona Mundo Deportivo, Daily Cannon A keeper.
14 Doucoured Watford Football London Play next to Ramsey to bring “much needed brawn and steel to a weak midfield.”
15 Ousmane Dembele Barcelona (joined from Dortmund for £96m) Express, Don Balon, Arsenal News, Gunnersphere, Telefoot Swap deal with Bellerin even though we don’t need any more forwards and he is injury prone, but is a friend of Aub’s. Says he’s not moving
16 Kerem Demirbay Hoffenheim TalkSport. Liga Financial, Star, AFC Fever Midfielder, AFC price agreed, Liverpool want him. Price agreed
17 Leander Dendoncker Anderlecht Fourth Official Defensive midfield, creative midfield…
18 Abdoulaye Doucoure Watford Hertfordshire Mercury Goalkeeper.  Watford want to keep him. Tots want him
19 Johnny Evans WBA Daily Mirror, Football London He’s the key man we need. £3m from WBA if they go down. FL just reignited the story in early June.
20 Nabil Fekir Olympique Lyonnais Mail.  Football London Arsenal’s number 1 target; attacking midfield. FL says maybe Liverpool
Update Fellaini Man U Sport Witness, HLN, Read Arsenal. He’s a midfielder and he’s 30.  No we “were never close!”
NEW Junior Firpo Real Betis Sports Review. A young replacement for Monreal for £22m
NEW Marcelo Flores Ipswich Mirror, Express The new wonderkid
24 Emil Forsberg RB Leipzig Sportwitness and Calcio Mercato.  £47m. A replacement for Alexis Sanchez.  He’s going to be the first signing
25 Fred Shakhtar Gibfootballshow Arsenal to get him for £30m
26 Willem Geubbels Lyon Football London 16 years old forward, Barce, Leipzig and Chelsea also want him
27 Alex Grimaldo Benfica Read Arsenal Left back. Man U, PSG & Monaco fancy him
28  Jose Gimenez Atletico Madrid Marca, TalkSport, SportsReview £53m but no sooner is it announced than we are set to miss out on him.  That hardly seems fair
29 Alexander Golovin CKSA Moscow Football London.  Arsenal AFC blog.  Emery has urged AFC hierarchy to get him.   “Emery sanctions €25m move for World Cup star”.  But Arsenal Mania say the price has just doubled Midfielder. One of the players we must buy before the WC
30 Goncalo Guedes PSG Liga Financial PSG must sell because of FFP, Arsenal have announced interest
31 Kai Havertz Bayer Leverkusen Metro, Mail, Tribal Football AFC and Liverpool want him.  Midfielder; B,L’s youngest ever player
32 Dean Henderson Man U; Shrewsbury Mirror, Football London
NEW Hector Herrera Porto Mirror Midfielder, £15m
34 Ahmed Hegazi West Brom Transfer Tavern Defender
35 Lorenzo Insigne. Napoli  CalcioMercato.it.  Football fancast An attacker, aged 26, Italian international
36 Jakub Jankto Udinese Teamtalk It’s either Arsenal or AC Milan
37 Jorginho Napoli Hot Stepanovs Faster and smaller than Xhaka
38 Lukas Kolstermann Leipzig Bild says yes but Football Fancast says no Full back; can play left and right
39 Kalidou Koulibaly Napoli Daily Mirror, Gunnersphere, Guardian, Corriere Dello Sport, Tribal Football Centre back; top priority, Chelsea, Man C and Liverpool want him
40 Layvin Kurzawa PSG Sportsmole, the Week, To replace Bellerin
41 Alban Lafont Toulouse Arsenal Mania, Daily Canon Goalkeeper, Boyhood supporter of Arsenal.  “Set to leave”.  But he’s only 19.
42 Thomas Lemar Monaco ArsenalNewsHQ; Mirror; TalkSport. Star, Different League Deal confirmed; has rejected a new contract. All go!!!  Or he has “become available”
43 Stephan Lichtsteiner Juventus Just about everywhere SIGNED.  Right back, available free, he’s 34 and he will be the first signing.  “It’s done” (Football London)
44 Matthias De Ligt Ajax Football London, Mirror Centre back; Tots and Man C also want him.  Has handed in a transfer request
45 Bernd Leno Bayer Leverkusen Football London, Daily Express (they are certain), Bild A keeper available for just £22m.  The story has popped up again after a month of silence.He will be first signing.
46 Diogo Leite Porto A Bola (which is a Portuguese “outlet” not a virulent disease; Guardian Centre back
47 Stanislav Lobotka Celta de Vigo Arsenal Fever He’s 23, a defensive midfielder
48 Joel Lopez Barcelona Sports Lens: Arsenal have agreed the deal 21 year old left midfield
49 Lozano PSV Sport 360, Arsenal mania Winger who can cut inside
50 James Maddison Norwich Mirror, Sport Review, Birmingham Mail says it is about to happen Midfield playmaker; Tottenham, Everton, Brighton Southampton & Man C also want him
51 Harry Maguire Leicester Sky Sports Centre half.  Man U also want him.
52 Malcolm Bordeaux FootballBible, Sport Review, Gunnerspheree, Football London Winger; everyone is interested; he says he goes in the summer.  But might go to China.  No will play in a 3 man line behind the number 9.
53 Gelson Martins Sporting Lisbon “Arsenal fail with £26m bid to sign Sporting Lisbon star” Metro, Read Arsenal, Foot London.  Later reports say cost is £52m! HITC says Everton wants him.   He’s a winger.  WHU & Lazio want him too
54 Joao Mario Inter on loan at WHU Fourth Official Midfield, and said to love London
55 Lautaro Martinez  Racing Club de Avellaneda Gunnersphere Striker.  Inter have offered €20million
56 Anthony Martial Man U Sun, 4th Official Signed by United from AC Monaco in 2015, the £75.7m
57 Alex McCarthy Southampton Football London Goalkeeper.
Update Max Meyer Schalke 04. Football London, Daily Canon, Guardian, Talk Sport, Express.  Contract ends this season.  FL still talking it up.  No, wages demands to high. Attacking midfield or playmaker. Liverpool battling with Arsenal  New Santi Cazorla
59 Radja Nainggolan Roma The Sun, Gunnersphere He’s a powerhouse midfielder and will cost £45m
60 Keylor Navas Real Madrid Don Ballon, HITC, A goalkeeper looking for work.  He’s 31
61 Robert Navarro Barcelona Daily Mail, Canon He’s 15 and plans to leave on his 16th birthday.  Arsenal have made an offer
62 Wilfred Ndidi Leicester Mad About PL, Goonertalk, African Football, Sun Midfielder, Man U want him too
63 Saul Niguez At Madrid Mirror, Arsenal Station £130m will get him.  Midfielder
64 Stephen N’Zonzi Sevilla Football London Def midfield.  In March FL had him “jetting to London) now they are not so sure.  Maybe he got lost.
65 Abulkadir Omur Trabzonspor Turkish football says Ozil recommends him Central midfield
66 Oguzhan Ozyakup Besiktas Mail.  Football London says Wenger obsessed the transfer Arsenal to bring back their ex-player at the end of his contract
67 Cristan Pavon Boca Juniors. Mirror says WHU want him, Sports Mole says we are close We’ve already held talks.  He’s 22, a forward
68 Danilo Pereira Porto O Jogo Defensive midfield, currently injured
69 Lucas Perez AFC loaned to Deportivo Sports Keeds and FootLond report that he will return to Arsenal and be given a chance He played 35 times on loan for  Deportivo La Coruña
70 Dennis Praet Sampdoria Football London says one we we must have him, next week no.  AFC have had talks.  Release clause £22m Attacking midfielder, 24 years old
71 Pablo Moreno Barcelona Mundo Deportivo He’s 15 and his contract runs out at the end of the season
72 Jan Oblak Atletico Mad FootballBible; Gibfootballshow, Star Goalkeeper also wanted by Chelsea and Liverpool.  100m euros.  At Mad “expect him to leave”
73 Panagiotis Retsos Bayer Leverkusen Goal, 4th official Greek South African defender
74 Ivan Rakitic Barcelona Star Attacking midfield
75 Rodrigo Valencia Fotomac, Football Fancast Selling Lacazette to buy him.  He’s a 27 year old winger
76 Sergio Rico Sevilla Football London Goalkeeper; won the Europa twice
Update Sokratis Papastathopoulos Borussia Dortmund Birmingham Live, Gazzetta dello Sport, Football London, Evening Standard, Read Arsenal.  Hatchet job from Pain in the Ars.  L’Équipe says it is done.  Lots of sites now saying it is all done.  Metro says Kos is leaving to make way.  Goal and Arsenal Fever report no deal is done Man U, Juventus, Chelsea interested in 29 year old defender.  Arsenal now favourites.  He’s going to be 1st signing.  Final details being arranged.  “This week”.  It’s agreed!
78 Adrien Rabiot PSG Football Lond spotted him at London Colney Defensive midfield; 1 year left on contract
79 Richarlison Watford EPL Scouts, 4th Official Forward, Chels & Tots also; Arsenal miss out & Arsenal to hijack deal, both on same site!!!
80 Daniele Rugani Juventus Whoscored Defender.  Agent confirms
81 Morgan Sanson Bordeaux Express says we are fighting Tottenham for this player 23 years old, midfielder
NEW Son Heung-min Tottenham Sport 365, Foot London Man U also chasing
83 Jean-Michael Seri Nice Mentioned on Arsenal.com.  From the Mirror and Metro, Star, Mail, Standard, Hard Tackle Midfielder but Arsenal have been too slow and Chelsea have got him, just as they lost out last window.
84 Bassem Srarfi Nice Foot Lond – but they changed their mind. Winger or midfielder.  He’s 20.  Going to Leicester?
85 Andre Silva Milan Mad about EPL Attacking midfield “sensation” but failed to show his attributes this year.  Wolverhampton also interested.
86 Chris Smalling Man U Daily Canon, Sport 360, Daily Star, Guardian £25m will get him
87 Caglar Söyüncü Freiburg Football Whispers, Arsenal Station, Sky Sports, Telegraph, Talksport, The Sun, ESPN, 100 Great Goal  Price about £35m.  Football Talk & Daily Express confirms he wants to join AFC Central midfield.  Liverpool, Man C, Dortmund “in race”.  He wants a guarantee of 1st team footie. He’s going to be the first signing
88 Anderson Talisca Benfica on loan to Besiktas O Jogo Brazilian attacking midfield
89 Kieran Tierney Celtic Football London Left Back
90 Corentin Tolisso Bayern Foot Lond Bayern bought him last year for €40 million.  Now Arsenal are buying him for €60 million. No!
Update Lucas Torreira Sampdoria TuttoMercatoWeb, Sport Review, the Metro, Calciomercato Sampdoria, the Express, Daily Star – deal about to happen A defensive midfielder and he’s going to be first.   Next week (that was 2 weeks ago).  No it is off! Calcio Insider
92 Cengiz Ünder Roma Tuttomercato; he’s a goalscoring winger £26m offered £40m demanded
93 Josha Vagnoman Hamburg ESPN (2nd youngster player in the German league ever) Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton all want him
Update Lucas Vazquez Real Madrid Metro says he is after more games, only got 16 last year.  Sports Lens says AFC willing to meet salary demand Right winger, earns £7m a year.  26 years old.  Soccer Souls says we must not sign him!
95 Timo Werner Leipzig Arsenal mania, Sun 21 year old who has scored a multitude of goals
96 Ben Wilmot Stevenage Sportsmole, Gunnersphere. The 72 18 year old played a dozen or so games.  Totts also interested. Price is £2m
97 Jack Wilshere Arsenal Evening Standard saying he will not sign new contract until his playing position is defined by manager.  Confirmed as going Obviously he’s was ours but some sites treated him as a poss signing
98 Wilfried Zaha Crystal Palace Liga Financial Arsenal making a bid of £25m
99 Cristian Zapata Milan Giants Football News Defender
100 Piotr Zielinski Napoli The Mirror Midfielder: “An essential signing”
101 Andrija Zivkovic Benfica Football Facts, The Record, EatSleepSportArsenalStation, Telegraph, Giants, Tribal Football, Sport Witness 21 year old striker. Man U also want him  Price is £52m

 

 

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