By Sir Hardly Anyone.
The total number of players tipped as coming to Arsenal by the all-knowing media is now over 120. And here are the top ten stories of the moment.
But a word of warning. They are not all true.
1: Nikola Maksimovic
Arsenal are set to battle Everton and Roma for the signing of Napoli’s £13 million contract-rebel Nikola Maksimovic.
Now this must be true because that actual phrase “Arsenal are set to battle Everton and Roma” turns up on The12thman, HITC, Flipboard and Daily Canon, while The Sun, Express and Talk Sport have managed to change the phrase just a little to show they are not copying but still running the same story.
2: James Rodriguez
Arsenal is one of the teams that are interested in signing Real Madrid midfielder, James Rodriguez, according to Marca, republished in Just Arsenal news
3: Gabriel Magalhaes
Arsenal have reportedly transfer-listed 10 players as they look to raise funds ahead of a deal for Lille defender Gabriel Magalhaes according to Team Talk. But Just Arsenal tell us that Man U have also made “a late move”. Sport Witness says that they’ve offered £22m.
Sky Sports have also backed this up by saying, ‘Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester United have been in touch with Gabriel’s representatives today. Lille centre back available for £22m. Arsenal favourites to sign him. Napoli trying to convince him to join them with last minute offer.’
Fresharsenal however quote the Times as saying that Gabriel had completed a medical on Thursday. Also Corriere Dello Sport is now quoted as confirming that he has signed with Arsenal.
The Mirror tells us that Sanllehi did not want Magalhaes and that might be why he left. Edu does want him however.
4: Houssem Aouar
“Mikel Arteta ‘building something interesting’ at Arsenal as Houssem Aouar deal talked up” according to the Express, although they compare the player to “villain Samir Nasri.” There are further negotiations ongoing says the Daily Canon.
5: Philippe Coutinho
“Reported Arsenal target Philippe Coutinho has told The Mirror that he is not thinking about his future right now,” but then many players don’t seem to do much thinking.
6: 10 transfer listed players
So who are these ten players now being talked up as ready to move on to other lock down areas? The general chit chat is Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Rob Holding Shkodran Mustafi and Calum Chambers are all on the way out.
We know that Konstantinos Mavropanos has already joined VfB Stuttgart on a season-long loan.
The Times also believes four midfielders have been added to the transfer list: Matteo Guendouzi, Lucas Torreira, Mohamed Elneny and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Plus two forwards: Alexandre Lacazette and Reiss Nelson. Which actually makes 11, unless I miscounted.
7: Federico Bernadeschi
His name turns up in Just Arsenal who report that the Juventus striker is the player who is coming in to replace Lacazette. He can play as a winger or attacking midfielder. Although the word “striker” might be a bit inaccurate. He has scored 7 goals in 79 games for Juventus.
8: Morgan Sanson
FoLo, that laugh a minute knock about show say that the Marseille midfielder is interested in coming to the Emirates Stadium. Mind you I’m also interested in coming to the Stadium but they won’t let me in.
9: Thomas Lemar
Thomas Lemar’s wages are making it almost impossible for Atletico Madrid to sell the reported Everton and Arsenal target, according to Marca and HITC. But his name is still bandied around.
10: The Line Up
And finally, Arsenal FC Blog deserve serious commendations for being (as far as I have seen) the first place to give us a full line up for the first match of the season….
Martinez;
Luiz, Magalhaes, Tierney;
Bellerin, Xhaka, Aouar, Saka;
Aubameyang, Willian, Pepe
So there we have it. Not long to go now.
- Is Fifa now threatening the media’s future access to the world cup?
- Insane TV decision for new season should be knocking transfers off the back pages
- Signing Gabriel Magalhães: what’s the delay?
You forgot Gabriel from Lille. Must say he looks extremely promising, fingers crossed .
Apologies silly me , he’s up there . Note to self must read article more slowly in future. Still hope he comes.
Fantastic transfer interest supporting great ambition for the new season and the future. I wish arsenal success in every proposal, for we are looking forward to a great season ahead.
Of course, let us sell the whole team and buy another one.
It will only take the new players a few years to settle in, so by then then will be able to assist us to get out of the Championship.
If Arteta is really stupid enough to think that he can progress by buying lots of players and selling lots of players, then I suspect he is not the one for us.
If, on the other hand, all this talk is nonsense invented by who knows who then, let us simply ignore it and get on with things.