By Sir Hardly Anyone
The idea of many bloggers and journalists is that there is no real planning going on by Arsenal when it comes to transfers. All this business about having thousands of hours of video recordings which are analysed by computers and then people to find exactly the right player – that all counts for nought.
Instead the story we are told is that Arsenal get interested in a player, the story is leaked and then suddenly Manchester United, alerted to the fact that Arsenal want him, come in and offer more, seemingly having not bothered to think about the player before.
Arsenal however are never accused of hijacking purchases, rather Arsenal is always the victim. But as a result of the hijacks they go rushing from one player to another to buy someone, anyone, because the media tells them, they were rubbish last year.
In reality the whole thing is nonsense – talk to anyone inside the business and you’ll find that months and months of research and planning go on through the season, discreet enquiries are made with the club, permission to discuss with the player’s agent is gained, and then the negotiators set to work.
It makes for a bit of a dull story, so the bloggers write in with their fanciful tales – such as Sport Witness telling us the deal with Nuno Tavares is done, only to tell us that “Brighton in late attempt to snatch” the player, while two different sites say he has had his medical, but can’t agree on which country that was done in.
Or consider the Locatelli saga Arsenal make offer. Juventus leading (HITC). Arsenal set to miss out (Shoot). Bid launched. (F365). 40m Euro offer.AFC have not made a bid (Sports Mole)
And “Spotted at the airport” is back too. But the big news is, we’ve reached 100, in record time.
| No | Player | Current club | Position | Reported by |
| 1 | Patrick van Aanholt | Released by Palace | Left Back | HITC; Hardtackle. Backup for Tierney |
| 2 | Max Aarons | Norwich | Full back | Daily Express |
| 3 | Abdul Abdulmalik | Millwall | Forward | Mail. Swansea have made a bid. Express says Millwall trying to hold him |
| 4 | Tyler Adams | Leipzig | Midfield | FoLo |
| 5 | Tosin Adarabioyo | Fulham | Centre back | Daily Express. Just £10m (Daily Cannon) until 1 month before new season. Top Flight: Arsenal interested. Centre back£10m release clause. The Athletic |
| 6 | Amine Adli | Toulouse | Forward | TBR: Leicester also interested. Player has rejected new contract. SportWitness, no he’s staying put. |
| 7 | Yuri Alberto | Inter | Forward | 20 year old Brazilian. Inter need the money |
| 8 | Joachim Andersen | Lyon | Centre back | Replacement for David Luiz. £20m. FFC. |
| 9 | Houssem Aouar | Lyon | Midfield | Football.London (FoLo). Negotiations at advanced stage |
| 10 | Loic Bade | Lens | Defender | Boot Room. £22m Leeds also want. |
| 11 | Folarin Balogun | Arsenal academy | Striker | All Nigeria Soccer says he is in the party going to USA for pre-season. |
| 12 | Dominico Beradi | Sassuolo | Winger | €50million (Arsenal Fever). |
| 13 | Nicolo Barella | Inter Milan | Centre midfield | Anfield Central |
| 14 | Andrea Belotti | Palermo | Striker | Man U, Liverpoool, Chelsea, Everton also interested. 101 great goals |
| 15 | Sander Berge
|
Sheffield Utd | Midfield | HITC; Express – he was seen out with Odegaard, Arsenal not willing to pay the asking price. Caught offside: Price dropped. VG says Arsenal interested, so does FoLo. Insidefutbol says AFC not willing to pay the price asked. Caught Office: Arsenal reaching agreement. |
| 16 | Ryan Bertrand | Southampton | Left back | Mirror |
| Update | Yves Bissouma | Brighton | Midfield | Africa Football, Express, TBR, HITC, FoLo. No he’s going to Liverpool (Express) – it’s a swap deal with Nketiah. “Fans in meltdown” FoLo. He’s wanting a move (Rousingthekop). Anfield Cental: Liverpool will regret this. £50m quoted. Star: AFC / Liverpool “head to head”. |
| 18 | Josip Brekalo | Wolfsberg | Winger | Just Arsenal |
| 19 | Emiliano Buendia | Norwich | Playmaker | Daily Mail, Metro, FL, Boot Room, Sportslens, HITC, TBR, Teamtalk, Telegraph, F365, FoLo, HITC. Told to forget AFC and sign for Villa (Birmingham Live). Arsenal have offered £35m (Star). Caught offside say its on. And HITC. No – he went to Villa |
| 20 | Hakan Calhanoglu | AC Milan | Midfield | Out of contract this summer. HITC – “exceptionally talented” |
| Update | Dominic Calvert-Lewin, | Everton | Forward | Express: Arsenal weighing up options. Hard Tackle: Arsenal “keeping tabs”. Man U trying to beat Arsenal. Football Talk, Sports Lens |
| 22 | Eduaro Camavinga | Rennes | Midfield | Will cost around €50million, Caught offside. TBR say he is compared to Vieira. HITC its on. SportsMole: he’s the main target. Arsenal tracking him (Mail). Caught Offside: Man U about to muscle in. 4th Official: Talented anchorman who can spray passes all around the park. |
| 23 | Luis Campos | Lille | Sporting director | Would handle transfers. Charlie Watts says good idea |
| 24 | Zeki Celik | Lille | Right back | Standard, Just Arsenal, Sports Lens, Sport Review Man U, Totts also interested. HITC say it would be a bargain fee. Mail says interest is still on. |
| 25 | Nathan Collins | Stoke City | Defender | Sun, TBR. (Arsenal buying an “uncompromising” Stoke defender????). The 72. |
| 26 | Jesus Corona | Porto | Right back or wing | Metro. Signing this week. HITC – he’s refusing to sign a new contract. Still a target (xpress) |
| 27 | Joaquin Correa | Lazio | Forward | TBR £30m. Offer is now Torreira plus cash (TBR). One offer rejected already |
| 28 | Philippe Coutinho | Barcelona | Midfield | Just Arsenal, FoLo: Arsenal will have to wait. Winterburn says “don’t”. Just Arsenal says Arsenal interested. Express says still on. Mirror says AFC want report on his injury. PSG have made a bid: The Lazalai. HITC: Arsenal make contact |
| 29 | Patson Daka | RB Salzburg | Striker | TBR Football; Leicester want him so Arsenal no chance Express |
| 30 | Moussa Dembele | Lyon (At. Madrid) | Striker | Daily Express, HITC. FoLo: “Fresh Arsenal links”. Just Arsenal: he can leave |
| 31 | Sergino Dest | Barcelona | Right back | Bleacher claims he has £343 million release clause. HITC says could be on at lower price! HITC now says it is on |
| 32 | Amadou Diawara | AS Roma | Defensive midfield | Moving to Arsenal as part of the Xhaka deal: Hard Tackle |
| 33 | Josh Doig | Hibs | Left back | The Scotsman. £5m. FoLo say Arsenal desperate to buy a new left back. |
| 34 | Oddsonne Edouard | Celtic | Striker | Daily Star. FoLo says Leicester and Milan want him. Now FoLo say he’s staying at Celtic! |
| Update | Nabil Fekir | Real Betis | Forward | HITC: wants to move to Arsenal. FoLo says it is on. TBR says he wants to join. Arsenal made an offer (Canon). Still on Team Talk, Just Arsenal. Star: bid far too low. 101 says most realistic transfer. Talks with player’s rep (TBR) |
| 36 | Ferreira | Grêmio | Winger | 23 years old (Caught offside) |
| 37 | Florian Grillitsch | Hoffenheim | Midfield | Only one year left on contract HITC |
| 38 | Matteo Guendouzi | Arsenal! | Midfield | He’s been in disgrace so long it seems like he’s already gone but Metro is saying he will be given a contract extension & return. Just Arsenal now re-running that story |
| 39 | Miguel Gutierrez | Real Madrid | Full Back | The Athletic; Hard Tackle |
| 40 | Achraf Hakimi | Inter Milan | Right Back | Daily Express, HITC |
| Update | Alexander Isak | Real Sociedad | Forward | The Athletic says Arsenal interested. HITC re-running it. And FoLo. Cesc says his the top man at the Euros. Others agree. HITC raving. Chelsea & Liverpool also want him. (Sports Mole). Tottenham also want him HITC. Arsenal met the asking price. Star agrees. Release clause £60m – Media Referee. Teamtalk: nearly there. HITC – price has just gone up. |
| 42 | Joan Jordan | Sevilla | Midfield | TBR says Sevilla don’t want to sell. |
| Update | Kaio Jorge | Santos | Forward | Wolverhampton also interested (Caught offside). Available on a free (HITC) |
| 44 | Kyle Joseph | Swansea | Forward | Wales online: Swansea, Rangers, Celtic also want him |
| 45 | Glen Kamara | Rangers | Midfield | Rangers News. Watford News says he’s going to Watford. |
| 46 | Jonjoe Kenny. | Everton | Right Back | Mail / TBR. We need a right back??? Celtic Star calls him “Celtic flop”. |
| 47 | Franck Kessie | AC Milan | Midfield | £42m (HITC). Arsenal out front (Mirror). Insidefutbol “Arsenal sniffing around” |
| 48 | Tenu Koopmeiners | AZ Alkmaars | Midfield | 23 year old playing for Netherlands |
| Update | Jules Kounde | Sevilla | Centre back | Daily Express, Star, HITC. Sports Mole says offer about to go in. TBR says Arsenal moving in. Express: Man U backing out. |
| 50 | Layvin Kurzawa | PSG | Left Back | Sport Witness |
| 51 | Tariq Lamptey | Brighton & Hove | Right back | Sky Sports News. TBR says still onf |
| Update | Manuel Locatelli | Sassulo (Serie A) | Midfield | Express: player will decide after Euros. £34m asked. Juventus also interested. Arsenal made offer. Juventus leading – HITC. Arsenal set to miss out (Shoot). FoLo: Bid launched. F365 – 40m Euro offer. FoLo he wants to go to Juventus. Offer made F365. AFC have not made a bid (Sports Mole; IB Times). Bid Made (Sports Witness – big offer) AFC in the lead (FFC) |
| Update | Albert Sambi Lokonga | Anderlecht | Midfield | Like Yaya Toure, better than Yves Bissouma. TBR says, could be available on the cheap. Henry recommends. Footballtalk says first bid rejected. TBR says transfer is inevitable. Metro says Arsenal have put bid in. AFC just £4m short (Athletic). Any moment, HITC. Fo Lo this week. Just Arsenal, Arsenal too slow. Canon – details of contract and salary. Shirt no discussed (Canon). Personal terms being discussed (Fresh Arsenal). Done (Team Talk). It will happen (HITC). The first transfer (Hard Tackle), Talks are on (ThisisFutbol). Not in Anderlecht pre-season (Daily Canon). Improved off (Mail Online) Only offering €15m with add ons (Sport Witness). New bid entered (365). Deal done (Football Fancast) |
| 54 | James Maddison | Leicester | Playmaker | Leicester Live. Chelsea also interested. Arsenal top of the list – £60m FoLo, TBR, Football Fancast, Hard Tackle He’ll have to demand transfers to get to Arsenal (Mercury). Arsenal giving up on other buys to get him. Was top target but now too expensive (Fansided). He’s top target (Express) |
| Update | Riyad Mahrez | Manchester City | Forward | Daily Mail, Leicester Mercury, Football London, Sport Review, TBR. AFC pushing forward to deal. HITC says he has announced he is not going. Mirror, ask make enquiry. Player is interested (Football Tavern) |
| 56 | Noussair Mazraoui | Bayern Munich | Right back | 101 great goals |
| 57 | Mert Muldur, | Sassuolo (Italy) | Full back | Can play left and right (Just Arsenal) |
| 5 | Neto | Barcelona | Goalkeeper | Caught Offside |
| 59 | Ruben Neves | Wolverhampton Wands | Midfield | Dail Mail: Wolv. wanting £41m; TBR “move is imminent”. Swap for Maitland Niles (Mirror). Arriving this week. Replacing Xhaka (HITC). No this week (which is the following week). F365. “A bad move” Agbonlahor |
| 60 | Martin Odegaard | Real Madrid | Midfield | Arsenal not offering enough. Mirror. HITC will stay at Madrid. Being offered in swap for Smith Rowe (sport Bible). Still a priority (Arsenal Fever). Arsenal out of it, going to Liverpool (Rousing) |
| 61 | Michael Olise | Reading | Midfield | All Nigerian Soccer |
| 62 | Andre Onana | Ajax | Keeper (banned for one year, reduced to 9 months on appeal) | Caught Offside, Mail, Telegraph. Mirror says Arsenal’s keeper coach prefers him to Leno for immediate change. Teleg says we’ll buy no matter what happens in court. Hard Tackle: deal close. HITC says he wants to join but Arsenal offer too low, Now say Arsenal are great fans. CAS has reduced his sentence to nine months (TBR). Inside Football says AFC to bid. Football Talk also. “Talks ongoing” Sports review. |
| Update | Paul Onuachu | Genk | Striker | Sport Witness. HITC: Watford and WHU interested. |
| 64 | Charlie Patino | Arsenal Academy | Defensive midfield | 17 year old. Maybe going to under 23s first. HITC |
| 65 | Rodrigo de Paul | Udinese | Attacking midfield | Caught offside. Liverpool and Leeds also looking. AFC late interest (caughtoffside). HITC. Daily Canon – he’s going to At Madrid |
| 66 | Alassane Plea | Borussia Monchengladbach | Attack | Express; Hard Tackle |
| 67 | Dennis Praet | Leicester | Midfield | Athletic, Express, Sport Review |
| Update | Aaron Ramsdale | Sheffield Utd | Goal | Last word, Sky Sport. HITC says price AFC offering is far too low. Caught offside: deal is on. Talks on (Canon), (Teamtalk, HITC). £20m+ (The72). Offer made (Mail) |
| 69 | Aaron Ramsey | Juventus | Midfield | Just Arsenal News says cash plus Bellerin will do it. Mirror says it is on. Mirror – its swap for Bellerin plus cash. Metro, he’s certainly leaving. Mad about says yes. TBR says deal back on. Mirror – AFC can’t afford wage demands |
| NEW | Sergio Ramos | Free agent (ex Real Madrid) | Centre back | AFC want him to lead the team (Express). AFC will hi-jack PSG move. (Sports mole; FoLo). Asked to be kept in touch (givemesport) |
| 71 | Ricardinho | Grêmio | Forward | 20 year old: Caught offside |
| 72 | Sergi Roberto | Barcelona | Full Back | Express: replacement for Bellerin |
| 73 | Emerson Royal | Real Betis loaned from Barcelona | Right back | Sport Witness; could happen this week (31 May). Not happening “despite relentless speculation”- HITC commenting on its own news coverage. |
| Update | Guido Rodriguez | Real Betis | Defensive midfield | HITC; Arsenal best placed TBR. AFC leading race, Just Arsenal. Price as gone up as others make offers Sportwitness. He wants Real Mad (TBR) |
| 75 | Kays Ruiz-Atil | PSG | Midfield | Just Arsenal News |
| 76 | Matt Ryan | Brighton | Goal | HITC: he wants first team football. Going to Celtic (Football Insider). Not Arsenal (Just Arsenal). Yes Arsenal (Football Insider)!!!! |
| 77 | Marcel Sabitzer | RB Leipzig | Midfield | FootballFancast. £15m. Just Arsenal. |
| Update | Renato Sanches | Lille | Midfield | Talks ongoing: TBR, HITC, TBR returns to subject saying Arsenal have made contact. Getting close (Eyefootball) |
| Update | Martin Satriano | Inter Milan | forward | Daily Mail, Tottenam, WHU, Everton all want him but he’s never played in the first team. Club anxious to sell (SportsLens). AFC hoping Inter financial problems will force sale (Canon) |
| 80 | Cadena Ser | Real Sociedad | Striker | The Athletic |
| Update | Andre Silva | Eintracht Frankfurt | Forward | Metro: Lacazette replacement; TBR contact made. Hammers News: AFC trying to take over the signing. Price discussed. Player informed (Sport Mole, Highbury House. Talks ongoing Football 365. Lacaz must go first Mirror. Offer made (Sports Review). AFC to miss out (HITC) |
| 82 | Manor Solomon | Shakhtar Donetsk | Winger | Football.London, HITC. “Looking for a house,” TBR. Arsenal put in bid. HITC. Bid expected (Caught offside). He’s the man they want (ditto) |
| Update | Raheem Sterling | Manchester City | Forward | Daily Mail, TBR. the Hard Tackle Cost £49m. Sport Review. HITC says Ferdinand says he’s unplayable. FoLo says he won’t go to Arsenal. Sun says it’s Arsenal. Mirror, enquiry made. He’s been offered to Totts. (HITC) |
| 84 | Wojciech Szczesny | Juventus | Goal | Sport Witness; Szczesny counts as home grown and that could be the key point. |
| 85 | Tiago Tomas | Sporting CP, Metro | striker | May not come as we don’t have Europe. 442: 60m euros agreed. But player refused Arsenal as they don’t play in Europe (TBR) |
| 86 | Edmond Tapsoba | Bayer Leverkusen | Centre back | HITC, Just Arsenal News (twice), Daily Cannon (may be too expensive). TeamTalk suggest it is on. FoLo – its £60m or nothing. Chelsea, Man U beating Arsenal. Sport Review Arsenal still keen. |
| Update | Nuno Tavares | Benfica | Left Back | Signing a five year contract. TBR, Metro, Sport Witness. HITC: he has a release clause of £75m. (What about Tierney???) Football Talk – its probably. He has signed: HITC; Foot-Talk. Happening 30 June TBR. Canon – it’s done. He’s had his medical, Sport Witness. No, Brighton want him (also Sport Witness). Medical done at Arsenal (Caught offside). No, it was Lisbon (Canon) (SportWit). He’s in London (Mirror). Arteta has called him (HITC). Medical passed (Just Arsenal). Spotted at the airport (HITC) |
| NEW | James Tavernier | Rangers | Right back | 90min. |
| 89 | Ivan Toney | Brentford | Forward | Brentford say no. |
| 90 | Pau Torres | Villareal | Centre back | Football London |
| 91 | Kieran Trippier | Atletico Madrid | Right back | Star |
| 92 | Samuel Umtiti | Barcelona | Centre Back | Express says Barcelona are having a fire sale |
| 93 | Cengiz Under | Roma | Right wing | HITC: In exchange for Xhaka |
| 94 | Donny van de Beek | Man U | Midfield | TBR |
| 95 | Vanderson | Grêmio | Right back | 19 year old Brazilian. HITC, Boot Room., Cannon, Caught offside |
| 96 | Dusan Vlahovic | Fiorentina | Striker | Teamtalk, FoLo. This is futbol: “he’s not going” |
| Update | Ben White | Brighton | Centreback | Givemesport say £50m; Shoot / Mirror “Arsenal in chase”. MadaboutEPL. Eurosport, 101: Mirror; Daily Canon – talks on; Express says Arsenal will swap multiple players for him. FoLo its on. Football Insider, Hard Tackle say £40m. Fo Lo – this week will be done. Insider says £50m. Still top of the list (101). Express: main target. No he’s going to PSG. Locked in talks (Mirror). Simon Jordan urges him not to sign. HITC: salary agreed. Caughtoffside says AFC see him as future captain. Deal almost done TBR. Now done TBR. No, its Everton. (Express). No its Arsenal (TBR). No its Man C (IB Tims) |
| 98 | Freddie Woodman | Newcastle | Goalkeeper | Offer in part exchange for Joe Willock (Express, 101) |
| 99 | Wilfried Zaha | Crystal Palace | Wing | TBR. Same story as for the last four transfer windows |
| NEW | Piotr Zielinski | Napoli | Midfield | HITC rank him highly, TBR also; Hard Tackle. “Added to wishlist” Team Talk. |
- How Arsenal’s 40% decline in tackling over the past five years has sparked the revival
- How Arsenal learned from PGMO and so climbed the table after Christmas
- Shocking new referee statistics suggest outright bias against Arsenal
