Arsenal fans will have choked on their cornflakes this morning when reading today’s papers and seeing four players linked with moves away. Is there any truth in the speculation?
This week has been a positive one for Arsenal in the transfer market, so it is pretty bemusing to wake up and see four first team players linked away.
Most fans would simply dismiss it as baseless rumour. Which it may well be, let’s go through it- here’s our assessment on the transfer talk.
Alex Song to Real Madrid
The Daily Mail claim Madrid are in for Alex Song, and they aren’t the first club to be linked with him. Both Inter Milan and PSG have been linked with the midfielder’s signature, who has had a tremendous season providing 11 assists. A lot of the perceived wisdom behind the transfer talk is simply assumption. With Arsenal hoping to sign Yann M’Vila from Rennes, it could leave Song fighting for a first team place. The M’Vila deal has stalled though, with the Frenchman arrested this week, and even if he came to Arsenal, we would not necessarily expect Song to give up and leave. Real Madrid are a tremendous club of course, who could tempt him with greater chances of silverware success than Arsenal, but the only way we can see Song leaving is if Van Persie does, who he has struck up a superb partnership with this season.
Thomas Vermaelen to Real Madrid
The Mail report that Madrid are after a double swoop in fact, with Thomas Vermaelen the second part of the deal. While it is natural for the Spaniards to be interested in the goalscoring centre-back, there is utterly no chance of this happening this summer. Only recently the Belgian came out and stated he was going to be a Gunner for life, and while those sort of promises have been broken before, he wouldn’t dare go back on his word so soon. He seems happy at the club, and Arsenal would not be willing to sell, so this one’s simple, no deal.
Robin van Persie to ?
At the Football Writers Awards dinner last night Robin van Persie gave an impassioned speech that he would always be a Gunner whatever happens. The simplest way to take it is literally, but many have been looking for hidden meaning behind his words, believing he is paving the way for an exit. Perhaps, but then yesterday he also said he is looking forward to playing alongside Lukas Podolski.
Barcelona last week issued denials that they would bid, but the speculation continues this morning. The Express have stated Manchester City are still considering him but only value the Dutchman at £20 million, while the Mail go with the headline ‘I’ll always be a Gunner…but that doesn’t mean I’m staying’. For us there is no substance in the reports, even though there is no sign contract talks imminently beginning, despite Wenger’s pledge to raise the subject.
Andre Santos to Botafogo
Brazilian club Botafogo came out this morning and publicly denied they had bid for left-back Andre Santos, which has sort of come out of the blue. That said, the 29-year-old has failed to convince fans that he has the defensive capabilities to be a success at the Emirates. He did miss four months of the season with injury, so deserves another season at least to try and claim the starting spot from Kieran Gibbs. Brazilian clubs are flush with money nowadays, and if he goes through pre-season and still appears to be second choice, he may push for a move. Nothing certain, but watch this space.
Our analysis summed up is there is no reason to be unduly concerned, Robin van Persie holds the key to it all. If he decides to leave, his departure could precede others going too, but there is little substance behind rumours regarding his departure so far. If Santos wants out, Arsenal should let him, and buy a younger defensively minded left-back, if he wants to stay, give him a chance.
Which of the four do you believe is most likely, do Arsenal have reason to be concerned or is it just paper talk?
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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