WTTGT Writer: Simon Bourne (Site Editor) – Follow Me
In the news today:
According to Footybunker, Arsenal are considering a move for Lyon full-back, Aly Cissokho. The French international, 23, signed for Lyon in the summer of 2009 from Porto, however this was after an agreed move to AC Milan collapsed due to a failed medical.
Cissokho won a league and cup double with the Portuguese giants before joining Lyon for €15m.
Similarly to the now departed Clichy, Cissokho is an attacking full-back capable of a gut bursting run from defence and complimenting a counter attack style. Additionally, Cissokho is notoriously a strong defender and would come with a glittering reputation for such a young age.
Cissokho in action for Lyon
At a cut price of just £7m, it could be a bargain for Arsenal, however rumours from the same source also suggest that the Gunners could be looking at José Enrique of Newcastle as an alternative.
The Spanish defender has had a solid campaign during Newcastle’s return to the Premiership following their relegation three seasons ago, and has also attracted interest from Liverpool.
no we won't all this speculation has to end we will sign no one Wenger is looking to make a shed load of money and will not invest sensibly! The club is being run by greedy money grabbers of whom wenger gets his cut!!!
Wenger the coward will probably end up signing some washed-out LB on August 31st… Mikael Silvestre anyone?
WENGER OUT! NOW!!!
jago
Absolute nonsense. The Window is open, the money is available and so are the players. There is no way that new blood won't be brought in this Summer but we must have patience. We know nothing about what is going on behind the scenes, bargaining, player inclusion, etc , etc. Wenger has promised new signings, something he hasn't done before, so keep the faith. Over 7 long weeks before the Window closes…….no rush!
Baines, we want british men….
Vermaelen, Gibbs, Traore, Botelho, Jenkinson and even Koscielny are all more than capable left backs.
Put the money to better use, with Song either off to the ACN or Jail, Denilson saying he wants to leave and Diaby always injured, it is DM that needs addressing in my eyes as well as CB.
Many of our current CB's are versatile enough and good enough to switch to other positions, in fact i would say they are probably stronger in other positions. Koscielny is a better RB than a CB, Vermaelen is a better LB and a DM than he is a CB. Djourou is a better DM than a CB and even Squillaci is a better RB and DM than he is a CB. Providing we bring in 2 TOP centre Backs i would be ok with us utilising our current CB's elsewhere. However, for a relatively small layout, approximately what we have received for Clichy, we could buy 2 DM's that are better than Denilson and Diaby, Parker and Barton. We could then sell D & D for around £16m which will probably be enough to land Cahill. Then sell Arshavin that will give us enough to buy Samba. Swap Bendtner with Taarabt, then spend the money we get for Nasri on Eden Hazard. Finally with the money we get for Cesc we should have enough to pay for Gervinho and Mata and have enough money over to bring back PV4 as player coach. This would pretty much leave the transfer kitty intact.
Out: Clichy, Nasri, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby, Bendtner, Arshavin – £90m
In: Parker, Barton, Cahill, Samba, Taarabt, Hazard, Mata, Gervinho, Vieira – £90m
Over all the biggest change would be midfield. The nucleus of the midfield Wilshire, Song and Ramsey would remain intact but with Nasri, Fabregas, Denilson, Diaby and Arshavin being replaced by Mata, Hazard, Parker, Barton, Vieira and Taarabt i do not see it as weakened. The attack will have been improved by replacing Bendtner with Gervinho who is far more versatile and just as prolific. The defence is vastly improved by replacing Clichy with Cahill and Samba.
If we sell any of the above this money could be spent where necessary, if Almunia left and experienced GK may be in order £5m should clinch Shay Given, if Vela left we could probably do with another striker Defoe or Doyle would probably cost £9-10m, if Eboue left i would test Inter Milan with a £5m offer for Maicon. If Squillaci, Rosicky, Hoyte, Traore and Eastmond left i think we have enough in reserve to cover their departures, Bartley, Frimpong, Jenkinson, Lansbury, Botelho would be able to step.
Further Possible sales: Almunia, Eboue, Squillaci, Hoyte, Traore, Rosicky, Eastmond, Vela – £20m
on
perhaps wenger waits till the end of the window purely for money reasons. 1 he may get a player that a club has no time to wait for bigger offers, so we get them at the last minute on a bargain. 2 the wages are still being paid by the old club. 3 the interest of millions not spent is imaximised.
I dont like being cynical, but i see no reason for not getting players early to integrate them prior to the start of the season. Its even more crucial this season as we have a champs league qualifier to play. Plus relying on that leaky defense is foolhardy in the extreme.