Morning. With none Euro 2024 motion yesterday or at present, there’s some Arsenal focus for at present’s weblog, and it appears to be like like there’s just a little bit stuff starting to drip on the subject of transfers.
The primary story is broadly reported curiosity in Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori. The Bologna man impressed on the Euros, regardless of the very fact Italy had been fairly poor all through, and a number of sources are saying we’re in talks and so on and so on. I’m just a little cautious, as a result of Serie A to the Premier League isn’t a pathway many Italian gamers take, and even much less so to Arsenal. Nevertheless, there’s a number of smoke round this one, so maybe there’s some hearth.
On the latest Arsecast Further, James spoke just a little about incoming enterprise being considerably tied to outgoing enterprise, and it’s arduous to not assume which may effectively be the case right here. Because it stands, Arsenal are well-stacked with left-sided defenders. Gabriel is the primary man at LCB, now we have Jakub Kiwior who can play there too, as can Takehiro Tomiyasu. The latter pair have additionally featured at left-back, the place we even have Oleksandr Zincheko on the books, a stricken Kieran Tierney whose future appears to be like sophisticated due to that damage, and Jurrien Timber as an alternative choice.
So, it’s arduous to not assume that if there’s real curiosity in Calafiori, somebody important from that group has obtained to depart. Zinchenko was on the outs throughout the run-in and it has been urged he could possibly be up on the market with simply two years left on his deal and no signal that the membership wish to prolong him, whereas Kiwior has – greater than as soon as – been linked with a transfer again to Italy. We signed him from from Spezia in January 2023, and names like AC Milan and Napoli have been talked about as events.
I suppose one other factor to think about is that Mikel Arteta is kinda the reverse Arsene Wenger, in that there’s been a lot concentrate on including a striker and a midfielder that bringing in one other defender appears on level for this supervisor. If he sees Calafiori as a left-sided Ben White, that will make some sense to me – notably within the context of earlier reported curiosity in bringing in a left-back this summer time. Wenger, as we noticed greater than as soon as, usually had the necessity for extra defensive power, however would resolve the perfect factor to do is signal a mercurial attacker who favored to eat biscuits. Anyway, I suppose it’s one to control, and Chelsea are reportedly too – however then I heard from very dependable sources they tried to signal all the movie star contingent from Soccer Assist till somebody had a phrase with Todd Boehly.
The remainder of the tales are about gamers on the best way out. First, Albert Sambi Lokonga is closely linked with Sevilla, with the participant pleased to go there, however with particulars nonetheless to be finalised between the 2 golf equipment. It appears to be like prefer it could be a mortgage cope with a purchase order clause hooked up, however how that’s triggered and what the ultimate value may stay unclear proper now. There’s discuss of Sevilla suggesting £8m and Arsenal holding out for £12m. Meet within the center lads. If solely Sambi was known as Bob Smith and had by no means performed a sport of soccer in his life and was an precise apprentice electrician, we may have bought him to Aston Villa for £40m.
Fulham, quickly to be flush with money from promoting Joao Palinha to Bayern Munich for £47m (what a value that’s for a 29 yr outdated btw), are reportedly eager on Emile Smith Rowe and have made him a serious goal for the summer time. I’ve written about him earlier than, greater than as soon as, and if the best provide was on the desk, I believe it will be the best factor for the membership to just accept, and the best factor for the participant to maneuver. Let’s see.
Lastly, Nuno Tavares is being linked with a transfer to Ajax by Sky Sports activities. It’s the Kaveh lad, so take no matter sized pinch of salt you want with it, however you could possibly see how it will work out for all involved. As I’ve outlined above, Arsenal have an abundance of left-sided defensive choices, and with only a yr left on his contract, it’s most likely a simple deal to do if the reported curiosity is actual.
Anyway, time will inform – and it might be a case that at present sees our first (number one) official signing of the summer time, though it’s one which received’t be any type of shock. Let’s go away it there for now, again tomorrow with extra and an Arsecast.
Till then.
