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We still need another wide forward imo - preferably right sided and one who’s a little more about the goals than the build up. I’d be surprised if it was Sane, though - would be a great move, but that one feels like journos guessing to me: Jesus + Zinchenko = Arteta wants all the ex-City players he’s worked with.
Sounds like Zinchenko is done. :popcorn:
Yep, just time for another 10 Fabrizio tweets about it being close and then it will be done. For 30 million I think that's a good bit of business.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marc Overmars
I reckon we'll then focus on shifting some players before any more incomings.
Zinchenko's a terrific signing - if only Spuds weren't also signing a lot of players this would be looking like a perfect summer - oh and provided we offload Xhaka of course...
8 points a season Xhaka...the average amount of points he costs us (guessing). Without him we would have qualified for the CL five seasons running nowQuote:
Originally Posted by Mac76
Well we know from the Raphinha bid that a sale isn’t a barrier to bringing in a right-sided wide forward, so I can see that one happening at any moment if we identify a target we like.
Wouldn’t be surprised if CM was one out, one in, though, although (*** TRIGGER WARNING! ***) I have a feeling that’s less about finances and more about the manager still trusting Xhaka to do a job for him if it comes to it (which he clearly doesn’t with Pepe on RW). I think we’re open to that sale, and are clearly sounding out options - I just think the club are a little more prepared to fold their arms and hold out for what they want on that one than the fans are.
The rest of the sales have no real bearing on anything as far as I’m concerned. Find permanent moves or go out on endless loans until their contracts expire, I really don’t care - as long as they’re off the wage bill that’s the main thing. Happy to sanction those as and when offers come in, although they all have the whiff of deadline day transfers to me.
Tbf he’s been far less of a risk in that more advanced left-8 role than he was as the guy at the base of midfield. And if you stuck an inverted fullback like Zinchenko behind him I think he’d be even less of a worry.Quote:
Originally Posted by Globalgunner
But even if we remove all risk from his game completely there’s still clearly an upgrade to be had there. If we brought a Tielemans or a Paqueta in, for example, what would the expectation level be in terms of goals and assists? Probably 5-10 of each. What does Xhaka usually give us? Maybe 1-2 of each? Not good enough.
Forget about spurs - we both have very different projects on the go with very different timelines.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mac76
Their two best players will be in their 30s this year and they have a manager who very rarely stays anywhere longer than 2 years (8.5 months down already) - whatever they’re doing, it needs to happen immediately! Will they finish above us this year? Maybe. Will they win the league? No. So who gives a fuck?
Ultimately our rivalry with them is just a side-show - the real challenges is making up the 20-point, 30-goal deficit on City and Liverpool. Kane and Son are already performing at their maximum - there’s not too much more to be wrung out of those two, and they’re unlikely to ever go through another season completely injury-free at their ages (and especially in a year with a ridiculous mid-season WC in the middle of the desert). We, on the other hand, played most of last season with a striker who couldn’t even get in the box, bracketed by a collection of 20 year olds. Just my opinion, but considering there was only 2 points and 8 goals scored between us, I think our potential to make up that deficit is higher than theirs, and I think we have a lot more time on our side and growth in the group.
:gp:
I can't stand Xhaka.Quote:
Originally Posted by I am invisible
We just need to upgrade on him and move him on.
He isn't good enough, and all the hype he gets is when the competition around him is weaker