Winter Transfer Speculation and Shit.

[Özim]

Regarding Costa, the deal can be done if we meet his release clause which is widely reported to be 32million. The sticking point with all transfers hinges on whether he wants to join us, it's not outlandish to think he would not be that keen on joining us mid-season when he's banging them in for Atletico who are going head to head with Barca in La Liga. He is their main man and has guaranteed CL football as they also reached the last 16.

Of course we could triple his wages and he would be playing with a higher calibre type of player but he wouldn't be guaranteed to walk in our team. He's having a great season, looks a very good player...but this is essentially his breakthrough season. Prior to this season his stats are nothing to shout about so paying 30mill+ for him is a risk.

One nice thing about him is that he has so far delivered in CL for Atletico, so he has proven to date that he can mix it with the best.

Having said all this I have read in numerous places that Wenger is reluctant to meet his release clause, I very much doubt we're going to get him for a penny less due to Atletico needing him.

Edited to add: I would prefer Costa over Benteke or Michu but only because he has proven himself in CL, that's what separates him from them two IMHO.

It's also World cup year and he's trying to get into the Spain squad, a mid-season move to a new league is a big risk.

I don't see this happening for various reason, I'm not entirely convinced by him either, saw him a number of times last season and he was good, but not amazingly good....he was very much in Falcoa's shadow.

Before spending that kind of money you want to make sure a player is the real deal.

[selassie]

It's also World cup year and he's trying to get into the Spain squad, a mid-season move to a new league is a big risk.

I don't see this happening for various reason, I'm not entirely convinced by him either, saw him a number of times last season and he was good, but not amazingly good....he was very much in Falcoa's shadow.

Before spending that kind of money you want to make sure a player is the real deal.

Yep, totally agree.

[Özil's Panoramic View]

It's also World cup year and he's trying to get into the Spain squad, a mid-season move to a new league is a big risk.

I don't see this happening for various reason, I'm not entirely convinced by him either, saw him a number of times last season and he was good, but not amazingly good....he was very much in Falcoa's shadow.

Before spending that kind of money you want to make sure a player is the real deal.

And you think when he proves to the "real deal" you're going to get him for same price, eh?

I can already see you then having modified your argument to say we shouldn't be paying that obscene amount of 50mil or more for him.

[JonasTC]

He's trying to get into the Spain squad? He's probably the first player they have ever begged to join them, i dont think he needs to try. A top player belives in himself and would not be afraid to go on the big stage, they're not some average joe behind the computer with no confidence.

Last season he spend most of his time on the wing and the season before that he was injured for most of the season but still ended up with 10 in 16 games as a striker (which was almost the same goal per game average falcao had that season).

I believe Wenger knows that he is one of the only top strikers in europe he can get for under 40 and he needs to get it done before the world cup, in which there is a pretty big chance he will shine and therefor be much harder to get.

[selassie]

I think the first team place thing is over stated at times. Let's be honest, just about every top top forward in Spain not at Real or Barca, end up there or another top club overseas regardless of the competition they may face. Torres went to Liverpool, Aguero went to City for 38 million (looks bloody good business now). Villa went to Barca, Eto'o went to Barca. If we wait for 3 seasons for him to score 180 goals in 180 games and prove his quality beyond doubt some other club would have long snapped him up. He seems a late bloomer to me. If he is a bastard like Suarez without the bitey and racism then great. I want a striker who is willing to upend the oppositions centre back, his own centre back and anyone else to put the ball in the back of the net.

About time we got ours.

Spain are trying very hard to get him playing for them and if he is of the best quality he will absolutely play enough games for us. Even if he takes time to settle he will play a load of games because we can't expect Giroud to be a machine.

All of those players you have listed were established goalscorers in La Liga, I.E. had scored goals scored consistently over a number of seasons. Torres & Aguero were major talents, it's not like they were gambles, they were both established at International level too. Costa isn't there yet, spending 30mill on him would be a risk for a club like us IMHO. It's not about waiting 3 seasons for him to blossom, it's about paying the market rate for established quality, we are not a club that can risk wasting 30million on gambles.

I'd much rather we spend say 10-15million on a squad player and then spend big in the summer on the real deal.

I genuinely believe if spending 30million, you need at least 2 consistent seasons out of a player and at the very least they need to be capped at International level.

[Özim]

And you think when he proves to the "real deal" you're going to get him for same price, eh?

I can already see you then having modified your argument to say we shouldn't be paying that obscene amount of 50mil or more for him.

32 million is a lot of money for someone who has really only done really well this season, like I said last season he was OK but very much secondary to Falcoa.

I haven't modified my argument, I've seen this guy play over 2 seasons and am giving my opinion of him, like I said based on what I've seen he's good but not in the same class as the top players IMO at this stage.

[Özim]

He's trying to get into the Spain squad? He's probably the first player they have ever begged to join them, i dont think he needs to try. A top player belives in himself and would not be afraid to go on the big stage, they're not some average joe behind the computer with no confidence.

Last season he spend most of his time on the wing and the season before that he was injured for most of the season but still ended up with 10 in 16 games as a striker (which was almost the same goal per game average falcao had that season).

I believe Wenger knows that he is one of the only top strikers in europe he can get for under 40 and he needs to get it done before the world cup, in which there is a pretty big chance he will shine and therefor be much harder to get.

Yes he's trying to get into the Spain squad and no they didn't beg him they gave him the chance to play for them and he did. Changing league is difficult for anyone and involves a period of adaptation, he's not a definite choice for Spain he's only come into consideration this season in reality, if he moves and struggles for form there's others who could be picked before him.

I watched him last season, wasn't impressed to be honest, I've seen him a few times this season as well and he's been quite good but I'm not entirely convinced based on what I saw last season, think he needs another season to prove he can reproduce it and it's not a one off season.

He reminds me of Hulk basically in that he's strong on the ball, he's doesn't have the skills of a Suarez of Aguero or of the very top players, he's more about brute force.

[JonasTC]

Ehh neither Torres or Aguero ever really had 'great' seasons in spain before joining premier league, they were talents that was being gambled on to be great, Costa has done fine for the last 3 season despite a long injury break and being played on the wing alot. A guy that is keeping up with C.Ronaldo, i dont really think we need to be afraid if he's gonna be scoring for us with the amount of creative midfielders we have, all we need to know is if he can put it in the net when given the chance.

[selassie]

Ehh neither Torres or Aguero ever really had 'great' seasons in spain before joining premier league, they were talents that was being gambled on to be great, Costa has done fine for the last 3 season despite a long injury break and being played on the wing alot. A guy that is keeping up with C.Ronaldo, i dont really think we need to be afraid if he's gonna be scoring for us with the amount of creative midfielders we have, all we need to know is if he can put it in the net when given the chance.

lol! Real Madrid were desperate to sign both of them, Barca were constantly linked to both of them. Are you trying to tell me Costa's stock is higher than that of Torres or Aguero before they left Atletico?

Everyone wanted both Torres & Aguero.

Edited to add: I am more than happy to be proved wrong with Costa, I still stand by what i said, paying 30mill for him is a gamble.

Also, here are there stats Jonas, bear in mind they were both in their early 20's when they left la liga.

Torres: 75 goals in 174 La Liga appearances

Aguero: 101 goals in 234 La Liga appearances

[Özim]

Torres and Aguero both stood out for Athletico, I can remember seeing them, there was much more about them than there is about Costa no doubt about it, their skills were obvious, Costa's aren't as apparent as he's not the same kind of player. Yes he's keeping up with Ronaldo, however it's not unheard of for players to have one prolific season, there are plenty of examples.

I don't think we'll sign him anyway, but regardless of that I still have my reservations based on what I've seen of him over two seasons, someone referred to him last season and I actually said I don't really rate him at the time.