Summer Transfer Speculation and Shit

[Niall_Quinn]

Draxler a no-go apparently, he's staying at Schalke.

[selassie]

It wouldn't even be that much of a project this time? He's already playing at the top level, in the position we'd want him to play in, so all that's required is a bit of fine-tuning...

Yeah not a project in the sense of making him established but a project in the sense of taking him from his current level to world class level, also sorting out his behaviour.

I agree, it's just a bit of fine-tuning.

[Japan Shaking All Over]

For the remainder of his contract? (Which is?) or has he signed an extension?

Would have been a great addition.....but the no go writing on the wall has been around for a while now

[Gooner23]

Whats with these quotes from Cazorla about him deciding his future after the World Cup. He's got 2 years left on his contract so surely 'he' won't be deciding anything! We absolutely should not sell him this summer. He came cheap and we won't get much for him now. Better to keep him for 2 years and lose on a free, by which time he'll be 31.

Fed up of us flogging 1st team players every summer.

[selassie]

For the remainder of his contract? (Which is?) or has he signed an extension?

Would have been a great addition.....but the no go writing on the wall has been around for a while now

I read that when he was interviewed about his future on German TV in February, he stated that he wanted to leave Schalke for Arsenal the previous month but was told/convinced by Schalke to stay. So it wasn't a clear cut "I turned Arsenal down" type scenario.

He also signed a new 5 year contract in May, I assume it must include a release clause again.

What is baffling is he stated very recently that he wants to stay one more year in Schalke..that is off the back of signing a new 5 year contract!!!

Link to recent quotes below...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/27884475

[I am invisible]

Comparing Costa's behaviour to Balotelli's is laughable.

That's not really what I was getting at. What I was trying to say was that, even if Balotelli has matured as a player and sorted his attitude out, there's still going to be instances where he loses control every now and then - I think that's almost inevitable when the whole footballing world sees you as an easy target, and every opponent is trying to wind you up - so at that point it becomes a question of whether his output as a player would make up for what would (hopefully) be a far more occasional losses of control? I mentioned Suarez and Costa as examples of what we might be looking at in terms of that balance: players who still have a bit of a fiery, wild side, and who occasionally do the odd stupid thing, but who make up for it by smashing in 30+ goals a season, and generally being great players. If we could get Balotelli to that same sort of level with his behaviour on the pitch - not perfect, but in control 90% of the time, and doing the business - then would that be enough to make him worthwhile?

[I am invisible]

Draxler a no-go apparently, he's staying at Schalke.

If nothing else, I suppose it's at least some kind of evidence that we're after a player in that area (and willing to spend pretty big on it too)?

[Power n Glory]

That's not really what I was getting at. What I was trying to say was that, even if Balotelli has matured as a player and sorted his attitude out, there's still going to be instances where he loses control every now and then - I think that's almost inevitable when the whole footballing world sees you as an easy target, and every opponent is trying to wind you up - so at that point it becomes a question of whether his output as a player would make up for what would (hopefully) be a far more occasional losses of control? I mentioned Suarez and Costa as examples of what we might be looking at in terms of that balance: players who still have a bit of a fiery, wild side, and who occasionally do the odd stupid thing, but who make up for it by smashing in 30+ goals a season, and generally being great players. If we could get Balotelli to that same sort of level with his behaviour on the pitch - not perfect, but in control 90% of the time, and doing the business - then would that be enough to make him worthwhile?

[Munchies]

We're being linked with Higuain again.
http://www.express.co.uk/sport/footb...itor-situation

Napoli want more than they paid for him.

Wenger was haggling over £27m.

No chance

[I am invisible]

What?! Why?