Re: The Official Summer Transfer Rumours Thread

[Jay29]

N'Zonzi is excellent.

But he wants to play CL football with Sevilla

[Sina]

assists+16/17 comp:

[RealGunner]

Lacazette is great. Trust me. Clinical, fast and a match winner.

Can't get anyone better than him either. Should be grateful he is joining a EL club.

[El Gunner]

Lacazette is great. Trust me. Clinical, fast and a match winner.

Can't get anyone better than him either. Should be grateful he is joining a EL club.

Thanks RG.

[urbaNRoots]

It pisses me off that so many Arsenal fans take Lacazette for granted. This guy wouldn't consider us if it wasn't for Atletico's ban, he was pretty much an Atletico player before it happened.

Reminds me of the times when signing Higuain was a disappointment because we couldn't get Suarez/Benzema and then he joined Napoli instead

I'm just happy we will (hopefully) have a proper striker now, it's been nearly 5 years since van Persie left ffs. For the first time we will see Alexis and especially Ozil play with a proper partner in attack, it would be a real shame if they left now.

[urbaNRoots]

[Times] Arsenal are pursuing a deal for Lemar on top of Lacazette

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/sport/arsenal-ready-to-break-club-record-for-44m-lacazette-7mmp7zrtf (paywall)

[Jay29]

It does frustrate me when I look through fan opinion on Twitter and everyone's like "Lacazette? Meh, he's no Mbappe".

The arguments I keep seeing:

"If he was any good why didn't we sign him last year!"

"If he was any good why is he behind Giroud in the France team!"

And so on. It's the typical cold feet Arsenal fans get whenever they're linked with a big money signing. Soon enough they'll talk themselves into thinking Giroud is better.

Anyway, we're at the point of doubt now where we find out papers jumped the gun a bit and things aren't far along as we thought etc. Sport Witness is already pointing out that L'Equipe aren't as excited as RMC were. Just waiting for Ornstein to come out and say "no interest" now.

[El Gunner]

Think good thoughts, Jay.

[GenBlizkin]

Laca would be the best striker we have had since Henry.

If we can get Laca, Lemar and Henry Onyeku then if we can almost afford to lose alexis for a decent sum, gives us the opportunity to sign a class cb or Gk.

[Chumlum]

Chris Willock, who has been offered an extension but not taken it up (yet?), may move to Benfica where he'd likely start out in the B team.
https://arsenalyouth.wordpress.com/2017/06/24/report-arsenals-chris-willock-closing-in-on-benfica-move/

Lacazette would be an excellent and sensible purchase. Will he prove good enough to fill an RvP sized hole we've had since 2012? I hope so. Perhaps not quite. But he's been productive season after season for Lyon. And £44 million, whatever it is, is expensive but in today's market, a lot of forwards with fewer terrific seasons than he's had are going for considerably more.

Kolasinac, Lacazette, and Lemar would be a very fine haul, provided we keep Alexis, Ox, and Özil, and considering we can't offer CL next season. Personally I'd want to see a little more player acquisition on top of that, but I won't hold my breath.

[El Gunner]

As addressed before, would be lovely if we can get some first team additions/reinforcements in CM, CB and GK positions.

But we probably shouldn't be that greedy.

[Sina]

Poll: With Arsenal heavily linked with both Riyad Mahrez & Thomas Lemar in recent weeks, which player would you rather see at the club? #afc

— afcstuff (@afcstuff) June 24, 2017

Which one?
Lemar for me

[RealGunner]

Both

Bin Walcott and Iwobi

[RealGunner]

Despite not being in the CL, we still have quite some pull with the players.

[urbaNRoots]

Lemar obviously, Mahrez not needed if Ozil stays.

[urbaNRoots]

Aulas (Lyon president): "There is still a desire from Atletico to bring [Lacazette] in January. Now, I will listen to what Alexandre says."

Aulas on Lacazette: "We have to do a very big deal before. We can't let a player of his quality leave without having a replacement for him."

Aulas: "Everyone knows the offer from Atletico is £55m. As the Arsenal representatives have been told, a deal would occur around there."

Aulas: "Honestly, I have not yet considered Arsenal. I thought that Alexandre would stay after his failed departure to Atletico Madrid."

Aulas: "There was an approach for Giroud. He is a boy who scores lots of goals and has a lot of ambition for Russia [WC]."

Aulas on bringing Giroud to Lyon: "The key is Arsène Wenger. We are watching. We will try to very quickly sign a top European attacker."

He talks a lot doesn't he I like the transparency tbh.

[Sina]

Arsène Wenger is prepared to bid up to £40m for Man Utd's Anthony Martial as an alternative to Kylian Mbappé. [@MailSport]

[RealGunner]

100% would take him

[Hapless_Hans]

That would be absolutely amazing

[urbaNRoots]

It would be amazing indeed but a pipe dream like Mbappe.

[Sina]

http://statsbomb.com/2017/02/identifying-ligue-1s-next-big-breakout-talents-2-thomas-lemar/

[urbaNRoots]

Sina, do you think Lemar could transition into a CM in the near future? His style of play makes me think more of a CM/box-to-box than a winger tbh, great passing, great close control, good shot as well and a hard worker off the ball.

Holding - Mustafi - Koscielny
Bellerin - Xhaka - Lemar - Kolasinac
Ozil - Lacazette - Alexis

Would be a brilliant transfer window. Lemar would be such a great signing because of his versatility, if we want to play a 4231 he can slot in one of the attacking positions, if we play the 3421 then he plays deeper. Like a young di Maria.

[Sina]

maybe in long term future in better structured system and under a coach that would give individuals more defined roles he could play CM

but as of on now/near future and under wenger that could be troublesome ,only worth it if we were to accommodate some special players further up the pitch

as of now under wenger he is just perfect for wide role in442/4231 variations with freedom to tuck in

then again imho only worth sticking to 3421 if we kept both ozil/alexis in which case we probably wont sign lemar

[Sina]

[El Gunner]

That would be absolutely amazing

Are people saying Martial would be amazing?

[Jay29]

Thomas Lemar is 'close to signing for Arsenal'. Club has held talks with the player who has now indicated he favours #afc over Spurs.

— Pablo (@AFCAMDEN) June 26, 2017

There's the small matter of agreeing terms with Monaco, of course.

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