William Saliba signs for Arsenal

[Cornpattbuck]

Blowing more than half their budget on a player who they can’t use for another year when they’re so desperate to rebuild now is gloriously comical

I don't believe the budget stuff at all, to be honest. Guess we'll see what their true situation is at the end of the window.

 

[Gbspurs]

Is he a left sided centre-back? That's what we need to be targeting IMO.

Unless of course he's got the potential to be better than both Foyth and Sanchez.

Doesn't Sanchez play left side for Columbia?

 

[panoma]

I would be very surprised if much of the 30 millions is payed upfront if the player stays with Etienne for next season. That way it won't have much effect on this seasons transfer kitty, but possibly save us funds on a Toby/Jan replacement for next season if we believe he is of that quality.

 

[Japhet]

I wonder if he's a player we have been scouting and are interested in but we weren't going to move now as Toby doesn't appear to be leaving yet.
However Arsenal have gone in quite seriously and we were asked to be kept informed, now, not wanting to miss out we are either trying to force Arsenal to back off by creating a bidding war knowing that they can't go more than a certain amount and we will go back in at a later date. Or have been pushed ourselves to act as he's said he will go to them. Or our name is just being used.

Although JJ normally poo poohs these links.

In that case I wouldn't be at all surprised if Arsenal triggered Alderweiereld's transfer clause. I'm very surprised they haven't moved for him already since he's precisely what they need (although they really need 2 CBs IMO).

 

[Sandro30]

I find the whole link quite interesting on the whole. I personally think Evan Ndicka is a great player and talent at E.Frankfurt. He's also got the magical thing of being a left footed centre half too.

 

[CockOnBall]

If it's true that we are trying hijack Arsenal's deal, I find it strange how late we are to the party on this one. If he prefers Arsenal it is probably because they've spent time selling him their club (showing videos of Mustafi trying to defend to demonstrate the level of competition he would face). He's 18. This his first move and he will want to be assured they will look after him. We seem to have put the charm offensive on Ndombele and perhaps ignored this kid.

 

[SDogg]

In that case I wouldn't be at all surprised if Arsenal triggered Alderweiereld's transfer clause. I'm very surprised they haven't moved for him already since he's precisely what they need (although they really need 2 CBs IMO).

Maybe they know he wouldn’t be interested. Also he appears to want champions league football and Arsenal don’t tend to offer contracts of a certain length to players of his age

 

[Japhet]

Maybe they know he wouldn’t be interested. Also he appears to want champions league football and Arsenal don’t tend to offer contracts of a certain length to players of his age

No CL would be a big stumbling block.

 

[Palmer Stoat]

I must admit that every time I see reports to the effect that we're in a battle royale with Arsenal for player X, I automatically dismiss them as bs. So this one seems unlikely to me.

Then again, Donald Trump is the president of the US, so WTF do I know?

In fact, the last few years have been a humbling experience for that very reason. Every time I'm certain of something, a little voice says, yeah, but you laughed at Trump, the Trump campaign, the Trump bouffant, the Trump offspring, the Trump intellect, the Trump complexion, among other things, and now he's president of the US. Donald-fucking-Trump.

And you, you fucking wibbler? You still can't load the dishwasher properly.

So, welcome William Saliba, or something. I guess.

 

[ardiles]

In that case I wouldn't be at all surprised if Arsenal triggered Alderweiereld's transfer clause. I'm very surprised they haven't moved for him already since he's precisely what they need (although they really need 2 CBs IMO).

But would Toby want to go there?

 

[wrd]

I must admit that every time I see reports to the effect that we're in a battle royale with Arsenal for player X, I automatically dismiss them as bs. So this one seems unlikely to me.

Then again, Donald Trump is the president of the US, so WTF do I know?

In fact, the last few years have been a humbling experience for that very reason. Every time I'm certain of something, a little voice says, yeah, but you laughed at Trump, the Trump campaign, the Trump bouffant, the Trump offspring, the Trump intellect, the Trump complexion, among other things, and now he's president of the US. Donald-fucking-Trump.

And you, you fucking wibbler? You still can't load the dishwasher properly.

So, welcome William Saliba, or something. I guess.

I was literally just thinking that the transfer forums was a gap in the market where Donald Trump isn't mentioned and uninteresting people who have to mention him at every turn should seize the opportunity and thankfully there you were to plug that hole.

 

[Matecheck]

In that case I wouldn't be at all surprised if Arsenal triggered Alderweiereld's transfer clause. I'm very surprised they haven't moved for him already since he's precisely what they need (although they really need 2 CBs IMO).

WhyTF would Toby want to move to arsenal? Makes zero sense.

 

[Japhet]

WhyTF would Toby want to move to arsenal? Makes zero sense.

WhyTF would Toby want to move to arsenal? Makes zero sense.

£££££. Never said he 'wanted' to go there but did say that he's what Arsenal need and can afford. No need to WTF by the way.

 

[Matecheck]

£££££. Never said he 'wanted' to go there but did say that he's what Arsenal need and can afford. No need to WTF by the way.

But it's a total wtf post IMO. No way arsenal are going to offer a 30 year old CB the kind of money it would take for Toby to give up CL football and glory to play for a team clearly in relative disarray.

And you may not have typed "Toby wants to go to arsenal"....but for what you described to happen, he would have to want to. So it was more than just implied, it was a prerequisite for your post.

 

[Japhet]

But it's a total wtf post IMO. No way arsenal are going to offer a 30 year old CB the kind of money it would take for Toby to give up CL football and glory to play for a team clearly in relative disarray.

And you may not have typed "Toby wants to go to arsenal"....but for what you described to happen, he would have to want to. So it was more than just implied, it was a prerequisite for your post.

I haven't 'implied' anything of the sort. I said that Arsenal could trigger his 25m clause (which they obviously can) and that he iwould sort a lot of problems out for them. If you want to read that as 'Toby wants to go to Arsenal' that's up to you, but it's not what I said.

 

[Matecheck]

I haven't 'implied' anything of the sort. I said that Arsenal could trigger his 25m clause (which they obviously can) and that he iwould sort a lot of problems out for them. If you want to read that as 'Toby wants to go to Arsenal' that's up to you, but it's not what I said.

OK. But then, what you said makes no sense. Because "triggering the release clause" is pointless if he doesn't want to go there. It doesn't force Toby to move, and unless he wants to go there, they can pull that trigger as often as they want to, it's not going to happen.

So what exactly was the point of your post?

 

[King of Otters]

£££££. Never said he 'wanted' to go there but did say that he's what Arsenal need and can afford. No need to WTF by the way.

That post is literally what the WTF rating was made for. Utterly bizarre take.

 

[Japhet]

OK. But then, what you said makes no sense. Because "triggering the release clause" is pointless if he doesn't want to go there. It doesn't force Toby to move, and unless he wants to go there, they can pull that trigger as often as they want to, it's not going to happen.

So what exactly was the point of your post?

Release clauses are a means to a club being able to enter negotiations for any player. I have no idea if Toby would want to go to Arsenal or not but that's a sepaate issue. If they were to trigger it and he told them to fuck off I'd be delighted but you can't get away from the fact that he's a cheap option for what they need and they pay big wages. They'd be crazy to not give it a try with the position they're in.

 

[midoshairband]

If it's true that we are trying hijack Arsenal's deal, I find it strange how late we are to the party on this one. If he prefers Arsenal it is probably because they've spent time selling him their club (showing videos of Mustafi trying to defend to demonstrate the level of competition he would face). He's 18. This his first move and he will want to be assured they will look after him. We seem to have put the charm offensive on Ndombele and perhaps ignored this kid.

it’s probably more likely (if any of this is true), that we’ve had him on the radar and were monitoring him as one for the future. but other clubs making a firm move might force our hand to move now.

 

[Japhet]

That post is literally what the WTF rating was made for. Utterly bizarre take.

Fair enough. In your opinion there's no way that Arsenal would even try to get Toby.