Transfer Rumour Review: Benzema, Vertonghen, Goetze, Melo.
|Welcome to RedDetective’s brand-new Transfer Rumour Review column.
The weekly feature promises to look at a handful of players linked with Arsenal in the past seven days, giving you the chance to have your say on which star you would like to see in a Gunners shirt.
Feel free to leave your transfer rumour views in the comments section below.
Karim Benzema (23, Forward, Real Madrid):
For many this appears to be the favourite potential signing for Arsenal. Compared to Falcao, he is both taller and has the physique to hold up the ball against the strongest of defenders. His runs and style remind me of the recently retired Brazilian Ronaldo. The Frenchman who was signed by Real Madrid for £30m in 2009 at just 21 years old has found his feet this year in Spain, and yet still does not appear to have the complete faith of Mourinho. His manager has used the stick rather than the carrot to motivate him, famously saying “If we arranged things around you we would have to start training at midday because you are not awake when you turn up at 10 and you are still asleep at 11,” during a training ground telling off. While being an able target man, his game is based on movement rather than brute strength. This differentiates him from Mourinho’s earlier trusted gladiator type forwards in Didier Drogba and Diego Milito. An added dynamic for Benzema to contend with is that speculation suggests Fernando Llorente may arrive as first choice centre forward this summer. Indeed, with the UEFA financial fair play ruling to come in, I anticipate he will leave to free up funds for Real Madrid signings. This would be an excellent signing for Arsenal as Van Persie lacks the physique and pace to act as lone centre forward for an entire season. His body is brittle, slight and injury prone. Benzema is robust and has a great understanding with Samir Nasri, evidenced by their excellent display working in tandem against England in their 2-1 win. Should Cesc Fabregas leave for Barcelona this summer and Nasri take his position on the field, this transfer would significantly increase the attacking potential of Arsenal.
Jan Vertonghen (24, Defender/Defensive Midfielder, Ajax):
Vertonghen is an accomplished left footed versatile defender who has already partnered Arsenal’s Thomas Vermaelen both at international level and also for Ajax. Vertonghen can also operate as a defensive midfielder. I rate the Belgian, but I must say I am not convinced this is the player to lead the line and prevent Arsenal conceding set piece goals against the likes of Birmingham and Stoke. Our team needs a tall, well built, aggressive centre back who will shout and bawl at his surrounding players all day long. Do I see that in Vertonghen? No. I consider him a talented centre back but not the Pepe, Lucio, Vidic we are crying out for. Interestingly, Frank de Boer has confirmed that Manchester City had been sniffing around the 24-year-old defender. I would much prefer his unplayable international colleague Vincent Kompany who is surely going nowhere.
Mario Goetze (18, Attacking Midfield, Borussia Dortmund):
A young playmaker, Mario Goetze has had an exceptional season, winning the Bundesliga this year with Borussia Dortmund. As Germany’s 7th youngest international debutant ever he is beginning to be spoken in the same breath as Mesut Ozil and Thomas Mueller, and is emerging as the hot new German property. Several very mature performances in attacking midfield have not only flummoxed opposition defenders but drawn the highest of praise from German football’s most respected figures. Goetze has superb close control, technical skill and a quick brain beyond his years that all enable him to pull strings and make space. In short he could well be another Nasri, Wilshere, Ramsey. And that may be the problem, a diminuitive playmaker cannot be top of the list of priorities for Arsenal given the current squad personnel. Any interest in Goetze will not be explored further until a movement of Fabregas, Rosicky or other such player leaves.
Felipe Melo (27, Midfield, Juventus):
A 6 foot brawny midfielder, Felipe Melo turned down Arsenal in order to sign for Juventus when he left Fiorentina in 2009. A powerful, skilful midfielder with strength and technique to survive the bruising premiership, it is no surprise such a player would be coveted by English teams. However, I asked on Twitter this week (@Detective82) whether ‘Is Felipe Melo destined to become new Sebastian Frey or Mexes? The persistent target we never buy.’ Just like Frey, Mexes, Yaya Toure, Bixente Lizarazu and David Trezeguet he strikes me as a player Arsenal will forever be linked with but will never actually sign. I know Melo could bring a hardness and probably some good passing displays where he is not overly pressured in possession, but how would he adapt at games on rainy December nights when it is all going wrong concern me. A player who collected 17 yellow cards and 3 reds in his first Juventus season, who stamped on Arjen Robben in the World Cup, may not have the discipline to survive in such environments. I would suggest that interest in Melo would likely require Diaby or Denilson to move on, and furthermore might be indicative of the fact that Wenger does not consider the likes of Lansbury and Frimpong ready to join the first team. If he signs and becomes as good as Gilberto, it’ll be an inspired signing. I am slightly confused why on earth he decided to call his son, ‘Lineker’, after the English centre forward Gary Lineker.
For all Arsenal chat, Transfer news as soon as I get it and general discussion on the club, then follow @Detective82.
Really hope Benzema is being considered by Mr Wenger – he would score goals for fun in a team with the creative talents of Wilshere, Nasri, Cesc etc.
Actually I’d be happy for Scott Parker. I’ve heard some rumours about him that Wenger is interested for him. Any news?
next season will be time for the gunners to be the champions, but to win the title you have to buy good players to help the team. you have to buy PODOLSKI, BENZEMA,HAZARD,ADEBAYOR,and attacking mid RONALDINHO. Bellive me if you buy these players arsenal next season will win TWO OR ONE TITLE. please buy these player. and one thing Fabregas and nasir do not leave the gunners.that will help too. thank so much
I agree. I would love to see Parker, Hangeland arrive this season. A goalscorer
would be great too, as RvanP is surely due another 6 months out shortly. One would have to think that Denilson, Bendtner, Diaby, Squillaci, Cesc & Arshavin should be shown the door. A combination of bad attitudes and no talent does not make for a good squad ! 6 empty seasons and countless wasted points by this “mentally strong and maturing side” means that something has to change. Its either the manager or the squad.
Charles N’Zogbia
Scott Parker
Scott Dann
Phil Jagielka
Ashley Young
All premiership players that are affordable and SHOULD want to play for Arsenal
if sir wenger can buy them for replacement incase of injury to key players
Agree on melo. We need a player of his type, but not him. He loses it way too often.
ansene wenger should not only target but buy them they are good players. an dieby, delnison, squilaci,eboeu,bendtner, rosisky should all go.
I do not think that any of those player will join Arsenal this summer, being an Arsenal fan i think that players such as Rondon from Venezuela and the Brazilian William(from Shacktar Donetsk) will be more of a realistic target.Rondon will probably replace Bendtner and William would be a great replacement for Arshavin who i believe will leave this summer. Defender wise i think Wenger will get a player with premiership experience. If Fabregas leaves then Nasri is very likely to take that position if Arsenal keeps the same formation next season….this is only personal opinion, I’m open to any comments from other people regarding this…tell what you guys think.
No Melo please.. Vertonghen and benzema please.. Sell denilson, rocicky, squilacci, almunia, and bendtner to balance the cash.. but if we’ll also sell cesc then I prefer to get hazard as his replacement.. No GK please, we have enough supplies for this position..
In d absent of denilso & rosicky we need melo, but my problem wit him cards, 17yellow cards, 3 red cards in one season is unfair
Pls wenger shld chose btw winning trophies and signing of big name players.
you need to buy both player BENZEMA,MELO and PODOLSKI
you need to buy hazard, pedro, if you can do that next season we’ll be the champions with TWO or THREE title bellive me. please try to buy these players
we need two or three defenders
PLZ SIGN VERTONGHEN!!!! HEZ LYK ANOTHA VERMAELEN, but hez versitile , he can ply cdm n dats wat arsenal really need wen song iz unavailable
y dnt arsenal go afta marko marin instead of goetze hez seems betta imo
i doubt we will gt benzema , wud nt want him 2 b bought 4 arsenal as it wud see vela goin n he iz 1 deffinatly for da future
wud nt mind it if we gt melo he iz a beast in midfield jus wat we need
our team for next year:
szchesney
sagna–cahill–kos–vermaelen
melo/other qulity, experienced dm–song
wilshere
walcott/arshavin–nasri/rvp
chamakh/milito/klose
subs: fabianski, djourou, gibbs, frimpong, ramsey, eboue, bentner,vela
i`ve never seen vermaelen play as left back, maybe we should try it. AW should buy experienced dm who can pair song, so that song can play more up front, rotate them with frimpong, if needed transform one of the cb-s into dm(like pepe) imo this will be the best back 4 next year, conceding the least goals. trust me!
I think arsenal should sign Mamadou Sakho( hes 6’1 83kg large build and plays as a cb) he would be great,lukkaku would be a great signing too.
Tnkz guyz, i wil lyk to c melo nd a forward who haz d body stature dat intimidates defender bt nt benzema,he is nt sharp nd also slow.d lyk of d.milito,eto,teves nd aguero
if we managed to sign Sahko, cahill and benzema only i would be a happy man.
also, as much as i think hes lazy i also think it would be silly for arsenal to sell ashavin. hes got one more year in him. even if its as a squad player.
benzema is the perfect strikr ritenow 4 the gunnerz and a gud defender our midfield is the best rite now
if arsenal sign any of these players then we truly know he has lost the plot.
In: Manuel Neuer; Scott Parker; Neven Subotic; Per Mertesacker; Eden Hazard
Out: Bendtner; Rosicky (with regret); Squillaci; Chamakh; Arshavin (with regret); Almunia; Flapianski
Dreamland – I know but the German league is much closer in style to ours & the above would be great additions.
Also I’d just like to wish Hairy Redmat and his merry band of alsorans a very happy 50th anniversary (since they last won the top league): long may that impressive run continue. Old Furry Redcat is much more used to fighting relegation battles and I wish him every success in rediscovering what he’s good at.
i think the right person we need is benzema cos of his stature
We lost games that we shouldn’t have against West Brom, Bolton & Stoke & failed to defend leads against Sunderland, Spuds (twice), Newcastle… (at least 17 points lost needlessly)& people think we need a striker – Derrrrr is there some thing I’m missing here ?
anyone esle thinking sorensen would be a great buy after today`s display against city?
Players out
Cesc-35 M
Denilson,diaby,bendtner,clichy-50 M
Players in
Cahill
Benzema
Melo or sign Flamini back
Samba
We need a couple of decent defenders and a defensive midfielder and maybe a striker to partner vp. Maybe walcott could step up to be the second striker,? Sell bentner, denilson, almunia, eboue.
in: Samba, Sakho, parker, benzema
out: Squillaci, denilson, almunia, bendtner, djourou, vela,
line up 4-1-3-2
———-schezza———
sagna–sakho–verm–clichy
———–song———–
nasri-cesc/parker-wilshere
—–RVP/Theo/Benzema—–
subs:Mannone, Samba, bartley, eboue, Parker?, Theo?, frimpong, lansbury, rosicky, rambo, arshavin, miyachi
Samba to jump in for verm when height is needed at the back with a possible midfield four of song wilshere parker and verm(dmf) if we need to see a match out
Im so glad this is happening. Maybe now you f**king AKB’s will reel your heads in and demand a change. This team is f**king s**t.
Once again performance is pathetic.
I’m so angry this team is disgrace. F**k wenger. 6% your having a laugh!!
Terrible performance how is Arsene getting way with this, do the board not watch football. Arshavin was terrible as he has been all season how people can defend him due to his stats is disgraceful he doesn’t try. We don’t just have problems defensively but offensively as well no pace apart from Walcott.
I have run out of patience with Arsenal before if any other rival team criticised us I would have backed us. Now most of the players and staff don’t try so why should we. That is disgraceful how they want passionate Arsenal fans from all over the world who come to the game to pay an extra 6% when they don’t even strengthen the team. Greedy bastards.
who would still want to come to arsenal after all the shiz we been through…. and not just this season, the past 7
Wenger is clown , he must go . and the board are only greedy bastards like kevin says before . Fuck you PWH , i hope fans not buy new shirts and give money for this wankers pocket before they show that they want win trophhies.
4-3-1-2
Al Habsi(5mil)
Sanga-Samba(10mil)-Vermaelen-Baines(10mil)
Parker(15mil)-Wilshere-Fabregas
Nasri
Benzema(25mil)-Van persie
Subs;
-Scezsney
-Djourou
-Hangeland(10mil)
-Ramsey
-Song
-Walcott
I’ve worked out what I think they’d be roughly, but fairly pricey..
75mil for 6 quality players! Dont get me wrong thats alot, but they’d improve our team a heck of alot.
Out;
-Clichy 10mil
-Squallachi (if lucky 3mil)
-Denilson 8mil
-Bendtner 10mil
-Vela 8mil
-Diaby 10mil
-Arshavin 10mil
-Rosicky- 5mil
40mil + 65 ish from above.. easily affordable.. just I cant see anyone at Arsenal doing as big of a change as that.. its a shame
arsenal probs is not wenger but the board member
the board tell manager what to do.
“get me money forget trophy-board member agreement with wenger”
and as for the arsenal buying and selling,
you dont need to sell but buy incase of injury
dats what arsenal lacks
we dont need benzema or others etc
the midfield is good the probs is the striking force/defensive force
should incase arsenal want to buy player
buy- striker like oduamade nnamdi, eto and
as for the defensive side
cahil,VERTONGHEN diara.
I think scotty Parker, Hangeland, Dempsey and Benzema would be fantastic.. On the keeper front i think there are alot of opportunities,
S.Given / Stekelnburg / Mcgregor / B.Foster
A massive clearout is deffinately required with Cesc at the top of that and if Nasri keeps gobbing off and doesnt want to commit then get rid!
Cesc 35mill
Nasri 25mill
Clichy 15mil
bendtner 8-10mil
rosicky 5mil
denilson 5-8mill
eboue 5mill
vela 8-10mill
squillachi 3-5mill
total=118mill
IN: S.Parker 10-15mill… Benzema 30mil… Stekelnburg 15mil… Dempsey/hengeland 25mil..
Total= 85mill
The three players i would personally like to see joining Arsenal this Summer,and are realistic targets both in availibility,and size of Transfer Fee,are,
Samba(not Cahill)
Joey Barton(not Parker)
Jermaine Defoe.
Some of the other Players mentioned in earlier comments,are simply Wishful Thinking,no way would Arsenal pay some of the Transfer Fees mentioned.
Pedro Leon is a good choice including Benzema, Parker.
Must sell squilacci, denilson, rosiky, eboue, Bendtner
And should save nasri and cesc.