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Morning all.
The hunt for a striker goes on for Arsenal. Viktor Gyokeres seemed to be the favourite, according to the media anyway but who knows what the truth is? I’d like to think Andrea Berta does and that very soon, a deal is struck. The worst case scenario would be going into yet another season without a recognised striker in the squad.
Having failed to return for pre-season training yesterday, Gyokeres is in the naughty corner. Sporting president Frederico Varandas is reported to have said:
We’re calm. Everything can be solved with the closure of the market, a hefty fine and an apology to the group. If they (other clubs) don’t want to pay Viktor’s fair market value, we’ll be very comfortable with that for the next three years. If the geniuses who are devising this strategy think that this puts pressure on me to make it easier for him to leave, not only are they completely wrong, but they are also making it more complicated for the player to leave. No one is above the interests of the club. Whoever they are.
Only the player and Sporting know what promises were made over a transfer out of the club but this situation isn’t good for the player or his current club. Keeping an unhappy player would do Sporting no favours whatsoever. Three more years with a player the manager knows doesn’t want to be at the club? Well, good luck with that eh, Arsenal know all about how that works out, many other clubs do too. As the old saying goes, one bad apple….
The Athletic report that Gyokeres believes Sporting president Varandas has reneged on an pact to let him go for €60million plus €10m, which Arsenal have already surpassed but still no agreement is in place on a fee. Talks however, are at an advanced stage.
How do Arsenal view his behaviour though I wonder, fans too. Do you/we think signing a player who is prepared to strike in order to get what he wants would be a good thing, or does no one care really as long as we end up signing him? Perhaps Arsenal should insert a get out clause fee into his contract if he does end up in the red side of north London.
Hopefully, Berta and co have a backup plan and I don’t mean converting Noni Maduke into a striker…
Former Arsenal attacker Perry Groves has been speaking on talkSPORT:
My sources tell me, and I’m not making this up, Gyokeres was a Gooner as a little kid. He’s always supported Arsenal, and it’s been well documented that he wants to come to us. That’s the most frustrating one because there will be a massive sigh of relief from our part of north London, we get a centre forward in, then that squad is looking unbelievably strong.
Regardless of whether Groves’ sources are correct, if Arsenal get a top striker deal over the line and renew Saka, Saliba and Nwaneri’s contracts, this transfer window will have been a good one. Add in Eze and Mosquera and it will have been even better.
There’s an excellent article again in The Athletic this morning about the Club World Cup, the final of which takes place later today. It’s worth reading.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino said of the tournament:
We can say definitely that this FIFA Club World Cup has been a huge, huge, huge success. After the final tomorrow, we will have (had) two or three billion viewers all over the world, watching the top, top, top-quality football featuring the best players in the best teams in the world.
Financially it might have been a success but as far as player welfare goes, I think it’s been cruel and unnecessary. I’ve watched about 50 minutes of the play and that was purely down to wanting to see PSG but as for the rest, no thank you. As for the best players and best teams, well I think that’s open for debate. As said before, I’m just glad Arsenal haven’t been involved in it.
England’s women kick off their final Euros group match tonight and they need a win against Wales. On paper, England should win comfortably but Wales have the dragon in them along with pride. So no, there will be no Club World Cup viewing for me tonight although I do hope PSG win comfortably.
Catch up in the comments…