By Tony Attwood
Untold Arsenal has gathered together the transfer rumours published in the media during each transfer window for the last eight or nine years, and each summer we have found well over 100 players tipped by the media to be coming to Arsenal. And each season, only between two and three per cent of those players have actually arrived.
Of cours,e the media has then blamed Arsenal for being too slow, or too miserly or too unimaginative in not getting their men, although such arguments have become tougher to maintain in a period of three successive runners-up positions.
But we have had our fun pointing out the woeful inadequacy of the media in covering these issues, just as they have pointed out the woeful inadequacy of the club in bringing in players. Yet really, an accuracy rate of only around three percent really doesn’t say much for football journalism.
However, this summer it all seems to have changed and we seem to be running at half speed with only 60 players so far nominated as coming to Arsenal. So why is this? Could it be….
a) That Arsenal really are a lot more sure who they want and are not chasing 100+ possible players around the globe?
b) Given that between 97% and 98% of players nominated each summer in the past have never arrived, the media is getting a bit embarrassed by its annual failure to give us the actual news, with publishers telling writers to “get it right for once”.
c) The annual publication of our rumour list, with the revelation that only between 2% and 3% of the transfer rumours turn out to be true, has embarrassed the pundits, and they have pulled back on about half of their crazed stories.
We don’t know of course, although I think the last option is the least likely – I’ve never met any football journalist who actually cares when his predictions or reports are shown to be either woefully inadequate, or actually wrong.
But even so we do have some predictions, and here is the current table of incoming and then of outgoing players. According to the media.
Incoming players
Player Club Source Details
1 Alexandro Lille Metro Defender
2 Julian Alvarez Real Madrid Express Goal scorer
3 Kepa Arrizabalaga Chelsea Sky Sports; backup to Raya £5m. Deal done or About to sign Signed Already training with Arsenal Goal keeper
4 Carlos Augusto Inter Arsenal station;3 Added minutes Rotational defender
5 Johan Bakayoko PSV £20m, Football London Backup to Saka
6 Breno Bidon Corinthians Birmingham World
7 Jamie Bynoe-Gittens Borussia Dortmund Just Arsenal 20 year old winger
8 Geny Catamo Sporting CP Arsenal, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Fulham all want him Winger / wing back
9 Rayan Cherki Lyon TBR Forward
10 Luis Diaz Liverpool FFC Board can’t agree
11 Diomande Sporting CP Sport Witness Arsenal interest
12 Ederson Man City Caught Offside Midfield – discussions ongoing
13 Hugo Ekitike Eintracht Fran Teamtalk;TBR,Star. Liverpool and Chelsea both after himAFC considered. Arsenal interested
14 Anthony Elanga Nottingham Forest TBR (exclusive) About to sign
Update Eberechi Eze Attacking midfield FFC: £68m release clause. Medical passed. Terms agreed (Arsenal news)Arsenal station Deal accepted (Team Talk)Talks ongoing Reported as new news. Reported as new approach by Just Arsenal. AFC losing interest. No, not happening Yes it is on Arsenal pushing ahead. Interest reignited Ready to sign Still interested (Express) Key focus of Arsenal’s interest Arsenal still trying to do the deal Fresh Arsenal Palace willing
16 Malick Fofana Olympique Lyonnai Liverpool also interested. Football Talk
17 Joan Garcia Espanyol. Just Arsenal Or to Barcelona
18 Anthony Gordon Newcastle Give me Sport From “a very good source”
19 Vik. Gyokeres Sporting Arsenal news but Man U bidding The price has gone up. Liverpool offered more. AFC offered £70m (Team Talk). “No offer” (FFC) Really wants to come. He’s the no 1 target (FFC). Agreement reached (Givemesport). In London (TBR). And again. It’s agreed (Team talk) . rta is an admirer
20 Jorrel Hato Brentford Liverpool Echo. Talks ongoing Defender
21 Callan Hamill Loan to St Johnston ArseblogTBR Forward
22 Harvey Higgins Blackburn The 72 Centre forward
23 Joan Garcia Espanyol Goal. Going to Barcelona Just Arsenal Goal keeper
24 Jamie Gittens B Dortmund London World
25 Anthony Gordon Newcastle Givermesport Winger
26 Vik Gyokeres Sporting CP FFC; Star. Talksport. He might stay (FoLo) Working on it but Juve want him; he’s had a row with his club (Sun). Keen to join (Mirror). No agreement (London World). Definitely on (Arsenal news).Club is demanding £68m. He’s gone on leave (Arsenal News). New offer made (FFC)Speculation grows(Arsenal News) Terms agreed (GMS) Not not coming (FoLo). Deal stalled 442 Striker
27 Jorrel Hato Ajax Defender. London World
28 Alexander Isak Newcastle Talks about to happen (Express) Striker
NEW Nicolas Jackson Chelsea Arsenal turn down chance to buy him Hard Tackle
30 Konstantinos Karetsas Very close to signing (Sun) Midfield
31 Take Kudo Real Sociedad London World £50m release clause Right wing
32 Moise Kean Fiorentina Arsenal News Versatile forward
33 Mohammed Kudus. West Ham FFC.No, going to Tottenham
34 Take Kubo Real Sociedad London World Winger
35 Senne Lammens Royal Antwerp FFC Goal keeper
Update Ademola Lookman. Atalana TBR – AFC been in contact. Interest reignited. Fresh Arsenal. Interest reignited Club says he can leave Arsenal not interested Attacker
37 Noni Madueke. Chelsea Metro Personal terms agreed TBR. Terms agreed (Suburban) As underwhelming as you can get (SG) Terms agreed (TBR). AFC lost interest (FFC) Signed by AFC Winger
38 Randal Kolo Mani Juventus Teamtalk Forward
39 Bryan Mbeumo Brentford Arsenal station He’s chosen Man U!!!! (Just Arsenal) Forward
40 Cristian Mosquera Valencia Arsenal news; 3 Added Minutes Arsenal NewsBidding againTBRBid soonHe’s ready to leaveTeamTalk In London ready to sign. And GMS Spotted at airport Waiting to be announced About to sign Deal done About to sign (Guadian) Centre back
41 Christos Mouzakitis Olympiacos Sempremilan – Milan also interested Midfield
42 Kolo Muani. PSG Teamtalk Forward
43 Christopher Nkunku. Chelsea £35m offered Forward
44 Christian Norgaard Brentford Replace Thomas Partey. Talk Sport: “very odd”About to sign.SignedAbout to signSigning this week Defensive midfield
45 Darwin Nunez Liverpool Liverpool World Striker
46 Sverre Halseth Nypan Rosenborg The new Martin Odegaard. London World. His supposed deal with Villa has stalled. Midfield
47 Joao Palhinha Real Mad Arsenal interested but now walking away; Tottenham interested F365; Mirror
48 Igor Paixao Feyenoord Times Attack
Update Morgan Rodgers Aston Villa Sun. Arsenal seriusly interested in loan deal. Madrid universal Attacking midfield
Update Rodrygo Real Mad TBR, Teamtalk3 AddedPSG TalkFootball FancastDaily MailJust Arsenal, “No 1 target” (The Sun). £84m (FFC) Talks ongoing. Player in dispute with club . Arsenal say noArsenal walk away Deal has become complicated. Talks ongoing Walking away. Presented as a new story *8 Aug) – FFC He’s about to decide Still ongoing Forward
51 Benjamin Sesko RB Leipzig Caught ffside;TeamtalkStarGivemesport, London World (too) expensive). Still on (GMS). Liverpool want him (GMS again!) Talks. ongoing F365. “Don’t sign him” (Metro) He wants Arsenal (TBR). AFC only club talking. Still talking (FFC). Close (Arsenal station). Deal is on (FoLo)Almost done, Breakthrough. No he’s going to Man U No ManU not interested. €70 million; No 1 target
52 Leroy Sane Bayern Munich Give me sportTBR – he prefers AFC to THFC Canon, he prefers Arsenal Talks open (Sun) Now in talks Telegraph Right midfield
53 Xavi Simons Leipzis £60m. Express. But Chelsea interested Chelsea ahead,. No it is InterMilan No, AFC interneted Attaciking midfield
54 Ao Tanaka Leeds United Yorkshire Post Tipped by Declan Rice
55 Igor Tyjon, Blackburn £1m offer rejected by Blackburn FL World; the 72. Not for sale Attacker
56 Dusan Vlahovic Juventus Sport Witness Striker
57 Nico Williams Athletic Bilbao Sun; but salary a problem. No he’s not coming (again, the Sun). Wage demands too great (London World) Winger
58 Will Wright Salford City Caught offsideEmpireofthekopCanon Agreement reached (Arsenal News) Signed Striker
59 Kenan Yıldız Juventus Turkish Football Winger and striker
60 Martin Zubimendi Real Sociedad Mirror,GuardianExpress. Mail. London World No, he plays down move (Canon). Deal Signed Not done a medical (Sun). Closing in (Star) £51m. Agreed (Sport Witness) About to sign Agreed (GMS).In London SignedAbout to sign Agreed Terms; about to happen