With Saliba signed, what is Arsenal’s next defensive move?

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Last week we spoke about how the William Saliba contract negoations could delay our defensive recruitment this summer, and that is was essential for Edu and the team to quickly get the situation resolved.

Edu must read our blogs because 48 hours after we hit publish, it was announced a new deal for Saliba.

So what do we expect to now happen?

No new central defender

Arsenal were always looking at a defensive reinforcement this summer. But just the one.

It was either someone to cover Saliba in he centre of defence, or an extra full back that would allow Ben White to play centrally if required.

The plan last season (is it now last season or still this?) was to have White as Saliba’s covver, and Takehiro Tomiyasu coming it at right back.

Saliba and Tomiyasu both getting injured at the same time led to Rob Holding coming into the centre of the defence, and the gulf in class was startling.

Holding has been a great servant to the club, but his attributes do not make him a suitable replacement for Saliba.

With Saliba’s new deal, and the recruitment of Jakub Kiwior, the plan for next season will be the same as this – White to cover Saliba.

And that will mean no new central defensive signing.

New full back

The expectation is Kieran Tierney will be sold. Tomiyasu will then become first choice cover at both right back and left back.

to then avoid being in the same situation as this season, we will look to recruit a 3rd right back into the squad (who will become 2nd choice right back if Tomiyasu is on the left).

Ivan Fresneda certainly has the attributes to be a like for like cover for White. With a reported £17m release clause, it is a deal we could get done quiet quickly.

We have also been heavily linked with Timothy Castagne. The Leicester City full back is also available at around £17m.

Castagne would bring 3 years of Premier League experience, as well as a further 3 in Serie A.

What makes Castagne attractive is his versatility.

Predominantly a right back, the Belgian has played 75 games on the left flank. His attributes are not too dissimilar to Tomiyasu, and his recruitment would see us having two full backs that are comfortable on either side.

I think at the time of writing, Castagne could be the deal that is done.

And do not forget about Declan Rice

Going into the season with 3 specialist centre backs would be a risk.

Looking at the defensive group, we would have 3 central defenders and 4 full backs, with two of those full backs able to play centrally.

And then we have Declan Rice.

Some pundits have often thought that in a better team, Rice would end up as a central defender.

Whilst I do expect we have bought him to replace Granit Xhaka further up the field, it can not be ignored that he can also play in the centre of the defence.

In an emergency, you can certainly see Rice playing in the middle of our defence and Jorginho or Emile Smith Rowe playing in the 8.

3 dedicated central defenders might feel short, but we would actual have 6 centreback options (if we sign Rice):

Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, White, Tomiyasu, Rice.

Tying up the Saliba contract so quickly is great news. It means that we now know where we are going into next season, and can accelerate or plans for defensive reinforcments.

Expect deals to happen quickly.

Keenos

Saliba with a side of Rice as Edu begins to cook

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The weekend was BBQ weather, and Edu was back at the coals cooking.

There had been talk last week that Arsenal and William Saliba were not far from agreeing terms on a new deal. And whilst must of us were sitting in the sunshine having a few rum cocktails, the news broke.

Saliba is one of the best young central defenders in world football. There were some naysers trying to create the narrative that he was unhappy at Arsenal due to his loan deal to Marsielle. That he did not like Mikel Arteta.

The new deal shows that these people really do not know what they are talking about. And that they are happy to try and distabalise the club sharing fake news to gain YouTube hits.

They have a wierd hatred for Mikel Arteta and will do whatever they can online to try and undermine him. It is odd behaviour.

The Saliba deal has come shortly after Bukayo Saka committed his future to the club. Aaron Ramsdale and Gabriel have also both signed new deals and Martin Odegaard is set to follow in their footsteps. These are huge positives for the club.

We are in a similar position to 2008. A team of talented young players who overachieved and could have won the league.

After the 2007/08 season, we struggled to keep hold of our best players. Manchester City, Barcelona, Manchester United and others came in for our stars, snapped them up, and gave them success and money.

This time is different. We are tying down our best players to new deals.

One thing of note is both Saka and Saliba only signed 4-year deals. That basically means we could have just 2 more years with them both.

If in 2025, we are not still a competitive side, winning trophies, I expect both to move on.

You can easily see Saliba at Real Madrid and Saka at City. It is now about Edu, Arteta and the rest of them to recruit and coach players that will lead us to success. It will also be down to Saliba and Saka to continue improving us and lead us to glory.

So what next?

Well Edu is currently boiling up some rice inside to go with the BBQ. And it will be ready soon.

I think the only people that do not expect Declan Rice to join Arsenal is West Ham fans. They are a little deluded over the fact. I even saw one say “pay Rice £500k a week and give him a 10-year deal. He will stay then.”

Sorry to break it to you mockney bastards, but he is fed up with being in relegation battles. He no longer wants to play for a fickle fan base that call forn the manager and boards head every other week.

Rice wants to play for a stable, forward thinking club that plays at the top level. Winning the European Johnstone’s Paint Trophy is beneath him.

We have England internationals this week, so do not expect a deal to be done over the next fortnight.

My gut is Rice will want his future tied up not too soon after those England games. He can then go on holiday, relax, before turning up to The Arsenal for the first day of training.

Have a good Monday.

Keenos

Perfect storm could lead to record Prem transfer spend

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I think we are in for a very interesting transfer window. And one where an absolute fortune could be spent by Premier League clubs.

Let’s start at the top with Manchester City.

City will do City things. They will spend £150-200m on 2-3 players. They will probably recruit Josko Gvardiol for £70million or more, adding another big money central defender to their squad.

They will look to offset that with the departure Aymeric Laporte. I would not be surprised to see him flogged to another Premier League club for £40m+.

Laporte could be a transfer target for Tottenham.

And I think that is what we will see in the Premier League this season. A lot of teams selling players to each other which will drive up the expenditure.

Speculation is increasing that Harry Kane could be off to Real Madrid. This will be one of the few transfers that sees a top player leave the Premier League.

Tottenham will then be in the same situation as they were in 2013 when they sold Gareth Bale – having a big chunk of cash that they will look to quickly reinvest.

Laporte will be on that list, and they are also being linked with Harry Maguire. James Maddison will also be a target, and they will need a striker to replace Harry Kane. All 3 are examples of money staying within the Premier League.

Can we see some of the Kane money go north of the border? Ange Postecoglou going in for his former Celtic player Kyogo Furuhashi, who will then be back up for Richarlison? Or could they take the risk and go for Lukaku?

West Ham will sell Declan Rice to Arsenal for around £80-90million. They will then need to recruit to replace. They are already looking at James Ward-Prowse and Fulham’s Palhinha. They will probably have to spend £40-50m on these, which in turn gives Southampton / Fulham £50m to splash out.

Another target is Chelsea’s Conor Gallagher.

Chelsea are set for a huge summer clear out. They have a bloated squad and are already close to their financial brink. That will lead to a fire sale.

Matteo Kovacic already looks City bound, and N’Golo Kante is off to Saudi Arabia, these will both be free transfers.. Chelsea will look to raise fees from the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Cristian Pulisic, Kai Havertz, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Chelsea will also look to cash in on home-grown players such as Mason Mount, Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah, Ruben Loftus Cheek, Levi Colwill and Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Those sales could generate a lot of money, and could allow Todd Boehly to make even more overpriced signings. Can see Moises Caicedo heading to Chelsea for big, big money.

Brighton will be one of those clubs that benefits from the money merry-go-round.

They have already generated £45m-ish from the sale of Alexis Mac Allister to Liverpool. Caicedo also has one step out the door and expect bids to come in for Kaoru Mitoma. they could easily raise in excess of £200m in transfer sales this summer – with the majority of that coming from other Premier League clubs.

Do not be surprised if they use much of those funds to sign a few Chelsea boys. Gallagher (if he does not go West Ham), Colwill and Hudson-Odi all have the profile of Chelsea players.

And this is where it gets fun.

Brighton have spent the last few years celebrating selling their players for a premium. Being tough negotiators. But the shoe will be on the other foot if they want to sign players for Chelsea.

I can see a situation where Brighton hold out for £100m for Caicedo, and then Chelsea get their revenge by demanding huge fees for Colwill and Hudson-Odi.

You then have Newcastle…

Up to this point, their transfer business has been fairly sensible. No real superstars signed. Mainly players looking to step up a level. Could that change this summer?

Financially backed by Saudi Arabia, and now with Champions League football, they are a much more attractive destination for players than they were 12 months ago.

James Maddison and Kieran Tierney are just two players that are being linked with a move to the North-East. The pair would cost around £80-90m combined. And this is just another example of money being spent within the Premier League.

Arsenal and Leicester City selling those players will give them additional funds to spend on players themselves.

We then come full circle as Arsenal need to shift a few players, and Tierney is one of them.

If the club secures Rice, they will have to sell the likes of Tierney, Balogun and Emile Smith Rowe to finance their £200m summer.

Tierney to Newcastle? Balogun to West Ham? Smith Rowe to Brighton?

The final figure at the end of the transfer window could be astronomic. But it will mainly be the same money going from Club A to Club B who then sign a player from Club C who in turn buy someone from Club A.

Enjoy your Sunday.

Keenos