The transfer window – IS OPEN!!

Attention shoppers, the European transfer window is now officially open. Okay, it was actually open yesterday but with all the hoopla around Spain it may have been missed. Red light specials are across Europe and Arsenal have a few goodies (or baddies depending on your view) hanging in the window.

The opening of the window means that the contracts of both Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud kicked in. It also mean (trumpets please) that Manuel Almunia who was released by the club in late May/early June – is officially not an Arsenal player any more. After watching Spain and all that talent on display leave it to Arsenal to find the only one without any talent. But I digress. The release of the Spanish keeper removes approximately £3 million off the wage rolls and begins what many Gooners hope will be the culling of the heard of the dead wood.

The list below we haveused before to show how much Arsenal could save by getting rid of all the players listed and identified as potential transfers. It should be mentioned all the figures are speculative and gathered via multiple sources.

For the purposes of this conversation its here just to remind us of those players and cover off on the news we’ve heard so far.

Also just to set the table, people seem to be getting worried because players are back at Arsenal after loan deals expired. I am not sure why this surprises anyone. These players were out on loan. Since they have not been signed by other clubs and the loan period has officially ended, they have to contractually report to their parent club. Nothing wrong here and it doesn’t mean the intent of either the player or the club has changed.

Nicklas Bendtner.

The world’s greatest striker  – at least in his own mind. Had by all accounts a stellar Euro 2012.  It definitely put him on the radar and likely expanded the quantity and quality of clubs willing to take a look at him.  This much seems certain, Nicky B is off.

A sale seems the most likely with his stock riding so high. Realistically it looks like fees of around £8-£10 million should be what the club can expect for him. Remember, even though his national team form has been great, his club form has been mediocre at best. So anyone expecting some exorbitant amount for the Great Dane is sadly mistaken.  Still in the end I think he’s gone well before the window closes.  Likely destination in my opinion, Germany.  That being said wouldn’t be surprised if a mid- to low-table Prem club try to snatch him up.

Maourane Chamakh.

Where Chamakh winds up remains a big mystery. When the Olivier Giroud deal with Montpellier was starting to get traction it looked like Chamakh could be included as a make weight in the deal. Well, Giroud is here and so is Marouane Chamakh.

Like many of the ‘deadwood crew’ Chamakh’s weekly wages are winding up being a hinderance to his departure. It is clear that he has failed to impress and the club seem bent on getting rid of him. However, he is not likely to let up on his wage demand. The options here and likely for a few other of these players is for the club to lower the fee they are looking for to offset the weekly salary or to come up with some sort of buy out. Neither of these in my opinion seem like palatable options to the money misers at Arsenal. If Chamakh can’t be moved via sale then it is likely a season long loan – in France probably – will happen.

Andrei Arshavin.

In the early look of the Euros it seemed to many that Andrei had returned to his 2008 form and was carrying Russia through the tournament. The prospect of Andrei’s value going through the roof again looked likely. Especially since both the player and his home town club, Zenit St. Petersburg looking to make a deal.

Then after Russia missed out on the knockout round of the Euros, Andrei had to go an open his mouth. Now if you know Andrei, Andrei speaks his mind and is very opinionated.  Well, what he had to say coming out of the Euros was lets just say he slammed Russian fans. And let’s put it this way Zenit nor the Russian FA were pleased.

So right now Andrei rejoins Arsenal. I’m not really sure whether Wenger wants him gone or not.  I do think that if the right offer comes in for him (around £6-£8 million) he’ll be off.  Zenit were keen and I am sure once the Euros are further in the distance they may come to their senses. He was more effective there in Russia than he was ever here in England.

Sebastien Squillaci.

He is a goner.  Word is that he was in France working on a deal with Ligue 1 newcomers Bastia.  There is no story here, Arsenal gambled on him and it failed. He was woeful 9 times out of 10 for the Gunners and everyone, player and club want to end this quicker than not.

Johann Djourou.

Ah, JD. Two seasons ago you filled in at CB along side new comer Laurent Koscielny and the pair were a solid tandem. Then you went and hurt your shoulder and well, you never got back your form. We can forgive you for crapping up the place as a 3rd string RB. You aren’t a RB. But the fact remains even in your sparingly used time as a CB you were hit and miss.

Johann Djourou’s swiss head coach told anyone who would listen that Djourou’s spot on the national team is in jeopardy because of a lack of playing time. Arsenal seem okay to hold on to him as a 4th option at CB but should an offer come in for him wouldn’t be against selling him.

That offer could come from Italy. Napoli to be exact. Yes, I know everyone said Juve. Juve are not a destination for JD if he leaves Arsenal. Napoli are looking to add depth to their squad. They do have a few swiss players in their team already and JD would likely be at home there. Plus the speed of the game in Italy might be better suited to his style. I think this link to Napoli will be come clearer once the deal for Lavezzi to PSG is completed.  Then look for Napoli to take the money they make on the deal and turn it around to add further depth their squad.

Carlos Vela.

I was never a Carlos Vela fan. I never got sucked in by his every so often chips in goal. I don’t know what it was but I just never felt he seemed to be of the Arsenal mold. Well, seems Carlos thinks the same as he has asked his agent to make sure he doesn’t go back.

Real Sociedad of La Liga where he spent last season on loan look the leaders in landing him but are hesitant to pay Arsenal’s asking price of around £6 million.  Members of Real Sociedad’s back off office have been reportedly back and forth to hammer out a deal with Arsenal. This is another I think gets done and soon.

Denilson.

This is another question mark. The rumour is that he wants to stay at Sao Paulo and Sao Paulo want him to stay. Sound familiar? Also the club looks like they want to sell him. Again, the hold up is fee and weekly salary. This is being worked on and likely will be decided in the coming weeks.

The rest.

The future for the rest is uncertain. Chu-Young Park looks likely to go after opting for Military Service (or something like that). Given the fact that he hasn’t worked out AT ALL – he’ll likely be gone one way or the other. Lukas Fabianski has asked to be released and that too looks likely provided Arsenal can find a good deal. The others, well, who knows. Loans are likely as are selling.

The club are restructuring themselves both on the wage front and talent front. Now there is a mix of older, experienced talent as well as some promising youth but the team doesn’t look like it will skew more to the lower end of the 20’s. This squad will be older and better equipped to handle the rigors of the Premier League and a title challenge.

No, this doesn’t mean we are moving away from the identification of promising young talent. Rather it means someone looks like they have learned that an over reliance on youth gets you very little. The good that was seen last season bringing in more proven talent has shown what that can bring.

The additional team tweaks, i.e. – necessary departures and other talent brought in are steps in the right direction.

The window is now open all across Europe. The Euros are over – team practices begin in two weeks (or there abouts) – summer is about to get interesting again.