Morning, a really fast Saturday weblog for you.
Chelsea have apparently rejected Arsenal’s opening bid for Kai Havertz. They’re all at it! Rejecting first bids right here, rejecting first bids there. Why even hassle with a primary bid? Simply go straight in along with your third, I reckon.
Clearly there wasn’t as a lot outcry about this primary bid being rejected as there was in regards to the West Ham one the opposite day. There are apparent explanation why. No person likes giving Chelsea cash, plus at this level it’s fairly troublesome to see what the plan is for Havertz. The place does he match on this group? I believe as a entrance three possibility, however fairly the place I’m unsure. All I’ll say although is that Mikel Arteta needs very particular issues from his signings, so it’s fairly attainable he’s seeing one thing on this participant that we haven’t but – no less than not in his time at Chelsea.
Additionally, I’d get pleasure from it if we did discover an settlement and needed to pay these horrible bastards precise cash, we did it with 1000’s of baggage of 5-pence items.
“It’s authorized tender, pal!”.
Elsewhere, a really attention-grabbing midfield story sees us linked with Southampton’s Romeo Lavia. He signed for Man Metropolis from Anderlecht, however joined the Saints final season, leaving his former membership with a buy-back clause. He did nicely there, regardless of their relegation, however is clearly too good for the Championship and more likely to be obtainable this summer season.
I do know everyone seems to be eager on Moises Caicedo, and I perceive why, however with stories that Brighton have put a price ticket of over £100m on him you could possibly additionally perceive why we is likely to be trying elsewhere. That Brighton man is a prime vendor, and he’s very not often one for compromise – particularly with regards to the switch payment. Lavia isn’t fairly as developed as Caicedo, however that will be mirrored within the value. If you consider a midfield roster subsequent season with Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice (🤞), Jorginho, Mo Elneny, and Romeo Lavia – with different gamers within the squad who might slot in there too – it’s fairly first rate sounding to me. Hopefully one to control.
Talking of Southampton, form of, Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ departure from Arsenal was confirmed this week. He spent final season on mortgage at St Mary’s, struggling the frustration at relegation, and along with his contract expiring his time at this membership is over.
I believe that someplace down the road he would possibly look again on the previous couple of years with some remorse. Bear in mind in Arteta’s early video games, he was performed as form of inverted right-back, a style of issues to come back, maybe. That chance was there due to harm to Hector Bellerin, and to be truthful to AMN, he did contribute to our FA Cup win in 2020, taking part in as a left wing-back within the semi and closing.
Nevertheless, he needed to play in midfield, and whereas I don’t know if he kicked up a fuss about it, there was that entire factor when his mortgage to Everton was nixed on the final minute and there was a little bit of a social media tantrum. He got here again, performed a bit in his favorite place, but it surely was by no means going to be a long run factor for Arteta. Or no less than a primary selection factor. The supervisor needed, and wanted, extra from gamers in that place, and I don’t suppose Maitland-Niles was ever the man to supply it.
The chance, as I noticed it no less than, was to be a full-back. I believe he had all of the qualities to have had an actual go at making that place his personal, however he needed one thing else. Which is truthful sufficient, I suppose. Nonetheless, he leaves with 132 appearances for his boyhood membership, an FA Cup winner’s medal, and a set of the good penalties you’ll ever see. Good luck to him wherever he goes.
@MaitlandNiles steps as much as the spot…
…you already know the remainder 🥶 pic.twitter.com/CfZZRDK6g6
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) June 16, 2023
Lastly for as we speak, for some additional studying, Jon Spurling displays on the profession of John Hollins, a participant who got here from Chelsea again within the day to make his mark in North London too. John handed away this week.
Have a fantastic Saturday people.
