Good morning. A really fast Friday weblog for you.
Let’s begin with information from the Netherlands that Arsenal and Ajax have agreed a price for defender Jurrien Timber. Dutch sources say the price shall be €42m with an additional €5m in add-ons. Edu loves his add-ons.
Assuming that’s on the extent, it looks as if an excellent worth for a highly-rated participant, not least as a result of Man Utd acquired squeezed to the max for Antony by the identical membership final summer time. To be honest, they did additionally get Lisandro Martinez for what appeared a way more cheap price, so maybe Ajax view defenders otherwise. Additionally, Martinez can’t do pointless circles, which is what you pay the large cash for, clearly.
Timber, as a right-back and right-sided centre-half, provides some high quality to that space of the pitch, and it’s fascinating to see what our defensive line-ups would possibly probably seem like subsequent season.
Proper-back: Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Proper centre-half: William Saliba, Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Left centre-half: Gabriel, Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Left-back: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jukub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu
I haven’t included Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney, as a result of I think that each might be very a lot within the departure lounge. With out them, it’s nonetheless a reasonably robust line-up of defenders. Tomiyasu is actually a Swiss Military Knife participant in that he can function in all the defensive positions. I do know he hasn’t actually performed proper centre-half for us, however he performs his worldwide soccer as a left-sided centre-half, and at a push he may positively shift over.
Is it sufficient although? I really feel it would simply be a bit gentle on the left-hand aspect, and we’ve got to acknowledge that each of Tomiyasu’s seasons with us have been beset by harm. I like him loads, and I feel he’s going to be an essential participant, however that’s not one thing you’ll be able to ignore. With issues going fairly quiet relating to Tierney and Newcastle, maybe he would possibly keep, however that’s a choice you must make considering how the participant would possibly really feel about one other season on the periphery of the primary workforce.
No person will get overly enthusiastic about defenders, however we noticed how the absence of 1 key participant impacted the aspect final season. It seems to be as if the transfer for Timber has been made in direct response to that, to provide us the standard and depth we want on that aspect. I simply fear just a little in regards to the left, and if we’re speaking accidents, it’s additionally honest to level out that Zinchenko has by no means gone by way of a Premier League marketing campaign with out some points himself. Even when Kiwior/Tomiyasu can fill that hole, a double-whammy harm like we had with William Saliba and Tomi final season would depart us a bit brief.
Little doubt it’s one thing the supervisor is effectively conscious of, however I think we’re now very a lot within the section of the summer time the place our consideration will flip to outgoings. To spend extra, we’re most likely going to must promote, and for me that is going to be an enchanting facet of this window. I feel Edu – in his position as Sporting Director (assisted by his personal workforce) – has demonstrated that he should purchase effectively, however that’s just one a part of his job. Producing income by maximising the worth of gamers we not take into account important to the undertaking is one other, and on this, I feel there’s nonetheless one thing to show.
The window is lengthy although, and there’s loads of time but, however it is going to be so fascinating to see how that a part of it goes. The fact of Arsenal’s previous couple of home windows have been vital outlays with out a lot coming in, and the cash you’ll be able to generate would possibly effectively allow you to perform a little bit extra out there.
Proper, I’m leaving it there for now. There’s a model new Arsecast obtainable beneath, get pleasure from that, and we’ll have any breaking information for you over on Arseblog Information.
