TRANSFER ROUND-UP – REISS, ONANA, AND NETO

The January transfer rumors are picking up steam rapidly. Let’s do a little round-up, shall we?

AARON RAMSDALE WILL NOT LEAVE

This sort of rumor is always my favorite.

The ‘please don’t dare come bidding for a keeper we’re desperate to rid ourselves of’…

…’unless you gotta fat cheque, Newcastle United FC’

The only thing that slightly buttresses this sort of rumor is Ramsdale’s family members telling someone I know he’s not going anywhere this window. The person who shared the info didn’t know I’d put it on a blog, so no reason to lie.

I’m struggling to see who takes Ramsdale, but he has unique abilities and can play at a high level. I’d have been more confident in Newcastle signing him if Eddie Howe wasn’t so deep in the mess. Dubravka was pretty amazing against Liverpool as well. Arsenal will take money for him though, because we need to free up some cash on the books.

REISS NELSON TO WEST HAM

This one reared up a few days ago from the West Ham guy they call Ex (used to work at West Ham and is their elite ITK). The story is West Ham want him in the next 6 months. The player would probably quite like the move and West Ham could afford his salary. The only problem I can see here is we’d have to replace him in a tough window, and West Ham will probably try and get him on loan with a view to a perm buy.

I can’t see it happening in January if I’m honest.

PEDRO NETO

John Cross is saying Toney, Zubimendi and Neto. Three players we’ve been linked with a lot. Our forward line could do with a speed demon / close-control monster like the Spaniard. My worry, as ever, is that he’s a total crock and his numbers don’t exactly scream output machine.

Our biggest problem for the last three seasons has been a combo of Arteta overloading players and those players crumbling. I don’t want to have an 11 next season that plays together twice because we insist on not looking at injury records when we buy players.

Neto doesn’t stay fit. No point in being talented on the injury room table.

AMADOU ONANA OF EVERTON

Listen, I like this player. He really is the next level when it comes to power and pace. If he’s coming in to replace Eleneny, maybe. But I’m not sure he’s quite at the level to be additive to our midfield. We’re better than just pure power and pace. So I’m not sure this rumor is really going anywhere for me.

MARQUINHOS TERMINATED

The player we thought was the next Martinelli has flopped in Nantes. It’s not looking good, bruv. I can’t see him making it at Arsenal. He’s tanking these loan moves like that pizza-eating dough boy Wellington from way back when.

LEFT BACKERY

The big story seems to be that the key player they want this window is a left back. We cannot stop buying fullbacks, it’s an addiction, Arteta collects them like trophies. I wish, at some point, we’d be free of needing to talk about signing defenders.

That said, it is clear, that after signing 52 defenders in 4 years, we are short.

Not sure where we find one. The loan market is usually pretty garbage, you don’t get many bargains in January, and there’s not much chance the leftback will slip into the new system and help us.

CONCLUSION

Still feel like transfers this window are unlikely. A defender definitely feels like the most likely, but outside a Kiwior type buy, I’m not holding out too much hope.

Stay tuned though, we have players to sell, and a Sporting Director who likes spending cash/money.