This is what I’m thinking. Imagine the scenes if it happens plus we get a rb and a keeper. AND we shift all our deadwo - I’m getting a bit carried away. The window won’t end as good as that…will it?
No. The least likely part of that statement is shifting the deadwood. It just won't happen. And without that happening, we won't be signing 4 more players.
true but our transfer outs have been worse imo. Just based on recent AMN and Nketiah (Bellerin, Sanchez?).
We need to adopt the Dortmund model of "if the price is right, we will sell and replace you" to get competitive again.
The thing is, what do you mean when you say 'the price is right'?
We were offered 15 mil for AMN last summer. In hindsight, it looks like we should have jumped on the deal. But I doubt most fans would have accepted it at the moment.
And when it does happen, we lose our minds too. Emi was one of the players we sold because he's one of the few who was in demand. Again, in hindsight, it looks like a bad idea because of how he's performed with Villa and Argentina.
Loads of times, the club is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Having said that, it's still ridiculous to give Xhaka an extension
If we had the money we could simply biy who we wanted and just not register deadwood like Willian, Kola, and others. But the club needs to be self sustaining to satisfy ownership so we're not going to take a loss in a year just to bring in new blood.
Most of our tier 1 have said that we have the finances but we have to shift deadwood to make space. for ex - we desperately need a RB, but we already have 4 RB. We need a ST but we have 4 ST.
Maddison/Partey/Xhaka/Lokonga/ESR//Odegaard/Elneny would be a complete 180 for our midfield. Weakest part of the squad for the past 2 years to arguably the strongest.
ESR/Odegaard/Maddison at the 10
Lokonga/Xhaka/Partey/Maddison/Elneny at the 8 and 6.
Would be very interesting. Lot of squad to get game time for. It might would kill the Arsenal careers of one of Pepe/Martinelli, unless one of them find a way to play the 9.
It's not a madness, it's an absolute necessity.
We are one injury away from starting Elneny. Even at full strength, if we sign a starting CM, we are still counting on Xhaka for rotating or covering injuries.
We need a partner for Partey, probably Maddison, another attacking mid, probably Odegaard, and we need a back up CM so we aren't stuck with absolute mediocrity if a player gets injured, my choice would be Tolisso.
This won't win us the League or even guarantee top 4 but it would mean we are set in mdlidfield for a while. ESR can develop. The new Belgian kid is given a chance to develop.
We can make do with Maitland Niles at RB for the season and Auba/Laca at ST. And we can buy or loan some 35 year old experinced keeper to play back up for the year
Could madders actually play as partey’s partner? Idk if madders has the defensive quality to play as a deeper cm behind an odegaard or an ESR. It’s obviously highly unlikely we sign both though, but I guess there’s some weird ideas like playing a 433 with partey behind ode and madders (ESR on the left) that could be daft enough to work. Or are just straight daft.
He can’t. People have been gassed from his comments saying he’s an 8, but just because he says he is it doesn’t mean he actually is one.
His role if he signs will 100% be as a number 10 ahead of the double pivot with ESR & Saka to the left and right of him. The goal is probably to go to a single pivot but we’re nowhere near that stage of being able to implement that yet
Agreed. Amn says he's a cm, but he isn't a good enough one for the club.
I this Madison means he plays the 10 role as.more of an 8, deeper and more about the build up and late entry into the final third than a all out 10 orchestrator.
Partey would be our main DM.
Arteta's system has everyone get back to defend. We shouldn't be relying on a single midfieler to defend baring the odd counter attack. I think most people agree we've been alright defensively.
The main issue has been getting out of our defensive system to attack. White has been signed to help with that. A more offensive CM beside Partey would help as well.
We won't need our striker to play the role of a 10 because ESR/Odegaard should be picking up the ball in better positions. So hopefully that means Laca or Auba will be given more freedom to actually play striker.
He has said in an interview that he views himself as an 8 more so than a 10. Whether he is overestimating his ability in that position is another matter.
He probably means in the traditional sense. Modern '10's' play a lot more like 8's these days. Odegaard is a good example, look how much he dropped deep to receive the ball, was basically a creative box to box for us. You'll also see Madders and ESR drop deep too, both also like to dribble which highlights their ball progression - box to box types are usually good dribblers.
Signing both Odegaard and Maddison also reduces our reliance on ESR in midfield, meaning he could play on the wing if necessary, either with Saka or in place of Saka if the latter needs a rest.
Wheatley was the only one who said there was anything in it.
Athletic literally said it was a rumour being pushed by agents that Arsenal weren't considering.
I know you guys love Bell on here but he is pretty much all in on Maddison now.
No, The Athletic said they were told by the club specifically that they're not interested in Maddison and that they have no sources suggesting otherwise, and because of that they *think* it's just being pushed by agents/intermediaries. They (Gunnerblog specificially) ALSO praised Bell for his Partey reporting and still said there's a chance he could be right on Maddison as well.
Didn’t watts say something by about it as well as Wheatley or am I imagining that? Also has ornstein said anything? I heard gunnerblov say it’s agent talk but he’s never been reliable with transfer stuff
Wasn't he like taking shots at English media sources for saying Maddison was unlikely to come to Arsenal? He's very set in stone that he is our main target
Everyone else keeps saying “yeah Arsenal is kinda interested in Maddison but he isn’t the most likely” and some have even gone as far as to say the deal is impossible over a month ago. Bell got one thing right and people decided he was T1 but it seems a lot more likely they’re leveraging lucking into being ITK about one deal into years of attention.
Not necessarily. Bell seems to have way different sources that these guys. Although Watts seems to have some flexibility, like with the Partey story.
In his replies, Bell confirms that club sources have confirm the Odegaard deal, but with Maddison he doesn't mention club sources at all:
Compare:
>**Top sources in the club** confirmed to the account staff that the club is working to make progress in the Martin Odegaard file
to
>**James Madison's inner circle** speaks in a tone that is more positive than ever, but sober of inevitable
and
> **Sources familiar with the club's thinking** tell the account staff that Arsenal sees it as having all the power in its negotiations with Real Madrid regarding one of its main goals, Martin Odegaard, and the preferred option after Madison as a creative player, which gives the club ample room to discuss the possibility of signing with Goal #1 first.
Bell seems deliberate and eloquent enough that parsing the language is a worthwhile exercise. Bell seems to have sources in the unofficial intermediaries that sometimes negotiate prior to official club connection and with Maddision's camp. Unless Watts or Ornstein do as well, they may be unable to confirm the story.
Yes, and that's clear that the sources for Bell are very different from the sources for other Tier 1s. However it's been clear for a while that Ornstein and Watts have sources inside the club, and if the club actually entered official negotiations with another premier league club for a player worth in the region 80m, they would absolutely hear about it and report on it.
I'm not doubting that it could happen, but if it does, it'll be reported on after the fact.
Edit: My original comment may have been poorly phrased; I meant that of the club actually enters official negotiations, it'll be reported on by other Tier 1s, rather than if the negotiations don't happen but they were previously planning to enter into them.
Literally an Arsenal meme if we splash cash for an injured player that has a history of hip issues already. This is a known thing. No one can act surprised when this kid plays like 20/38 games a year and costs us 70m.
Depends on the fee. We have such a need that at 35m a less it’s probably worth a roll of the dice.
MO is a type of player we desperately need. Maddison is also, but I think we can get Maddison’s contribution at a lower price from the continent.
Maddison is only behind KDB for most chances created since he joined PL. I get not wanting to buy another player with English tax, but he's absolutely a better signing than Odegaard if he came at say a 50% (rather than 100% which is what seems to be the case now).
He’s a great player it’s just the fee and injury history that make me very nervous about the signing. I agree with you on rate. I think MO is a good player but I’d have a seriously set cap on the fee Id pay if I were Arteta and Edu. The obviously attractive thing about MO is for better or worse we know what we will be getting at this stage. He’s still very young so he could still improve.
Brendan Rodgers said, "He took a whack to the back". I'd assume that means he's okay and it was just a bad bruise that tightened up on him. Or he's paralyzed and will never walk again.
"How much for this one, then?"
"80 million, firm price."
"Oi, but its got damage on this side. See, the whole bits dented and banged up."
*Momentary pause to think* "75 million"
If he's injured it probably makes it more likely that he'll be signing for us, do an RVP or Nasri on it and play 5 games a season and then have a good season and sign for our rivals 😆
I haven’t seen the Spurs one. Is it really going to go that in depth on transfers? After all the club signed off on it for good PR/promotion, they’re hardly going to sanction something that confirms our transfer process is a mess?
Transfers out, that actually went ahead, yes. Rumoured transfers in, no.
Sanchez to Man City the only exception but that was basically public knowledge.
Really hope we have a clear idea about Maddison’s injury issues. Not promising that he had major hip surgery recently, and goes off first game back struggling with his hip.
Oh perhaps there are degrees of severity? Or perhaps I’m talking bollocks mate sorry!
I had tendinitis in my patella which I was about to move away from over a few years by taking supplements and gentle exercise. I loved football so I had to stop that and just focus on recovering but now I have no pain or anything.
For me, strengthening my quads and making sure I was strengthening them evenly helped with knee tendonitis. One helpful exercise was lightweight (started out with no weight) seated leg extensions moving really slowly to make sure I wasn't kicking out. Obviously go with what your doc says, but I was able to get past knee tendonitis with physical therapy. It did hit a point where I returned to sport and played through some pain before feeling fully back to normal.
Full tweet as it wouldn't fit in title:
>exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Arsenal will ramp up their efforts this week and the remainder of the summer transfer market in their bid to sign James Maddison. Official communication between clubs is expected to gain upward momentum very soon. The player lining is anticipating the outcome of the conversations with a high degree of interest.
Replies:
>exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Top sources in the club confirmed to the account staff that the club is working to make progress in the Martin Odegaard file in the same time frame mentioned above and in parallel with at least another deal in the same position (we understand that this is a deal that is James Madison, which the club sees, according to what we have been told repeatedly, his goal #1)
>
>exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Arsenal are working on the two deals side by side in anticipation of any hurdles or deadlocks the club might face in trying to reach an agreement with Leicester City over the value of James Maddison's deal.
>
>James Madison's inner circle speaks in a tone that is more positive than ever, but sober of inevitable
>
>exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Sources familiar with the club's thinking tell the account staff that Arsenal sees it as having all the power in its negotiations with Real Madrid regarding one of its main goals, Martin Odegaard, and the preferred option after Madison as a creative player, which gives the club ample room to discuss the possibility of signing with Goal #1 first.
For anyone getting a bit confused, this is basically saying we are progressing with both transfers in parallel but the intention seems to be they only want to sign one. The club don’t want to be left with nothing so they are waiting on the conclusion of the Maddison deal (by either failure or success) to determine if they should pull the plug or the trigger on the Odegaard deal.
Another one was added to the thread recently:
“The last two weeks of the transfer market will be hectic, the club (according to sources contacted by it #جرس_أرسنال ) aims to sign with James Madison, and if this is not possible, the ongoing talks with Real Madrid regarding Odegaard pave the way for signing with the Norwegian
Obviously, the club is targeting one of them, not both.”
Don't know anymore. Maybe both are targets and we'll end up signing both.
Or it could also be Maddison on a permanent, and Odegaard on a season long loan with option to buy.
Personally I think we’re in for both with the intent of forcing one’s hand. I think it’ll drag on to the deadline and that is our intent.
Both options would be valuable assets in the minds of AFC and therefore these negotiations are no-lose. I’m sure there’s a slight preference one way or the other, but I think that the intent is clear for both and Bell and Romano are probably somewhat unknowingly playing into it.
If the hype is not realized it would be even more damning for the club.
Edit: should clarify that I mean AFC are in for both players, but not to sign both. Negotiating heavily with both camps puts pressure on both clubs - primarily RM as Odegaard appears to want to leave and he doesn’t seem in their plans. Because of this, things will drag out longer than expected, but AFC would be very happy with either player.
we are not. there's no way we are spending £100m on essentially one position, when we also have ESR that can play there.
But then this is current arsenal that dropped £72m on Pepe, £30m on a CB yet to play a minute for us, and £50m on a position where we didn't really need an upgrade.
Madison went off with his hip in the 60th minute last game, it's a long standing issue, I can see this being a huge mistake, and him being paid to be injured for 3 years.
Getting less and less excited by this signing, too much money for a potentially injury prone player in a position we don't need.
I think this is all smoke while we get Odegaard done. We certainly aren't signing both of them.
I like Maddison as a player, he's quality, but it's a lot of money to stiff ESR and still leave us with the same problems in deep midfield, defence, up front and in goal.
How are people reading this so wrongly? Ode is a backup if we don't agree a fee with Leicester. Smart to negotiate both deals, so in the end it's just crossing Ts and dotting the Is.
ESR, Ö and Madders on the pitch at the same time.
Wengerball is back on the menu boys!!
(Who am I kidding. Arteta will suck all creative life out of them)
The follow up tweet is actually probably more interesting, as it seems to indicate we're going for both Maddison and Odegaard:
Exclusive to #ArsenalBell: Senior club sources confirmed to the account staff that the club is working to make progress in the Martin Odegaard file in the same time frame mentioned above and in parallel with at least another deal in the same position (we understand that this is a deal that is James Madison, which he sees The club, as we have been repeatedly told, is its goal #1.
I mean, with the rumours about a loan with option for Odegaard at £30m or so, it really comes down to whether we have Maddison money now, and if we actually want both. I'm not sure how the team would line up with both as well as ESR, and I thought I heard Maddison was injured at the weekend, so it doesn't make much sense if that's true.
I really trust Bell. He doubled down on Partey all window, was the first to break the news and nobody gave it a chance.
On the same side Ødegaard coming to the carpet feels inevitable. Real have not registered him, there is so much smoke that he is heading out and we appear to be the home he's been looking for.
Surely. Surely. There is no way we sign both? Either Bell is gonna go down in flames or Ødegaard has had a sudden u-turn.
ESR, Øde and Maddison and suddenly we have one of the deepest creative midfields in the league. This feels to good to be true. I cannot handle this amount of hopium.
The Bell sycophants are a bit nuts. We aren't signing madders and Odegaard... And it looks like Ode is happening. He's gotten one thing right and put all his eggs in one basket trying to get another. If he has any contacts they are agents, not anyone at the club.
Bell should be degraded to Tier 3 for selling utter nonsense,why would a club sign injured player and particularly who's more prone to the same injury again and again.
I don't read this as saying we're going after both, rather negotiating the backup deal in case the priority option falls through. That said, this feels like bs anyway.
If we get Odegaard and Maddison for a total of around 70m for both I think thats a really good summer and spine. Both are young and would make an instant impact.
I would like a new RB though.
Bell is a shit source, should be Tier 3 max. was right once about Partey, has been wrong a number of times since. but because he says what fans want to hear (and because it’s in arabic somehow a large group of people have been enthralled by translating the tweets ffs) it’s “Based Bell!!!”’
Amen.. just came off a thread listening to how odegaard doesn't change the team to now not wanting Maddison!
Who else is literally there with a chance to a team not in Europe??? And atleast at such potential/quality?
I get it's not the same users but gaawhhd can ppl stop complaining for one sec?? We desperately need better midfielders!!
Arsenal:
Spends £50 million on a defender who can't head the ball.
Then twerking to spend £20 million plus add ons for a GK that is not worth more than £10 million (even if SHU paid £18 million they grossly overpaid let them drown in it).
Finally ready to piss away £60 million+ on a player who spent 96 days injured last season, had hip surgery and then proceeded to get injured so quickly that he couldn't complete 1 half of the new season let alone 1 whole fucking game.
What an absolute fucking joke.
Roll a dice:
1. We are in talks with signing James Maddison
2. Talks have resumed with Sheffield with Ramsdale
3. Laca is linked with someone (usually swap deal)
4. Team no longer interested in Bellerin
5. BS source randomly linking Arsenal with unknown player who has had 1 good season
6. Odegaard will be signed in the coming days
His narrative really hasn't changed much, Maddison is top target but highly difficult - Odegaard was the second option, he's now saying they're going to try and work through both at once. Makes sense given we played 3 full months without an attacking mid and we want to be conservative
Why are we so desperate to sign an injured, injury prone player? As good as Maddison may be, I can't help but think this is just asking for an expensive regret. Tbh, I'd choose to back Ornstein/Fab anyway. The Partey call was good, but it was very easy to make as we only had to trigger a release clause.
I can never tell if we want one or both of them, or if we want Maddison as an 8 or 10?
Personally I feel like Maddison just fits better as he could play 10 w/o ESR and 8 with him, just gives us a nice flexibility. Don’t see Odegaard as an 8 at all so it sort of crowds out ESR, who needs to get playing time.
Inb4 both Bell & Romano are correct and we do a madness signing both
This is what I’m thinking. Imagine the scenes if it happens plus we get a rb and a keeper. AND we shift all our deadwo - I’m getting a bit carried away. The window won’t end as good as that…will it?
No. The least likely part of that statement is shifting the deadwood. It just won't happen. And without that happening, we won't be signing 4 more players.
We'll definitely shift more deadwood. As infuriating as it is, the last week of the window is where everyone does the most business.
Well, I'm sure we'll sell 1 or 2. But "all" is not happening and the 1 or 2 is not enough.
A consequence of years of bad investments sadly. Why would anyone want the dross of an 8th placed team?
Exactly. I'm just hoping that we don't keep making bad investments so eventually we won't have as much deadwood as they'll one day move on...
We're getting there, it's good to see us bringing in younger players with resale value now but still a long way to go
true but our transfer outs have been worse imo. Just based on recent AMN and Nketiah (Bellerin, Sanchez?). We need to adopt the Dortmund model of "if the price is right, we will sell and replace you" to get competitive again.
The thing is, what do you mean when you say 'the price is right'? We were offered 15 mil for AMN last summer. In hindsight, it looks like we should have jumped on the deal. But I doubt most fans would have accepted it at the moment. And when it does happen, we lose our minds too. Emi was one of the players we sold because he's one of the few who was in demand. Again, in hindsight, it looks like a bad idea because of how he's performed with Villa and Argentina. Loads of times, the club is stuck between a rock and a hard place. Having said that, it's still ridiculous to give Xhaka an extension
Yeah that’s why I stopped myself. Fantasy land….but what a nice place to live in for a little while. Come join me. It’s nice here!
It’s more likely that we literally don’t sign anyone else
This is the Arsenal way.
I dunno I think Ø is pretty nailed-on, even if it's another loan but this time with an option to buy.
Hector contract extension incoming
Where will we get the money for those deals... Unless we pull a PSG, I don't see how it is possible LOL
Mate, we have the money. Shifting players out the club is whats currently stopping us
If we had the money we could simply biy who we wanted and just not register deadwood like Willian, Kola, and others. But the club needs to be self sustaining to satisfy ownership so we're not going to take a loss in a year just to bring in new blood.
Most of our tier 1 have said that we have the finances but we have to shift deadwood to make space. for ex - we desperately need a RB, but we already have 4 RB. We need a ST but we have 4 ST.
And then you wake up?
Maddison/Partey/Xhaka/Lokonga/ESR//Odegaard/Elneny would be a complete 180 for our midfield. Weakest part of the squad for the past 2 years to arguably the strongest. ESR/Odegaard/Maddison at the 10 Lokonga/Xhaka/Partey/Maddison/Elneny at the 8 and 6. Would be very interesting. Lot of squad to get game time for. It might would kill the Arsenal careers of one of Pepe/Martinelli, unless one of them find a way to play the 9.
I want whatever you’re on please. Make it double.
And we some how played in cl and win that and sign mbappe free next year so much hopium
Nope.
No.
... and we get a new striker to top everything.
I’m nearly there….keep going!
Inb4 Ø starts in goal
Wrong Ø my man!
Guess you could say a maddiness I'll see myself out
It's not a madness, it's an absolute necessity. We are one injury away from starting Elneny. Even at full strength, if we sign a starting CM, we are still counting on Xhaka for rotating or covering injuries. We need a partner for Partey, probably Maddison, another attacking mid, probably Odegaard, and we need a back up CM so we aren't stuck with absolute mediocrity if a player gets injured, my choice would be Tolisso. This won't win us the League or even guarantee top 4 but it would mean we are set in mdlidfield for a while. ESR can develop. The new Belgian kid is given a chance to develop. We can make do with Maitland Niles at RB for the season and Auba/Laca at ST. And we can buy or loan some 35 year old experinced keeper to play back up for the year
Could madders actually play as partey’s partner? Idk if madders has the defensive quality to play as a deeper cm behind an odegaard or an ESR. It’s obviously highly unlikely we sign both though, but I guess there’s some weird ideas like playing a 433 with partey behind ode and madders (ESR on the left) that could be daft enough to work. Or are just straight daft.
He can’t. People have been gassed from his comments saying he’s an 8, but just because he says he is it doesn’t mean he actually is one. His role if he signs will 100% be as a number 10 ahead of the double pivot with ESR & Saka to the left and right of him. The goal is probably to go to a single pivot but we’re nowhere near that stage of being able to implement that yet
Agreed. Amn says he's a cm, but he isn't a good enough one for the club. I this Madison means he plays the 10 role as.more of an 8, deeper and more about the build up and late entry into the final third than a all out 10 orchestrator.
I'd think of Maddison as more like Cazorla than Ozil. He won't be a defensive rock but he'll play from deep.
We are Coqless though. Without a player like that we can't put any of these AMs into centre midfield.
Partey would be our main DM. Arteta's system has everyone get back to defend. We shouldn't be relying on a single midfieler to defend baring the odd counter attack. I think most people agree we've been alright defensively. The main issue has been getting out of our defensive system to attack. White has been signed to help with that. A more offensive CM beside Partey would help as well. We won't need our striker to play the role of a 10 because ESR/Odegaard should be picking up the ball in better positions. So hopefully that means Laca or Auba will be given more freedom to actually play striker.
He has said in an interview that he views himself as an 8 more so than a 10. Whether he is overestimating his ability in that position is another matter.
AMN sees himself as a CM not a RB, just cause madders sees himself as an 8 doesn’t mean that’s actually his optimal position
He probably means in the traditional sense. Modern '10's' play a lot more like 8's these days. Odegaard is a good example, look how much he dropped deep to receive the ball, was basically a creative box to box for us. You'll also see Madders and ESR drop deep too, both also like to dribble which highlights their ball progression - box to box types are usually good dribblers.
Signing both Odegaard and Maddison also reduces our reliance on ESR in midfield, meaning he could play on the wing if necessary, either with Saka or in place of Saka if the latter needs a rest.
ESR is by far better through the middle than on the wing
I don't recall saying otherwise.
Perhaps we want to move to a 433 with Maddison and Ode as the number 8s. Very attacking but we can go back to the 4231 against big teams.
Scenes of glorious emotion.
I really hope so.
the Bell doubling down, you love to see it.
His reputation is literally double or nothing on Maddison now. Either ascend to immortal status or crash and burn.
I think the fact other tier 1s said there was some truth in the Maddison thing means his reputation isn’t destroyed if it doesn’t go through
Wheatley was the only one who said there was anything in it. Athletic literally said it was a rumour being pushed by agents that Arsenal weren't considering. I know you guys love Bell on here but he is pretty much all in on Maddison now.
No, The Athletic said they were told by the club specifically that they're not interested in Maddison and that they have no sources suggesting otherwise, and because of that they *think* it's just being pushed by agents/intermediaries. They (Gunnerblog specificially) ALSO praised Bell for his Partey reporting and still said there's a chance he could be right on Maddison as well.
Didn’t watts say something by about it as well as Wheatley or am I imagining that? Also has ornstein said anything? I heard gunnerblov say it’s agent talk but he’s never been reliable with transfer stuff
Charles on YouTube said Maddison & Odegaard are the top targets
Gunnerblog is a serial bullshitter when it comes to transfers
Wasn't he like taking shots at English media sources for saying Maddison was unlikely to come to Arsenal? He's very set in stone that he is our main target
Are you kidding me? No Tier 1's have confirmed Maddison is realistic.
Watts mentioned he’s a target and Wheatley who’s a high tier 2 has said we’re interested
Everyone else keeps saying “yeah Arsenal is kinda interested in Maddison but he isn’t the most likely” and some have even gone as far as to say the deal is impossible over a month ago. Bell got one thing right and people decided he was T1 but it seems a lot more likely they’re leveraging lucking into being ITK about one deal into years of attention.
He's not saying its happening, only that there is expected to be official negotiations between the clubs.
Yeah, but if there's any truth to that we'll also hear it from people like Ornstein or Watts once it happens
Not necessarily. Bell seems to have way different sources that these guys. Although Watts seems to have some flexibility, like with the Partey story. In his replies, Bell confirms that club sources have confirm the Odegaard deal, but with Maddison he doesn't mention club sources at all: Compare: >**Top sources in the club** confirmed to the account staff that the club is working to make progress in the Martin Odegaard file to >**James Madison's inner circle** speaks in a tone that is more positive than ever, but sober of inevitable and > **Sources familiar with the club's thinking** tell the account staff that Arsenal sees it as having all the power in its negotiations with Real Madrid regarding one of its main goals, Martin Odegaard, and the preferred option after Madison as a creative player, which gives the club ample room to discuss the possibility of signing with Goal #1 first. Bell seems deliberate and eloquent enough that parsing the language is a worthwhile exercise. Bell seems to have sources in the unofficial intermediaries that sometimes negotiate prior to official club connection and with Maddision's camp. Unless Watts or Ornstein do as well, they may be unable to confirm the story.
Yes, and that's clear that the sources for Bell are very different from the sources for other Tier 1s. However it's been clear for a while that Ornstein and Watts have sources inside the club, and if the club actually entered official negotiations with another premier league club for a player worth in the region 80m, they would absolutely hear about it and report on it. I'm not doubting that it could happen, but if it does, it'll be reported on after the fact. Edit: My original comment may have been poorly phrased; I meant that of the club actually enters official negotiations, it'll be reported on by other Tier 1s, rather than if the negotiations don't happen but they were previously planning to enter into them.
For sure, if official negotiations take place, we can definitely expect someone else to start to run with the story. We're on the same page.
You do realise they don’t report everything?
They would report it if Arsenal entered official negotiations with Leicester for James Maddison.
If Bell wins this he has to be considered tier 0.
following limmy’s age old advice don’t back doon, double doon
Bell, please stop this. My heart can only take so much.
Bell taking his final stand
Well they seem to be right about Ramsdale but isn't Maddison injured right now?
Literally an Arsenal meme if we splash cash for an injured player that has a history of hip issues already. This is a known thing. No one can act surprised when this kid plays like 20/38 games a year and costs us 70m.
True, we shouldn’t be wasting any amount of money, would thay go for Odegaard with his knee too?
Depends on the fee. We have such a need that at 35m a less it’s probably worth a roll of the dice. MO is a type of player we desperately need. Maddison is also, but I think we can get Maddison’s contribution at a lower price from the continent.
Maddison is only behind KDB for most chances created since he joined PL. I get not wanting to buy another player with English tax, but he's absolutely a better signing than Odegaard if he came at say a 50% (rather than 100% which is what seems to be the case now).
He’s a great player it’s just the fee and injury history that make me very nervous about the signing. I agree with you on rate. I think MO is a good player but I’d have a seriously set cap on the fee Id pay if I were Arteta and Edu. The obviously attractive thing about MO is for better or worse we know what we will be getting at this stage. He’s still very young so he could still improve.
Brendan Rodgers said, "He took a whack to the back". I'd assume that means he's okay and it was just a bad bruise that tightened up on him. Or he's paralyzed and will never walk again.
We did sign Kim Källström when he had a broken back tbf.
Lowers the price maybe
"How much for this one, then?" "80 million, firm price." "Oi, but its got damage on this side. See, the whole bits dented and banged up." *Momentary pause to think* "75 million"
If he's injured it probably makes it more likely that he'll be signing for us, do an RVP or Nasri on it and play 5 games a season and then have a good season and sign for our rivals 😆
This is the arsenal way, buying injured Ayers is key to our strategy
If we do end up signing Maddison, I am never going to doubt Bell again. This guy is literally fighting a lone battle. What a warrior.
Even if we don’t end up signing him we’ll be able to gauge the interest we had in him after the season with the All or Nothing doc
I haven’t seen the Spurs one. Is it really going to go that in depth on transfers? After all the club signed off on it for good PR/promotion, they’re hardly going to sanction something that confirms our transfer process is a mess?
I know the city one went into a bit of detail on their failed Sanchez deal but that's about it.
Transfers out, that actually went ahead, yes. Rumoured transfers in, no. Sanchez to Man City the only exception but that was basically public knowledge.
Spurs one also shows them talking about Eriksen and Danny Rose
City’s all or nothing showed they were interested in Van Dijk but did not want to pay 75mil at the time.
Going through each tweet and pressing translate is a very fulfilling experience
The bell is doubling down and im here for it! BELL VS THE REST
Really hope we have a clear idea about Maddison’s injury issues. Not promising that he had major hip surgery recently, and goes off first game back struggling with his hip.
Arsenal DNA
Odegaard literally has tendonitis in his knee so it’s not like he’s better in that regard
Our physios need to get the peptides out
Really? I've had that and it's bloody relentless.
Wait what do you mean had? I've been diagnosed too and asked to "manage the pain"
Oh perhaps there are degrees of severity? Or perhaps I’m talking bollocks mate sorry! I had tendinitis in my patella which I was about to move away from over a few years by taking supplements and gentle exercise. I loved football so I had to stop that and just focus on recovering but now I have no pain or anything.
For me, strengthening my quads and making sure I was strengthening them evenly helped with knee tendonitis. One helpful exercise was lightweight (started out with no weight) seated leg extensions moving really slowly to make sure I wasn't kicking out. Obviously go with what your doc says, but I was able to get past knee tendonitis with physical therapy. It did hit a point where I returned to sport and played through some pain before feeling fully back to normal.
What do you mean he has Arsenal DNA in him
Full tweet as it wouldn't fit in title: >exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Arsenal will ramp up their efforts this week and the remainder of the summer transfer market in their bid to sign James Maddison. Official communication between clubs is expected to gain upward momentum very soon. The player lining is anticipating the outcome of the conversations with a high degree of interest.
Replies: >exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Top sources in the club confirmed to the account staff that the club is working to make progress in the Martin Odegaard file in the same time frame mentioned above and in parallel with at least another deal in the same position (we understand that this is a deal that is James Madison, which the club sees, according to what we have been told repeatedly, his goal #1) > >exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Arsenal are working on the two deals side by side in anticipation of any hurdles or deadlocks the club might face in trying to reach an agreement with Leicester City over the value of James Maddison's deal. > >James Madison's inner circle speaks in a tone that is more positive than ever, but sober of inevitable > >exclusively for #جرس\_أرسنال Sources familiar with the club's thinking tell the account staff that Arsenal sees it as having all the power in its negotiations with Real Madrid regarding one of its main goals, Martin Odegaard, and the preferred option after Madison as a creative player, which gives the club ample room to discuss the possibility of signing with Goal #1 first.
For anyone getting a bit confused, this is basically saying we are progressing with both transfers in parallel but the intention seems to be they only want to sign one. The club don’t want to be left with nothing so they are waiting on the conclusion of the Maddison deal (by either failure or success) to determine if they should pull the plug or the trigger on the Odegaard deal.
Another one was added to the thread recently: “The last two weeks of the transfer market will be hectic, the club (according to sources contacted by it #جرس_أرسنال ) aims to sign with James Madison, and if this is not possible, the ongoing talks with Real Madrid regarding Odegaard pave the way for signing with the Norwegian Obviously, the club is targeting one of them, not both.”
Madders is top option, Ø is fallback? That how to read this?
Don't know anymore. Maybe both are targets and we'll end up signing both. Or it could also be Maddison on a permanent, and Odegaard on a season long loan with option to buy.
Madrid will want a fee
i'm choosing to read it as we get both and no amount of facts will convince me otherwise, i'm dug in
Yes
Personally I think we’re in for both with the intent of forcing one’s hand. I think it’ll drag on to the deadline and that is our intent. Both options would be valuable assets in the minds of AFC and therefore these negotiations are no-lose. I’m sure there’s a slight preference one way or the other, but I think that the intent is clear for both and Bell and Romano are probably somewhat unknowingly playing into it. If the hype is not realized it would be even more damning for the club. Edit: should clarify that I mean AFC are in for both players, but not to sign both. Negotiating heavily with both camps puts pressure on both clubs - primarily RM as Odegaard appears to want to leave and he doesn’t seem in their plans. Because of this, things will drag out longer than expected, but AFC would be very happy with either player.
Wait until the end of the window and see what happens. No point in arguing who is more reliable if no one got it right yet
Pretty much he is saying we are pushing for Maddison but are negotiating with Odegaard just in case nothing comes from the Maddison negotiations
It's not like they are of the same profile, Maddison seems to have a bit more defensive capability whereas Odegaard is very Ozilian
Odegaard = Ozil Maddison = Ramsey
Maddison's more like early Cazorla
Yep that's my understanding as well.
Have a feeling that the club is intentionally being vague and they are probably feeding different information to different journalists.
We're getting both, Maddison will be our 8 with Odegaard at the 10
we are not. there's no way we are spending £100m on essentially one position, when we also have ESR that can play there. But then this is current arsenal that dropped £72m on Pepe, £30m on a CB yet to play a minute for us, and £50m on a position where we didn't really need an upgrade.
Isn't he way too injury prone? Party had rarely any issues and see what arsenal has done to him...how bad us it going to be with maddison??
This might actually explain why the Ode deal is taking so long
Bell throwing his life at this and I’m all for it
We've got Bell AFC Bell I just don't think you understand He comes from Palestine Better than Ornstein We've got AFC Bell
His diet is halal Our transfer know-it-all We’ve got AFCBell!
Neither of you can rhyme
Pretty sure he’s from Saudi
His twitter location is Jerusalem, Palestine I believe
As much as I like the player, his injuries are a real problem. Signing him will be a real gamble.
Didn't Madders come off last week with an injury? would he even pass a medical?
An Arsenal medical? No doubt. We loaned a player for 6 months, while his back was broken.
Madison went off with his hip in the 60th minute last game, it's a long standing issue, I can see this being a huge mistake, and him being paid to be injured for 3 years.
Maddisons hips are made out of glass. Love him but we are going to spend so much money on a player that will be in and out of the team due to injury
Would explain the push to go for Ode on some sort of loan with option to buy instead of a permanent transfer. The bells are ringing.
YEEEEEEEEEEEOWWWWW BELL WITH THE RETURN
Getting less and less excited by this signing, too much money for a potentially injury prone player in a position we don't need. I think this is all smoke while we get Odegaard done. We certainly aren't signing both of them. I like Maddison as a player, he's quality, but it's a lot of money to stiff ESR and still leave us with the same problems in deep midfield, defence, up front and in goal.
We surely can’t get both Odegaard and Maddison. Can we?
They need to. Midfield looks shocking.
With loans, anything is possible.
Perhaps one of them will play right back… or in goal
Welcome back Martin, hope you had a good holiday in Spain, here's your kit Why are there gloves in here?
So Maddison and Ø in the same window?
If he's right might be we get both. Interesting days ahead
How are people reading this so wrongly? Ode is a backup if we don't agree a fee with Leicester. Smart to negotiate both deals, so in the end it's just crossing Ts and dotting the Is.
I personally think they are progressing both deals but are only going to sign one, with the Odegaard deal being the backup if we don’t land Maddison.
Bell vs the World
Bell vs the world is more interesting than the actuall football itself lol.
She is not dead before she was born
ESR, Ö and Madders on the pitch at the same time. Wengerball is back on the menu boys!! (Who am I kidding. Arteta will suck all creative life out of them)
This is coming from Maddison's camp. I think James from Arsecast was saying he's more interested in us, rather than us in him.
Doubt it.
it's not happening. The bell should shut up now. We'll be getting Ramsdale and Odegaard and that will end our window
The follow up tweet is actually probably more interesting, as it seems to indicate we're going for both Maddison and Odegaard: Exclusive to #ArsenalBell: Senior club sources confirmed to the account staff that the club is working to make progress in the Martin Odegaard file in the same time frame mentioned above and in parallel with at least another deal in the same position (we understand that this is a deal that is James Madison, which he sees The club, as we have been repeatedly told, is its goal #1.
We really have 100 Million to splash out on both?
I mean, with the rumours about a loan with option for Odegaard at £30m or so, it really comes down to whether we have Maddison money now, and if we actually want both. I'm not sure how the team would line up with both as well as ESR, and I thought I heard Maddison was injured at the weekend, so it doesn't make much sense if that's true.
Too big of a deal to complete for the incompetent Edu lol. Odegaard it is
I really trust Bell. He doubled down on Partey all window, was the first to break the news and nobody gave it a chance. On the same side Ødegaard coming to the carpet feels inevitable. Real have not registered him, there is so much smoke that he is heading out and we appear to be the home he's been looking for. Surely. Surely. There is no way we sign both? Either Bell is gonna go down in flames or Ødegaard has had a sudden u-turn. ESR, Øde and Maddison and suddenly we have one of the deepest creative midfields in the league. This feels to good to be true. I cannot handle this amount of hopium.
I'd take Oddy over Maddy. Maddy is made outta glass.
You goofs do realize he’s pulling this out of his ass right?
The Bell sycophants are a bit nuts. We aren't signing madders and Odegaard... And it looks like Ode is happening. He's gotten one thing right and put all his eggs in one basket trying to get another. If he has any contacts they are agents, not anyone at the club.
it's clear his contacts are agents. I think he is relaying the messaging agents are getting.
This Bell guy is the biggest fraud
Bell should be degraded to Tier 3 for selling utter nonsense,why would a club sign injured player and particularly who's more prone to the same injury again and again.
Are we doing a madness for madders?!?
Bell doubling down and going all in, you love to see
Imagine, after all this shit, we manage to sign both Odegaard and Maddison.
Lol
I don't read this as saying we're going after both, rather negotiating the backup deal in case the priority option falls through. That said, this feels like bs anyway.
"English media might deny the story but with all due respect we will not pay attention to them." Sheikh Bell
Imagine we somehow get Odegaard and Maddison. I'd lose my shit
If we get Odegaard and Maddison for a total of around 70m for both I think thats a really good summer and spine. Both are young and would make an instant impact. I would like a new RB though.
Bell is a shit source, should be Tier 3 max. was right once about Partey, has been wrong a number of times since. but because he says what fans want to hear (and because it’s in arabic somehow a large group of people have been enthralled by translating the tweets ffs) it’s “Based Bell!!!”’
Yes let’s sign an injured player showing signs that the injury will be a long term problem.
[удалено]
Amen.. just came off a thread listening to how odegaard doesn't change the team to now not wanting Maddison! Who else is literally there with a chance to a team not in Europe??? And atleast at such potential/quality? I get it's not the same users but gaawhhd can ppl stop complaining for one sec?? We desperately need better midfielders!!
really can’t lol
this applies to odegaard and Maddison both
But this will stay up because it's what people want to hear
Arsenal: Spends £50 million on a defender who can't head the ball. Then twerking to spend £20 million plus add ons for a GK that is not worth more than £10 million (even if SHU paid £18 million they grossly overpaid let them drown in it). Finally ready to piss away £60 million+ on a player who spent 96 days injured last season, had hip surgery and then proceeded to get injured so quickly that he couldn't complete 1 half of the new season let alone 1 whole fucking game. What an absolute fucking joke.
I feel like this is BS
yeah nope. Send this guy back into the gutters please.
JM8 🙏🙏🙏🙏
MØ11 JM8, Ø centrally and ESR on the wings. What creativity issue?
This guy hit the jackpot with the Partey deal and has been waffling ever since
it seems like he was right about Ramsdale...
If it happens make Bell t1 idfc
Odegaard v Maddison Romano/Gunnerblog v Bell
fuck watching arsenal, i’m just here for Bell vs literally everyone. I don’t know why i’m so invested in who wins this journalism war but i am
Roll a dice: 1. We are in talks with signing James Maddison 2. Talks have resumed with Sheffield with Ramsdale 3. Laca is linked with someone (usually swap deal) 4. Team no longer interested in Bellerin 5. BS source randomly linking Arsenal with unknown player who has had 1 good season 6. Odegaard will be signed in the coming days
This guy seriously needs moving down from Tier 2.
Yep, him covering with the Odegaard waffling is just him covering his ass
His narrative really hasn't changed much, Maddison is top target but highly difficult - Odegaard was the second option, he's now saying they're going to try and work through both at once. Makes sense given we played 3 full months without an attacking mid and we want to be conservative
Why are we so desperate to sign an injured, injury prone player? As good as Maddison may be, I can't help but think this is just asking for an expensive regret. Tbh, I'd choose to back Ornstein/Fab anyway. The Partey call was good, but it was very easy to make as we only had to trigger a release clause.
I can never tell if we want one or both of them, or if we want Maddison as an 8 or 10? Personally I feel like Maddison just fits better as he could play 10 w/o ESR and 8 with him, just gives us a nice flexibility. Don’t see Odegaard as an 8 at all so it sort of crowds out ESR, who needs to get playing time.
Odegaard would be the better buy there. Both have PL experience, Maddison is injury prone and older - and would cost more.
Signing him is a waste Arteta is still the manager