FATHERS DAY TRANSFER ROUND-UP

Well my darlings, I took the day off yesterday because I deserved it, I was hoping we’d see some movement in the transfer market but my hopes have been cruelly dashed.

The main story rumbling through the internet is that Arsenal are looking at Camavinga to partner with Thomas Partey next season.

I won’t lie, this is the sort of story that keeps me up at night. I spent about 12 hours on the internet hunting out crumbs that we’d move on him. I’ve watched every video going. He’s an absolute dream of a youth talent.

Bar his age, he’s everything we’re looking for in a midfielder. He’s the guy from Rennes that drops deep to receive the ball, he is press resistant, his passing is excellent, but so is his ability to dribble the ball through the lines. The numbers he puts up defensively are really good and there’s even a hint about his game that he could transition to more of a number 8 at some point. There are a few goals where he bursts into the area from the right like a winger, he’s genuinely electric to watch. Arteta teams have felt a bit one-paced at times, he’d add a zest we don’t really have.

The story is PSG don’t have the funds for him, which is ludicrous. A few months ago, they were talking about a £100m fee for him, which again, would be absolutely bonkers for a player that has 1 year on their deal. The rumblings from his camp appear to be that he’d take a transitional club that helps him develop first. Best will in the world, it’d be tough to break into the PSG midfield at his age.

My concern with this sexy rumour? Arteta has said time and time again that he needs more potent levels of experience in the side to move Arsenal forward. This is the Championship Manager signing, from a biz perspective, it’s hard to believe you wouldn’t win over 5 years with a deal like this, I’m just not sure we’d spend so much of our budget on another teenager.

But… he’s clearly special. The only teenager to spend more minutes on the pitch at top clubs this season was Bukayo Saka. If there was a risk worth taking on a young midfielder that has Madrid written all over his skills, then it’s this one. He’s capped for France at 18 years old, he’s bossed major midfields in Ligue 1 this season. If you settled him next to the far more experienced Thomas Partey, do you have something formidable? Maybe… maybe…

The best thing here is that we’re being linked with top, top players. What does our midfield need more of? Another Rueben Neves? Or a player like Camavinga that fizzes with energy and can do most of the things the Portuguese can? The transition season might be bumpy, but after that, you probably have the makings of a world-class player.

However you cut it, if you put money into a player like this, you are most certainly getting back more in the future.

If you want to instantly become an expert in him, check out this video.

There’s been a lot of chatter about right-backs. Tariq Lamptey of Brighton is certainly one of the most exciting in that position in the Premier League. The Chelsea cast-off is extremely fast with a low centre of gravity. Worry is that he’s a touch injury prone. We’ve also been linked with Jonjoe Kenny, and Zeki Celik. The point of reeling off names is it does seem like we’re covering lots of bases this summer, if one player moves, there’s another one in the pipeline. I really hope that’s how it goes down, because under Wenger, there was one option, if it failed, that was it.

The Ben White rumours don’t want to disappear, the latest on that deal is that PSG are also interested in him. That might make people feel a little sexier about our interest in him.

There’s talk that Arsenal want an English keeper as part of the mix next season, Freddie Woodman is being linked as part of the deal for Joe Willock, his dad was a coach with Arsenal and he had a good season with Swansea.

There are even talks that we’re still interested in Aouar, who had a poor season compared to what went down in his breakout year. You don’t lose the ability to dominate the midfield in the Champions League at his age. Something no one considers when we’re linked to players is that many names had shite seasons because the pandemic was rough on them. I think there’s a high chance you’ll see players that dipped last season come roaring back in the new campaign. I am REALLY hoping one of those names is Auba, who had his birthday this week.

Have a nice day, if you are a father, have an even nicer day. When I talk about what football means to me, it’s because of my dad. Every important reference point in my life is somehow related to football that he introduced me to. He taught me about tribalism and brute force negotiations by not allowing me to support an inferior side. He taught me about bad language through songs about Alan Shearer when he was at Blackburn. He taught me about the power of a positive mindset in the stadium. Football is the greatest pastime to bond over and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Happy fathers today to my dad, and all the dads out there in the process of indoctrinating their offspring in the core values of supporting the greatest team in the world. xx

Right, that’s me done, let’s all go and watch Aaron Ramsey slay the Italians.