EXCL: Havertz success down to Arteta, Wirtz going nowhere and more
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Arteta should get all the credit for Havertz success… and celebrate it!
He always trusted Havertz since day one and never appeared to be worried about if the German was going to come good or not. That support was crucial. He’s now doing great and I think it’s just the beginning.
Arsenal really trust Kai Havertz for the present and future and expect him to play a big part in their plans.
Also, Arteta didn’t cross any line at Luton in my opinion. I’m always for celebration to be free, not being punished when you score in the 97th minute.
Bryan Zaragoza will join Bayern Munich in 2025
So, what happened?
The player, a 22-year-old lightning-fast Spanish winger, was set to be very close to joining Leipzig in January, as they were prepared to pay the €14m release clause. Bayern really wanted him too but Granada didn’t want the Bavarians to trigger the release clause as they need his help for their relegation battle.
Bayern therefore worked behind the scenes and directly with people close to the player, including his agent and his father, and all were crucial in the story which ended when they agreed on a particular deal.
Bayern will pay €13m guaranteed and another €2m in very easy add-ons for a total package of €15m – but the player will stay at Granada until the end of the season and join Bayern in the summer.
The player completed the medical days ago and signed a contract until 2028 and this is an important moment for the future of the club.
No loan move for Arda Güler
From what I’m hearing, despite the rumours about a loan to Turkish clubs, Real Madrid’s position remains the same; they don’t want to touch the squad in January, including Arda Güler.
So at the moment, the idea is to continue to protect, support and keep him as part of the first-team squad. At least this is the position today.
Florian Wirtz is going nowhere
The interest of many clubs is there for the future. Bayern have been following him for a long time, Manchester City appreciate the player, Barcelona director, Deco, knows Florian Wirtz since he was a kid and, for sure, they have also been monitoring him for a long time.
From what I’m hearing guys, the reality is that from Germany, nothing is going to happen. In the summer, his father, Hans Joachim, speaking to Sky, said that there is a good chance for Florian to stay at Bayer Leverkusen for next season.
Now I’m saying this, not his father… there is a chance to leave in 2024. From what I’m hearing, the idea is to play the euros and to have no involvement in transfer stories.
So, no movement in January, same at the beginning of the summer transfer window, focus on the Euros and then let’s see in the second part of the summer transfer window.
In other news…
Conor Gallagher – Chelsea will discuss his contract in the next few months. For sure there will be talks, but at the moment it’s still time to wait for concrete steps. Chelsea are very happy with Gallagher’s performances, but it will take some time to discuss.
João Palhinha – Bayern remain interested in João but yes, there are also UK clubs in the race now it’s true. He’s very expensive and that’s why clubs like Arsenal believe the investment is not easy at all for the January window, but things will happen around João, for sure.
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