hallmarks of the usual transfer folderol: lots of adds, a video that starts up on autoplay, and an article of about 200 words that contains an un-named source “close to the deal” who has this to say:
I have been told by a person very close to the player that the deal is done and that it’s not Arsenal. No one ever takes anything for granted in this game until a final announcement is made, but all the indications are he will be en route to Madrid or Munich—the only other serious bidders.
Of course, the only part of that statement that carries an ounce of meaning is the disclaimer: “no one ever takes anything for granted in this game until a final announcement is made.” Everything else is word-salad with a bit of fancy dressing.
However, I would love to see this come true. I’ve made no secret of my disdain for the man, whether it’s his boorishness on the pitch or the idea that we should spend half (or more) of our transfer budget on him. My only real regrets are these: one, we again are left looking foolish as some other club beats us to a signature; and two, Suarez, despite committing a series of offenses, may get rewarded, not just with a fat contract but with Champions League football, something I just don’t believe he deserves. Yes, he’s been suspended and reprimanded but hardly chastened. He carries with him an impervious sense of victimhood throughout each ordeal and seems only to regret that he’s been caught on film. Enough wallowing. The sooner we see his backside, the happier I’ll be.
I rather hope he has gone to Bayern. Let him see how long Robben or Ribéry tolerate his childishness or ball-hogging ways. As far as we’re concerned, a move to Bayern re-opens the door on Lewandowski, whose move to Bayern would be all but over if Suarez has signed. Let’s get Szczęsny, Fabiański, and, well, Podolski while we’re at it, and have them get in touch with Lewa to talk up the virtues of playing for Arsenal. After all, he’s made no secret of his desire to leave Dortmund. After our painful loss of van Persie to a league rival, I don’t want Dortmund to go through the same agony. In fact, we’re morally bound to signing Lewandowski in order to save Dortmund’s fans from seeing him end up at Bayern. With a market-value somewhere in the mid-30’s, we might get him for less than what we’ve apparently offered for Suarez.
How many signings?
Heck, if we get Lewandowski for, say 40m, we still have 30m or so to spend (based on reports that we have about 70m to spend). This would leave us well-positioned to pick up one other high-quality signing. Maybe it’s not quite enough to bring back Cesc, but it could be enough for Fellaini, Gustavo, or Bernard, among others. With today’s Google+ hangout having ended without anything dramatic from Arséne and with the Emirates Cup days away, it looks like we’ll have to wait until Monday at the earliest to hear any news. So it goes.
It looks like we still have a few more days for the 2012-13 YAMA Awards, so if you haven’t voted, please do so by clicking here. Woolwich 1886 is nominated as a Best New Arsenal Blog, which is an honor in and of itself. Thanks!
