It looks like the move for Costa Rican wonderkid Joel Campbell is back on. Nothing on the Arsenal website yet but there’s an interview here (in Spanish but you can Google translate the accompanying text) which says that the deal is done.
More importantly for the season ahead, as the young Costa is likely to go out on loan initially, there are also credible sounding reports of a move for Juan Mata and an improved offer for Phil Jagielka. The new bid for Jagielka, covered in The Telegraph and elsewhere, is rumoured to be £15million. That isn’t quite what Everton are reported to want, but it’s getting close and sounds like serious talk is going on.
As I’ve said before, I’m slightly surprised that Jagielka is the preferred target given his age and injury worries, but he is a good, experienced player and having him alongside Vermaelen would be an improvement. For all our avid following of multiple transfer rumours, we don’t really know how serious the prospect of a deal for Samba or Cahill really is.
Whilst I think improving our defensive quality is the top priority, a move for a player like Juan Mata would be exciting. He looks a great player and if Barcelona did decide to offer the right price for Fabregas, we will need someone with Mata’s creative ability to replace him. But do Barcelona really have the cash? There are lengthy quotes in The Star today from Peter Hill-Wood confirming that a deal with Barcelona would be done if they offer enough money.
“They have been messing about for a year and a half now and they have got to make up their minds,” said Hill-Wood. “The ball is in their court. They have made one bid of around £26m and another rather tentative one. If they want to buy the player they are going to have to pay the right price – and when you look at what is being paid elsewhere I don’t think what we are asking is at all unreasonable.” Asked whether the time was approaching when the north Londoners would call off talks, Hill-Wood added: “We are getting close to that.”So come on Barca – show us the money or show some respect!
There are also mixed reports out there that Nicklas Bendtner has secured a deal to go to Sporting Lisbon. If the doubting reports on this transfer are true, the obstacle is Bendtner’s salary. He may have to take a pay cut, or Arsenal may have to subsidise his wages. Probably a case of Sporting trying to wangle the best price which is fair enough.
So at last we have the prospect of some real transfer action and not all of it though the exit door.
