By all means, the Gunners have plenty of cash to spend this summer. Having cleared a good proportion of the club’s deadwood (goodbye and good riddance to the likes of Denilson, Andrey Arshavin, Sebastien Squillaci and Gervinho) the wage bill is significantly slimmer.
Then there’s the fact that Arsenal agreed some major commercial deals last season that are supposed to propel the club unto a level with football’s financial elite. With the Gunners also making a fortune in ticket-sales every match day (and by selling £4 pies at their refreshment stands), Arsene Wenger’s wallet is stuffed to brimming.
And yet Arsenal have moved with all the pace of a glacier this summer. Whilst most fans were hoping for a flurry of activity that would set the club up nicely for the coming season, Wenger and co. have had other ideas. It looks like they’re playing the long-game and would rather save cash than prepare properly for Premier League action.
Whether this turns out to be a mistake remains to be seen. For now, however, all we can do is mull over the most recent stories concerning Arsenal’s hunt for bargains in the European transfer market.
Take this story in The Star, that claims Yoann Gourcuff is willing to take a pay-cut in order to agree a move to the Emirates.
Lyon splashed £19m on the talented French midfielder back in 2010. They are also believed to be paying the player £350k-a-month. That’s a major cash-drain!
Lyon President Jean-Michel Aulas has spoken out about the player’s future: “All that I know, if I understood correctly, is that he was ready to lower his salary to go to Arsenal…“
Intriguing stuff. Given Gourcuff’s injury history, it’s necessary for him to be somewhat flexible when it comes to the terms of his contract. If he wants to play for a big club, he needs to prove he’s capable of doing so on a regular basis before he starts receiving a pay-check that matches his talent.
If he’s not willing to agree a ‘Pay as you Play’ type deal, a pay-cut is the best move forward.
As for whether he’d be a good fit for Arsenal, he’s a talented, technically-minded midfielder – you make up your own mind. If he shakes off his injury problems, finds some form again and Lyon are willing to let him go for a fair price, then Gourcuff could end up being an excellent signing.
This wouldn’t be the marquee signing Arsenal fans are holding out for, but it would be a good start.
What’s your take? Should the Gunners be in the market for this injury magnet?
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Yeah seems a decent fit. Would take him on to play on the left occasionally like how nasri did for us.. Cutting in and setting up play. If he’s willing to take a pay cut.. Nothing to lose. He’s French too..lol
Arsenal don’t need another injury laden midfielder….they already have enough of them. If you are going to write something, make it relevant to the situation and do some background research.
Panic buy.. Better talents are available ..”Mr wenger we need a forward to support giroud..