What a player wants accounts for a lot of transfers nowadays, more than ever: Lescott to Man City. Adebayor to Man City. Toure to Man City. Ronaldo to Madrid, Milner to Villa? The list goes on, if a transfer request is handed in, then there's very little a club can do to keep that player, they usually also then have to set a reasonable asking price.
Re: Price Tag - Why would Hughes possibly be that naive? Schwarzer would have a fit if Hughes asked for £10m, because he knows Arsenal won't pay that. GK's are valued a lot less than outfield players, even nowadays when clubs are paying £20m on a regular basis.
---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 PM ----------
Almunia is awful. He's just about better than Flapianski, who seems to have got worse instead of better, that SS article is talking **** about our keepers, Fabianski is not 'highly rated' by anyone, Sczezsney is though, but he's still too young, and inexperienced, so he'll probably go on loan.
Re: Price Tag - Why would Hughes possibly be that naive? Schwarzer would have a fit if Hughes asked for £10m, because he knows Arsenal won't pay that. GK's are valued a lot less than outfield players, even nowadays when clubs are paying £20m on a regular basis.
---------- Post added at 09:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 PM ----------
To be fair, I understand your logic, but Arsenal in recent years just havn't worked like that. There's no way they'd buy the "next big thing" at top dollar, they either buy young and train them up, or pick off older players on expired contracts who want a CL swansong. I'd love to see Given, but obviously he would cost too much to force City to sell (being realistic they can "pull a Robinho" and just block until xfer window end).
MS would be a good contender as he's got the communication and presence that many keepers lack, and doesn't appear nervous in the same way as Almunia. However agreed Almunia is a decent keeper, I just don't think he's getting us to the CL final![]()
Almunia is awful. He's just about better than Flapianski, who seems to have got worse instead of better, that SS article is talking **** about our keepers, Fabianski is not 'highly rated' by anyone, Sczezsney is though, but he's still too young, and inexperienced, so he'll probably go on loan.