Category Archives: Transfer Bollocks

We discuss today on gooner news, the potential signing of Kai Havertz to Arsenal. The 20-year-old Germany international has been linked to Arsenal in a rumoured £70m move with Manchester United and Manchester City also in the race for his signature.

The German Bundesliga finally returned from its two months break last weekend and so was Kai Havertz who scored two lovely goals for Bayer Leverkusen against Werder Bremen on Monday. The young striker was one of Arsenal’s major transfer targets during the winter transaction period but the German side failed to sanction his sale to the Premier League outfits.

Though the Bundesliga side has made it clear they want to keep their precious jewel beyond this season, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta isn’t giving up on his hope to lure the 20-year-old German international to the Emirates Stadium before next season. In the meantime, we face stiff competition from Chelsea and Liverpool in the race for the player’s services as both clubs are keeping close tabs on his performances.

However, should we end up beating all other interested suitors to his signature, the questions on everyone’s mind would be — what will Havertz bring to the team; is he really needed by the Gunners and who should serve as a sacrificial lamb during the upcoming transfer window?

1. What Will He Bring To The Team?

* Huge Attacking Threat

Havertz is known for his ability to make tireless attacking runs as he can juggle the ball really well. He will definitely add more threats to the Gunners attacking prowess due to his attacking style of play. He knows how and when to dribble, his through balls in the final half of the pitch are impressive and will surely help the Emirates outfits in the desire to lift first Premier League title in 16 years.

* More Depth to the Gunners squad

The player’s versatility is another reason why the Arteta should push on with his plans to capture the 20-year-old star. Havertz has featured as an attacking midfielder, a centre forward, a right midfielder and centre midfielder for club and country. Therefore, signing Havertz simply means adding more depth to the team as he can be called upon to feature at any of the aforementioned positions, depending on Arteta’s tactical approach to games.

2. Is He Needed At The Moment

Judging by the Gunners underwhelming display at the attacking department this season, it won’t be out of place to advise that Havertz should be brought to the team’s set up to support Aubameyang, should the Gabonese remains with the team.

3. Who Should be the Sacrificial Lamb?

Either Mesut Ozil or Alexandre Lacazette should be allowed to leave in the summer in order to create space for the youngster. As much as Ozil is an experienced figure in the team, his overall performances throughout the season have left so much to be desired. Just like Ozil, France international striker Lacazette is also far from convincing and his recent controversy isn’t helping matters. Nonetheless, it is left for Arteta and his employers to decide who should be placed on the outgoing transfer list.

Villarreal youngster Samuel Chukwueze has been Arsenal’s longtime transfer target as reports revealed that the Nigerian international was once targeted by former manager Arsene Wenger during his spell at the Emirates Stadium.

It was equally claimed that current manager Mikel Arteta was also interested in the player’s services as his employers put a call through to Santi Cazorla, who is Chukwueze’s teammate, to make enquiries over the youngster’s quality and availability in January.

Chukwueze, 20, was also tipped to join Chelsea during the winter transfer window but the Blues failed to make an official move for his services despite numerous reports which claimed that Lampard included him as one of his prime targets.

Other clubs including Liverpool, Lyon Manchester City and Barcelona were all believed to be keeping close eyes on his development under coach Javi Calleja’s tutelage prior to the January transaction period, but none of them was able to lure him out of the Yellow Submarine’s squad.

Having said that, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta must, however, reignite his desire to work with the young man in the next transfer window as he now stands a better chance of winning the race for his services due to some reasons.

Firstly, it must be said that Chukwueze is currently having a less-impressive spell at the Estadio de la Cerámica Stadium, having failed to make the team’s starting lineup in the last five consecutive league matches.

Should he fail to turn things around before the end of the campaign, top clubs might lose interest in him, which means Arsenal will have a massive chance of luring him to the Emirates Stadium in the summer.

In addition, Chukwueze often speaks of his desire to play in the Premier League before the end of his career, the North London club should try to take advantage of the player’s love for the League in the summer.

Another reason why the Gunners should consider Chukwueze’s services is the youthfulness, skills and competition he will inject into the team.

Saka is obviously doing a great job as a makeshift left-back, but signing the Nigerian star will add more depth and quality to the team.

He is obviously talented and his addition to the Gunners attacking setup will be a very huge boost to Arteta’s hope of having a strong team in the next campaign. Hence, all wingers or wing-backs will up their game in order to remain prominent members of the team.

Finally, Arsenal will have a very high tendency of capturing the player’s signature in few amount of money because his financial value is expected to drop as a result of lack of regular game-time this season.

According to a report from Daily Mail, Villarreal placed a huge £60m price tag on the player, but that is expected to change in the summer if he fails to regain his spot in the starting lineup before the end of the season.