news. There's lots of it going on right now in January
the windows, obviously open. And the biggest report out there at
the moment is doosan, black have H to Arsenal. He's been
linked to a lot of Premier
League teams, but that seems to be the main report doing
the rounds at the moment. So, I want to focus on that first and
then second
order of the day I'd say is
which Premier League club
needs a new strike of the most because a lot of teams, I feel
like in the hunt even January or the summer for a new main
man. Up top and those type of
talismanic players, you score 20 plus goals season, they are
not easy to find. So I feel like they're all going to be
scrapped of the same couple of players, but Nick on fly, have
it. I mean, the report says 75 million dollars around about
that is the transfer fee.
What do we make of this? Because he's 21 years old, you
kind of fits into the Arsenal. Mold of their recruitment is
young, very
big number 9, or almost old-fashioned, right? So if
I feel like this would fit them pretty well, if they can get it
done, but
what do you think about this move?
Yeah, I'm trying to think of more adjustments from Serie A
star to the Premier League at a young age and there are some
for sure and I think Arsenal needs a guy there.
I do think a lot because that is underrated.
But you need more than that. This might be the year that
they could get away with waiting, if they want to kind
of stall a little bit. I know they're in a top for push, but
they don't have European obligations.
And so, I think are still might be a little bit more of
a position of strength. And we usually see in January here.
But they can wait. And I think they're going to be a number of
big names on the market come this summer.
So, you know, if you look over in Syria, and you think there
is a reason
to want to gobble up 75 million bucks
in January, and I think there is no. I think we're seeing
that more often teams are looking at relief at Big
Clauses. Excuse me, or big fees
as a way to fuel, their Budget moving forward
and yeah, I could see it working.
Me too. And the thing about block, eventually scored 37
goals as last 56 games and Syria over the last two
seasons. So he's in great form, still 21 years old. His
contract does expire in the summer 2023 at thrown Tina. So,
18 months left. This is kind of
The Last Chance Saloon for them to get big money like this for
him. So Andy from that point of view, this will almost be
the smart tired of your own team to Salim and then as Nick said,
maximize that potential and and buy another two or three
players that they can.
Use well, and
obviously improve, and then settle on, hopefully in
the future for them, because it's doing really well. This season
in Syria, are mostly down to his goals. So, what do you
think about that? Because I know top Never Been
In the Mix room as well.
Whatever Premier League teams, do you think could be
in the hunt for him? Or do you think it's all about arsenal of
like a bitch and that would be a really good fit.
Yeah. It does seem like something is going to happen
this month. Just given the timeline that you laid out
there Joe and I think that's one important thing that people
Overlook often is, what is the motivation? Of a selling Club,
a Buying Club, and the player given the current contract
situation
and that when a transfer maybe doesn't seem to make sense on
the field or on paper. That's typically the driver of that.
And I think that's going to be the case here, kind of looking
at the table here.
Manchester United I think would be a really interesting club
that could certainly use a center for day. A very
recognized and establish centre-forward someone for
the long term, but obviously bringing in Cristiano Ronaldo
at the end of the summer transfer window complicates
that just a little bit and I wonder for
about the 500th time this season.
Just on, on the PST videos. Are they going to regret that
because of blank? This is just the latest example of maybe
that, you know, having that player there in that position,
an issue for
a fantastic player that they can bring in, and really
strengthen the squad for the next three. Five, seven. Ten
years versus Ronaldo. Who might not be there past the summer
Arsenal? Obviously a pretty good fit. I agree with Nick
lock is that has
been very good. But one, he's on the wrong side to 30 and to,
he's a little bit more of just kind of a pressing defensive
type forward. He'll get on the end of chances and put some
away, but he's not going to create a ton. The holdup play
is not quite going to be there. The way that it will be with
lot of itch. And so
Arsenal does seem like the most logical landing spot. I would
be worried though. Because every time they seem to go out,
and they spend this massive amount of money on
an individual singular player in the transfer market. It seems
to not quite work out so much, and they,
I've spent just about that. Same amount on been White and
the summer. I know he's come good in the last few last few
weeks or so,
but it was a rocky start for him. And so
January transfers are always really complicated because
the team is settled, the team knows the tactics at the manager and
then you throw in midseason. Halfway through somebody
completely new with the expectations and the
monetary weight, that's on his show. There's just a lot of
things that are involved in January transfer.
Manchester United probably the best landing spot for him.
I think Arsenal the most likely and logical
folks in on Austin loves still Nick. I mean, they look like
they're going to be moving on Eddie and qetsiyah and
lacazette are both in the last six months of their contract.
Obviously a bomb Yang
his future. There seems very uncertain after being stripped
of the captaincy look like he's going to move on, they're in
obviously the top for hunt. Now in the Premier League, they
haven't finished in the top four for a long, long time for
Arsenal.
So to me this almost feels like the right time to kind of
make a calculated gamble. I think it's fair the saying so
you know, what these go Goolsbee comes in it. Hits
the ground running, the scores 10 12 goals, and a lot. Second
half of the Season. That could be the difference between us
finishing in fourth or 7th place. Because it's so tight
between Arsenal, Tottenham West Ham, Manchester United for
those
probably, the four spot, maybe, third, or fourth, depending on
if Chelsea
regain their form in the second half of the season. So for you,
do you think it's a gamble worth? Taking because
financially? Yes, it's a lot of money. 75 million dollars.
Let's not,
let's not make any means about that. But if
Do finish in the top form. Then that's a great return for a bit
of a gamble, isn't it? Because they're going to have so much
more money coming in from the Champions League. So
you think it's a gamble worth taking for Miguel arteta and
almost a scandal saying you've done a decent job to get us in
the top four hunt. Now, let's see. You over the line with
this new Striker. Yeah. I feel like they have to get over
the line to get their standing back in the transfer market. Now,
they're standing back
in the world. They can obviously still continue to become
a top for threat. But right now, this is their only route.
This is the route back to the champions league and and get
a finisher to do that from all accounts. That's what we have
of lava, which he is a finisher
more of your.
Yeah. I don't know, you use the right word for the show because
it came up in a better colloquial structure than us
when it comes to soccer. So I football, but your vardy is,
your Suarez is fantastic players, but this is not a
necessarily a wizard of creation. This is a guy who
when he gets his chance, he's going to take it.
And so that's the
I guess just to think about the calculator risk part. My only
worry is that I have they kind of built a team that's ready to
play on the ground and
manufacture chances weather than necessarily
whipping and long balls and Crosses. But Miguel arteta does
whatever you want to say about him. I probably at some point
argued that he wasn't going to work out and I probably very
much believed it. But now I feel like they owe it to him,
especially with all the love that was given to his name when
he was
man City's assistant that I want to. See him in
the Champions League. I want to see him against good teams all
the time. It is he going to restore that
quote unquote, Arsenal way. This is their way back to
the top four. They have not been there in a while. It does seem
imperative
that they seize this opportunity.
I totally agree with that and I
haven't watched him throw in Tina the way holds the boys,
a mobile number nine, he can get on the end of chances, but you
can also run the channels and hold the ball up and I think it
worked really well with Sakura Smith row Martinelli odegard,
just to kind of fluid front for
like That's done. Really well, as you said, great defensive
work and it's it all together users experience. But I feel
like this would be almost the missing piece of the jigsaw
for Arsenal up top. And again,
it would fit in perfectly with their model, fine. Young
players is only 21. He's only going to get better and
I think it's a Gamble and a risk. If it is
worth taken, given his body of work and Syria,
which is a very defensively. For the most part is tough to
score goals and Syria, and he's done it consistently now over
a couple of Seasons, so, So Andy, you want to jump in one final
point on Arsenal blachowicz?
Yeah, I actually want to throw you guys a little trivia.
What year was the last time, Arsenal played in the Champions
League? Because I think it's been a lot longer than a lot of
people realize
2016
15 17. So it's been five years. Since Arsenal had been in
the champions of Five Seasons in a row, failed to qualify
for the tip that one out. Obviously the financial hit that, that
that that puts on a club at what point will Arsenal.
Have the money for a signing like this, if they don't get
back into the Champions League because of the commercial
Revenue.
It's not going to run out for a club like that,
but it does separate them. I think from
the very big boys of the Premier League. So
this might actually be the more we're talking about it in
the more that Nick kind of sells it for Arsenal. It seems to be
the perfect situation, the perfect timing for for the club at
least, obviously. We'll see if it's, you know, maybe the best
situation for him as an individual.
Absolutely. And I think the key,
Key thing to remember is
mcelhatton said it,
did Austin was a very attractive Club, the biggest
players in the world still want to come here and have been able
to sign. The likes of lacazette about me and Odegaard Thomas
part. A,
you know who had suitors all across Europe from some of
the biggest things in Europe and they want to go to play for
Arsenal given the history of the club and where they think
it can get to. I think this would be a
big statement sign. And if it does happen,
it looks like it's going to take a lot maybe for January. And I
said, it isn't given a lot of lie in his recent press
conferences. So, let's wait and see because Other Premier
League team circling, the block a bitch as well, but it seems
like he's going to be the main man with folks
and on throughout January, and if it doesn't move in January,
definitely the summer
as well, let's focus now on which Premier League team needs
to sign a central strike because there's a lot of teams
out there who need a new forward up there in that
Central rather thinking man city, Liverpool,
Andy, you mentioned Manchester United on me,
Nick who needs a central Striker? The most out of all
those big boys there because
again, as we said that they're very tough to find 20 goals are
season Strikers are in very short supply,
and and Buffet. All in Holland. There's going to be a lot of
them up for grabs in the summer. We think. So. It's
really, really interesting. Isn't it to see which team
almost wins that Lottery and Sweepstake
and push themself from being top six, hopefuls to maybe
title hopefuls. That's how transformational our new number
9 can be, right? Absolutely. I mean, to me Harlan is the name.
I think I'm Bobby is
absolutely wonderful. Don't get me wrong. But Holland seems
the one who would be most likely to test. Premier League,
I don't know why this is, but I think
you look at who I'm Bobby's been around in his career and
all the things he's heard about in the, you know, the stories
of supposedly loving, Real Madrid as a kid, but also
obviously being around messy now and Neymar and hearing what
it would be like to restore Barcelona the glory.
He just seems like someone who is going to test Spain
before he goes, the other way.
Holland to me has always made sense as a sort of
following in his footsteps to Man City way.
And it's terrifying.
It's absolutely terrifying because
As if they had Holland
almost regardless of who you take off that team. Like if you
were to tell me, they're going to lose
anyone. Anyone Ruben Diaz Road re de bruyne up, but they're
going to get Holland. I would tell you. Oh, so they're going
to win everything this year
and that to me, is scary. So, as we look into the summer and
you see the money they got for fair and Torres,
forget who needs it? Because
it said he doesn't need much. But, on a relatively speaking,
getting a player like this,
who Firms their history in a sense because of his father's
connection.
I think that would say a lot for them.
I agree with that. Andy. Is there any other team that you
think really needs to move for Central Striker and the Premier
League? Well, maybe not really needs to do it and maybe not in
January, but I don't think the word
Liverpool has come up anywhere in this entire conversation.
And I think that's a little bit interesting given that for me,
know has been injured and just, you know, not favored for
selection by clapping for months and months now.
And how do you go jota is
Is it has played really well since moving there, but
obviously not a natural number nine involved, which would seem
to kind of fit the way that they play. I think pretty well
better than say, maybe Holland going to Manchester City. And
so
whatever the financial situation at Liverpool at
the moment, if they've got the cash on hand, I'm sure that they
would be interested. Maybe they've got some issues and
other parts of the field that they feel they need to address
first because they can get goals from a number of
different places,
but I think that would be very interesting. And Nick, you talk
about creating a Refined Juggernaut,
you know, if both of those two sides,
it's kind of the one position that they're not super, super
strong at it. Both of them, could add someone like that
whether in January, or in the summer and then come back next
season. And we just do all of this over again. It could be
even better next time around. Yeah, and
and just one of the thought
to pull the whole conversation together, like a nice warm
blanket
where Arsenal is now, Liverpool was not too long ago, and it
shows you that when you Regina the game and you miss out on
Europe for a while. Now, if anybody
Went to Liverpool. Now, the caliber of player that wouldn't
surprise us compared to say, five years ago. You know that
Brendan Rodgers era, it shows you the difference between. I'm
one of the biggest clubs in the world. And I one of the biggest
clubs my world and we are
good is huge
ever it as a really good point Nixon, it that will together.
And I think, also know, Liverpool, Manchester City or
going to be in the hunt for a talismanic number 9, in
the coming transfer window. So let's see
how much money they spend, who they go for
full. But do sample. I have it seems to be the main man on
Arsenal's wanted list. And over at pro soccer talk on, NBC
sports.com. Will keep you updated with all the latest
news on that Pursuit and all the transfer news in January
because
I feel like it's just bubbling up. Now, as a big moves. Aston
Villa are making moves other big teams
around the Premier League of really starting to jostle for
position. And this is going to be a lot of fun. So we'll keep
you updated over a PST.