Arsenal transfer latest: Insight into Odegaard fee, Southampton stopper lined up, Nelson set for Championship
A series of updates surrounding the transfer business of Premier League giants Arsenal have surfaced online on Friday evening.
Gunners outgoings
On the back of an altogether quiet opening 3 weeks to the window at the Emirates, dominated by chatter surrounding the future of Mesut Ozil, Arsenal’s transfer chiefs appear to have burst into life over recent days.
First, on Wednesday, confirmation was forthcoming that veteran defender Sokratis Papastathopoulos had departed the club, after an agreement was reached to terminate the Greek’s contract:
🗞 Working closely with @SokratisPapa5 and his team, we have decided to cancel his contract by mutual consent
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 20, 2021
This, though, appears altogether unlikely to mark the only exit from north London over the week or so ahead.
Ozil’s contract termination is expected to be made official imminently, with the midfield creator primed to link up with Fenerbahce.
And, as confirmed online this evening, another of Mikel Arteta’s attacking options could also be set to follow suit.
As per a number of reports, Arsenal are considering farming Reiss Nelson out on loan to the Championship, as the youngster continues to struggle for game time in the capital:
Arsenal looking into a potential Championship loan move for Reiss Nelson this month.
His game-time has dried up and development stalled – club clearly saw improvement in Smith Rowe following his stint at Huddersfield.
Could be one that progresses in the coming days.
— Mark Mann-Bryans (@MarkyMBryans) January 22, 2021
One player tipped for a potential exit who looks set to stay put, however, is Calum Chambers.
Stopper Chambers is currently in the final stages of rehabilitation from a long-term knee injury, with the competition for places at the heart of Arsenal’s backline having seen it suggested that the 26-year-old may be best served in moving on this month, to secure regular action over the 2nd half of the campaign.
When drawn on such a possibility during a recent press conference, however, Mikel Arteta was quick to reiterate his ‘belief’ in Chambers:
‘I don’t think that is going to happen. I am really happy with Calum.’
‘He has gone through a really difficult period. He has worked so hard. He has looked really good in the last few weeks in training.’
‘He is not even thinking about his knee right now. We want to give him minutes when we can because he is a player that we believe in.’
GILLINGHAM, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 10: Calum Chambers of Arsenal during the match between Gillingham and Arsenal U21 at Priestfield Stadium on November 10, 2020 in Gillingham, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Bertrand eyed
Movement at the Emirates over the final week+ of the window, though, will not be restricted to outgoings.
The Gunners confirmed their first major January arrival earlier today, in the form of the loan of Brighton goalkeeper Maty Ryan:
👋 Welcome to The Arsenal, @MatyRyan!
The @Socceroos keeper joins us on loan from @OfficialBHAFC until the end of the season 🤝
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 22, 2021
And another temporary addition is expected to join Ryan in Mikel Arteta’s squad imminently, amid widespread claims that out-of-favour Real Madrid talent Martin Odegaard is on the verge of swapping the Spanish capital for its English equivalent.
An insight into the terms of the deal set to take the Norwegian to the Premier League, meanwhile, has been provided this evening.
As per the reliable James Benge, between the loan fee to be paid to Real Madrid, and Odegaard’s wages, 6 months of the 22-year-old’s services look set to cost Arsenal around £6 million:
Martin Odegaard’s loan is not risk-free – expected to cost around £6million in fee and wages – but it’s as shrewd an investment as Arsenal could make this month.
A good fit for Arteta’s current plans and vision. https://t.co/92sR3LdVGE
— James Benge (@jamesbenge) January 22, 2021
A potential addition to Arteta’s ranks at the other end of the park, whether this month or in the summer, could also be forthcoming in the shape of Ryan Bertrand.
As per a host of sources on Friday, the Gunners have set their sights on the Southampton stopper, to act as backup to Kieran Tierney on the left flank.
This comes with Bertrand’s contract at St. Mary’s due to expire at the end of the season, and the former Chelsea man said to be stalling on committing to fresh terms:
As reported by @sr_collings and @JackRosser_, Ryan Bertrand is one of the left-back options Arsenal are looking at to provide cover for Tierney. Six months left on his deal at Southampton and stalling on a new contract.
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) January 22, 2021
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Manchester United FC | 19 | 11 | 40 |
| 2 | Manchester City FC | 18 | 18 | 38 |
| 3 | Leicester City FC | 19 | 14 | 38 |
| 4 | Liverpool FC | 19 | 15 | 34 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 18 | 16 | 33 |
| 6 | Everton FC | 17 | 7 | 32 |
| 7 | West Ham United FC | 19 | 5 | 32 |
| 8 | Chelsea FC | 19 | 10 | 29 |
| 9 | Southampton FC | 18 | 5 | 29 |
| 10 | Arsenal FC | 19 | 4 | 27 |
| 11 | Aston Villa FC | 16 | 11 | 26 |
| 12 | Leeds United | 18 | -4 | 23 |
| 13 | Crystal Palace FC | 19 | -11 | 23 |
| 14 | Wolverhampton Wanderers FC | 19 | -8 | 22 |
| 15 | Newcastle United FC | 18 | -12 | 19 |
| 16 | Burnley FC | 18 | -12 | 19 |
| 17 | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 19 | -7 | 17 |
| 18 | Fulham FC | 18 | -12 | 12 |
| 19 | West Bromwich Albion | 19 | -28 | 11 |
| 20 | Sheffield United FC | 19 | -22 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 13 |
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 12 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 11 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 11 |
| Calvert-Lewin, Dominic | Everton FC | 11 |
| Bamford, Patrick | Leeds United | 10 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace FC | 8 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United FC | 8 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 7 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 7 |
| Lacazette, Alexandre | Arsenal FC | 7 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Maddison, James | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Watkins, Ollie | Aston Villa FC | 6 |
| Barnes, Harvey | Leicester City FC | 6 |
| Abraham, Tammy | Chelsea FC | 6 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 5 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 5 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bellerin, Hector | Arsenal FC | 0 | 6 |
| Gallagher, Conor | West Bromwich Albion | 0 | 6 |
| Bissouma, Yves | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 5 |
| Egan, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 5 |
| Hayden, Isaac | Newcastle United FC | 0 | 6 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Reid, Bobby | Fulham FC | 0 | 5 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Romeu, Oriol | Southampton FC | 0 | 5 |
| Dunk, Lewis | Brighton & Hove Albion FC | 1 | 4 |
| Phillips, Kalvin | Leeds United | 0 | 5 |
| Cash, Matty | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 5 |
| Evans, Jonny | Leicester City FC | 0 | 5 |
| Lundstram, John | Sheffield United FC | 1 | 4 |
| Kante, N`Golo | Chelsea FC | 0 | 5 |
| Milivojevic, Luka | Crystal Palace FC | 1 | 4 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 0 | 4 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 0 | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 0 | 4 |
| Tielemans, Youri | Leicester City FC | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Kane, Harry | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 11 |
| De Bruyne, Kevin | Manchester City FC | 9 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United FC | 7 |
| Grealish, Jack | Aston Villa FC | 7 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur FC | 6 |
| Rashford, Marcus | Manchester United FC | 5 |
| Robertson, Andrew | Liverpool FC | 5 |
| Digne, Lucas | Everton FC | 5 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City FC | 4 |
| Ward-Prowse, James | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Werner, Timo | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Adams, Che | Southampton FC | 4 |
| Harrison, Jack | Leeds United | 4 |
| Chilwell, Benjamin | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa FC | 4 |
| Cresswell, Aaron | West Ham United FC | 4 |
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 3 |
| Ings, Danny | Southampton FC | 3 |
| Sterling, Raheem | Manchester City FC | 3 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 3 |
