The Sunday press is rife with transfer rumours – many of which could disappear with the appeals of the four Italian clubs.
The Sunday Mirror has the fanciful – Vieira to Arsenal – on a year's loan (guffaw, guffaw). Elsewhere in one of the broadsheets, Wenger says that Arsenal are unlikely to pursue Vieira, due to his wage demands – even though most say he is being actively targetted by Manchester United. Lilian Thuram, may be a more likely link – given that Wenger has publicly stated that Arsenal need a new centre back. One paper says Senderos is out for three months and Gael Clichy will miss the beginning of the season, along with Diaby.
The NoW leads with Arsenal bid £12.5m for Gigi Buffon. This is confirmed by quotes elsewhere, although some put AC Milan at the head of the queue. The paper also firms up the link between Wenger and Ribery, and one or two others say Ribery to Arsenal is on – although tellingly the Marseilles president says: "we are trying to build, not knock down – and Franck is part of our plans."
Saviola is still linked in the Sunday Times – who also say Arsenal are interested in AC Milan's Pirlo, but not at the £25m asking price.
However given the bullish links of the nearest four Premiership rivals – Liverpool tracking Trezeguet and Alves, Chelsea – Nesta, Cannavaro and Zambrotta, Man U – Vieira, Diarra, Torres, Carrick, Defoe and Spurs – Luca Toni and Sorin – Arsenal's links appear a bit limited. It was only a season ago that Liverpool were way behind Arsenal in the final Premiership points tally – but some good buys in the transfer market have seen them leapfrog the Londoners this season, and already they have three fine buys to their name in the close season.
This season, Arsenal fans – and particularly those who have shelled out over a grand (plus) for season tickets – expect one or two big signings. There's been a glut of bad news of late. Even today with stories above about the rivals links – the main Arsenal story is over Ashley Cole revealing the dirt on Arsenal. And Arsene Wenger in a defensive position, saying he'd like Cole to stay, but there are three parties involved,including Arsenal. [One comment piece says Cole should look at his own loyalty when he went to the meeting with Chelsea, rather than accuse the club who fostered his growth.]
Maybe it is down to the £12m 'solvency limit' of Arsenal's annual transfer funds – a condition of the newly released bond, as reported in Thursday's Telegraph. The truth of the story should be verified at the various Arsenal meetings over the next week. Although the author of the story Mihir Bose favours Spurs – and was only half right on a recent training ground story – he has very good City contacts.
For those who missed the story, here is a key section: "In order to get the bond Arsenal have had to agree to twice-yearly solvency tests, in September and March, and to forecast how much they will spend on transfers.
"They say they will keep net transfer spending to £12m a year for the next three years. If, after that, they finish mid-table, then in the 2009-10 and 2011-12 seasons, transfer spend will drop to £5m net a year. Arsenal have not been big transfer spenders. Their average net spend over the last five years, ending in 2004-05, was £8.4m a year. This compares with Tottenham's £9.6m, Manchester United's £17.9m, Liverpool's £14.5m and Chelsea's pounds £60.3m."
An extraordinary general meeting of the club has been called for July 21, when shareholders will be asked to approve the arrangements.
An Arsenal Supporters Trust spokesman said: "The trust acknowledge the need for this refinancing to extend the loan life and reduce the annual debt service. But Arsenal are pledging the whole football club as additional security. If future ticket income is not sufficient the creditors can take over Arsenal.''
So no wonder we are hearing stories about Arsene's reliance on youth. For example, the Irish Examiner, stresses Wenger can't wait to test his youngsters against rivals, saying the Champions League run has built up a great team spirit, and emphasing the merits of Cesc and Theo.
Going on yesterday's outing at Barnet, with Hoyte and Aliadiere returning and van den Berg and Cealuill– two of a new crop of youngsters, on show, plus Bendtner, Lupoli, Muamba and Song the signs are that Arsenal will be relying predominatly on youth this season, like the last.
The bookies incidentally, don't believe in Arsenal youth – having them fourth favourites at 6/1 for the Premiership, and ninth favourites at 14/1 for the Champions League.