Today we are being told Barcelona scouts were sent to watch Jack Wilshere.
But they went home more impressed by Aaron Ramsey.
Story says Barca could bid £50 million for Ramsey and then loan him out till January to get round their transfer embargo.
Do I believe that?
Not really.
I see Ramsey as a reliable self-made technician-type like Lampard, rather than a gifted natural footballer. A guy who does three or four things really well.
They want him to replace Xavi?
Ridiculous!!!
The whole notion of replacing Xavi is absurd. He’s a one-off.
Nobody can do what Xavi has done, nobody can control games like him, control whole campaigns, win leagues, Champions Leagues, the World Cup, everything
You can’t replace a Liam Brady, a Dennis Bergkamp or Patrick Vieira because they were one-offs.
So was Denis Law, so was Dave Mackay.
You get a left back as great as Ashley Cole once every 50 years, if you’re lucky.
But you can’t replace him with a Clichy, a Gibbs, a Monreal.
One their best day, on their very best best night, those guys are not good enough to lace Ashley Cole’s boots.
Would Ramsey turn down a move to Barcelona? No.
Would Arsenal sell him for £50m. Yes, of course.
BUT I CAN’T SEE IT HAPPENING.
Summer is the silly season, as we all know, and this “story” won’t be the silliest.
Rest assured that your humble servant will not be spending 25 minutes discussing every silly story that pops up in the next 15 weeks.