From Robert Brand
Like everyone else, I was quite frustrated with the fact that Nasri would either leave this summer for £20m or next year for free.
And like most I was surprised that Wenger wanted to keep him (and receive nothing next year).
However, there is a business case for this – laid out below:
Transfer income from selling Nasri: £20m
Less agent fees / bonuses etc: £2m (assumed to be 10%)
Loss of income from failure to finish in EPL Top 4 – c £20m-30m
NET: £-2m to -12m
So if Wenger really believes that losing Nasri (and Fabregas) would scupper his squad and mean Arsenal finish 5th or below then there is a clear business case for keeping Nasri to his contract.
It’s a big risk, but if Arsenal is as rich as everyone says, then I believe this is a good ‘investment’ to ensure an orderly transition to a new team for 2012-13.
Anyway, let’s be positive because there’s still time for more transfers.
I remember Bruce Rioch’s only close season as the greatest in the transfer market – David Platt and Dennis Bergkamp.
It was unreal and soon enough it heralded a new great era.
We can keep dreaming of such excitement again!
Myles says :
Thanks Robert.
In the last five years, 25% of transfers happened in the last week of August. Most of the others happened before July.
This period is usually a long, dull one, a period of waiting.
I expect that, so I never get impatient or agitated.
But the recession has affected football, right up to Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Nasri might stay.
He’s an unpleasant young man who lives in a £6m apartment in Bishops Avenue, long regarded as the most expensive street in London.
The deal to Man City was agreed weeks ago.
£185,000,000 a week, commission agreed, everything sorted except the transfer fee.
Will Nasri play in the CLQ games in August?
What if he plays and Arsenal lose and he’s Cup-tied and his value drops?