PANIC PREMIUM, BUT NOT FOR ARSENAL

We’re entering the final 24 hours of the transfer window it’s all a bit flat when it comes to exit fees.

Good news:

Balogun is out the door for $42m. There’s a 17.5% sell on clause according to Charles Watts, that’s decent, and it is basically the premium we’re missing from a Chelsea bid for the player. I have no doubt Folarin will crush it in Monaco, it is yet to be seen whether he has what it takes to make it back to the Premier League. The shame is if he was exiting Monaco to Chelsea, the fee would be £60m.

Nuno Tavares still hasn’t found a move, though it looking more and more likely it’ll be a loan to Forest. Quite annoying that we’re being pushed into loan deals while Newcastle, City, and Chelsea are flogging untested kids for fortunes. I wonder if the market reputation we have for giving away players has been hard to shift? When we’re in the market late – it’s always a panic premium. When Arsenal sell late – it’s a giveaway. Not great.

Emile Smith Rowe has been lighting up the feeds. The player is out of favor at Arsenal and there is strong word he wants to exit to get more minutes. Chelsea apparently put their name into the mixer, but we rebuffed them. At this late hour, it seems unlikely we’re going to see him exit. On the one hand,  I like that, but on the other, I feel for him because it’s hard to see how he displaces the faves of Fabio and Kai.

There are three other players that still haven’t moved. Rob Holding has Mallorca and Sevilla interested in his services, he’s definitely not getting minutes. Nico Pepe can’t even get a move to Saudi and looks to be heading to termination land. Cedric Soares might get a reprieve because we don’t seem to have a right-back lined up. That said, Tomi and Ben White can cover right back. So who knows.

My big question: What did we do with Saudi? They have hoovered up our rivals’ mistakes all summer – and apparently just offered £118m for Mo Salah. They haven’t touched any of our cast-off options. Why?

Then factor in that Chelsea just spent £45m on Cole Palmer – it is maddening that we’re not doing better with some of our players.

What I have found super interesting is how some fans are suddenly down on our window. This window has been exceptional by any standards. We replaced Granit Xhaka, we added the best young 6 in the league for a record fee, we upgraded out keeper, and we added a beast right back. You can’t complain about that – you can be angry that Timber is injured, but that is an outrageous window regardless.

It doesn’t feel like we’re going to get a right back. There’s chat that Reull Walters might get the nod. But realistically, I think we can cover with the flex we have in the system already. Partey, White, and Tomi is more than enough when you consider the make-up of the squad.

Right, short one today, will bounce back if there’s anything else that needs to be spoken about!