🚨 BREAKING: Granit Xhaka has TURNED DOWN a move to Chelsea to remain at Sunderland.
🇨🇭 The Swiss & Sunderland captain has reaffirmed of desire to remain with #SAFC and lead them into Europe.
❌ Sunderland always said he was unavailable for transfer despite Chelsea’s move and his relationship with Xabi Alonso.
👍🏽 The 33-year-old’s relationship with the Sunderland fans played a big part in his decision.
Rookie mistake. Calling a deal done before it’s done. Arsenal have other talents in these positions. Holger and Edwin Quintero and are after Andria Bartishvili. You should know your influence is up right now and you have to lead by example. Monga is a missed opportunity but is not a hill to die on. Deals with Berta are in a constant flow. Things change quickly so until it’s done you can’t say it’s done.
🚨 || #Galatasaray🇹🇷 have agreed personal terms with Martin #Ødegaard🇳🇴 and negotiations with #Arsenal🏴 will revolve around a deal valued at less than €40m/£34m [Via - @SelmanOzturk].
(@AFCI4I)
I've been saying this for weeks and people kept telling me I was being "too emotional" and that I should "trust the process."
For over a month Arsenal have been working on the Jeremy Monga deal. We heard about discussions over the fee, convincing the player, the player choosing Arsenal, everything. Then the only thing left was agreeing a fee with Leicester. Even reliable outlets were saying it was 99% done.
Yet here we are... still nothing.
Now I wake up to reports that Manchester City are trying to HIJACK the deal, negotiations are already underway, their project is being presented and Monga is now tempted.
This is exactly what some of us were warning about.
People keep acting like taking forever in the market has no consequences. It does. The longer you drag deals, the more time you give rivals to enter the race. That's just how football works.
If we lose Jeremy Monga after having the advantage for over a month, then serious questions have to be asked. How do you go from being the clear favourites to suddenly watching another Premier League rival come in at the last minute?
I really hope this doesn't happen because losing one of England's brightest young talents due to delays would be completely avoidable.
And before anyone says "be patient"... patience doesn't stop Manchester City from picking up the phone. Patience doesn't stop rivals from selling a better project. Patience doesn't stop opportunities from disappearing.
People laughed when I complained about how slow we've been moving. Well, if this deal falls apart, don't tell me I was overreacting.
At some point we have to stop pretending that every delay is part of some masterplan. Sometimes being too slow simply costs you players.
But yeah... let's keep waiting until every top talent is wearing someone else's shirt.
This one hurts. First Emmanuel Mbemba, now Jeremy Monga. Arsenal identified both profiles early, but football moves quickly. In Monga's case, my understanding is both Arsenal and Leicester were prepared to avoid a tribunal determine fee, however Arsenal's valuation never matched Leicester's expectations. That created the opening for City to enter the race.
The reality now is simple: if Monga agrees personal terms and City meet Leicester's fair valuation, the deal is effectively over.
Missing out on one elite young talent is unfortunate. Missing out on two in quick succession raises bigger questions.
@Buchi_Laba they are waiting for him to turn 17 so he becomes a free agent and the fee goes to a tribunal.
You can kinda understand. he turns 17 July 10th