re: Arsenal 2013/2014 Season Long Thread

Supposedly Draxler is telling people he doesn't want to go to Bayern. Which is something that had been rumored previously I think. So it looks like the main role Bayern played was assuring Schalke that someone was willing to pay his buyout clause, meaning arsenal couldn't negotiate a lower fee for him.

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Supposedly Draxler is telling people he doesn't want to go to Bayern.

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Just made my day.

that would somewhat concern me in that it shows hesitancy by us wrt his release clause fee.

that scenario doesn't quite make sense to me (though none of them do)

my thoughts on that, assuming that account is true:

1) Everyone knows Draxler has a 45m euro buyout triggering in the summer. That's the max anyone would pay for him.

2) We were haggling for a lower price than 45m euro. Seems very true.

3) Schalke were about to sell him to us for less than 45m euros. Seems really unlikely to me because they don't seem to be in financial trouble, are fighting for a CL spot, and don't have a replacement for him until the summer.

4) They assumed no one else would be interested in Draxler in the summer for his buyout clause price until Bayern called. That really doesn't make sense to me. We know Chelsea pursued him last summer. A player with his talent, current success and future potential is going to get looks from all the top clubs for 45m euros. Absolutely no way Schalke thought we were the only club who would meet that fee.

5) After Bayern said they would meet that fee, that's where Schalke comes back and says, will you meet that fee? If they were willing to sell him in January for less, they would be willing to sell him in January for the price he will fetch in the summer. That means we were unwilling to meet the 45m euro fee for Draxler, which means we won't be getting him in the summer. If we passed on him at that price to get him 6mo earlier to help us win 2 trophies potentially, that makes me think we won't pay that in the summer unless AW has a change of heart.

That's why I find that particular version of what went down unconvincing (mainly bc of #3) and unsettling, if true, because if we don't meet the fee, someone else will. Look at the prices a young Hazard, Lucas Moura, Neymar, Marquinhos, et al went for. Someone will pay that for Draxler.

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I don't think Schalke were about to sell him to us though, for a lower price.

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me neither. hence my skepticism to that story.

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They probably remained firm on their price and used Bayern to show Wenger there was an immediate market.

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maybe, but AW knows all the big clubs will be after him in the summer. the mere presence of bayern doesn't seem to me to be an important development. furthermore, it's been reported by multiple sources that AW has talked to Draxler. he would know if Draxler would sign for Bayern in all likelihood (in addition to what Schalke's coach has said publicly). just a weird situation.

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AW knows all the big clubs will be after him in the summer.

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That's never stopped him from sticking with his own valuation of a player though. Now that we have money, it still wouldn't stop him from sticking to his own price. It wouldn't be the first time it happened.

nah, we have the cash

Getting Ramsey back will be better than any signing we could have made.

Can't wait!

I wasn't saying that I'm glad we didn't sign anyone since Ramsey is coming back in 6 weeks. I was saying his importance to the team is greater than anyone we could have signed, IMO.

Edit: I watched a highlight reel of him from earlier this season and it reminded me of how sick he's played thus far.

Probaly more like 8 weeks....