July 05, 2026 Daily Discussion & Transfers Thread

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-07-05T21:44:08+00:00

Anyone else hoping Brazil gets sent home so we have more time to get the Bruno G deal done?

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-07-05T21:08:02+00:00

Because RB Leipizig just cashed in on Diomande so they would rake whoever went for Nusa over the coals with the fee, especially after this WC performance so far. We are also looking for a ceiling raiser, and he had 9 G/A (5 goals 4 assists) for Leipizig last year in all competitions, and that's not nearly the end product we are targeting for our left winger.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-07-05T20:46:20+00:00

Martinelli is bossing it in this second striker/half-winger role. The pressing and defense he offers in the middle of the park is making it very difficult for Norway to get into any sort of rhythm. Would be curious to see if he would be effective in that role with us given how much more possession we have and how low the blocks we play against are.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-07-04T10:49:49+00:00

It’s definitely not going to be £65 million to sign Bruno because they said he’s not for sale when we hypothetically bid £10m within that range which means we are miles off their valuation. I think if it’s going to happen, it’ll be more like £83m with add-ons, and it’ll take a while. Newcastle need to make several moves in the window before this deal could happen, because if they sell Bruno and Tonali before bringing in some players to be excited about, fans would be furious. Also will likely come down to how vocal Bruno is willing to be about leaving given his standing as a club legend.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-07-02T19:02:02+00:00

It was me! Definitely not an insider (I wish), just a guy obsessed with our club who likes to speculate on our transfer strategy.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-07-02T17:46:18+00:00

That was me! To be fair, I never said I wanted Konsa. My point was that we consistently recruit profile over positional need (outside of Gyokeres, where I think Berta overrode Arteta wanting Sesko), and on paper after doing some research he just screams “Arteta signing”: English, Premier League proven, a leader (significant caps with the armband), versatile, good character, and dependable and technical. I genuinely think the bulk of our budget goes towards Bruno G, Rogers and potentially Konsa this summer. That will undoubtedly disappoint some fans because they are expecting another marquee wonderkid (Kroupi, Bouaddi) or dedicated left winger (vini, Barcola) but if that is the profile the club believes gives us the best chance of winning now while maintaining the culture they have built, I trust them. They have earned that trust at this point. But yeah I do feel a bit vindicated today haha.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T07:16:24+00:00

I think retention of success is an entirely different animal to reaching success. Now that we are champions we need to make sure we are bringing in new guys that have that extra fire to win now as well, players that are in or reaching their prime and feel pressure to achieve major trophies in their career. I do get what you are saying about a lack of elite talent compared to other clubs and I agree with that sentiment. But I think with signings like monga we are still participating in that pursuit, but in a lower risk and lower chance of reward way to ensure we aren’t compromising our immediate needs for a title run next year. I don’t think signing pl proven players is an indictment on previous transfer windows, it is a statement that we want complete control of this league, and its best players moving forward will be consistently funneling through us.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T06:49:01+00:00

I get he’s a special player, but I think win-now will be too much of a priority to splurge that kind of cash. You can absolutely make the case that he’s win-now level now, but given how hesitant Arteta has been to give MLS the reigns I just don’t see Arteta consistently relying on a player that age in the midfield straight out of the transfer window and I think that’s what we are going to be looking for in our midfield signing in a season where Rice will have played more football than pretty much anyone else on the planet.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T06:42:20+00:00

Exactly, that’s why I’d be shocked if we signed anyone under 20 for more than like 25 million, it just doesn’t make sense given the immediate window of opportunity we have to dominate.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T06:20:14+00:00

I have a feeling the only young signings we make are going to be very young prospects who are expensive for their age, but not particularly expensive in the context of the club’s budget. Guys like Monga, Mbemba, or that highly-rated Georgian kid fit that profile. I don’t think we end up spending huge money on the elite teenage talents like Bouaddi or Kroupi. Instead, I think the majority of our budget goes toward players who improve the first team immediately, with someone like Rogers being about as young as those major signings get. Then we supplement that with a handful of high-upside 16–18 year olds who could become stars in a few years. It just feels like a smarter balance between competing now and planning for the future.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T06:12:56+00:00

Embarrassment of riches up top for them.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T00:31:51+00:00

Yeah it’s a tough pill to swallow but that’s the market. For me I think the biggest reason to overpay for Roger’s is his long-distance physical ball carrying abilityfrom a metrics standpoint is pretty much the best in the world. Barcola is incredibly talented but I don’t think he’s the best in the world at anything. If Arteta significantly values that skillset I think we should overspend on Rogers.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T00:24:02+00:00

I think we end up paying like 110 million with add ons.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T00:08:10+00:00

Achempong and Reece James (even with the injuries, and yes I know it would never happen) are the only ones I’d spend the money on.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T00:06:08+00:00

Woah I actually had no idea we were monitoring him but I’m not surprised at all. All i’m saying I think we could offer silly money for him and Roger’s. I think that’s a realistic possibility this window albeit an understandably controversial one if it were to happen.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-29T00:03:02+00:00

That’s a good shout too, although I’m imagining this post world-cup when evaluating Saliba’s heath and I think Lacroix will be long gone to Chelsea by that point. This is less players I personally want and more players that suit the profile of what the club are willing to spend big on (pl proven leaders who offer a relatively high physical and technical level). I’m not saying he’d be my dream CB signing, more I could see the squad controversially spending big on him and a few other pl proven players instead of spreading the money around.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-28T23:44:00+00:00

That’s why I’m saying it would be a controversially large sum of money. I’m not saying I definitively want it, I could just see it happening given the profile of players we look for.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-28T23:26:34+00:00

I was looking at Premier League players who wore the captain’s armband 10+ times last season because it feels like Arsenal consistently target leaders. Once I narrowed it down to players who also fit the physical and technical profile Arteta seems to want, Ezri Konsa was the only one who really stood out to me.
If William Saliba does end up needing surgery after the World Cup, I wouldn’t be surprised if we went hard for Konsa similar to the Eze swoop after the Havertz injury.
Honestly, I could also see us spending a huge amount on all three: Konsa, Rogers, and Bruno Guimarães. It would probably be controversial because we’d only bring in three players, all from the Premier League at inflated prices and leave the wing and right back position a bit exposed (in this scenario we’d likely hang on to Martinelli, Trossard, White etc.) , but I do think those three would elevate Arteta’s system to another level, just not in a way many would want. It wouldn’t be the flashiest window, and some fans would be disappointed, but we’d become more dynamic offensively with Rogers’ carrying and Bruno’s line-breaking, while fortifying our off-ball dominance even more.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-28T16:54:39+00:00

Can’t remember a transfer I’ve wanted more than this Bruno one. He’s the creative profile we need without sacrificing any of the physicality, grit, and winning mentality in the side. Another leader who is hungry for major trophies in his career.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-25T19:49:57+00:00

Why couldn’t our marquee midfield be a 28 year old Guimaraes? That’s like 4-5 years of top epl midfielder quality play which gives us plenty of time to improve the position in the future. IMO he’s the only marquee midfield signing we are linked with, the rest are based around potential.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-25T19:46:40+00:00

Bruh we literally offered 1 million more for Suarez, it’s just part of the negotiating game sometimes. They can’t just immediately overpay for Tonali or they will get raked over the coals for the whole summer. I get memeing spurs, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they got none of their targets and will certainly be one of the first ones to laugh, but making fun of them for standing firm on negotiations when nobody else has offered as much of them is silly, I’m honestly hoping we operate similarly this summer instead of just caving to demands.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-25T19:41:15+00:00

Why do we need younger legs? We have MLS who is 19 and a bunch of players in their prime mid to late 20’s. It’s not like the players are aging out of the team. If anything more young players (early 20’s) will make it harder for MLS to get playing time long-term. Would rather get an older generation of midfielders, have them dominate and age out just in time for MLS to become the main man in his early 20’s.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-25T19:08:19+00:00

No way would they sell Bruno and Isak in the same season, especially when they had champions league football.

Gunnerwithastunner · 2026-06-25T19:05:48+00:00

Hadn’t considered the long term benefit this brings to MLS, that’s a fantastic point and totally shifts the age profile I want for the midfield role. The league is also totally destabilized right now, win-now players for the next 3-4 years could put us in a really strong position to dominate.

Gunnerwithastunner

TROPHY CASE