Transfer Balls: Arsenal Get Three Manchester United Players For Thomas Vermaelen
TRANSFER Balls: Having reported that Arsenal ‘lifer’ Thomas Vermaelen has committed his future to the Gunners and agreed to join Manchester United, the media looks for a new angle:
The Daily Mirror reports:
Arsene Wenger could look for a part-exchange deal with Manchester United over Thomas Vermaelen, writes John Cross.
Could.
The Arsenal boss has been keeping tabs on Tom Cleverley and also has an interest in Chris Smalling.
This guessology would be passable were it not for the fact that at the top of the story, the Mirror’s headline ponders:
Arsenal transfer rumours: Nani wanted as parted of Thomas Vermaelen swap deal?
So. Just three United players, then, that the cagey Wenger wants at Arsenal. Maybe.
The Guardian continues the Mirror’s schtick of writing a story around a question by reporting:
Football transfer rumours: Arsenal in for Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling?
The simple rule is never to click on a headline with a question in it. We’ll do it for you. Or just reply “no”.
Rob Bleaney writes below the headline:
After Manchester United opened talks with Thomas Vermaelen about a £10m move to Old Trafford, Arsène Wenger wants to return the favour and take some dead wood off Louis van Gaal’s hands by moving for Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling.
You might recall that the Telegraph says Arsenal club captain Thomas Vermaelen has agreed a deal to join Manchester United this summer. Bleaney goes on:
Quite why Wenger would desire a small, tricky playmaker such as Cleverley having passed up the opportunity to sign Cesc Fábregas because he is so well stocked in that area is anyone’s guess, but Wenger knows.
Is it because Cleverly is English, cheaper, younger and hungrier?
A bid for Smalling to cover for the losses of Sagna and Vermaelen makes more sense, apart from the fact the former Fulham man is rubbish both at right-back and in the centre of defence.
Shhh! Wenger might be listening. And, yes, that is the Wenger who was the subject of the April 2013 Daily Mail statement:
We won’t sell any more players to United after RVP, insists Arsenal boss Wenger
Such are the facts…
Posted: 17th, June 2014 | In: Arsenal, manchester united, Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
