Transfer Update:

Apologies for the lateness of this update, I was expecting to have it up this evening but I was chilled out and just kept putting it off.

The general feeling at the moment is that we are short of center backs, we saw it first hand at the Emirates Cup and we have seen defensive weaknesses for the past four of five years – predominantly from set pieces. The official site ran an article the other day claiming Arsenal had three ‘established and experienced center backs’. No, we only have one and that is Thomas Vermaelen – I’d also say that he is hardly vastly experienced. He is still a pretty young player. Is Koscielny, a player who has played only one season in the top flight in France, established and experienced ?? Is Djourou, who is young and has spent most of his career on the sidelines, experienced and established ?? It was a piece of shameless propaganda.

However, even the manager has accepted that we need at least one more signing in defence and lodged a bid of just over £10 million for Werder Bremen defender Per Mertesacker, the bid is still sitting there and Bremen are playing a waiting game. Apparently he is interested in a move but for financial reasons Werder Bremen are waiting for news on another front… Thiago Silva has been the subject of a bid from Real Madrid and Milan are said to very much see Mertesacker as his replacement – in actual fact Arsenal inquired about Thiago but were quoted a price of £25 million. Again, price is an issue.

I am told that Arsenal are actively seeking a defensive signing, and are working as quickly as possible to make it happen – however right now the name of the target is just not known and is being kept tightly under wraps. The situation is this: we have two targets with hopes of signing one of them, Per Mertesacker is the first (bid lodged) – and the second is unknown but there is definitely movement being made but whatever stage it may be at is unknown. I am hoping for more information on this in the next couple of days.

There is one name being thrown around, Emir Spahic. Reports in Croatia have said that we may well already be in negotiations with him which is interesting if you link it in with the information I have received.. though this name has not been heard by any of my sources so on that front you can discount it – however there was no denials, nobody saying ‘no way, never going to happen’. I’d keep an eye on that one, especially as he wouldn’t demand a great deal of money.

Now, this is one thing that may just make you despair.. It is said that Arsene has a contingency plan if none of the deals come off – to re-sign Mikael Silvestre who is currently a free agent after his contract expired last month. I heard something similar last month and people wrote it off – its still kicking about and I really believe it is something that is being considered.

It is all quiet on the goalkeeping front. No optimism of getting any deal done. Worrying.

Right, more when it is available.