Transfer Talk: Saturday 21st May

Ricky Alvarez

According to reports, Arsenal have signed the 23 year old attacking midfielder Alvarez from Velez Sarsfield. The Argentinian club is quite successful, having won the league 7 times. However, this player is relatively unknown. He has played three seasons at the club, scoring 28 goals in 46 games. At 6’2″, he is one of those physically imposing players that Arsenal have been missing since the likes of Vieira, Petit, Gilberto and Edu.

Ricky can play all the way across the midfield, much like Nasri, Rosicky, Fabregas and Diaby. Unfortunately, he is not an out-and-out winger, something which I think Arsenal lack, but he is reported to have great technical ability and an eye for goal. He has an Italian passport, which will allow him to come to England straight away, without having to gain a work permit.

Such a transfer will probably allow players such as Arshavin and Rosicky to leave. Although he may not be the experienced superstar that Gooners are crying out for, he is undoubtedly talented. The Argentinian press really believe he is something special. He has been compared to Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaka, although comparisons like these often turn out to be false. For example, wasn’t Diaby the new Vieira at one point?

Wenger has made comments which indicate a busy summer at Arsenal, which makes me believe that this transfer is very likely to go through.

“There will be some movement of players who have played less, who need to play and as well of course we will try to strengthen our squad again but we want to keep the basis and style of play we have.

“We are very very busy all over our Club, we are looking, analysing, talking to people. There are two steps in the transfer market during the summer, the first is very early and the second one is very late.”

When questioned as to whether this summer is one of his most important at Arsenal, Wenger replied:

“Yes, I think so, we had a few important ones but this will certainly be a big one, on all fronts.”

Likeliness Rating: 4.5/5

Mikel Arteta

Arsenal are just one of the clubs thought to be interested in signing Mikel Arteta after suggestions that the Everton midfielder is considering handing in a transfer request. It is known that Arteta is unhappy at the lack of investment in the Everton squad and does not believe that team have made any particular progress this season.

Speaking to Sky Sports this week Arteta said:

“I think we need to strengthen the squad a lot to get better… Everybody was expecting a much better performance this year from the whole team, and we haven’t reached it.”

Having been a relatively consistent player for Everton over the last 7 years, Arteta is definitely not lacking Premier League experience and, with the possibility of Cesc Fabregas leaving the club, he could be seen as the decent replacement by Arsène Wenger. Arteta was voted the Premier League midfielder of the year by the readers of the Sky Sports magazine in the 2005/06 season and, although yet to make an appearance for the senior national team, has represented Spain at U21 level.

However, the Spaniard signed a new 5-year contract extension with Everton in August 2010. Everton would be looking for a transfer fee that is significantly higher than the £2 million that they paid Real Sociedad in 2004. Add to that the emergence of Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, and that Wenger does not like to sign players that may hinder the growth of other members of the team, then this transfer looks increasingly unlikely.

Likeliness rating: 1/5