Reputable Costa Rican website EverardoHerrera reports that Arsenal executive Richard Law has arrived in Costa Rica to negotiate the signing of 19-year old striker Joel Campbell.
The following video shows Richard Law arriving in Costa Rica to meet with the player’s representatives:
For the non-Spanish speakers among you, the agent says something like:
“When you have to know what has happened, or what didn’t happen, then we’ll speak. I don’t want to speak too soon, in a hurry. That’s all I can say at the moment. If we are here, it’s because there is interest, of course. OK?”*
Law plays an increasingly prominent part in Arsenal’s transfer negotiations – more so than Chief Exec Ivan Gazidis. It was Law who travelled to South America to negotiate a deal for Ricky Alvarez, only for the player to choose Inter at the last moment.
So what of Campbell? Well, he’s a 19-year old left-footed centre-forward, nicknamed “The Panther”, who can also operate on the flanks. His pace, movement, and finishing ability have seen him likened to Manchester United’s Mexican forward Javier Hernandez, and he has been one of the stars of Costa Rica’s Copa America campaign, scoring and assisting in their 2-0 win over Bolivia.
It is this performance that has probably firmed up Arsenal’s interest. Prior to the tournament, Campbell was heavily linked with clubs in La Liga and Serie A. Now it seems Arsenal have made their move.
Campbell’s club, Saprissa, are keen for a deal to be agreed as the player’s contract expires in 2012. Campbell himself would like to tie up any move before Costa Rica’s U-20 World Cup campaign begins in Colombia on July 31st.
Here’s a video of the lad in action:
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*Thanks to my bro for assistance with translation, and Jamie Dalton for the heads up on the article.
Arsenal returned to action yesterday with an entertaining 4-0 win over a Malaysian XI. Although played on the other side of the world, it felt like a home game for the Gunners, who have all admitted to being blown away by the fanaticism displayed by the Malaysian support. A quick look at the stats on the blog shows that only the UK, US, Australia and Singapore contribute more readers to this site, so the numbers shouldn’t surprise anyone. What is impressive is the genuine dedication and passion for the team.
I have to say that so far this tour has been a great success. Not only has it allowed the team time together to bond, it’s also demonstrated just how big a club Arsenal is. Hopefully the commercial success the club craves will follow.
The game itself was very lively, with a higher tempo than you would expect for a first friendly of a new campaign. The starting XI was as follows:
Worth noting that Vermaelen was partnered with Koscielny rather than Djourou, which could be an indication as to the pecking order going in to next season. Aaron Ramsey, meanwhile, played as the most advanced of the midfield trio in the ‘Cesc’ role.
Jenkinson and Miyaichi made their debuts, and I was particularly impressed with the former Charlton defender. He’s unusually tall for a full-back and two-footed, and showed good composure and awareness. His versatility could make him a useful squad player over the coming years – United have always had these sorts of homegrown talents (Wes Brown, John O’Shea etc). You don’t have to be blessed with world-beating technique to make a valid contribution to a trophy-winning squad.
Miyaichi looked lively and very quick, but understandably nervous. I’m still doubtful about our ability to get him a work permit for this season, so don’t be surprised if he ends up heading out on loan again.
The first goal was a penalty tucked away by Aaron Ramsey after Jack Wilshere was tripped in the box. After that bright start, in which Walcott could have added a second, the game faded in to something of a lull, until a beautifully curled forty-yard pass found Theo in behind the Malaysian defence. He took the ball on the bounce and lobbed it over the advancing keeper.
The second half saw a raft of changes, with only Jenkinson, Ramsey and Miyaichi remaining on the field. Emmanuel Frimpong came on and made a good impression in central midfield. Another half-time substitute, Denilson, was withdrawn after just twenty minutes, sparking speculation that he is not part of Arsene’s plans for next season. If that is indeed the case, and Denilson departs, his place in the squad will be inherited by Frimpong. The muscle-bound midfielder has as much power as potential, and could provide some much needed back-up for Alex Song. The only shame is that he has chosen to represent Ghana rather than England, meaning that the African Nations could leave us bereft of both players.
Carlos Vela had a lively second half, and scored a trademark chip to make it three nil. As things stand, with Nicklas Bendtner on the brink of leaving, Vela is in line to be our third-choice centre-forward. If that’s going to be the case, he needs to show he can finish like that in circumstances other than friendlies and the Carling Cup.
With twenty minutes to go, the quartet of Arshavin, Van Persie, Sagna and Nasri were introduced. The latter buzzed around with plenty of energy. It looked to me like he was trying to make a point: even if he is going to leave in twelve months time, he seems very much up for the coming season. Either that or he was trying to show City he’s worth his prospective £185,000 a week contract…
In stoppage time Arsenal added a fourth – Arshavin drove to the byline and his cross deflected in to the pass of Tomas Rosicky, who nodded in his goal for the season.
Arsenal have now moved on to China, where Arsene will hold a press conference later this afternoon. The same questions about Cesc and Nasri will be asked, and I think we can expect the same answers. The comments of people like Xavi are, frankly, to be expected. I think it’s important we draw a line under the Cesc thing soon enough so we can proceed with the rest of our plans.
If you haven’t already done so, I urge you to read the this transcript of Arsene’s lastest press conference from the Far East, in which he talks extensively about the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri.
Despite speculation that Nasri’s representatives have agreed a £185,000 p/week wage packet with Man City, Arsene is very bullish about his prospects of keeping his fellow Frenchman:
He definitely stays, come what may?
He stays.
So if a club comes in with a big offer, knowing that he’s in the final year of his contract, you will say, “You’re staying…”
I’ve just told you that we are in a position where we can say “No”.
And you will, in the case of Samir?
We will.
You think that it is worth more to have Samir for one more season and risk losing him on a Bosman free next summer than to cash in now?
Yes.
That’s pretty definitive. It would be a major backtrack to turn around and sell Nasri now.
What’s staggering is how this compares with his quotes on his captain and talisman, Cesc Fabregas. Despite the fact that we’re in a far more secure contractual position with Cesc, Arsene seems very uncertain about where the player’s future lies:
Why are you so confident that Cesc Fábregas will stay?
I am confident because I hope he will see that there will be no greater achievement for him in his life than to lead this team to success and that it will not be the right period for him to leave the club.
In one breath, you say “confident” but in the next, you say “hope”. There seem to be a few grey areas …
I think Cesc has always been torn between his love for Arsenal that I feel is really genuine and, as well and what you can understand, the desire to play for the biggest team, at the moment, in the world. I think both exist in his head.
He is under contract until 2015 so, technically, he cannot force his way out?
No, but you can only be in if you are completely in. He is the leader of the team. He has to be completely focused and convinced that he wants to stay.
Why is it that Cesc “can only be in if [he is] completely in”, but Arsene is willing to keep Nasri even if the player intends to walk away on a free? There is no logical basis to that statement.
Keeping Nasri when we run the risk of losing him for nothing, and turning down £20m+ from Man City in the process, would be lunacy. If we’re strong enough financially to take that hit, then we’re strong enough to resist any interest in Cesc from Barcelona. Tell Rossell where he can stick his Euros, and cash in on Nasri while you still can. Cesc’s value won’t depreciate between now and next summer, or even the summer beyond.
I can only explain Arsene’s comments in two possible ways. The first is that he has privately accepted that Cesc will depart in the coming weeks, and has subsequently reached the decision that losing Nasri in the same summer would be too great a blow for his team to survive. He could also use the £40m or so profit on Cesc to justify losing £13m on Nasri.
The alternative theory is even more disconcerting. It’s possible that Arsene’s comment are a very public challenge to the board and owner Stan Kroenke, who would obviously rather get some return on Nasri while they still can. Last night, Arsene said:
“The message that we give out is important. For example, you see about Fábregas leaving, Nasri leaving … if you give that message out, you cannot pretend you are a big club. Because a big club, first of all, holds on to its big players and gives a message out to all the other big clubs that they cannot come in and take away from you.”
It’s easy to see his point. But a big club holds on to its players by tying up contract negotiations long before they arrive at this tense point. A big club invests in their squad to convince their major players that they will be competing for trophies in the long term. And, I suppose, a big club recognises that no player – not Nasri, not Fabregas – is more valuable than the greater good.
For me, the greater good in this instance would include keeping Cesc. If his move to Barca doesn’t happen, he’ll still be the league’s best midfielder, and he’ll still give his all. Barcelona are in his blood, but Arsenal are in his heart.
The greater good, especially in the long-term, probably includes selling Nasri. We could take that £20m and reinvest it in a player who wants to be here. However highly Arsene rates the Frenchman, five years of Juan Mata is worth more than a season of Nasri.
At the moment, it feels like the club are resigned to losing Cesc this summer, and Nasri next – for nothing. In my opinion, that’d be the wrong way to go. Do it the other way round, keep the superior player, and pocket an extra £20m along the way.
The way Arsene handles this situation could define the final part of his Arsenal saga.
At his press conference in Kuala Lumpur this morning, Arsene Wenger confirmed Arsenal’s first major signing of the summer: Lille’s Ivorian attacker Gervais Yao Kouassi – more commonly known as Gervinho.
If it’s felt like this transfer has been a long time coming, that’s because it has. And I’m not just talking about the past few weeks of negotiations. The seeds of this signing were sewn long ago.
Gervinho is, like Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue before him, a graduate of the ASEC Mimosas academy in Abidjan. Like Eboue and Kolo’s brother Yaya, his first stop out of Africa was Belgian club Beveren.
Gervinho first came to my attention in late 2004, when Arsenal were pursuing the permanent signing of trialist Eboue. Being the curious type that I was, I hopped on to a Beveren Fans Forum to enquire about the potential addition to the Arsenal ranks. The Beveren fans delivered a portentous warning, suggesting Eboue’s attitude might not be up to the rigours of the Premier League. They were surprised he’d been singled out above other players – particularly an emerging youngster who’d stepped up from the youth team and shown glimpses of real potential: Gervinho.
Gervinho earnt his exotic name from a Brazilian academy coach. He’s blessed with an unusual combination of gifts: tall and athletic, with that characteristic Ivorian upper-body power, he has a South American-influenced dribbling style, using his close control and intuition to weave his way between defenders and scoot in on goal.
Arsene Wenger has watched him all the way. From Beveren to Le Mans, and on to Lille, where Gervinho blossomed in to the player he is now. In last season’s title-winning campaign, Gervinho was the only player in Ligue 1 to reach double figures for both goals and assists. To put that in context, only Didier Drogba and Wayne Rooney matched the feat in the Premier League. Samir Nasri, who netted a comparable amount of goals, managed just 1 league assist.
Not that Gervinho has been bought to replace Nasri. Far from it. Arsene wants to keep his fellow Frenchman because he sees Gervinho as an ideal compliment. Arsene’s plan for last season was to use Nasri and Arshavin as his wingers in a 4-3-3; the former all grace and guile, the latter erratic but explosive.
However, Arshavin’s poor form forced Arsene to look elsewhere. He needed a player who wasn’t just a keep-ball merchant, but was willing or extrovert enough to take risks, make things happen, and score goals. Gervinho wasn’t always first choice,
For a few years Arsene has had his eyes on a versatile Ivorian attacker who dribbles and score goals. One far closer to home: Chelsea’s Salomon Kalou. Several inquiries have been made in recent years, all without success. With Gervinho becoming available, and off the back of such an excellent season, that put the kibosh on Kalou.
Gervinho will now play from the right of our 4-3-3, replicating his role at Lille last season. On the left, Samir Nasri will cut in as Hazard did back at Lille. Our system should be home from home for Gervinho.
In a way, it feels like Arsene’s transfer policy has finally come home too. After a few years of signing diminutive Latin or Eastern European playmakers, he’s returned to the tried and tested formula of African genes and French schooling that gave us Vieira, Henry, Toure and more.
Gervinho won’t be expected to live up to those names. It’d be enough if he could live up to his own, as the African warrior with samba skills. No pressure, then.
Arsenal depart for Asia today as our pre-season kicks in to second gear. When we return in a week’s time, not only will we have played a couple of games, but we’ll also know a good deal more about the future of some of the current squad.
The forthcoming tour gave us Arsene Wenger’s first in-depth interview of the pre-season. Subscribers to Arsenal Player can give that a watch here.
For the lazy, cheap and unfortunate among you, here were the ‘highlights’:
_Arsene insisted he would “fight as hard as he can” to keep Cesc & Nasri
Of course, Arsene doesn’t want to lose either player. However, it strikes me that fighting to keep a player is quite different from definitively stating they are not for sale. In Nasri’s case particularly, his contractual situation means that Arsenal simply have to consider taking any money on offer. The Sunday Times report today that Nasri’s agent has agreed a £185,000 p/week wage packet with Manchester City, and that Arsenal would be willing to sell for €25m. A new contract doesn’t seem any closer to being signed, and the departure of this pair of players feels horribly inevitable.
_Gervinho is almost a done deal
It’s become a bit of a saga this one, but it seems the end is near. The official website has started referring to his “impending arrival”, and French sports daily L’Equipe claim the deal could be completed as early as tomorrow.
_Arsene hopes to add “one or two” signings
Now, this statement distressed me. After repeated assurances that we would be “very active” in this window, the prospect of just two arrivals (one of which would be Gervinho) angered me. As did the suggestion that we have already “added” Thomas Vermaelen, as he was injured for the majority of last season.
If we’re going to stand any chance of ending the wait for silverware, we need more arrivals than that. I can only hope that Arsene is being coy. Perhaps he’s waiting to see which players he sells before finalising his plans. As well as Cesc and Nasri, there are several other squad members he is actively willing to sell.
One thing is certain, though…
_Kieran Gibbs looks like being our new left-back
When quizzed as to why Gael Clichy was sold, Arsene chose not to mention the abandoned contract negotiations with the player, and instead to talk up the ability of Kieran Gibbs, stating he’s at an age where he “has to play”.
I’m dubious about whether Gibbs is any improvement on Clichy, and worry about how injury prone the young Englishman is. I’d like to see an experienced alternative brought in just in case Gibbs doesn’t make the step up as Clichy and Cole did before him.
As expected, Cesc Fabregas’ “hamstring problem” kept him at home, but Samir Nasri has travelled. Injuries to Fabianski and Eboue have also meant that they’ve been left back at Colney, where they should be joined by Eboue’s compatriot Gervinho this week.
The big omissions are those of Manuel Almunia and Nicklas Bendtner. An Arsenal spokesman confirmed to the BBC that both players are in talks about transfers, but I have no idea who they’re with or how advanced they might be. After selling De Gea to Man United, Athletico Madrid might be a decent bet for Almunia, who could be allowed to leave without a fee.
If Bendtner goes, it will leave us with Van Persie and Chamakh as our only recognised centre-forwards. With two African Cup of Nations in the next two years, and Van Persie famously prone to injury, I’d be hope Bendtner would be adequately replaced in the event of his departure.
Other omissions from the tour include Wellington, who is set to rejoin Levante on loan, and Henri Lansbury. I’m surprised Lansbury hasn’t travelled – whether it’s due to his extended U-21 duty in the summer or a reported £2m bid from Norwich remains to be seen.
One man who has, unsurprisingly, been included is Japanese winger Ryo Miyachi. The teenager impressed on loan at Feyenoord last season, and his presence will probably help from a commercial perspective too. From what I understand he is unlikely to be awarded a work permit for this season and will likely go out on loan again, either to Holland or to France.
Finally, a word on the story today linking us with an £18m move for Villa’s Stewart Downing. I have to say, that seems unlikely. Downing spent much of last season on the right-wing. So far, we’ve come close to one major signing: Gervinho, a right-winger. I doubt very much we’ll have use for two.
A quick warning: due to time constraints I haven’t checked this blog for typos. Don’t judje me.
