More Transfer Market Silliness

Allow me to dust the cobwebs off this corner of the Interwebs and remind folks that, yes, I am still alive and kicking.  Sorry for the long absence, but let's face it: unless you were an American rooting for Team USA or a South African rooting for the Bafana Bafana, there's been very little to get excited about in the world of football.

All of the recent news regarding Arsenal have been of us extending or signing to new deals our current players.  Kieran Gibbs, Theo Walcott, Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Robin Van Persie have each signed on the dotted line that will keep them at Ashburton Grove for the foreseeable future.  And while such dealings often will lack the kind of attraction that a new transfer purchase will bring, let's face it: it's a good sign.  By putting pen to paper, the club ensures that their hard work in developing talent doesn't just walk away after preparing and training said talent for the upper levels of club football.  It also provides a level of stability that says to any prospective transfer target that this is a club looking ahead towards titles and glory -- do you want to be a part?  

Of course, the transfer talk has surrounded our failed attempt at landing former Fiorentina midfielder Felipe Melo.  Thanks to a really solid Confederations Cup performance, Melo's name grew and grew.  Arsenal were the first club mentioned as interested, but I was not surprised when others entered into the equation.  The rumored offer from Arsenal was Philippe Senderos, Emmanuel Eboue and 5 million pounds.  Juventus threw Marco Marchionni along with 21 million euros and managed to outbid us. 

Say what you will about a player who last year went for 7 million euros now being valuated at more than three times that price -- and how that's a reflection of today's transfer market.  The fact is that he was a real target that seemed unwilling to leave Serie A for the Premiership and found a way to move up in terms of club and in terms of pay packet without really having to pack his bags.  

Where does that leave Arsenal?  Still looking for that central midfield partner for Cesc Fabregas.  The names bandied about include St. Etienne's Blaise Matuidi, Marseille's Lorik Cana, Atletico Madrid's Ever Vanega, Sporting's Miguel Veloso and, by the time summer is over, I'm sure that ten more names will surface.  Arsene Wenger has made landing that central midfielder a priority and it looks like he's not necessarily going to shop where we all think he is.  

The other piece of news centers around Real Madrid and Barcelona either being interested or not interested in Cesc Fabregas and Andrei Arshavin.  Both players have come out and said they are not interested in moving, but given the crazy cash thrown all over the market, it's no surprise the media is throwing their names about without care for facts or truth.  

The good news is that, with players reporting back to training this week, such rumors will likely pass.  

Maybe.