Arsenal exploring deal for Piero Hincapie! 👀 | Transfer Talk
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[Music] Hi there. Welcome along to Transfer Talk. It's been a record-breaking window and with 7 days to go, we look set for even more money to be spent. Alexander Isac is still a Newcastle player. Will he still be there next week? And the week is starting quickly. Arsenal are in the market for a defender as Bar lever's Pier Inappier emerges as a top target. [Music] Gary Neville calls on Manchester United to sign a midfielder, but they could also bring in a new goalkeeper. We're from United's former captain in just a moment. After missing out on a Ezar, Tottenham and Thomas Frank are actively searching for alternatives and Chelsea have a list of players that they have to sell before they can bring in new ones. Will Christopher and Kungu leave Stanford Bridge? And a very good afternoon to you wherever you're watching us on this bank holiday Monday to European football expert Kevin Hatchard and of course to Mark McAdam. We start though with developments at Arsenal this lunchtime. They are also exploring a deal to sign Bakusen defender Pierre Enappier despite spending plenty of money already in this transfer window. Although Arsenal's focus remains on departures, they're working to be in a position to act on the leftsided center back. Mark, can you fill us in on all the details because this broke in the last hour or so. >> Yeah, this could be another significant signing for Mikuel Arteta over the course of this window. Arsenal fans saying defender, what another one? loves signing defenders, although they're obviously in a much healthier position with regards to strikers, wingers, uh, attack-minded midfielders. So, actually, the Arsenal fans will be a little bit more relaxed when money is being spent in this situation. And again, it could be significant investment as well because Sky Germany are reporting the player who's 23 years old at Leverkusen has a release clause of 60 million euros, which is around 52 million pounds. So, it's obviously going to be a sizable deal to get done. Doesn't mean that's what Arsenal are going to pay, but that's the starting point really for any conversation. Well, you you might want to pay 30 or 40, but actually his release clause is 60 million euros. So, therefore, we're going to want to get as close to that as possible. The thing that is currently on Arsenal side is the fact the player has made it quite clear that he wants to join a Premier League club and Arsenal is his destination of choice. So, yeah, one to keep an eye on. We know that Arsenal are in the market for left-sided central defenders of which he is one. He brings versatility as well, but absolutely a player that Arsenal are targeting on this Monday morning with what a week to go. Kevin, how good is he and would you be surprised if Bar leveren let him go considering the number of players that Eric Tenhag seen to part the football club this summer? >> Well, they don't have much choice if somebody does match that release clause. I know Mark's saying about an element of negotiation, but actually if you look at what he's achieved already and the amount of experience he has, I think Lever Kusen are justified in sticking to that release clause if they do because this is a player that was a key part of Shabonzo's team in terms of winning the double in Germany. He can play center back, but he can also play left back. And what he often does is he plays both because if you look at the way that Shabby Alonzo's teams tended to work. What you'd have is that Inappier would come in from that left hand side and you'd see Jeremy Friong fly up that side. In Capio would lock down the left while Alex Grimaldo moved into midfield. So he's very tactically aware. He's very smart player, super aggressive as well. I think he could deal with the physicality in the Premier League. I think he's an excellent signing and this is a real market opportunity for Premier League clubs. >> Are you surprised that Arsenal would be looking to sign him in this transfer window considering what they've done over the last few transfer windows building so much depth in that squad when it comes to every area of the pitch? If Ben White's injured, Timber comes in. If Marlo Skelli is not playing, you've got Kal Fury there and you've got the two center backs there. Christian Mascara's come in this summer. But as you say, does this represent a market opportunity that a club like Arsenal simply can't turn down? >> Yeah, I think that's fair to say. And what knocked them over last season? Injuries. We've already seen Erdigard had a knock at the weekend. Sacka had a knock at the weekend. Obviously, that's in an attacking sense, but you need that depth in all areas. What Encapier does is he covers two positions. We know Michartetta loves that. And because of that tactical nouse that he has and he's worked under Shabby Alonzo, I think he'd be able to adapt quickly to the kind of football that Arteta wants to play. So, I can absolutely understand why Arsenal will go for him. Can understand why a lot of Premier League clubs might be interested to be honest. >> And there's been reports that Spurs have an interest in signing the player. Mark, would you be surprised if Arsenal bring in another defender this summer? Clearly, there may be a need to move some of the other defenders on if they're to try to get this deal done. >> Uh, would it would it surprise me? No. I think Kevin touched upon it there. the the need for strength and depth is key, particularly with the the pace that the Premier League and the intensity is played at. These managers want depth in their squad. They want players that can rotate. They want to think about going to the latter stages of the cup competitions. The Champions League in its extended format now has eight matches as a minimum. Uh in the group stages, it could be 12, 14, 16 depending on how far you progress in the competition. on top of the Premier League, the League Cup, and the FA Cup. You know, even a squad player is probably going to start 20 25 games a season based on a club like Arsenal that are going to play between 55 and 60 games if their season goes to plan. So, you do need quality. He fits the profile of what Arsenal like to do. They like those players that are between the age of sort of 20 and 24 uh where they can mold, develop, improve, and then they still have that high resale value. And James, you rightly touched upon potential outgoings at Arsenal. There will be a number. They've got their kind of business done in the right way. The clubs that are run sensibly and effectively like to sign the players they want, get the targets in through the door and then use the latter stages of the window to shift players on. You know, there's talk about Gabriel Jesus, Alexander Zenchenko, Kior, Reese Nelson potentially to Fulham as well. So there is going to be some money generated and market opportunity is another word you use which I feel like is is probably something that a lot of those those clubs in the higher echelons of the Premier League like to to use as well. Is this the right player for the right price? Because if it is then we'll seize that opportunity and we can do that and it very much feels like Arsenal are in that position at the moment. I think there's an important point about his development as well because if you look at him when he came in to buy a Levy Kusen they took a bit of a punt on him to some extent because they've been so impressed with him at international level they thought we've got to move because other clubs are going to get him. So they brought him in. Was he the finished article? Absolutely not. He was raw. He would make mistakes. He would give away penalties. He'd get sent off. But actually he's really tidied up his game. Just another point after the game against Hoffenheim at the weekend which Ley Cusen lost he was in tears which suggests to me he felt that could be his final game for Leverkusen. >> Would he fit into Arsenal's starting 11 do you think straight away? And if he doesn't would this be a project that appeals to him because his last four seasons in the Bundesliga he's been a regular starter for a side that has won the Bundesliga and came so close to winning the Europa League as well. I think Mark's point about squad strength is a really good one and the fact that you've got eight prem eight Champions League games minimum and because he can cover left back and center back then I think he would back himself to do that. I don't think he'd necessarily be looking at Gabrielle and Celiba. They're probably the best center back pairing in the world. I think he'll be looking at that left hand side because Luis Skelly might end up playing in midfield in the long run and I think he back himself to get in ahead of Cal Fury in the long run maybe again like Cal Fury versatile I think he back himself to be a big part of what Arsenal can do this season. >> Okay, we wait to see what happens with Arsenal signing of Pierre Inappia. Very early days we wait to see what happens there. Now to a really interesting developing story. Crystal Palace are one of several Premier League clubs who have asked about Connor Gallagher's situation at Atletico Madrid. Atletico are happy with the midfielder and would have no interest in loaning him out. The Spanish club have given no encouragement to a sale either at this point and so it is most likely at this stage that Gallagher stays. He only signed for Atletico in a deal worth 36 million pounds last summer. Palace looking for additions in this transfer window to replace Ez's role at number 10. And they've already been speaking about Oliver Glasnet wanting to sign at least two players. That will now be three players now Eza's gone. They've been close to doing a deal with Leicester for Ble Alcanus for some time while Christos Solace is also a player of interest. Kev talking about Connor Gallagher. It seems like he's done really well Atletico Madrid. So can you understand there being a possibility of any deal being done here? >> I don't think it's something Atletico would be falling over themselves to do. Absolutely. The loan thing makes no sense because even though they've started the season badly, this is an ambitious club that wants to get as close to Barcelona and Real Madrid as they can. They've spent a lot of money in the last couple of summers. They've been tooling up for a push for Europe as well. And Connor Gallagher is exactly the type of guy that Diego Simeone loves to work with. Rodrigo Depal has gone to into Miami. to that kind of really aggressive kind of energy guy in midfield they need more than ever. So it doesn't really make sense. So unless he was going to push it and he played at the weekend. So unless he was going to really push it, can't see why this would happen. >> Yeah, it's interesting. He started the first game of the season, came off at Halime, but played 22 minutes at the weekend. Whether or not this deal is possible or not, we we wait to see. But this is the sort of signing which would really appease Oliver Glasnet at a time where Crystal Palace have done brilliantly over the course of the last 18 months. but it could potentially fall apart if they're not getting these recruits through the door between now and Monday. >> It's crucial. Um, you look at what Oliver Glazner has done at Crystal Palace, particularly over the last 3 months. And why wouldn't you be giving him everything you possibly could to say like we want you to go to that next level again and that means more players, more investment. The Connor Gallagher thing sort of almost ticks all those boxes. You know, does he understand the league? Yes. Uh, would he be willing to come back potentially to a country with birth? Yes. Uh is there any gamble on a transfer like that? Absolutely not. He started 20 La Liga games last season. So whilst he was heavily involved with that Athletic squad, he wasn't a guaranteed starter week in week out. Maybe he's not settled in the country. Maybe he feels like this is an opportunity or maybe Crystal Palace are looking at it thinking right where is the the value for money? Where are the opportunities that we can go and seize in Europe for players that want to come and play for Crystal Palace? Of course he had a very successful loan spell there before. So there is that connection with the player, the fan base and the football club and maybe they've seen an opportunity and go let's just ask the question because with a week to go you're running out of time and you need to start getting bodies through the door. So be interesting to see how that one develops and like you rightly say you know this is a huge seven days for Steve Parish and Crystal Palace. you know, they don't want this to be a season where they they fall away from the standards that they've set and what they've achieved because this is where you should be strengthening. Uh, and that's what Sir Alex Ferguson always said, you know, strengthen from a pos position of strength and it certainly feels like based on their recent form, this is the time to to improve that Palace side, but it feels like it's heading in the odd direction. good people running the club, exceptional club that's been through a real turbulent summer with the the European football decision. But now that that's behind them, they need to back the manager and need to start to build players because again, like we said 5 minutes ago, when you've got all those games in Europe, that can have a massive effect on your Premier League form. And that's where you need strength and depth. >> And there's a real pattern already with Glasnner. If you look at his time at Wolfsborg, he was quite public, quite open about the fact that he felt the squad wasn't being strengthened in the way that he saw fit. Iron Trap Frankfurt exactly the same. He was quite happy to use the media to say, I don't feel this squad is going the way I want it to go. Starting to see that again. This is a guy who's ambitious. He's driven. He sets standards. He wants those standards to be met. If they're not, what happens then? >> So Connor Gallagher of interest to Crystal Palace. He was their player of the season back in 2022. So that would be a very popular signing if he was to return to Surus Park. With a week to go, it looks like Manchester United could also be busy. They have players to sell and positions to fill. Yesterday, they drew one all away at Fulham. And after the game, Gary Neville said the club must buy a midfielder before the transfer window closes. >> There's a couple of things in the first half. I think that the the goalkeeper still looking a little shaky or very shaky on those crosses from corners which can't continue because it just that anxiety builds. I've said it before and then in central midfield I think United have to do a piece of business now because I would have liked to have thought that Mayu could step up and be that person but it's quite clear that at this moment in time Ruben Amarim's not having him. I mean he starts with um Casemiro and Bruno Fernandez. He then puts Mason Mount back in there and then he brings Agati on in front of him which tells you he's almost like fourth choice really. Um and that means that they are going to need to I think get something sorted because it's going to be a problem. The two in there you know really is sort of does get exposed when that front three are just a little bit more higher and that back five sometimes get pushed back a bit. those gaps, those acres of space seem to open up and I thought United got cut cut through quite a few times in there in the second half and I think Bruno Fernandez is part of that in there and he's have to, you know, he's have to sort it out. >> So last week Gary Neville said that Manchester United need to sign a goalkeeper. Yesterday he says they need to sign a midfielder. Mark, given the money spent already in this window, is it possible for United to go after a midfielder? Manchester United have spent over200 million pounds so far in this summer which is quite significant when Sir Jim Radcliffe spent most of last season trying to shave costs um make staff redundant uh try and make the operation a lot more streamlined because there was a you know a lot of staff there so they're trying to be creative and clever with what they do but they have spent significantly in revitalizing that front three new faces at the top end of the pitch but now it's funny Gary Neville saying last week need to sign a goalkeeper. Now we're saying they need to sign a midfielder. It feels like they're the two areas of concern for Manchester United. Goalkeeper uh a six, someone who can bring energy and legs to that United midfield, which is going to be key. They have to be conscious of PSR. Manchester United despite being one of those sides that turn over significant sums of money. They still have to respect the rules and there has been a lot of spending there. Outgoings are going to be key between now and Monday, depending on how much they can generate there, but you'd imagine they will still be in the market to sign players, but they're going to have to be creative financially. Maybe a loan with an obligation might be something they look at, but yeah, definitely two positions of concern for Ruben Amar. >> And Carlos Bolver feels like a slightly too expensive deal to do for Manchester United. He was taken off at Halime in Brighton's game against Everton yesterday, but Fabian Herza said it was tactical. Nothing to do with injury, nothing to do with any speculation around Manchester United. Kevin, another player who's emerged, Angelo Siller from Stuttgard. He's a player of interest. There's not been any club to club contact, but would that be a good fit when you know what United are looking for in a midfielder? >> I don't think so. Actually, I really like him. He's great passer of the ball, sets the tempo of a game, can control a game, but actually has a minder at Stutgart in Atakan Carour. He does all the dirty work. he does all the challenges and Stiller can just get on with it and set the tempo. Him alongside Bruno Fernandez I don't think is that right fit in midfield. The other thing as well is that financially it's not a deal Stutgart want to do and they've dug their heels in with Nick Voltoard not let him go to Bayern. They're not going to be bullied about this either. So just financially in terms of fit doesn't really feel like a deal I could see United doing at this stage. Okay, we wait to see what they do in terms of midfielders. In terms of goalkeepers, Gary Neville clear that United need to sign one. Outside Bahindia starting in goal once again despite the fact Andre Nana was fit. He was on the bench. Where do we stand in terms of United signing a goalkeeper in this window? >> Well, the player that they're targeting, Samemens, um was not involved in the Royal Aner squad this weekend. It was their decision to remove the goalkeeper because of speculation surrounding his future. Talks continue with Manchester United over a deal for the 23 year old. The deal on the table looks to be around 17.3 million pounds. So again, more investment from Manchester United. What's currently being discussed at the moment is the structure of the finance and the payment terms. So you'd imagine this one is going to progress over the course of this week. Then Manchester United get a new goalkeeper. Then they've got the question about what do they do with Andre Anana moving forward. Does he want to sit on the bench for the next six to 12 months? So yeah, big questions about what happens next uh at Manchester United, but one of the positions that Gary Neville has cried out for, they're going to get a really talented young international goalkeeper potentially that could come in and improve Manchester United's goalkeeping department. >> Mark says he's a talented young goalkeeper. Is he good enough already enough to come in and be United's num