Fellaini

[Gazza]

John Chapman ‏@BelgoFoot

2h​

As for Belgian media, most reports (rumours) have Fellaini going to Chelsea, with the odd mention of Manchester United.

Reporter based in Belgium.

Same fella "understands" the buyout clause to be £22M.

 

[Massive Spanner]

I've been pretty against that signing as I don't think he's that great, but given the fact that City just paid £30m for Fernandinho and it's now being quoted as £15m instead of £24m, I'd take it.

 

[RedRover]

I'm a bit perplexed by the fact that in some people's eyes Fellani has gone from an overrated, fouling, "Never a United" player to being a bargain.

 

[devilish]

Felliani is no Roy Keane but at 15m he's a steal. He's powerful, he can play as DM, CM and AMC + he knows Moyes tactics inside out. He also adds steal to CM which we need.

 

[LR7]

I'm a bit perplexed by the fact that in some people's eyes Fellani has gone from an overrated, fouling, "Never a United" player to being a bargain.

Not me I wouldn't want him here if he was free. It's not money for me it's just him and how he plays. I hate the constant fouls (committed more than any other PL player in 2012/13) and the whole thing about his specialism being chesting aerial balls down doesn't sit right with my idea of a United player, it isn't a characteristic that fits the way we play imo, regardless of what other good things he might do from time to time.

 

[Isotope]

Yeah. For 15m, that's a whole new ball game. Even if he won't work out well at United, we could recoup similar fee easily if we sell him.

 

[Amir]

Surely if we think he's good enough and what we need, then 22m or 24m wouldn't be great but wouldn't be a disaster. If he's not that great, how does 15m make it a good deal? We'd still be spending quite a few millions on a player who's supposed to become very important for us. Surely we should be looking to get the best player, not the best deal.

(Not saying we should or shouldn't get him, I haven't really formed an opinion).

 

[Bebe]

The Times are apparently reporting that Arsenal have activated his release clause...

 

[paceme]

I'd have him for much more than 15 million tbh, but I like him alot in midfield.

 

[walsh]

The Times are apparently reporting that Arsenal have activated his release clause...

Bit strange because I wasn't that excited about the prospect of him coming here but I'd also be disappointed if he were to sign for Arsenal.

 

[RonaldoVII]

£15m he would be a good option. I wouldn't want us paying more than £20m unless we signed another midfielder like Thiago as well.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Moyes' move, if we want this fella it shouldn't be a problem.

 

[vanthaman]

£22m apparently

 

[KiD MoYeS]

He'd be a much better signing for Arsenal than United.

 

[Theon]

Moyes' move, if we want this fella it shouldn't be a problem.

Indeed, even if Arse do make a bid he would surely come here rather than Arsenal. Not only because we're a better team but linking up with Moyes again will surely make us favourites

 

[Theon]

He'd be a much better signing for Arsenal than United.

How so?

Wilshere/Arteta/Cazorla is a better midfield than we can currently come up with

 

[Devil may care]

£15M or 50p, I still don't think he's the right buy for us.

 

[Sarni]

Surely if we think he's good enough and what we need, then 22m or 24m wouldn't be great but wouldn't be a disaster. If he's not that great, how does 15m make it a good deal? We'd still be spending quite a few millions on a player who's supposed to become very important for us. Surely we should be looking to get the best player, not the best deal.

(Not saying we should or shouldn't get him, I haven't really formed an opinion).

It's all relative. If he costs £24m chances are he'll be our only midfield signing as that's a lot of money, and at that sort of price he'd have play week in week out for the purchase to be justified. If he comes at £15m, though, we'll probably still have money in the budget for another midfielder and we may rotate him from time to time, and it'd still be seen as a decent signing as long as he's doing well when called upon. For £24m you'd be expecting a superb midfielder, for £15m a good option would be fine.

 

[Ringo 07]

I think he would be a great signing for us...often good players don't show their best until they sign for a bigger club...examples include Antonio Valencia, Frank Lampard, Arjan Robben at PSV, Ronaldinho at PSG, Dwight Yorke, Cantona, etc

 

[Sarni]

How so?

Wilshere/Arteta/Cazorla is a better midfield than we can currently come up with

Probably for physical strength option. They currently have no one except Diaby who has some physical presence in midfield, I don't think they necessarily need it but he could be seen as a decent option there. He wouldn't be playing on a regular basis there though, Wilshere and Cazorla are both better midfielders.

 

[Sarni]

I think he would be a great signing for us...often good players don't show their best until they sign for a bigger club...examples include Antonio Valencia, Frank Lampard, Arjan Robben at PSV, Ronaldinho at PSG, Dwight Yorke, etc

Robben moved to Chelsea at 20, he hardly had any time to show off for PSV but he was excellent at Euro 04 just before moving to Chelsea.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

How so?

Wilshere/Arteta/Cazorla is a better midfield than we can currently come up with

He'd be a more integral player for them, I think.

He also brings some physicality to their team, something Arsenal have been lacking at times in the past.

 

[evra]

How so?

Wilshere/Arteta/Cazorla is a better midfield than we can currently come up with

No doubt about that.

 

[Theon]

Probably for physical strength option. They currently have no one except Diaby who has some physical presence in midfield, I don't think they necessarily need it but he could be seen as a decent option there. He wouldn't be playing on a regular basis there though, Wilshere and Cazorla are both better midfielders.

Yeah I agree he would be decent there, I rate him pretty highly so I think most Premiership sides bar City would benefit from signing him.

It was more the comment that they need him more than we do, it's no secret our centre midfield is the weakest area of our team and I'd probably say the exact opposite of Arsenal, especially if Wilshere really starts to fully reach his potential - CM is probably their strongest area.

In terms of physical presence I agree Arteta doesn't offer much but he's actually a really decent ball winner and makes a really significant amount of tackles (just checked and he is in the top 15 for the entire league), then there is Wilshere who isn't physical in terms of size but he has an edge to his game that I like, he's certainly no pushover.

 

[Fergies Gum]

I don't want Fellaini, but 15 million is a much better price. Isn't that roughly what they paid for him?

Yep, Everton bought him for 15 million.

 

[Isotope]

Surely if we think he's good enough and what we need, then 22m or 24m wouldn't be great but wouldn't be a disaster. If he's not that great, how does 15m make it a good deal? We'd still be spending quite a few millions on a player who's supposed to become very important for us. Surely we should be looking to get the best player, not the best deal.

(Not saying we should or shouldn't get him, I haven't really formed an opinion).

Because the price determine the options of players we can go. Unless Moyes has unlimited transfer kitty, which he's not.

 

[Amir]

Because the price determine the options of players we can go. Unless Moyes has unlimited transfer kitty, which he's not.

Yeah, but we're not talking about prices we can't handle, whether it's 15m or 22m or 24m. If Moyes thinks he's a player or the player we need, then 24m shouldn't worry us.

 

[johnmufc]

How so?

Wilshere/Arteta/Cazorla is a better midfield than we can currently come up with

If you include Cazorla for Arsenal, it is only fair to include Rooney or Kagawa for us.

 

[Bebe]

Arsenal (reportedly) are paying 22m pounds, to clear things up.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Interesting to see how this pans out now, if we've any serious interest surely we'll trigger his clause too within the next couple of days.

 

[Ruud10]

Marouanne Fellaini: United squad man yes, United starter against a big European club, no.

 

[walsh]

Howard Nurse ‏@howardnurse

4m​

Reports #AFC Arsenal have triggered release clause for Fellaini appear premature. My colleague @bbcsport_david keeping tabs on this one.

 

[Damien]

The Times are apparently reporting that Arsenal have activated his release clause...

No. The Times are just saying Arsenal are planning to bid.

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/premierleague/article3784741.ece

Arsenal lining up Marouane Fellaini bid as financial cuffs come off


Matt Hughes, Matt Dickinson
Published 1 minute ago

Arsenal have moved ahead of Chelsea and Manchester United in the battle to sign Marouane Fellaini from Everton and the Belgium midfielder is giving serious consideration to moving to the Emirates Stadium.

Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, confirmed The Times’s revelations from January on Wednesday of a buyout clause in Fellaini’s contract, enabling him to leave Goodison Park if the club receive an offer of a stipulated sum from a Champions League club, and Arsenal plan to exercise that £24 million option.

“Fellaini insisted on that [clause],” Kenwright said yesterday. “I have to say he has given me every indication he doesn’t want to go.”

Fellaini, though, has repeatedly spoken of his desire to play in the Champions League and has told friends that he is ready to leave this summer, despite having three years remaining on his contract. His departure would be an early blow to the aspirations of Roberto Martínez, the new Everton manager.

Chelsea spent some time last winter preparing a package to entice Fellaini to Stamford Bridge after identifying him as a goalscoring midfielder capable of replacing Frank Lampard, but their interest cooled after the England player signed a one-year contract extension and because José Mourinho has other players in mind. The Portuguese manager’s priority is signing an orthodox holding midfielder, with Sami Khedira, of Real Madrid, and Nemanja Matic, of Benfica, his primary targets.

United retain an interest in Fellaini, but the assumption that he would follow David Moyes to Old Trafford is not guaranteed and, having spoken to Mikel Arteta, a former Everton team-mate, the 25-year-old is attracted by the idea of joining Arsenal. Much of the appeal lies in Fellaini’s desire to establish himself in a regular role at a top-four club as a holding midfielder, which is what Arsène Wenger has in mind.

Arsenal have lacked a physically imposing presence in central midfield since selling Alexandre Song to Barcelona last summer and Fellaini’s height and aerial ability would also considerably increase their threat at set-pieces.

A move for Fellaini would smash Arsenal’s club-record transfer — the £15 million they paid Zenit St Petersburg for Andrey Arshavin four years ago — and they would be able to offer him a significant increase on his £70,000-a-week wages, the highest at Everton by some distance.

Arsenal’s financial position has improved considerably as a result of a £150 million shirt and naming rights deal with Emirates signed last year, and they are close to agreeing a new £30 million-a-year kit deal with Puma. With other commercial agreements in the pipeline, the North London club are projecting breaking the £300 million revenue barrier in two years’ time, a significant increase on last year’s £230 million, which would put them on a par with the world’s richest clubs.

Wenger has been given a £70 million transfer budget for this summer and there is a further £80 million of cash reserves in the club accounts that has been saved for so-called emergencies. Ivan Gazidis, the chief executive, confirmed yesterday that Arsenal are willing and able to spend £25 million on one player. “This year we’re beginning to see the escalation of our financial power,” Gazidis said. “It means we can look at some options that weren’t in our financial capability before. There is no philosophical line in the sand.”

Gazidis also indicated a review of the club’s wage structure in the hope of being able to offer bigger salaries to star players. “As we develop new financial capabilities, the wage boundaries will change,” he said.

• Everton are preparing to offer a new contract to Leighton Baines as they look to prevent the England left back from joining David Moyes at Manchester United. Everton want to secure the future of their best players and are to offer Baines, 28, a lucrative extension to his deal, which expires in 2015. Because Moyes’s departure came under freedom of contract, Everton were not able to negotiate a clause stopping him from signing their players. When asked whether the club will offer Baines a new deal, Bill Kenwright, the Everton chairman, said: “Absolutely right. That’s started; started in that he knows we want him to stay.”

 

[Pexbo]

Felliani is no Roy Keane but at 15m he's a steal. He's powerful, he can play as DM, CM and AMC + he knows Moyes tactics inside out. He also adds steal to CM which we need.

Knowing Moyes' tactics is not a selling point for me.

Moyes should be changing his tactics to accommodate what we have and to cater for better talents than Fellaini.

 

[Theon]

Moyes should be changing his tactics to accommodate what we have and to cater for better talents than Fellaini.

There aren't too many better talents available at a similar price to be fair. Thiago is obviously an immense footballer but he's a different player to Fellaini and not the defensively minded centre mid we need to cover Carrick or partner him in the biggest games, IMO. Who would you rather be going for?

I think Moyes will change his tactics, he played passing football at Preston so he's done it before. Regardless of that though, having Fellaini in the team wouldn't stop us playing good football. He's no mug on the ball and we wouldn't be reliant on him to act as a playmaker anyway, Carrick has that role.

In terms of providing a physical presence and acting as a ballwinner Fellaini is a good enough signing IMO

 

[Kaos]

Marouanne Fellaini: United squad man yes, United starter against a big European club, no.

I don't see why not. You don't have to be a world class player to be a cert starter in the big European games, being a persistent nuisance to your opposition usually helps too - and we know from experience that Fellaini fits that bill. Heck, Park Ji Sung was a perfect example of it.

 

[Pexbo]

There aren't too many better talents available at a similar price to be fair. Thiago is obviously an immense footballer but he's a different player to Fellaini and not the defensively minded centre mid we need to cover Carrick or partner him in the biggest games, IMO. Who would you rather be going for?

I think Moyes will change his tactics, he played passing football at Preston so he's done it before. Regardless of that though, having Fellaini in the team wouldn't stop us playing good football. He's no mug on the ball and we wouldn't be reliant on him to act as a playmaker anyway, Carrick has that role.

The issue for me is:

As cover for Carrick he might offer a bit of protection but he is vastly inferior to Carrick when it comes to controlling the game with his passing, Fellaini's best creative work is from an attacking position with the ball coming onto him, from deep he's got a limited game.

Working next to Carrick, I just don't feel it would be a good partnership. We need to be looking for mobility and technical players who can compliment our attackers and get involved with the likes of RVP and Kagawa. van Persie can already do the hold up play Fellaini excels at around the box. I just don't see what he can bring to us.

 

[Mainoldo]

Fallaini and other ie. Thiago wud be perfect for us. He brings presence and an aerial threat that will work well on set pieces. We already had the best corner stats last season.

 

[Mainoldo]

The issue for me is:

As cover for Carrick he might offer a bit of protection but he is vastly inferior to Carrick when it comes to controlling the game with his passing, Fellaini's best creative work is from an attacking position with the ball coming onto him, from deep he's got a limited game.

Working next to Carrick, I just don't feel it would be a good partnership. We need to be looking for mobility and technical players who can compliment our attackers and get involved with the likes of RVP and Kagawa. van Persie can already do the hold up play Fellaini excels at around the box. I just don't see what he can bring to us.

I seen what you mean so what player do you have in mind out of interest?

 

[Theon]

The issue for me is:

As cover for Carrick he might offer a bit of protection but he is vastly inferior to Carrick when it comes to controlling the game with his passing, Fellaini's best creative work is from an attacking position with the ball coming onto him, from deep he's got a limited game.

Working next to Carrick, I just don't feel it would be a good partnership. We need to be looking for mobility and technical players who can compliment our attackers and get involved with the likes of RVP and Kagawa. van Persie can already do the hold up play Fellaini excels at around the box. I just don't see what he can bring to us.

I don't even disagree with most of that - basically my view is that you should forget the creativitive aspects because that wouldn't be his game here. As you said it was basically centred around hold up play around the box, utilising his chest control, but at United he won't play as a number 10. It would be much more the Fellaini of 2011 in which he played as a proper CM and his game wasn't based on creativity, so basically you're criticising him on something he won't be brought in to do IMO.

As an alternative to Carrick you're absolutely right he doesn't have the same technical ability and wouldn't be a playmaker from deep in the way that Carrick is, who is pretty much the base of our attacks. But he would cover for the defensive side, which leaves the other partnering CM (Thiago, Cleverley etc) to pick up Carrick's passing duties. That's how I see it anyway - getting a proper, full replacement for Carrick is pretty much impossible due to how good and balanced a player he is. Fellaini is more than capable of covering the defensive aspect though which is what we urgently need, Jones is about the only current alternative.

Hopefully we could bring in another attacking/creative CM though - Thiago would be perfect