Arsenal: £15 million Kieran Gibbs modelling Chelsea’s astute business

Newcastle are reportedly set to meet Arsenal’s £15-million valuation of Kieran Gibbs. Selling him for that figure would model Chelsea’s astute business.

For all of Arsenal’s pains in recruiting players in the transfer window, they have often had the same problems selling their own stars. They lack conviction in buying and share the same hesitation in selling, such that they often succumb themselves to seeing players leave for far less than their actual value.

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This is something that Chelsea have excelled at. While many may focus on the vast amounts of money that they are willing to shell out on players, their net spend is far lower than many would realise, primarily because of the value that they are able to receive in selling players.

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They were able to recoup value on a whole host of top players. Andre Schurrle for £22 million, Romelu Lukaku for £28 million, Juan Mata for £37 million, Oscar for £60 million, David Luiz for £50 million. What is especially remarkable is these were players that were not wanted at the time, and yet, Chelsea were still able to force potential buyers into signing them for top dollar.

In fact, since 2013, they have received £256.7 million for a whole host of differing talents. That does not mean that they are a stingy team who are unwilling to invest in their squad. As we all know, Roman Abramovic is happy to spend the big bucks, and has done so throughout his time as owner of the Blues. But it means that they are astute in the transfer market, both in their buying and their selling, something that Arsenal are not.

That is why the recent rumours linking Kieran Gibbs with a move to Newcastle are so encouraging. Not because of his impending departure. But because of the price that is being touted. The reported valuation of the left-back is £15 million. For a bit-part player, who has failed to deliver on his potential thanks to a mire of injury issues and a growing competition within the squad, £15 million is a significant fee.

That is the kind of deal that I would associate with Chelsea, not Arsenal. Gibbs is a solid player, a reliable defender with experience of the Premier League. He would be a clever addition from a Newcastle perspective. But he is also lacking the top quality that is needed at the Emirates, especially with the impending addition of Sead Kolasinac.

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Being able to recoup value for unwanted players is a skill, a skill that many other teams have been able to master. It now seems as though the Gunners are finally cottoning onto that fact and it is wonderful to see.