Arsenal and Pape Gueye: Why the hell not?
Arsenal are being strongly linked with a move for young French midfielder Pape Gueye. At £5 million, why in the hell would not the club not take a risk?
While the January transfer window has only drawn to a close and there is still a major portion of the season, given the importance of recruitment in the modern game, fans’ gaze naturally shifts towards the looming summer transfer window and what may — or may not — be to come when it rolls around.
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For Arsenal, it is another massive transfer window. Another new manager, a collection of older players who might well be sold, and the need to invest at several key positions. Yes, this is going to be a crucial window for the club and for the Mikel Arteta era.
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There are several deals that the Gunners could focus on this year. From the high-end, big-time investments to the more frugal acquisitions to help round out the squad, there are many ways to approach the summer transfer window. All can be successful, but they must be executed properly.
In recent years, Arsenal have excelled in their ability to sign young, unproven, raw talents. Matteo Guendouzi arrived two years ago and has excelled ever since, while Gabriel Martinelli is following in the Frenchman’s footsteps in his first season in north London, already having established himself as a regular starter and currently the team’s second-highest goalscorer on the season.
And now they are being linked to another young sensation from the depths of the lower-league football: 21-year-old Pape Gueye from the second tier of French football playing at Le Havre. The Gunners are among a host of teams that have been named as potential suitors of the young midfielder, who could be available for as little as £5 million.
Gueye is described as a striding, domineering central midfielder. He stands at over six foot tall, has a lovely left foot, is a capable passer, can deal with the ball under pressure, and is acute defensively, with both the athleticism and anticipation to capably shield the defence as a holding midfielder.
Quite how those qualities translate to the sharp end of the Premier League is difficult to say. Impressing in Ligue 2 is very different from performing at a high level in the toughest league in world football. I am also very much not in a position to provide a comprehensive scouting report on Gueye’s strengths, weaknesses, and relative prospects.
But because of the nature of the signing, I can still recommend that Arsenal sign Gueye. 21-year-olds who have shown their talent and are signed on the cheap hold their value. So even if Gueye arrives at the Emirates and flames out, in three or four years, he will still command the £5 million fee that has been reported. Only his wages would be lost.
So would Gueye be a success at Arsenal? I have no idea, and anyone who says that they do is not worth listening to. But should Arsenal sign him? Absolutely. They have nothing to lose.