Morning.
After news emerged yesterday that Arsenal had made contact with Chelsea to thrash out a deal for Noni Madueke, it’s fair to say the reaction online was not great. It’s also fair to point out that reaction online is potentially an interesting barometer of fan opinion, but it can also simply be simply that: a lot of noise from people posting on social media.
Which isn’t to say people’s concerns about this transfer aren’t valid, it’s simply that regardless of what people say on the Internet, Arsenal – and pretty much every other football club too – make their decisions and do their business without taking that into consideration. To varying degrees, we experienced similar fan angst when we were linked with players like Ben White at £50m, Aaron Ramsdale, and Kai Havertz.
In those cases White turned out to be great value, Ramsdale became important – and well regarded by fans – until Inaki Cana’s wandering eye drew him to David Raya, and Havertz has been a solid signing for me. Not a level changer, but someone who I think we missed sorely when he got injured last season, and who I think will play an important role in the new campaign.
In all three cases I think the price-tag played a major part. £50m for a player who’d had one season at Premier League level; £30m for a goalkeeper who’d just experienced his second relegation; £65m for a player who was brilliant in the Bundesliga but who had really struggled at Chelsea. There’s no question £50m+ for Madueke is in the same bracket. It feels like a lot for a player who has some talent, no doubt about it, but who has never looked especially consistent – also in part because he has an injury record that gives me a some pause for thought too. I’ve seen the case made by those who look at some of his stats which are, admittedly, quite impressive, but I’ve also got eyes that can see.
I suppose a key part of this might be how that £50m is due. If it’s £40m + £10m in add ons, and that £40m is payable in installments over the course of a five year contract, it becomes easier to palate. Just to be clear, I’m not here to talk anyone into the deal or the player, because he leaves me pretty underwhelmed, but there is a way that financially this looks pretty high, but isn’t as restrictive as it sounds when it comes to doing other business.
And for me this is the key to how this one might be viewed. If it’s Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke as the only attacking additions to the squad, I get why people would have concerns. Especially as he has played primarily off the right and that’s where Bukayo Saka plays. Even if you need decent cover/depth, it’s a big outlay for a back-up/fringe player. If he’s being seen as an addition for the left, it’s a lot to ask. Via Transfermarkt, of his 195 senior club appearances, only 11 have been on that side, so that probably tells us something.
If, come the end of the window, it’s Gyokeres + A.N.OTHER + Madueke, it might look considerably better, depending on who that other player is. Right now though, it feels a bit weird, and the fact we’re rummaging in Chelsea’s bins again is a factor too. It might be irrational to some extent, something which fans feel far more acutely than managers and club executives, but it’s real. We are afflicted by Chelsea Fatigue Syndrome©, and can you blame us? Look at what we have experienced.
- William Gallas – sat on the pitch and cried. You’d have been better giving Captain Birdseye the armband. Let’s not even start with the number 10.
- Lassana Diarra – threw a strop after 6 months and left.
- Petr Cech – He was supposed to save us 12 points per season, but couldn’t make a 5 yard pass.
- David Luiz – FA Cup semi-final and final apart, a disaster zone, and a transfer which raised many questions at the time. Well liked, nice guy etc, but a red card magnet and beyond his best.
- Willian – ARRRGGGHHHH.
- Raheem Sterling – Was so bad he impacted the value of the actual currency itself.
On the other side, Yossi Benayoun was decent on loan one season; Jorginho was solid enough although he barely played last season; and I like Havertz more than some; but if you keep going to your neighbour’s gate to pet their dog and the dog bites you, stop going to your neighbour’s gate. The fact Chelsea seem to be basing their valuation of Madueke on Anthony Elanga doesn’t make any sense to me either, but I can see how – if we pay £50m for him, regardless of how its structured – Crystal Palace will look for every single penny of Eberechi Eze’s release clause if we continue our reported pursuit of him.
To conclude, as I said above, I am pretty underwhelmed by this one. If he joins, it goes without saying I want him to do well. I am very open to being whelmed, and as I’ve pointed out above, there is precedent for a player who a fanbase almost unanimously have concerns about coming in and changing people’s minds. Maybe it’s a little unfair on the player to have to do that, but then this is top level sport, and those are the pressures you have to deal with. He’s 23, there is room for development and improvement, and if he signs it’s up to Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff to elicit that from him. Let’s see how it goes, I guess.
For something a bit more nuanced, I’d recommend the Madueke section from Billy Carpenter here – https://billycarpenter.substack.com/p/scouting-wingers. He lays out some of what he might bring, and some concerns too. Nicely balanced. Also, one final thought – maybe £50m for a player like this these days is basically the going rate. I think £55m for Elanga is a bit mad too. Nice player on his day, very fast, but inconsistent. A bit like Madueke, but perhaps this is what the market demands.
Right, I’ll leave it there. Back tomorrow with an Arsecast, I was sort of waiting for stuff to happen and not much has. Fingers crossed there’s a development or two today.
