I think Gattuso would be a good signing but I can't see Arsene going for it.

How much do you think Hleb would fetch then papa?

Mancini is reported to be in a similar state of being able to buy out his contract, meaning Roma would receive merely £4m of what has previously been a £10m+ player in past transfer windows.

It'd be an almighty blow if Flamini and Hleb were to leave with so little financially in return.

I'm not really sure how this buyout thing works. Does Hleb supposed to pay Arsenal to get out of the contract and then he's completely free to go anywhere for free? or does the club Hleb goes to buys out the contract and includes that with the transfer fee?

Just a straight sale, no buyout or any of that sort. I think Hleb should fetch around £13-15m.

I think it works something like when a player has completed 3-years of him being in a club(Hleb is going to finish 3 years at the end of this season I think), he can then revoke that controversial rule by buying himself out of the remaining period of his contract so that he becomes like a free transfer as in the club to which he's going to doesn't have to pay the first club any transfer fee. This is what I understood and I maybe wrong too... If so please correct me guys...

Now about that Gattuso rumour with a bit more detail...

dont make me laugh ..... Arsene Wenger would never let Cesc Fabregas go and Cesc himself has said he loves it at Arsenal ....so if Calderon is waiting for him to make the first move he beter be a very very patient man ...

Hey, I was just quoting what I read mate.

But he should be a very very patient man indeed...

He's also a Barcelona kid. So I don't think he'll be dying to join Real.

Bayern are also on race to sign Gattuso along with us it seems...

From Arsenal.com,



Well seems like Hleb is not going anywhere judging by Wenger's words. But if Hleb wants to leave and Wenger is not going to allow him out, then it might be a bit of a problem IMO...

i wonder if J-Axe would bet his house on it?

well i wouldnt .....but it seems Arsene Wenger is still sticking to his strict wage policy . With Flamini opting for more money at Milan the question of whether Hleb is happy at Arsenal or wants more money or is just frustrated by the lack of success since joining us ..remains .

Is he waiting to see what rumours start to surface before deciding what to do ....?

Adebayor doesn't want to leave Arsenal.

reports say Alexander Hlebb wants to leave Arsenal within 2 weeks . Well why wait 2 weeks Alexander , just sod off now and we can then find someone who wants to play for us .....you have not been inspirational this season anyway and your game is far from perfect ...go to Inter or whoever is promising more money .

I agree Conner, i dont think Hleb was nearly as good as people were saying. If he does leave will Wenger bring in someone to replace him or give Walcott a full season on the wing and go with 2 strikers up front.

I disagree with you both, I think Hleb would be a huge loss. Soem games this season his creativity has been instrumental in being able to break down some stubborn teams.

He also seems to be the only player you have that can play the role in behind the striker if Wenger is forced to go 4-5-1 due to injuries suspensions etc.

He has had games like you said Jono where he has done well and got Arsenal some results but he seems to think thats enough and he doesnt need to peform in other games, Flamini is a much bigger loss than Hleb would but thats just my view.

I learnt my lesson.

well i agree with you both .... But also , you just said above Jono about Hlebb.....some games ...Hleb has also spent far too many games wandering around the pitch almost non-existent ...he is an excellent dribbler though . I consider Flamini a huge loss ....Hleb going would be a shame but he has not been as important this season as Fabregas , Flamini , Sagna .. etc .

Also i want to know the reason why he allegedly wants to leave ....is it about money again . ?

It might be a culmination of money and trophies.

He's been at Arsenal and has won nothing. With his physique he still struggles to play to his potential in this League because of the physical nature.

If we lost Hleb, it'd be a real loss. He did well to try and adapt to this League and this season was his best by far. If we get a more physical replacement, I won't be too saddened by his loss (if he leaves). We've got youngsters like Vela and Walcott looking positions on the flanks next season as well and Rosický does what Hleb does only better - Hleb is a better dribbler, that's it.

One problem you could have though is the depth of the Arsenal squad. To build a squad you really need to keep the players who are key and then add to them. It's fine if they're replaceable but i don't really think the first team was the problem this year, but more the fact that they were worn out come the end and injuries couldn't be coped with as easily as would happen with other sides - highlighted by the fact that the title was lost in the final few months.

Sure Wenger will acquire players to fill Flamini and Hleb's shoes, but, unless the fringe-players make a real improvement, then don't you think you'll struggle to win the league? I am assuming Wenger won't make too many signings here, in the region of 5 or so established players (including the replacements for Flamini/Hleb) for example.

Hleb can be easily replaced. Not sure how many Arsenal games you actually watch (I would assume zero unless they are playing the Spurs). But if you've actually watched a lot of Arsenal games, you'd realise that Hleb can be replaced.

The Pro's of Hleb are:
- Dribbling skills (arguably the best in the world right now)
- Holds/keeps possession of the ball
- Tracks back and defends/makes tackles
- Creative with the ball at his feet

The Con's of Hleb are:
- Sometimes too creative in front of goal, which ends up as a missed chance. He continues to look for that final magical pass instead of shooting and putting the ball on goal and making the keeper work.
- Not as effective when playing a 4-4-2 formation
- Not a winger (where he plays most of the time). He continues to go down the side and then always and I mean always cuts it back inside to where all the defenders are instead of beating one player one on one and continuing to stay wide to put a cross in.

Some stats on Hleb, 38 games, 4 goals, 9 assists in all competitions. For a player that was trailing Adebayor in a 4-5-1 formation for most of the season (while Van Persie was out, and Eduardo was still adapting to the league). Those numbers are a bit sub-par. Put that up against Rosicky's numbers (who can play in that same role), 19 games, 7 goals.


If the rumors about Niko Kranjcar are in fact true. I wouldn't be too concerned about Hleb leaving as Kranjcar is more than a competent replacement for Hleb. Kranjcar might not have the dribbling and possession skills like Hleb, but the boy isn't afraid to take a shot on goal when the opportunity is given. He can also take the abuse and punishment of the physical play in the league (and no adjustment period needed).

Rosický is superior in so many ways and can take a few kicks. In that sense, we'll not lose out much if Hleb goes. Hleb isn't a Winger and he was playing at half his potential on the flank.

I hope/think Wenger will sign a Winger regardless of Hleb staying or not. Rosický can play in behind Adebayor. But again it all depends on fitness. If we had of kept Rosický and van Persie fit this season I'm confident we would be challenging to the very end for sure.

You talk about depth, but what if United lose Ronaldo? Who replaces him in their well depth squad? You can't backup that sort of quality. When van Persie was injured, nobody could give us what he gives. And a player who can match van Persie's special talent will not sit in reserve when van Persie is fit.

You can say however that Wenger should sell these injury prone players and buy healthier players. But it's been just bad luck for us. van Persie never really had an injury history before coming to Arsenal and Rosický was such a consistent performer in the Bundesliga and at International level. Any Club who loses those two particular players will struggle to win competitions. Replacing them is no easy task.

I thought we coped well without them. I'd love to see how Man Utd would cope without Ronaldo and Rooney for most of the season.

Hleb is a weaklink on so many occasions. In the high pace, technical games he is superb. In the physical end-to-end games, he is weak. The Premiership usually sees more of the latter games. It's no coincidence that most of Hleb's best performances have been against the more technical sides.

I think we need somebody like Ronaldo - I know that's a bit of a stupid comment because he's quite unique. But in terms of style and mould, we need someone similar. Someone who has pace, power and shooting ability. Hleb is weak in those areas. As papa5murf rightly pointed out, his main con in attack is that he's afraid to shoot - that's due to his lack of physical power, he can't muster the strength to hit a wicked shot. Most of his goals have been tap-ins.

Rosický and van Persie fit would be two new signings basically and guys of that calibre can win you Leagues.

But in addition:

- I'd like a Flamini-like player to come in - Diarra would have been could if we could have kept him happy!
- I'd like a stronger Winger, maybe Vela will come up trumps on the flank? Walcott will be better as well. But someone needs to be bought to make sure Eboué ain't starting!
- Then a defensive player to backup/challenge Gallas and Touré, somebody stronger & more reliable than Senderos. John Mensah would be perfect methinks.
- A third Keeper who will actually challenge Almunia for a spot. Another one of those German Keepers knocking around. Fabianski is the future, but he's not experienced or stable enough to cover Almunia safely.

Well, Ronaldo is out of the question, but there is someone in that mould you could buy if you're willing to splash the cash - Quaresma.

Quaresma is a bit of a ball hogger though. As much as Hleb likes to get the ball tight and dribble it, he uses it more wisely.

Quaresma is similar to Ronaldo in terms of build. But his ego also lets him down on so many accounts I reckon.

That Valencia guy Silva is good. Not as powerful, but enough in his technique to muster.