Welcome to our football.london Arsenal media watch piece. Maybe not the first, we've definitely done transfer round-ups before, and European round-ups, so I guess in some ways it's not that new at all. Anyway, we thought we would enter the world of football in a broad and roundabout manner for you and have some fun with some of the stories and captions doing the daily rounds.
Kolasinac to Fener fell through
Sead Kolasinac's move to Fenerbahce broke down due to financial reasons, according to the club's president Ali Koc.
Kolasinac, 28, joined Schalke on loan until the end of the season at the start of January where he was immediately given the captain's armband and tasked with keeping the Gelsenkirchen-based side in the Bundesliga.
The left-back was close to joining Bayer Leverkusen on transfer deadline day last year but a move fell through and was expected to leave this summer with his contract up in June 2022.
However, Schalke's relegation from the top flight for the first time in 30 years meant that he was unable to make the move permanent due to the club's financial limitations.
"They contacted us for Sead Kolasinac, they said their demands," he said.
"If I remember correctly, they asked for a 3-year contract and 3 million euros per year with a 3 million signing on fee. We didn't."
Bellerin takes pay cut for Betis move
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has “taken a pay cut” to complete a loan move to Real Betis for the 2021/22 season, according to reports.
On deadline day, Arsenal confirmed he has joined Spanish side Real Betis on a season-long loan.
The Athletic have reported that the deal “does not include an option to buy”, adding that Bellerin “has taken a pay cut” to sign for the La Liga side.
Dinzeyi joins Carlisle on loan
Arsenal defender Jonathan Dinzeyi has joined Carlisle United on a season-long loan.
The centre-back signed for Arsenal last year following his departure from Tottenham Hotspur and will now test himself in League Two.
Dinzeyi featured prominently for Arsenal U23s last season and also trained with the first-team.
Merson's Tomisayu problem
Former Arsenal midfielder turned pundit isn't exactly excited by the signing of Tomiyasu, he's wondering why no other clubs – although Spurs were heavily linked – were in for the Japan international.
“My only problem with Arsenal is that they buy players, but they never beat anyone to a player. No one else is after those players.
“With the lad from Bologna, the first thing that comes into my head is that he’s a right-back, €23m euros, so why are Juventus, Inter Milan, AC Milan not buying him? I don’t get that.
“Arsenal are desperate for a right-back so hopefully he will be a hit. €23m isn’t going to break the bank for Arsenal and he might be a corker, he might be brilliant.
“But at the same time he’s going to be coming into a struggling defence that are leaking goals left, right and centre. Let’s wait and see.”
