Rating Transfer Rumours 2: Bowen, Xhaka and Rabiot
I hope you had a good Christmas but now you can concentrate again on the upcoming transfer window. I started this series again last week looking at Havertz, Håland and Diop, and today I want to talk about:
- Jarrod Bowen to Newcastle United
- Granit Xhaka to Hertha Berlin
- Adrien Rabiot to Arsenal
Jarrod Bowen to Newcastle United
Bowen just turned 23 and plays for Hull in the Championship. Over the last 2.5 seasons, he’s scored 47 league non-penatly goals as well as getting 10 assists. He’s a young English winger with high shot and goal output. To be honest, I can’t understand why no one has signed him yet.
He was linked with Spurs before and is now being linked with Aston Villa and Newcastle. Newcastle are exceeding expectations and sit 10th in the table despite scoring the 3rd least goals in the league. Their front three of Saint-Maximin, Joelinton and Almiron has lacked goals.
Bowen could be a great addition to their squad for a reasonable price, bringing more direct play with goals able to come from the right wing and move narrow to support Joelinton while ASM charges up the left. Meanwhile Hull lose a key player and not get a huge fee for the amount of goals he brings to them.
Hull: ⭐
Newcastle: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Bowen: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Granit Xhaka to Hertha Berlin
It’s been a tough few months for Xhaka. Falling out with fans and stripped of the captaincy, he was a player many thought would benefit from the arrival of Arteta. He’s a divisive player among Arsenal fans who view him very differently. Personally, I think he’s a good player trying to screen a weak defence in a midfield that was often unbalanced under Emery. He’s important for Arsenal and a good passer, he’s committed with pretty good defensive output. He can make errors in and out of possession which have cost Arsenal, a common theme among their squad, so I understand the frustration of their fans.
Berlin’s owners want to put money into the club and become a growing force in Germany. It’s a new project, back in Germany where he impressed before joining Arsenal as a 23 year old. Although, Arteta is apparently keen on utilising the Swiss midfielder, it feels that his time in North London is over and Berlin could be a good place to go.
Berlin currently sit 12th in the Bundesliga with a below average attack and defensive record. This season, Liverpool loanee Marko Grujic has been partnered by either Darida (29) or Skjelbred (32) in midfield. Xhaka would bring a physical presence and leadership to the midfield with a solid range of passing and I think could be a very positive signing for Hertha Berlin.
Arsenal: ⭐⭐⭐
Hertha Berlin: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Xhaka: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Adrien Rabiot to Arsenal
Arteta is rumoured to be interested in the 24 year old French midfielder. He’s only appeared for Juventus 9 times this season in the Series A, with 4 of those coming off the bench. Rabiot joined in Summer on a free from PSG and is a high earner. He’s a extremely talented player who can do it all from midfield. He’s always up there in progressive passing and dribbling numbers and if Juventus isn’t working out as he would have wished, then Arsenal could be a good alternative under Arteta.
Pep has often chased Rabiot but never got him, but now it looks like his former assistant coach may be the one to get him. My main reservation over Rabiot isn’t about his technical ability or how he’ll fit the system. But, he’s been known to have character issues. There have been issues with his contract, work rate and off the pitch behaviour. In this Arsenal squad, there have to be questions about whether he is a good match for a team that already lacks leadership and has inexperienced players. It’s hard to know from the outside and maybe he can reach his full potential at Arsenal. Whether Arsenal have the financial power to bring him in and meet his high wage demands makes this transfer unlikely in my eyes.
Juventus: ⭐⭐⭐
Arsenal: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rabiot: ⭐⭐⭐
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