Tottenham, Arsenal close the doors on selling Danny Rose, Ox to Chelsea
By George Perry
Tottenham Hotspur may be the savvier of the two north London clubs in the transfer market, which admittedly does not say much. Chelsea’s rivals are unlikely to help with their wing-back situation, shutting the door on selling Danny Rose or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Call it the Nemanja Matic effect. Tottenham erased whatever thoughts they once entertained about selling Danny Rose to Chelsea. His desire to leave – and win trophies – makes him a bit too dangerous to sell to a top rival. Just as Chelsea really did not need to see Matic’s dominant debut for Manchester United, Spurs know what Rose could do on Chelsea’s flanks.
Arsenal, on the other hand, have much less strategic rationale behind holding on to their players. In fact, there may not be a rationale other than hope and pray and maybe they will re-sign. The same Arsenal board that gave Arsene Wenger another two year contract is now backing him in “not an ideal situation on the financial side [which] demands some sacrifice.”
That sacrifice is the prospect that Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere will leave on a free transfer next summer. Wenger, who has an inexplicable amount of sway with the Arsenal board, would rather lose these three for nothing than sell them for many millions of pounds now.
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Sooner or later, Arsenal will face Alexis Sanchez. Whether he is wearing a Chelsea jersey or a Manchester City jersey, whether it is this year or next, it will happen. But they would rather not take £50 million up front for that eventual conflict.
Likewise, Arsenal claims they will reject Chelsea’s bid for Oxlade-Chamberlain, which will be about £35 million.
"Will Oxlade-Chamberlain be here at the end of the season? Yes. Personally, because I rate him highly and he’s one of the players who is on his way up… I’m convinced he will be the English players that everybody will look at in the next two years. – Arsene Wenger, Evening Standard"
Wenger is right about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s status in the next two years. However, if that comes to pass, Oxlade-Chamberlain will not be content celebrating the FA Cup-Community Shield double.
Even if Arsenal qualify for the Champions League this season, Oxlade-Chamberlain surely knows his career has hit a ceiling at the Emirates. He will have little reason to extend his contract before next summer. He will be able to sit back and sift through the offers that come in, which will surely include greater winning potential than Arsenal could ever offer, in addition to whatever wage packets.
None of the London clubs are covering themselves in transfer glory this summer. Tottenham do not know when to buy. Arsenal do not know when to sell. And Chelsea do not seem to realize that you need 11 players on the pitch and seven on the bench for every match.
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Selling to your rival is rarely a good idea (again, see ref A: Matic, Nemanja). But perhaps these three could figure something out just for the sake of London’s dignity.