Sokratis Papastathopoulos

[Kenyonhater]

Ornstein knows **** all. Seems to enjoy putting a downer on all Arsenal fans' transfer hopes. He only reports when things are almost done. He's saying we'll only get one backup CB/DM at best yet Wenger was much more open-minded at the press conference.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

Ornstein only goes with the "official" word from the club as far as I know. So if a club is trying to keep the press off a story he's not going know anything about it.

 

[Iceman10]

Would be brilliant if we managed to get him, but it doesn't make sense.

He is willing to sit on our bench rather than start for Dortmund? Wouldn't it also make more sense to buy a CB who is cheaper like Manolos and then spend big on DM.

Apparently Sokratis can play DM as well as CB (and RB). I haven't seen him do so though.

 

[GDeep™]

I would suggest he wouldn't be playing today if a move was imminent.

 

[Rex Stone]

Ornstein only goes with the "official" word from the club as far as I know. So if a club is trying to keep the press off a story he's not going know anything about it.

Since Arsène returned after the WC, the inside leaks have essentially dried up. I can imagine AW playing some Machiavellian scheme now and feeding out misinformation everywhere.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

I would suggest he wouldn't be playing today if a move was imminent.

Yeah that combined with the price and how sure the Dortmund itk's seem to be about him staying throws a lot of doubt on the story that he's close to signing with us.

 

[BobP]

Messi Minutes @MessiMinutes
According to @NovaSPORFM, Arsenal have returned to @BVB with a €20m (£15.8m) bid for Sokratis. Player keen to join. pic.twitter.com/cUTcatApey

Seems as if we've gotten good signals from the player and are pushing for him.

 

[BobP]

Also Nova Sport FM are a Greek radio station

 

[Bigbludfire]

Nova Sport also said we bid for Manolas, then Roma did and got him. Whether you believe the first bit or not is up to you.

Also Nova Sport isn't a radio station it's more like SkySports, so this seems a bit sketchy.

 

[DanDare]

20M euros! never knew Wenger would pay something like that for a defender. still can't see it happening.

He already spent that much on one this window...

 

[Aevi]

That isn't great news, many Dortmund fans don't rate him. What's the situation here @Borussin?

 

[Toby]

No. Just no. A worse Mustafi. He can't even play CB, let alone DM. All but the sentimental of Dortmund fans I know want him gone. Surely not the type of defender Arsenal need. He's got heart, I'll give him that, but mostly he's a brainless lumberjack with two left feet.

 

[Tir Na Nog]

This has Sven approval written all over it.

 

[Toby]

This has Sven approval written all over it.

Think the Sven connection is more about the ****ing media making up ****. "Arsenal hired Dortmund's head scout as head of recruitment? Better link any Dortmund player to Arsenal now!"

The earlier links to Diallo, Soyuncu, Pavard - young BL CBs rather mobile and good on the ball - are much more in line with what Mislintat would have scouted and approved for Dortmund to bring in.

 

[Borussin]

That isn't great news, many Dortmund fans don't rate him. What's the situation here @Borussin?

He's actually been a popular player at Dortmund, now I am sure a lot of fans are a bit annoyed because he's running down his contract it looks like.

The problem we have, is that we have 2 very young defenders, Toprak (who I dont rate) and Sokratis. We've lost so many central defenders over the last 2 seasons (Hummels, Bartra, Bender, Ginter), and now maybe Sokratis. That's a lot of turn-over and disturbance to our defence, so losing him now isn't so helpful.

Can't speak for all Dortmund fans of course, but I prefer if he stayed! But if he wont sign, then they have to sell. But honestly, he's a decent defender, top class? No. There's other central defenders in the Bundesliga I would be looking at ahead of him though. But i guess maybe some teams think that he'll be available quite cheap, so would be a good option. Not sure why he has suddenly got a rep as not being good.

He does tend to pick up a few niggly injuries though.

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

Sven mate we didn't appoint you to buy us a CB in decline ffs. Sort it out

 

[Yousif Arsenal]

 

[hydrofluoric acid]

Guess this one will be blamed on Wenger too...

 

[krengon]

Yeah, I'm starting #MislintatOut.

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

Sokratis is a good defender. 20m decent price. Would probably mean the shipping of Kos or Mustafi