Have Irons walked into a Gooners Jenks trap?
By Steve Knightley
It’s been known for a player to extend their loan at a football club. Usually by a month or so.
What isn’t particularly common is for a player to be on loan for a year, sign a new deal with their parent club, and then return on loan to the club at which they spent the previous year.
Speaking of his loan spell at West Ham, Carl told the Fans Forum, “I decided at the end of last year that I wanted to come here. Obviously Arsenal are a club I’m contracted to, they hold all the aces really, if those choose to sell me or want me on loan it’s completely out of my hands”.
“But the one thing I told my agent is that I wanted to come back to West Ham. I loved every minute last year, I played a lot of football and I really enjoy my football here. I really wanted to come back and that was clear from the offset”.
Interesting then, after those words, that before Carl came back he signed another five year deal with Arsenal..
Now let me make this point quite clear. I absolutely 100% believe Carl, I really do. I was sat four ft from him and not only was he completely genuine with his response but he also replied with a smile on his face and sat proud in his freshly pressed training kit. My suspicions for any trap-setting lay in the North side of London.
To me it makes no sense to have a player on loan at a club to ‘enhance their development’ and yet consider that player developed enough to offer him a FIVE YEAR deal. Five years is certainly one of the longer contract periods. Not the longest, but it’s up there.
My personal view is that Arsenal have seen us coming here and forced both arms up our back. There is no doubt that Carl is a key player for us.
Bilic is rebuilding this team and Carl is at the foundation. Sure, Carl was not for sale over the summer, but give another sterling performance with us this season and a five year contract effectively locking Carl in to Arsenal, I bet a pretty hefty price tag will be attached to him.
The question is, what do we do? Take the bait and wear the pen out writing zeros and commas on the cheque to Arsenal, or start looking for a replacement after Christmas?
Only time will tell I suppose. Place your bets!
The views expressed here are those solely of the blogger and are not necessarily shared by ClaretandHugh