Season › 2021-22 › News The Rumour Mill Journalists put forward Arsenal's Chambers as the next transfer target Michael Kenrick | Sunday, 01 September 2024 50comments | Jump to last A number of newspapers have taken up the story that Everton are now supposedly interested in signing Calum Chambers after their bid to set up a loan deal for his Arsenal teammate Ainsley Maitland-Niles.Chambers, who joined Arsenal in 2014 from Southampton, is another fringe player at the Emirates, making just 12 Premier League appearances over the past two seasons and he has not even made the substitutes bench in the last 2 months.Everton's need for more cover at right-back for the ageing Seamus Coleman. However, with the club not willing to sanction any major spending, he is being forced to pursue low-cost deals.Chambers, at 26. could fit the bill, and is valued at just £5m by the Gunners, with his contract set to expire at the end of the season. Reader Comments (50) Note: the following content is not moderated or vetted by the site owners at the time of submission. Comments are the responsibility of the poster. Disclaimer Si Pulford 1 Posted 17/11/2021 at 11:37:49 Seems to have lost his way a bit but still young, versatile and English. Would be an upgrade on Holgate who seems determined to Mr Bean his way out of the club. Pat Kelly 2 Posted 17/11/2021 at 11:52:29 A fringe, low-cost player who seems unlikely to have his contract extended. Brands is really showing his worth. Nathan Jones 3 Posted 17/11/2021 at 12:21:29 I really rated him when he went to Arsenal, seems to have lost his way a bit. Falls in the category of "could be good, but probably won't be" ... but we can afford him and we need a right-back. Robert Leigh 4 Posted 17/11/2021 at 12:57:14 Played well at Fulham in defensive midfield (albeit when they went down). Strikes me as a Holgate alternative if Mason is off in January (can play RB, CB & CDM). John McHugh 5 Posted 17/11/2021 at 13:20:19 Einsteins theory of insanity, doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Iwobi, Iwobi, Iwobi. Kieran Kinsella 6 Posted 17/11/2021 at 13:51:48 Could be another Stephen Hughes … Martin Reppion 7 Posted 17/11/2021 at 14:05:57 I seem to remember this lad being a decent player and he is an upgrade on what we currently have in terms of depth on the right.It's no use bemoaning every potential signing for not being a Lionel Messi. We aren't shopping at Harrod's anymore. All we can hope is we spend the right amount on players who give us something we currently lack. The summer signings fell into that category and so far have proved to be money well spent (or, in some cases, not spent).Just because this lad comes from Arsenal doesn't mean he is a signing like Iwobi. John #5, Different money, different position. I think it makes sense and, if it happens, I will not be slagging him off before he's had the chance to play. Jay Harris 8 Posted 17/11/2021 at 14:53:31 I'm reading good things about the lad Mazauori at Ajax and Patterson may still be an option.Chambers is too full of mistakes and lack of concentration. We cannot keep being linked with failures despite the lack of spending power. Danny O’Neill 9 Posted 17/11/2021 at 15:27:45 If there's anything in this, it's obviously the reality of where we can deal at this point in time.In the early summer, the long-linked Aarons never materialised and we couldn't raise the £20M+ to compete for Denzil Dumfries. It's where we are for now.I feel for Kenny. Behind Coleman and 2 centre-backs in the pecking order and the club are linked with another pair of back-up right-backs. I'm not saying he's good enough (sadly), but he must be kicking his heels. I guess we couldn't get any takers.The reporting is consistent that we're priortising the other Arsenal player over Chambers. So back-up to a back-up to a back-up. Mike Gaynes 10 Posted 17/11/2021 at 16:35:57 No denying the physical talent there... I'd say that for 5 million he's very much worth the gamble. Robert Tressell 11 Posted 17/11/2021 at 16:41:24 Jay # 8Mazraoui is also out of contract at the end of the season - with a much better pedigree than almost all other RBs we're linked with. He'd probably be a very good signing but will have quite a few options (one of which might be Newcastle). Not sure Chambers is really any better than Holgate. Expecting us to sign Maitland-Niles though, who is out of contract in 2023. Phil (Kelsall) Roberts 12 Posted 17/11/2021 at 16:43:26 How about £10M + Kenny for Patterson?Or is it like playing for Celtic means Rangers will not want you? But I think Kenny was decent up in Scotland. Dale Self 13 Posted 17/11/2021 at 16:48:49 Yes to each please, especially if they're mates and have comradery. Alan J Thompson 14 Posted 17/11/2021 at 16:49:21 Funny old life, we seem to have right-backs who aren't up to it while Arsenal have too many for them all to get a game. Jay Harris 15 Posted 17/11/2021 at 17:12:00 Robert,I see Maitland-Niles as a decent squad player but not an outstanding right-back. I believe we have under-estimated Coleman's contribution to the cause and, if we weaken that position by not getting a good quality replacement, it will set us back enormously.Full-back or wing-back has become one of the most important positions in the modern game IMO.I also believe that Chambers should not even be in the conversation. Dale Self 16 Posted 17/11/2021 at 17:18:45 We need squad depth and £5M doesn't seem like a gamble if the lad is in good mental space to realize the situation. Maitland-Niles dropped off for some reason and there is a good footballer to be had should we get him. Tomayisu will not be easily displaced and I think Maitland-Niles is one of those hard-luck Premier League stories of players getting underused by a coaching carousel, which affected development.And by the way, playing next to David Luiz would not help anyone's development at centre-back or right-back. He has been out a lot so it could be a Delph thing but, at 26, I think he could add to the squad more than the injured list. Rob Dolby 17 Posted 17/11/2021 at 17:33:15 If we have ambition to stay bottom of mid-table, then yes, go and get him. If we have ambition to break the Top 6 don't, buy him. He isn't very good.We will be linked with Phil Jones next. Paul Smith 18 Posted 17/11/2021 at 17:44:24 Arsenal rejects again. Mike Hayes 19 Posted 17/11/2021 at 17:51:26 Dale Self – is he the Italian bloke? 🤔 Ed Prytherch 20 Posted 17/11/2021 at 17:56:30 I watched Wales - Belgium yesterday and Neco Williams was very good. Pity he is with the shite. Robert Tressell 21 Posted 17/11/2021 at 18:01:24 Jay @ 15, it's hard to tell with Maitland-Niles. He's a good footballer and would be coming for the opportunity to progress his career. So a bit like Gray, Townsend and many of the signings under Moyes. Whether he'll ever offer as much as Coleman in his prime, only time will tell. But, due to his contract situation, he'll be decent value compared with, say, Aarons – has much more experience than Patterson and Premier League experience at that (compared to, say, Celik). So a decent signing on paper at least. Dale Self 22 Posted 17/11/2021 at 18:37:30 Hey Mike 19, trying to figure out if you mean Tomayisu or Luiz. Maybe I'm going 0 for 2 there. Bobby Mallon 23 Posted 17/11/2021 at 18:57:03 Is he any better than Jonjoe Kenny? Because his playing starts don't suggest he is... Tony Everan 24 Posted 17/11/2021 at 19:04:19 Chambers is not an upgrade on what we already have. I can't see it.I think Benitez and Brands will be after a couple of loans or loan with options to buy in January and they'll be trying to go under the radar. Van de Beek keeps getting mentioned; it would be good to get him on loan with an option. Talk of Arsenal's Pepe as well, loan to buy. Diaz of Porto still being rumoured.I wouldn't mind Maitland-Niles, also Patterson looks a real proposition. The latter would be a gamble but could become a crowd favourite, he gets involved and looks aggressive. A natural successor for Seamus.Also, reports a Turkish club wants Rondon in January. Benitez should cut his losses if true and let him go, rethink the reserve forward or promote Ellis Simms for the job. Andrew Keatley 25 Posted 17/11/2021 at 19:30:11 By his own estimation, Maitland-Niles is not a full-back. I do not think he is going to sign for a club whose chief ambition is to play him as a full-back or wing-back. He can play there – much like Milner can play as a full-back on either flank, or Victor Moses can play right-wingback – but he is a central midfielder. I reckon he could be a very good squad member for us, as we have no decent depth in all of the positions he can play. I think, with a fair wind and considering how limited we will be in terms of transfer business, he'd be starting the majority of games if he signed for us – mainly in midfield, as after Allan (who may be looking to leave) and Doucouré he'd be our next best option to start.It's a No for me on Chambers. Again, he's not a full-back, and was only played there by Arsenal out of desperation. He's a centre-half, and not one we should be looking to sign; I reckon Branthwaite shows greater promise at centre-half, and whoever we sign as a right-back should be a specialist and a genuine first-choice starter. Kieran Kinsella 26 Posted 17/11/2021 at 19:36:48 Tony @24 & Andrew @25I agree. He seems just like another "body," and one who couldn't master his own centre-back role, much less right-back. I feel even at a low price he'd be soon categorized as "deadwood." Danny O’Neill 27 Posted 17/11/2021 at 19:50:26 Mike, Dale, had a reading up on Mazraoui earlier. He's Moroccan, but was born and grew up in Holland. Eventually came through the Ajax academy, played for Jong Ajax (or Ajax 2) who play alongside Alkmaar 2, PSV Eindhoven 2 and FC Utrecht 2, with 16 other Dutch senior teams that make up the 2nd tier of the Dutch football pyramid. He's been at Ajax all his career.I'm going down the B Team rabbit hole, so I'll stop!!!Andrew, I got confused reading about Maitland-Niles. He's described as a right-back and a left wing-back?? So your point about where he considers his best position could be accurate. Given this is paper talk, maybe he was a target before we signed Gray and Townsend? So now it could be Chambers we're going after? I'm falling into the trap of trying to put sense to rumours. Again, I'll just stop. Tony Abrahams 28 Posted 17/11/2021 at 20:15:19 Jonjoe Kenny saw Maitland-Niles off at every level with regards to getting selected for England, but the kid has stagnated over the last couple of seasons, because he hasn't really been wanted. But still the club refused to sell him to Burnley, even though we were in breach of FFP, and this has therefore ended up costing us at least £5 million (plus 18 months wages, unless Celtic paid his full wages for 6 months). Peter Neilson 29 Posted 17/11/2021 at 20:17:58 The only ambition for the next couple of years will be to have a squad that can reasonably comfortably stay in the Premier League. There is no chance of so-called Top 6 players signing for us. But there never has been. FFP has scuppered us but, then again, our inept recruitment did the bulk of the work. Loan signings at best for the foreseeable until we sell Richarlison and/or Calvert-Lewin, then we have to spend wisely. No great confidence in that. Tony McNulty 30 Posted 17/11/2021 at 20:21:16 We saw the accuracy with which multiple "journalists" got our last summer acquisitions right, when all along, it was more a case of a Liam ("there's no money left") Byrne.I have tended to find that some of our 'in the know' TW contributors are more reliable than the twaddle generally churned out by the newspaper community. Dale Self 31 Posted 17/11/2021 at 20:43:14 Danny, thanks. I think maybe Mike was talking about him. I have not checked him out and have not seen him play. I wouldn't bet against anyone Robert considers a decent prospect, just thought that Chambers may be worth the punt at £5M. And if I read the scattershot right, it seems taking Callum would improve our chances of getting Maitland-Niles but not sure if that is an Arsenal two for one or if Maitland-Niles would be more likely to accept a loan to us on that condition. Andrew Keatley 32 Posted 17/11/2021 at 20:47:44 Tony (28),Sorry but that's just not true; Kenny was generally competing with Kyle Walker-Peters and Callum Connolly for the right-back and/or left-back position (all of them played both at different times). Maitland-Niles was always playing in midfield, so was mostly up against Ryan Ledson, Jordan Rossiter, Lewis Cook, Josh Onomah and Ovie Ejaria (amongst others) from Under-17s to Under-20s. If anything, Maitland-Niles started off as an attacking midfielder, and latterly settled into a central midfield role – but he was never a right-back at junior international level. Rob Halligan 33 Posted 17/11/2021 at 21:33:37 Mike #19. Unless Dale has ever watched a particular episode of Only Fools and Horses, then I doubt very much he will understand what you mean by "Is he the Italian bloke"? Dale Self 34 Posted 17/11/2021 at 21:40:17 Looking it up now, thanks Rob.Ahh, it all makes sense now. I did spell it 'comradery' though. Well done Mike even if I was too thick to get it. Derek Knox 35 Posted 17/11/2021 at 05:31:12 Chambers is a very good and long-standing Dictionary. I don't know, but I doubt whether Calum fits anywhere in their Family Tree or Chain... but, if he can provide as many answers as that particular reference book, then, he will do for me. This time next year, Rodney! :-) Mick O'Malley 36 Posted 18/11/2021 at 08:31:51 In true Everton style, we'll probably piss around all January in the transfer market and will end up with Coleman as our only rigth-back. I reckon Nathan Patterson will follow Stevie Gee La to Aston Villa. Rob Dolby 37 Posted 18/11/2021 at 09:06:24 Mick, We have Jonjoe Kenny as good cover for Coleman. He might not be the answer but he is a full-back that has been pretty unlucky in not getting a run in the team.We don't have any cover whatsoever for Digne! Matthew Williams 38 Posted 18/11/2021 at 11:52:07 Nico Williams would be a better option for me,can cover at L.B too,am sure Klippity would play hardball with us over the fee but the lad would START games here!. Ian Bennett 39 Posted 18/11/2021 at 12:00:39 Can't think of the last time we bought anyone half decent from Arsenal, Spurs, even West Ham.Danny WilliamsonStephen Hughes Vinny SamwaysAlex IwobiTheo WalcottPhilippe SenderosRichard WrightSimon DaviesEspen BaardsenIts like a Who's Who of Rubbish. If they can't make it there, how are they going to do better at our place??? AVOID. Michael Kenrick 40 Posted 18/11/2021 at 12:52:10 Absolutely, Ian, what a painful list. And I hate to have to say this but you missed:Enner ValenciaAaron LennonMaybe Lennon wasn't quite as bad as the rest... and there have been some (extremely rare) good uns, to be fair. Rob Dolby 41 Posted 18/11/2021 at 12:57:37 Sick note Bilic Robert Tressell 42 Posted 18/11/2021 at 13:37:43 The reason a lot of those signings were unsuccessful was because they were free or weird or desperate. We have been in a right old state for much of the past 30 years after all. I wouldn't put Maitland-Niles in quite that category. Chambers possibly. But Maitland-Niles is (flattering a bit here) more your Arteta, Pienaar type - being a player with talent who has lost his way a bit and needs a break.Also now looking at Pepe by all accounts who possibly sits in that category too. There's a good player in there who needs a clear role in a side that plays to his strengths.These are not ideal signings by any stretch - with a decent risk they don't work out. But they do at least represent reasonable value for that risk. Ian Bennett 43 Posted 18/11/2021 at 14:39:08 Chambers is on £2.6M a year, they want £5M. So let's say he's crap, does nothing over a 3-year deal and leaves for free. That's £12.5M up the wall on someone who has already failed at Arsenal.Patterson from Rangers seems a better bet. It can't be that hard to find someone, we've only been looking for 5 years... Mike Hayes 44 Posted 18/11/2021 at 16:43:31 Dale Self,It was a reference to Only Fools and Horses – Del showing a childhood photo of theirs, and Trigger asked if Camaraderie was the Italian kid... 😳 Dale Self 45 Posted 18/11/2021 at 16:50:31 I like it Mike. I've not done the required research to be an Anglophile but I love these references. By the way, when looking up the show I noticed a Zoot Money at Klooks Kleek video that I couldn't resist and that was a nice addon to the lesson. I thought I played the unknowing Yank role rather well, thank you very much. Mike Hayes 46 Posted 18/11/2021 at 16:51:32 Dale and Rob, I saw the post and it came to me straight away. As for Everton, we've got to get it right somewhere along the line. 30 years and got to be over a billion spent and absolutely nothing to show for it? Mike Hayes 47 Posted 18/11/2021 at 16:54:25 Dale and all non Anglophiles – in my defence, it's hard to tell who's from where unless they say so... So apologies there. Dale Self 48 Posted 18/11/2021 at 19:36:02 As long as you've got a good line to offer, it's always worth the risk of typing it up here, Mike. We have to keep the show going, you know. Stu Darlington 49 Posted 18/11/2021 at 20:57:03 Chambers looked a promising young centre-back at Southampton but failed to kick on at Arsenal. He's not a full-back and is mistake-prone.I know we are potless but he is not going to take us to the next level and we may end up with another bench warmer down the track.Ditto with Maitland-Niles, he is not a defender but is quite pacy and may be able to contribute in midfield or attack. All-in-all... underwhelming! Vijay Nair 50 Posted 19/11/2021 at 07:37:58 Ian (39), Anders Limpar was probably an exception to the rule..but yeah most of the cast offs from Arsenal, Spurs and West Ham were gash. Add Your Comments In order to post a comment, you need to be logged in as a registered user of the site. » Log in now Or Sign up as a ToffeeWeb Member — it's free, takes just a few minutes and will allow you to post your comments on articles and Talking Points submissions across the site. About these ads Find out how to browse ad-free and support ToffeeWeb © ToffeeWeb