7 hours ago, Sconnie Blue said:

For the quoted fee he will need to be a starter wherever he lands

Would be a very sensible signing, can cover for Cucurella or one of the cbs.

I hope it happens.

A left sided defender who can cover LB or CB. Why not use Veiga who we already have in that position and who played with Juve at a good level last season? Why spend more money on players for the same positions as we already have cover for?

2 hours ago, Zeta said:

A left sided defender who can cover LB or CB. Why not use Veiga who we already have in that position and who played with Juve at a good level last season? Why spend more money on players for the same positions as we already have cover for?

For some reason Veiga doesn't seem too fancied. Might be attitude. But Maresca doesn't like him

Hato is one of the most promising centre backs in world football. I'd be surprised if we got him for less than 60m

12 minutes ago, bisright1 said:

For some reason Veiga doesn't seem too fancied. Might be attitude. But Maresca doesn't like him

Hato is one of the most promising centre backs in world football. I'd be surprised if we got him for less than 60m

Forgot where and when I posted it, but I think something happened internally between Veiga, his agent, and Maresca + the directors.

From my viewing, Hato plays very much like a traditional full back whereas Veiga plays very much like a CB. Think Hato would come in to ease the burden on Cucurella (bless the man and his short legs playing over 5,000 minutes last season) whereas I think Veiga has publicly stated he only wants to play CB.

7 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

Forgot where and when I posted it, but I think something happened internally between Veiga, his agent, and Maresca + the directors.

From my viewing, Hato plays very much like a traditional full back whereas Veiga plays very much like a CB. Think Hato would come in to ease the burden on Cucurella (bless the man and his short legs playing over 5,000 minutes last season) whereas I think Veiga has publicly stated he only wants to play CB.

Hato is predom CB but can do full back. But the way we play he would be cover, or likely competition, for Cucurella and Colwill.

He's only 19 and played over 100 games for A**x. He's a no brainer signing for me.

I'm surprised he hasn't already gone somewhere else.

1 hour ago, bisright1 said:

Hato is predom CB but can do full back. But the way we play he would be cover, or likely competition, for Cucurella and Colwill.

He's only 19 and played over 100 games for A**x. He's a no brainer signing for me.

I'm surprised he hasn't already gone somewhere else.

It requires a top team to meet his transfer fee, and he is adamant he is only moving to play not sit on the bench. He really has little need to move presently as he gets to play CL every year, and compete for trophies at an early age with A**x.

He’s played this season as a lb and cb. For a squad role can deputise for cucerella and colwill very well. He’s very pacey and looks to be very good on the ball. I think he ticks a load of boxes and his ability to cover 2 roles means he’d see plenty of game time.

36 minutes ago, carefree franco said:

He’s played this season as a lb and cb. For a squad role can deputise for cucerella and colwill very well. He’s very pacey and looks to be very good on the ball. I think he ticks a load of boxes and his ability to cover 2 roles means he’d see plenty of game time.

Aren’t you essentially describing Veiga? Think Maresca made a hash of things with Veiga when he played James & Gusto ahead of him at LB.

No way Hato opts for a squad role. He is the future of Holland’s defence. I feel the club and manager are better off working things out with Veiga and giving him so guarantees. Cucurella is like Caicedo under Marseca; if he is fit he starts. Any new signing will be wasting his time playing backup to either of the two. You might need an Act of God to get game time.

I am describing veiga but it seems for whatever reason he has burnt his bridges and is likely to be off. Hato at his age and coming from Netherlands would do very well to leave A**x and be guaranteed a starting birth at a top club.

53 minutes ago, carefree franco said:

I am describing veiga but it seems for whatever reason he has burnt his bridges and is likely to be off. Hato at his age and coming from Netherlands would do very well to leave A**x and be guaranteed a starting birth at a top club.

Arsenal is probably is best bet in that respect. Easier to get games ahead of Lewis-Skelly than Cucurella or Kerkez/Robinson.

9 hours ago, bisright1 said:

For some reason Veiga doesn't seem too fancied. Might be attitude. But Maresca doesn't like him

Hato is one of the most promising centre backs in world football. I'd be surprised if we got him for less than 60m

I don't really rate Veiga to be honest. He's not very mobile. I think he would be rubbish for us as cover at LB.

A lot of modern young players are sooo entitled. I think you have an attitude problem the minute you start telling the MANAGER where u want to be playing.

Even established pro’s who have earned the right to maybe say and have stats back them up I’m more effective here etc. but they still do the job they’re given. Crazy.

Edited July 16, 20251 yr by C3blue

On 16/07/2025 at 16:40, bisright1 said:

For some reason Veiga doesn't seem too fancied. Might be attitude. But Maresca doesn't like him

Hato is one of the most promising centre backs in world football. I'd be surprised if we got him for less than 60m

Hmm .. didn’t Saliba fix his relationship with Arteta? I think if Veiga can contribute we should keep him.. generally liked him whenever he has played.. I think he wants to play CB..

We need LB cover, opportunities at CB will be much rarer

It isn't dead.

I think Hato is as good, if not better than Timber when Arsenal paid 38M for him. He's be a good addition to the squad.

The issue would be he's probably too good to come and play backup to Cucurella or Colwill. Not sure he has the maturity to play in the middle yet, and LB he's good enough to start elsewhere. Maybe he backs himself to lay down a marker and force his way into the team. LB/LCB is certainly an area we need depth.

3 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

I think Hato is as good, if not better than Timber when Arsenal paid 38M for him. He's be a good addition to the squad.

The issue would be he's probably too good to come and play backup to Cucurella or Colwill. Not sure he has the maturity to play in the middle yet, and LB he's good enough to start elsewhere. Maybe he backs himself to lay down a marker and force his way into the team. LB/LCB is certainly an area we need depth.

I agree but I do genuinely think a number of our players will tire heavily in a couple of months. With a World Cup at the end of this season and hopefully with us challenging on numerous fronts it's going to be important to spread the workload so we must have quality in depth. He willbe able to be a rotation for Cucurella and Colwill, so we're not left buggered with Badiashile at CB in a CL decider

No idea as to his ability but I’d worry about the step up in class. The Eredivisie isn’t much better than the Scottish Premier.

I don't know much about him to be honest but it would be good to have some cover for Cucurella, although I would rather we went all out for Antonio Silva from what I've seen.

On 18/07/2025 at 12:05, Jangz said:

Hmm .. didn’t Saliba fix his relationship with Arteta? I think if Veiga can contribute we should keep him.. generally liked him whenever he has played.. I think he wants to play CB..

I think Saliba's issue was with Edu/upper management, they saw him as a loan piece to sell for development and profit whereas Arteta actually wanted him as a first-teamer.

Maresca unfortunately will just change his opinion to whatever the sporting directors want

Finally

This is a move I can definitely get behind. From the limited clips I’ve seen of him seems to be exactly what we need, just if he’s happy to be a back up to begin his career til he has acclimatised to the step up.

22 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

I think Hato is as good, if not better than Timber when Arsenal paid 38M for him. He's be a good addition to the squad.

The issue would be he's probably too good to come and play backup to Cucurella or Colwill. Not sure he has the maturity to play in the middle yet, and LB he's good enough to start elsewhere. Maybe he backs himself to lay down a marker and force his way into the team. LB/LCB is certainly an area we need depth.

Had a shocker for Netherlands that I remember and from the extremely rare A**x games I've seen I have to say this guy did not stand out at all. Timber did.

Not sure how it's going to work spending that much on a 19 year old that's not going to displace Cucu without sufficient game time.