Wenger is considering a
large cohort of targets in four positions - left back, centre back, central midfield and attack - with several negotiations ongoing. On Sunday evening the Arsenal manager called Yossi Benayoun to discuss the 31 year old's interest in leaving Chelsea for his club.
Left Back = ?
Centre Back = Cahill / Alex
Central Midfield = Benayoun / Mario Goetze
Attack = Park
» Click to show Spoiler - click again to hide... «
Benayoun, who has been deemed surplus to requirements by Andre Villas-Boas, the new Chelsea manager, said yesterday that he was "negotiating with several teams" and would have "news soon".
The Israeli playmaker has drawn interest from former club Liverpool - who are looking at other experienced options in attack, including Craig Bellamy - and French champions Lille, whom he is understood to be most likely to join.
Wenger is also contemplating an offer for Alex, the Brazilian central defender, who is known to be open to a move away from Stamford Bridge if it secured him regular first-team football. Arsenal's thinking with Alex is to add an aerially strong individual capable of bolstering their defence at venues such as Stoke and Blackburn.
While Gary Cahill remains one of four candidates for that role, Arsenal remain unimpressed with Bolton Wanderers' description of their initial bid for the England international as "derisory".
Contrary to initial reports, that offer was for an initial £8 million (Dh48m) with another £1m payable once Cahill had played 50 games. Further performance-related payments could have taken Bolton's income above £11m for a player who has one year remaining on his current contract, albeit with an option for a further season.
At left back, Wenger has decided against a formal approach for Everton's consistently impressive Leighton Baines, deciding to offer Kieran Gibbs the opportunity to establish himself in the position once the 21 year old recovers from injury. With Armand Traore permitted to undergo a medical at Queens Park Rangers yesterday, Arsenal were working to complete the signing of an overseas-based defender. There were also details to complete on the £3m purchase of South Korea striker Park Chu-young from AS Monaco.
Considered by many as the most impressive talent in German football, Mario Goetze has been the subject of a recent offer only for Borussia Dortmund to respond by asking €35m for the 19 year old.
Goetze is understood to be happy to stay with the Bundesilga champions for one additional season before moving to Spain or England next summer. Wenger has failed to pursue his initial inquiry for Mikel Arteta, a decision that has frustrated the Everton midfielder.
"We are working hard to sign players," said Wenger who has been angered by criticism of Arsenal's recruitment efforts. " If we find the right players, we sign them. We have the money to sign them if they strengthen our team. We have 20 people to work on that."
Wenger is also under pressure from Stan Kroenke to spend impressively. Arsenal's new owner has been concerned by growing dissent among the club's support and falling demand for seats at the Emirates Stadium.
http://www.thenational.ae/sport/football/a...-deadline-looms?
BTW interesting article on Arsenal transfer budget :-
CODE
Arsene Wenger has been told by the Arsenal board he can make full use of the estimated £90 (€103) million transfer kitty at his disposal in the final week of the transfer window, Goal.com can reveal.
The Gunners began the summer with a transfer budget of around €51.5m, which has been enhanced by the sales of Fabregas, Emmanuel Eboue, Gael Clichy and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and the impending €26.3m departure of Samir Nasri to Manchester City.
With just eight days of the window left, Wenger has signed only three players – Gervinho from Lille and teenagers Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Carl Jenkinson for a combined outlay of around €28m.
When Nasri’s transfer to City is completed, boardroom sources have told Goal.com that Arsenal will be one of the most cash-rich clubs in Europe with a total available kitty of €103m.
One of the main financial convenants agreed to by the club when they moved to Emirates Stadium states that at least 70 per cent of player sales proceeds has to be either spent on 'squad investment' or retained in a Transfer Proceeds Account to be used solely on buying players.
Although this €103m figure is believed to include the funds for first-year wages as well as the transfer fees of incoming players, Arsenal's wage bill is €11.4m-per-year lighter so far this summer following the exits of a handful of high earners.
In addition, Arsenal expect to make around €28.6m from the sale of apartments in Queenstown Road, which stands opposite Emirates Stadium. This property income acts as a safety net should Arsenal's budget instantly be reduced if they are knocked out of the Champions League by Udinese in their play-off second leg on Wednesday night.
Premier League clubs can expect to make a minimum €28.6m from participating in the group stages of the competition.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusive/...-to-spend-if-he?
gee, Arsenal is one of the most cash rich clubs in europe and yet Wenger is so kiam sap.
(in order to be rich, you have to be kiam sap like Wenger.............
)
I guess without Wenger, Arsenal won't be as rich as today.
Aug 29 2011, 09:33 PM
Quote
0.0227sec
0.58
7 queries
GZIP Disabled