Arsenal
Arsenal favourites to keep Gallas despite talks being put on hold
By Jonny Payne
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that contract talks involving William Gallas have been put on hold until the end of the season.
The French international is out of contract in the summer and is currently free to talk to any suitors. Roma have been credited with an interest in Gallas, and although Arsenal want to keep their former captain, the hectic schedule means talks have been suspended for the time being.
Wenger confirmed today: “In the next two or three weeks we will not deal with any contracts because we have games every two or three days so we will focus on our targets.”
He added: “I feel yes [we’re wining the battle to keep him], but in this domain you have to be open and ready for anything, because in his position he’s free to sign anywhere he wants. So tomorrow somebody can come up and offer him a massive amount of money and I don’t know if he would sign or not, but he knows we want to keep him and we’ll make an effort. But it has to be as always historically within our set budget.”
With the likes of Sol Campbell and Mikael Silvestre also uncertain of their futures, if Arsenal fail to agree a new contract with Gallas, Wenger may need to recruit one or two new faces in the summer to fill the defensive berths.
After losing out to Manchester United for Fulham’s Chris Smalling, Hull’s Steven Mouyokolo has been linked with a summer move to the Gunners, as have Neven Subotic of Borussia Dortmund and Mahmadou Sakho of Paris St.Germain. All, however, lack the experience of Gallas who is a crucial member of the current squad.
Do you think Gallas will sign a new contract or will Arsenal sign a new defender in the summer? Have your say below.