It has been an unusually busy transfer window for Arsenal this summer, and there has already been sales and purchases occurring at the Emirates where Arsene Wenger is apparently busy on the phone sorting out various deals to improve his Arsenal side, while battling to keep the current team together.
Gervinho is extremely close to completing his £10 million move to Arsenal after undergoing and completing a medical, while Gael Clichy has already signed for Manchester City. Two other rather large and repetitive transfer saga’s are ongoing – Cesc Fabregas’s proposed move to Barcelona, and Samir Nasri’s apparent imminent departure looks more and more likely by the day to either Manchester United or Manchester City.
But there is more. With Nicklas Bendtner looking for any club who would be willing to have him, Arsenal will be looking for attacking reinforcements, and the Daily Mail report today that Arsene Wenger will make a multi-million pound move, using the money from the sales of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri, for Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema.
According to the reports, despite Gervinho’s passed medical and soon to be announced signing, Arsenal are keen to add to their attacking options, with Robin van Persie often picking up difficult and irritating injuries. This move for Benzema may also put a stop to the rumours that van Persie is considering his future because of the lack of incoming top class talent.
The £27 million purchase of Benzema would be far and away Arsenal’s record signing, but it would still be less than the £31 million which Real Madrid paid Lyon back in 2009. Whether or not the Spanish giants would accept a lower sum than they paid for the player, who scored 26 goals and assisted 9 last season is questionable – as is whether the 23 year-old Frenchman would be willing to leave Madrid for London – especially to an Arsenal side without a trophy in six years.
Meanwhile, on the departure front – a rather less uplifting topic for Arsenal fans – and the Telegraph claim that Samir Nasri will “demand” he be transferred to Manchester United now that a bid has been officially lodged by the club for £20 million.
The paper claims that Manchester United remain in pole position in the race to sign the Arsenal midfielder despite the interest from City, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Inter and AC Milan. United’s £20 million written bid for Nasri was made a fortnight ago, but Arsenal are yet to respond, with it understood that Wenger is understandably very reluctant to sell to the clubs Premier League rivals, and will make any deal for Nasri as difficult as possible.
Arsenal however look likely to have to sell Nasri to someone very soon, or they risk losing him in 12 months time for free as his contract runs out, as the 24 year-old Frenchman has indicated that he will not be renewing his Arsenal contract. Nasri’s current contract sees him paid £55,000 per week, while Arsenal are reportedly offering him an increase which would see his weekly salary jump to £90,000. However, Nasri is holding out for around £115,000 and an offer from a club who are competing for trophies.
Submitted by DBSFootball
