By Fab4.
Another potentially exciting transfer rumour to get your teeth into today Arsenal fans. Reports are linking Arsene Wenger with a sensational swoop for Real Madrid’s former Arsenal midfielder Lassana Diarra.
Wenger is looking to bring in some defensive cover to the midfield and is weighing up a move for the player he let leave for Portsmouth in 2008, who could be available for a cut price fee after falling out of favour at the Bernabeu.
Diarra had a short spell at Arsenal but fell out with Arsene Wenger after failing to replace the impressive Flamini as the Gunners defensive lynch-pin. Wenger allowed him to leave in order to gain playing time as Diarra was keen to cement his place in France’s Euro 2008 squad. Portsmouth won the race for his signature and after a successful stint on the South Coast, Diarra finally got his dream move to Real Madrid, who paid £20m for his services.
However, he has quickly fallen out of favour and regularly finds himself warming the bench, so a move this summer is likely and a fee of around £10m is being touted.
I was a massive fan of Diarra when he was at Arsenal and was gutted when we let him go. I could see his potential and i honestly see him as one of the worst transfer mistakes of Arsene Wenger’s career. I never really understood why we let him leave on a permanent basis, especially as Flamini had not yet signed a contract extension. It made far more sense to let Diarra go on loan for 6 months and return in the summer after the Flamini situation was clearer.
So there must have been a reason this never happened. I recall Diarra constantly mouthing off in the press about how he was told he would be a first team regular when he signed for Arsenal, and there were reports at the time that Diarra and Wenger had a big falling out because of it all and that’s why he was allowed to leave on a permanent basis. So although i would love the two of them to kiss and make up, i very much doubt this move will ever happen.
Although after the return of Sol Campbell, perhaps Arsene has turned a new leaf and will shock us all with a move for Diarra, but i wont hold my breath. My feeling is this is another rumour for the transfer dustbin.
Would Arsenal fans like to see Diarra return to the Emirates? Please leave your opinions below…
