TRANSFER NEWS: Wenger & Dalglish Battle For £12m Defender
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is considering a move for Ajax defender Jan Vertonghen but faces stiff competition for the sought-after stopper.
The Belgium international is one of Europe’s highest rated defenders and was expected to leave the Dutch side in the summer with Arsenal known long-term admirers. However, the 24-year old is also being tracked by Premier League big spenders Liverpool and Manchester City.
Vertonghen is close to Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen and at £12m is viewed by manager Arsene Wenger as a cheaper alternative to Bolton Wanderers’ Gary Cahill.
Dutch sources say the Belgian is part of an extensive January shopping list drawn up by Wenger, which also includes midfield duo Mario Götze (Borussia Dortmund) and Kevin Anin (Sochaux).
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Ritters
November 3, 2011 at 9:20 am
How can he be cheaper than Cahill when Cahill is free in six months ?
Don’t you do any research ?
Dreadful player by the way ( Cahill not Vertonghen ) .
Shegs
November 3, 2011 at 10:23 am
Vertoghen is better than Cahill and he also has Champions league xperience ..
Cahill is another over-hyped English player, and to bring him will cost us more due to the competition from Inter & Spurs.
Segun
November 3, 2011 at 10:57 am
Cahil is beter dan ajax defender bcos he has premiershp experience dan voughan
Zekk
November 3, 2011 at 11:17 am
Why am I not surprised? It seems Arsene Wenger has lost confidence in his scouts, he is now taking a much easier route, taking advantage of other scouts just like Man U. Liverpool have been after Hazard for a long time, then Arsenal comes in ‘claiming’ a long-time interest. Now Vertonghen? Wenger needs to find some targets of his own, realistic ones, since I can’t see them in Europe next year.
DJGoon
November 3, 2011 at 11:59 am
Zekk, you’re a complete idiot. Hazard and Vertonghen have been linked with Arsenal for years now. Wenger’s scouting network is nearly second to none. If anything it’s the other way round. Only after Wenger admitted his interest at the beginning of the year did clubs start to take an interest in Hazard. Ignorant aren’t you, you prick?
Zekk
November 3, 2011 at 12:18 pm
If anything, you are plain delusional. Though I can’t say anything about Vertonghen, we have been linked to Hazard before Arsenal showed their interest. For years, Liverpool have played Lille in Europe and you think Wenger got wind of him first? Think again. And I suppose Arsenal’s second to none scouting system got them Walcott (nope we scouted him first), CHamberlain (nope him as well). The reason why Arsenal got them is because they are willing to pay to poach.
armagharsenal
November 3, 2011 at 1:21 pm
I think ul find Walcott was scouted by Chelsea first! And Arsenal tried signing Hazard when he was 16 but the player didn’t want to leave France. Vertonghen has said he wants to play with Vermaelen at club level again! But to be fair Liverpool did see C. Ronaldo but then said we don’t want him!! Good decision! Arsenal tried to sign him but United already had a deal in place! Liverpool and Spurs hear who other teams are linked with and then they jump on the band wagon!
Ashfah
November 4, 2011 at 8:13 am
Bring him and we’ll see what Kenny Dalglish can do with him.