Arsenal
Former Chelsea Attacker Claims He Turned Down Arsenal Switch
A former Chelsea attacker has claimed he had the chance to join Arsenal in January but turned down the switch in favour of staying at his current club.
The January transfer window may have slammed shut but clubs will still be working hard behind the scenes at identifying targets for the summer, so we’ll bring you all the latest news, gossip and rumours. Today, Salomon Kalou claims he turned down a move to Arsenal.
Former Chelsea attacker Salomon Kalou claims he had the chance to join Arsenal on loan in January but turned down the move as he wanted to see-out the season at Lille, according to the Express.
Kalou enjoyed a hugely successful six years at Stamford Bridge where he won the Premier League, Champions League and four FA Cup’s before moving to Lille on a free transfer in 2012.
The Ivory Coast international has been something of a surprise package in Ligue 1, scoring 24 goals and assisting 7 times in his 55 appearances so far, and it appears his impressive form didn’t go unnoticed back in the Premier League.
The 28-year-old has revealed that he was given the opportunity to join Arsenal on loan during the final stages of the January transfer window, but decided to turn down the move to north London as he wanted to remain at Lille and help the club finish in the top three as well as win the Coupe de France.
“A possible departure? Yes, to Arsenal.
“It could have been done as a last-minute loan.
“But I wanted to finish third, prepare for the World Cup and go to the Stade de France to compete in the final of the Coupe de France.” Kalou is quoted as saying by the Express.
Kalou’s claim supports reports back in January that claimed Arsenal were keen on luring him back to England but it will have been a blow to Arsene Wenger to have missed out.
While the Ivorian may not have been the big-money signing many Gunners fans were hoping for, surely he would have proved to have been a more useful addition than Kim Kallstrom?! The 31-year-old midfielder has yet to feature since joining on loan from Spartak Moscow after picking up a back injury and isn’t likely to make much of an impression on the first team now that Aaron Ramsey is expected back next week.
Kalou on the other hand has always proven to be a useful squad player where ever he’s played, and with the likes of Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil out injured, he could have given Arsenal another option in attack during the title run-in.
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