The transfer wheels start churning in earnest this week-end, as the majority of World Cup participants are home.
The election at Real Madrid today will have a domino effect – with so many key players linked to the prospective candidates – notably Cesc Fabregas and Jose Reyes, along with reported Arsenal target Michael Carrick not to mention van Nistelroy and Cristiano Ronaldo [a personna non-grata in English football]. Interestingly the election too has been fraught with corruption charges – so prevalent now in the top echelons of football, with accusations of fixed postal votes.
Incidentally, Pedro de Filipe, a football agent linked strongly with the Madrid elections, believes Villar Mir’s declaration he wants Wenger at the Bernabeu was just a vote-winner.
Arsenal in for Buffon story in the Sunday Mirror would be pure buffoonery, but for the author Steve Stammers – whose stories often are direct mouthpieces of Arsenal’s media department.
Apparently Arsenal see good value in a £15m bid for a 28 year-old who was sold for £33m five years ago. That story too is encrusted with corruption – as it depends on whether Juve are relegated.
We don’t want a repetition of the Lehmann-Khan spat, however the piece points out that Lehmann is 37 this term and is on a one year contract.
A more realistic target, going on past performance is from The Observer which says Arsenal are still interested in goalkeeper, Yohann Pele, with Le Mans saying he can leave if the price is right.
A more interesting story by Daniel King of the Mail on Sunday is Cole to Chelsea and with the proceeds, Carrick to Arsenal: “Carrick is thought to prefer a move to Arsenal. The lure of working with Wenger, together with the prospect of not having to uproot himself from London, are thought to have trumped the interest of United, who have already had two offers rejected.”
The annoying thing, particular from a shareholder’s viewpoint, if the stories are true, is that Wenger could have secured Carrick for £3m, a couple of seasons ago – but pulled out because Edu was still there. A case of misplaced loyalty? And now he’s costing five times the previoius amount.
The Star on Sunday re-itereates past targets, saying Wenger is in for Dirk Kuyt [“I went to Feyenoord to check on him and he is a very generous player who works for the team,” he told French TV station TF1 – although some Arsenal fans don’t think he’s good enough], Curtis Davies [Wigan have already bid] and Yaya Toure [he was available for a snip- two years ago too, and now he’s in the £8m- £10m bracket] – the latter two however wouldn’t go amiss among many Arsenal fans. Although, I for one like the rumour flying around the City on Friday that negotiations between Torres and Arsenal were at an advanced stage. [This makes sense as the success of the newly released bond depends on Arsenal’s success and appeal on the pitch].
The Sun reported yesterday that Arsenal and Man U have stepped up their fight to sign France midfielder Franck Ribery, with Arsene Wenger reported as having talked to Ribery’s agent Bruno Hedarschein at the World Cup.
Hedarschein admitted: “Franck’s preference is Lyon – but we know Marseille are not keen to sell to another French club.”
The Trabelsi to Arsenal story has less gloss than last week, as Liverpool have entered the ‘race’.
Last week, agent Franklin Sedoc confirmed Arsenal were leading a host of English Premiership clubs in the chase to sign him, telling the Sunday Mirror: “There’s a contract ready for him at Arsenal. I can show you that. I get calls from English clubs every day. Manchester City and West Ham have been in contact. Hatem definitely wants to play in the Champions League and he’s not going to stay in Holland.”
In regional press news, Sheffield Wednesday are chasing Arsenal keeper Mart Poom, but Arsenal are keen on Cardiff City’s Welsh-born goalkeeper James Wood.
Meanwhile Inter are reported to have have stolen a march on Arsenal with a £3million bid for Auxerre’s French youth international centre-back Younes Kaboul, 20.
And finally Javier Saviola’s agent Alfredo Carbera said: “There is interest from Arsenal and other clubs in Portugal and Spain. He wants to stay in Spain, but we shall see. We prefer to wait until after the World Cup before we talk.” Who knows, they could be talking this very moment .. but there again , perhaps not……