Busy ‘news’ day as far as Arsenal goes.
The Indy has sensationally, “Arsenal have sounded out Guus Hiddink in case Arsène Wenger leaves; if so, Thierry Henry is contemplating Anfield move.” (football-rumours.com)
Wenger has been talking about his friend David Dein: “He may not be at the club but he is still a friend so of course we talk. Whether he will return at Arsenal, I do not know. Will he stay in football? Yes. Will he come back to the club? I don’t know. But David Dein is needed in football because this guy has revolutionised this club and also English football. He is top quality.”
Meanwhile, The Mail on Sunday say Wenger is expected to appoint Reading’s Nick Hammond as his new sporting director.
Hammond, 39, has already been interviewed by Wenger at Arsenal’s London Colney training ground and would work alongside chief scout Steve Rowley. Hammond is Reading’s director of football having been youth team goalkeeper at Arsenal before playing at Swindon, Plymouth and Reading.
Meanwhile the Mirror says Spurs hope to beat Arsenal in the race to sign Bolton’s England youth centre-half Kyle Bartley. The 16-year-old has opened talks with Spurs despite playing for Arsenal in a tournament in Italy.
But the People says Arsenal are doing some poaching of their own. Wenger is trying to beat Everton in the race for Swiss midfield starlet Bruno Lalombongo. who plays for Lausanne. He recently spent a few days at Goodison Park.
The Sunday Mirror says Newcastle and Portsmouth are set to battle for Freddie Ljungberg this summer. Ljungberg has said he wants to stay at Arsenal but knows he must be involved in regular action if he is to lead his nation in Euro 2008. He has one year left on his contract and is 30.
The paper says the Swedish midfielder is viewed as surplus to requirements by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Wenger did a significant interview on Thursday with the most important quote: “Maybe we need to look at the team structure in those [away games with teams in the bottom half] kind of games.” He also said he’d only buy super-players [one or two]. Given his comments about Carlos Tevez, is that is a form of green light for the Argentinian.
Meanwhile Keith Edelman is representing the club abroad and acting as chairman of the G14, in place of David Dein.
Arsenal have agreed to sign 22-year-old goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski from Legia Warsaw. Arsenal have also accepted a £2 million offer from Birmingham for 19-year-old midfielder Fabrice Muamba. There’s another £2m based on appearances and success.
Will some of that go towards Mavuba. The midfielder, going by the name of Rio Antonio is leaving Bordeaux and the Mirror reckons it is a two way race between Arsenal and Juventus for the £5m player.
In other news ex Arsenal player Paul Merson has been declared bankrupt after failing to pay installments for his car.
And Adebanj Alade’s image of a celebrating Arsenal fan has reached the finals of an international art competition. It has made it onto a shortlist of 22 for the Barclays’ Finding Fan Gogh football art competition. Let’s ‘ear it for Adebanj.