Arsenal’s late surge on the transfer window has begun as talk of numerous transfer opportunities surface in an attempt to freshen up Arsene Wenger’s depleted squad.
With the injury list for tonight’s game away at Fenerbahçe growing with the addition of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain since Saturday, the need to bring depth to the squad has never been greater, especially should progression in the Champions League mean midweek games becoming a regular occurrence.
Monaco in for Kondogbia
Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia could be the latest man to snub Arsenal with interest from pretty much every big side in Europe vying for his signature.
Real Madrid, Arsenal, Manchester City, Manchester United, Borussia Dortmund, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Milan and Napoli are all looking to sign the 20-year-old, however moneybags Monaco look to have won the race for the Frenchman’s signature with a €13.5million bid.
Although Sevilla are reluctant to sell, the U20 World Cup winner has attracted so much attention it seems unlikely he will stay put. Arsenal were never frontrunners in the Kondogbia race however Wenger had hoped that his longstanding interest and French ties would help out with the move.
Huge double bid for Swansea duo
In another attempt to show some vague ambition, the Gunners are also preparing a supposed £35million bid for Swansea stars Michu and Ashley Williams.
Williams has been a rock in defence for the Swans, captaining the side and providing expert cover at centre-half. With injuries to Thomas Vermaelen and the suspension of Laurent Koscielny, Williams would provide the selection answer as well as taking on the leadership role.
Michu would be the marquee signing. Although he’s no Luis Suarez or Gonzalo Higuain, he is a proven goalscorer in the Premier League, something that doesn’t come around very often.
However with Swansea now an established Premier League side, they are no longer under the pressure to accept every sum of money that comes their way. This was the case last season with Joe Allen’s move to Liverpool, with the £15million sum too big to refuse. A year on, Swansea look set to reject over double that.
It shows Swansea’s ambition to succeed where other mid-table clubs fail – selling their top players.
Swansea chairman said:
“There has been no contact, as far as our football club is concerned, in connection with anybody. And we wouldn’t welcome any bids.
“The overriding point from our football club is that we are not looking to sell any of our players and they are not up for sale.
PSG enter Cabaye race
Arsenal’s £10million Yohan Cabaye bid could be made to look very silly as mega rich French side Paris Saint-Germain enter the race for the French international midfielder.
PSG are well known for their astronomical transfer fees, having spent big on huge name stars like Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Lucas Moura. They have already spent £55million on Edison Cavani and now look to cough up in excess of £15million to land the Newcastle man.
With transfer fees and wages that no club in the world can compete with, Arsenal look to be out of the race to land Cabaye – who was claimed to be a “panic buy” in the first place.
Valencia reject Guaita bid
La Liga side Valencia have rejected Arsenal’s approach for their Spanish goalkeeper Vicente Guaita. Dick Law reportedly met with Valencia officials yesterday however the bid that Arsenal tabled:
“Did not even come close to the expectations”
Surprise surprise. The goalkeeper has impressed at Valencia since joining them in 2008, and Arsenal opened talks with the Spanish side after moves for Julio Cesar and Asmir Begovic failed to reach any definitive stage.
Arsenal are still yet to sign any notable players in the 2013 summer transfer window.
Latest:
