Several interesting rumors floating around about Arsenal center-half and goalkeeper targets. Fortunately, Robert Green’s name is not amongst the possible goalkeeping targets:)
The other day I wrote that Arsenal had submitted a formal bid to Fulham for goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. If the Schwarzer deal does not go through then Arsenal are reported to be tracking both Lyon keeper Hugo Lloris and Palermo goalkeeper Salvatore Sirigu. Lloris has been voted the best keeper in France for the last two seasons, but it will take a massive bid to get him.
Continuing on the defence, reports in France say that the Gunners have made a formal offer of £8.2m for Lorient’s 24-year old centre-half Laurent Koscielny.This was the second bid that Arsenal had made for Koscielny. Originally Arsenal had offered £6.6m plus the services of midfielder Francis Coquelin on a season-long loan. That offered was turned down and Arsenal returned with a higher cash big.
With Gallas leaving and Campbell not able to play every week, it is reassuring to see that Wenger is addressing Arsenal’s defensive needs. A partnership of the 24-year old Koscielny and the 25-year old Vermaelen could lead Arsenal for the next 5 years.
Arsenal are also said to be preparing a bid for South Africa winger Steven Pienaar. Pienaar is entering the final 12-months of his contract at Everton and could probably be bought for little money.
Wenger had this to say about Pienaar in the Daily Mail this week:
“Pienaar has grown this year. He was usually a very busy player where the final ball was missing a little bit, but this year he has gained in personality and he has kept his work-rate, so he has been much more efficient. What also played a big role in his growth was that Mikel Arteta was not there for a while and that he had to take the responsibility of being the playmaker of the team. He was one of the best players in England this year. He would get into the Arsenal team. I always had an eye on him since he was at Ajax.”
Hopefully some of these transfer stories will turn into new players. But it is encouraging to see that Arsenal are being linked with players in areas that they need help; like center-half and keeper.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
wenger should bid 4 nigeria goalkeeper enyeama.gunner 4ever
I think that llores will be the one that we have to go for who cares if he costs £14 million pounds or what ever if a top team like arsenal haven’t got a international gk we must be shit, or a little cheeky bid for pepe raine at Liverpool not a bad keeper if I say so my self, and I agree on the deffender front, seriously I’m 16 and I really love arsenal they are my team I want to kno everything about them and I’m watching the world cup to see the people that we have been linked with and that ozil for Germany would be a perfect replacement for fabrigas, maybe not even as a replacement he’s gr8 and however much sign him, then if we get what we need them silverware will be coming in, ohh and defo get joe cole
Arsenal should go for or sign Bolton goal keeper, i think he is good..
We dont need Shwartzer or green, Hugo would be great, as for Pienaar, he would do great at Arsenal. He’s a much better player than Diaby.