Giorgos Efrem to joins Rangers

Giorgos Efrem is set to be the 5th young gunner to leave the club in the last few months.

Giorgos whose father Andreas played football for Appollonas in Cyprus and also for the national side. His father’s influence has been immense:

"We are both similar attacking players, playing on the right or in central midfield."

Having been based in the most congested part of the Arsenal squad, with the likes of with Muamba and Larsson, who were ahead of Giorgos already departing, it is apparent he would have struggled to make it anywhere near the first team.

Efrem was a good little player with excellent dribbling skils, and Rangers have got themselves excellent deal.

Good luck George - hope you make it!

An so it begins....

1. Chelsea always spend.
2. We know Liverpool will spend.
3. United have already spent (£17.5M for Nani, probably £14 for Anderson and £17 for Hargreaves = 48.5M already!!)
   

Arsenal have er, um, hmm... (splashed out 2M on Lukasz Fabianski).

The lack of a sporting director or transfer negotiator would seem one major hurdle at the moment and is certainly slowing things up, leaving Wenger to handle the jobs of both chief scout and deal broker.

Arsenal would appear to have some of catching up to do... Clearly business is underway as we've heard f'all these last few days (Radio-silence seems to be SOP during transfer negotiations), but I get the feeling something big is in the offing.

We've seen Arsene willing to spend £10m on a player but not £25 million, so he would be breaking the mould if he was to buy what he recently called "a super-class player".

He has a £40 million loan facility but has shown no inclination to put the club even deeper into debt. Quite the opposite, in fact. He has talked about being able to "create money" and going to Spain to try to sell Reyes.

Trust in Wenger, he will lead us out into the light.....

Giles Barnes

Not that I believe for one minute we would be signing Giles Barnes as the midfielder has on numerous occasions stated his interest in remaining at Derby (even if they were not promoted this year). Now they have been surely there is no chance they'll let their prize player go, especially given he desire to stay. However this apparently obvious case hasn't perturbed the Hotspuds from poking around.

Sky spots report Tottenham are leading the chase, however from what Barnes has to say he clearly has brains to go with his admirable football skills:

"I have no intention of leaving Derby," he insisted.

"I want to play in the Premiership, just like any other player, but now I can play at the highest level with Derby.

"And anyway, I have three years left to go on my contract.

"Tom Huddlestone and I were in digs together when we were in the academy and we still talk now and again on the phone.

"But it was Arsenal, and not Tottenham, who were my favourite club when I was growing up and so I am looking forward to the chance of playing for Derby at Emirates Stadium."

Geddit Martin Jol? Arsenal NOT Tottenham...

Good lad.......

Vela gets work permit to join Arsenal this summer

It appears Carlos Vela will move over to North London from Salamanca this summer.

Apparently, Arsenal have petitioned the Home Office to allow Vela to start plying his trade in the Premiership from the start of the season.

It was originally thought that Vela would be added to the Arsenal ranks in January of 2008, when he would have spent two years in Spain, the requirement to to qualify for an EU passport. An exemption has however been sought by Arsenal.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said:

“He [Vela] is top class.
"I like his intelligence and his pace. He scores goals but he can also create them.

"He's a special talent and I believe 100 per cent that he will make it at the highest level."

If Arsenal don't take the option to take Vela this summer then the youngster is likely to be moved on to a Primera Liga side with Levante looking like the most likely destination.

Levante sporting director Manuel Salvador told Mexican newspaper Diario de Yucatan:

"Vela is a very interesting player, [but] the operation is still not closed,"

"Everything depends on Arsenal.

"There are some problems, because he is a non-EU player. It has some disadvantages, but nothing else."

Vela having scored 6 in 10 starts (7 in 27 appearances), is a highly anticipated talent. Reminds me of a young Ian Wright...

Real Madrid, 15 million Fabregas joke speculation

I don't normally report on stories like these but I feel in this case naming and shaming is called for.

The Mirror report that Real Madrid are considering a 15 Million pound move for Cesc Fabregas.. Please I would just like to point out a few things, 1) 8 year contract, 2) One of the most sort after youth talents in the game, 3) If Cesc goes anywhere he will return to a club that will be winning stuff in the Spanish league i.e. Barca.

15 Million, if they offered double that it still wouldn't even register on the radar....

On the matter Cesc's agent makes a point or two of note:

swear on my family that nobody from my office or any representative of Cesc was in Madrid with Arsene. That is totally false information. I don’t know why Arsene was in Madrid. He’s the trainer of Arsenal so you should ask him. I imagine it’s a time when English clubs want to make signings so perhaps he had a meeting with some other representatives.

I always say there will be interest from clubs like Real Madrid, Barcelona or Milan because what he is doing is phenomenal. But what’s clear is that he has a contract for another 7 years at Arsenal, he likes it there and he has never expressed any desire to leave. There will be speculation but he has never said he wanted to leave.

nuff said...

Bale again linked with a move to Arsenal

There are rumours that Gareth Bale could be looking to link up with fellow teammate Theo Walcott at Arsenal.

Bale has 12 months left on his contract with southampton is a player that Arsene Wenger has often suggested he would be interested in, with one proviso he already has the full complement of first choice Gael Clichy and able understudy Armand Traore at left-back.

On this he had to say earlier in January:

"I think Bale is a potentially great player but I am not in the race because I have two left backs," said the Arsenal manager. "But the club who gets him will have a good deal - an expensive one but a good player.

"I have looked at Bale a lot. We have been looking at him because if he comes up for a normal price it's OK but we have already spent a lot for Theo Walcott. [If we bought Bale too] we would be the biggest sponsors of Southampton."

So why would he be considering a move for Bale? The need for a wide player has been clearly demonstrated this season, could Wenger be considering Bale to fit in at left-midfield? It is certainly a possibility, many people have remarked that the player seems much more comfortable going forward than defending. Additionally Arsenal need a world class dead-ball specialist, a point not lost on those who watched the Wales & Southampton left-back this last season.

With Tottenham and Manchester United vying for the Bales services it is likely any signing will be protracted affair over the coming weeks and months....

Adebayor given new contract

Arsenal have moved to announce yet another contract extension this time for Emmanuel Adebayor, who penned a new 4 year deal.

On the deal his agent said:

Manu signed his deal. He wanted to stay and work with Arsene — although there were very good offers from Juventus and Manchester United. He feels at home at Arsenal and has a real bond with the fans. Now he wants to repay Arsene’s faith in him.

The Togolese won his fair share of the Emirates crowd with his excellent quick feet, tireless running and battling qualities when asked to step into the breach after injuries to Henry and Robin van Persie. Question-marks have rightly been raised over the standard of his finishing, which will need to improve if he is to challenge the likes of van Persie and Henry next season. But Ade is young and certainly talented - if he can be more clinical in front of goal, he will surely become a excellent player.

In another questionable piece of news from Sky-sports French starlet Jimmy Briand of Rennes has appeared on our radar...

Away Kit rumours

Basically the same general trend as the pics I originally posted but with gold trim. (EDITED: Arsenal Players Modelling the new Herbert Chapman Kit)

From what I hear the top one is the final version....

Summer solutions to wingless wonders

One lesson learnt this season is Arsenal need a world class winger to fill the gaping holes left in the side left by the departure of Robert Pires, Jose Reyes and the now aged Freddie Ljungberg. The calibre of player required means either Wenger either has someone in mind who is yet unknown to the football world at large or will plumb for one of the fairly pricey if well publicised options:

Frank Ribery
The Blofeld lookalike whose on-and-off transfer epic to Arsenal is now running into cold waters.... There isn't much to be said that hasn't already with the exception that with Marseille now qualified for Champions league football, the clause in Ribery's contract which would have facilitated his departure (to destinations still undicided) remains firmly closed. And at the £20 million+ mark he may be overpriced.

Nani
A perfect replacement for Pires on the left, the snag however is he has been a Manchester United target for some time. However Sporting Lisbon have moved quickly to ensure that they do not lose out on their prodigy and have thrashed out a new deal that will see his basic salary and bonuses increase. No doubt United will be willing to squirt some of their championship cash in the direction of Lisbon in a bid to retain the title next year. The player, whose full name is Luis Carlos Almeida da Cunha, has seen his buy-out clause rise to €30m (£20million). United were reported to be close to finalising a deal earlier this month for around €25m (£17million), but will have to raise their offer to clinch any deal.

Nani has made no secret that he would fancy teaming up again with Cristiano Ronaldo, who also came through the Sporting youth system. Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to capture the left-winger as he views him as the successor to Ryan Giggs.


Ricardo Quaresma
Like Nani, another Portuguese youth international team-mate of Christiano Ronaldo who was once touted exceed him, went through a rocky patch but now looking like he might reach his potential. A tricky little bugger. I saw him in the Porto game against us and he really impressed me. Again the price tag may be something of a sticking point but he certainly has the qualities to shine in the Premiership. If the price is right would Chelsea's interest resurface again? They too have been light on wide players this season, having sold Duff and found Arjen Robben perpetually injured. For sure Arsenal won't be getting into a price war with Chelsea (unless it is to see them pay through the nose).

Jose Reyes
If plied with enough chorizo sausage and sangria could he be persuaded to return? Doubtful, you sense the bridges are now all but stumps of charcoal so don't hold your breath. I expect to see him packed off to Athletico Madrid or Sevillia for around the £10 million mark in the next month or so.

Alberto Mysterio
A snip at 3.2 million, runs the 100m in under 10 sec with a ball stuck to his foot. Cracks goals in from all parts of the pitch.

However currently Wenger is the only person who knows his secret identity or whereabouts....

The Babble on 6 Million Ryan Babel

Babel, a good friend of Robin van Persie, who during a visit in the pre-season tournament last year sparked rumours of an imminent transfer to Arsenal. These rumours, though denied by the player, have persisted since. But is there any fire to go with all this smoke?

Arsene would surely have had a close look at Babel, a player very much in the Wenger mode, technical, quick and an eye for goal... faint echo's of a Thierry Henry (if I dare say). He can play wide or central and drop deeper. Could the rumoured 6 million clause in his contract be triggered by a bid from Arsenal, the price certainly fits, but is this the player to solve Arsenal's goal-shy midfield or boost our striking options? Wenger has after all attempted recently to convert various central-playmakers into wide players Rosicky, Hleb etc. with mixed results).

On the scoring front Babel's return from 31 games is only 8 goals this season, where he currently occupies the striker birth with Klass Jan Huntelaar, compare this with midfield team-mate Wesley Sneijder's 18 from 41 or Huntelaar 32 from 42 and you see he has had a poor season by comparison. Huntelaar himself is the subject of much speculation with both Manchester United and Arsenal previously looking at the player....

Nicklas Bendtner claims 5 year Deal

Nicklas Bendtner is the latest of the up-and-coming Arsenal youths Eboue, Hoyte and Fabregas to be rewarded with a 5 year contract. The 18 year-old has always maintained that his first priority is returning to Arsenal to fight for his place (despite interest from Birmingham, AC Milan and Bayen Munich), where fellow loanees Sebastian Larsson and Fabrice Muamba have opted to remain at Birmingham on permanent deals.

"Nicklas can now relax and concentrate on his play and development (sic)," Bendtner's father and agent Thomas told TV2. " The future will be with Arsenal.

"They have clearly indicated that they consider Nicklas as a first team player and that he will not be loaned out again.

"There have been many clubs who have been interested, but Arsenal is the right choice."

The physical presence offered by Bendtner is considerable, for an 18 years he has a powerful physique and certainly offers Arsenal a new dimension.

Bendtner played a key role in Blues' promotion - scoring 17 goals in the Championship - and Wenger has confirmed that the striker will form part of his first team plans for next season and he will now be looking to dislodge Emmanuel Adebayor or Robin van Persie for a place alongside club captain Thierry Henry next season. Bendtner has also played for the Danish first team, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 win against Poland....

Emmanuel Eboue signs 'long' term contract

Emmanuel Eboue makes himself part of Wengers long term plans by signing on a long term contract, the exact length and nature of the contract remains unclear but similar long term (8 year) contracts were signed by Cesc Fabregas earlier this year. Undisclosed long-term contracts could mark a new turn in Arsenal's approach to players they see as central to their future plans - thus warding off the interest of any potential suitors.

Eboue, 23, who joined Arsenal from Beveren in January 2005, has made a total of 71 first-team appearances (scoring two goals). The defender was highly commended as part of the Arsenal team who went on a record-clean sheet run in the champions league two seasons ago. Eboue has had a somewhat mixed season, punctuated by the occasional performance of note but hampered by a number of injuries.

With Justin Hoyte also recently signing a 4 year deal Arsene Wenger may opt to use Eboue in his original position as a right-sided winger (where his powerful runs can be put to more use while releasing him of his defensive duties) . ...

The Julio and Jose, a beastly problem

The pink elephant in all this is Baptista (in more ways than one), clearly there is no chance this abomination will stay to miss open goals at Arsenal next season. That said, with Reyes equally unlikely to return. Wenger's bargaining position must be considered stronger than that of Real Madrid with Reyes more desired by both clubs. Both players have a similar maximum cost (depending on appearances) with Reyes's down payment lower at £10M (Baptista (14-17M) than Reyes (10-17.5M)). Over the last two seasons it is Baptista's value that will have plunged the greater following his performances for both Madrid and Arsenal, again boosting Wenger's position at the negotiating table.

Earlier this month Arsene said:

"Nothing is decided,”.... “I will meet his agents next week and Real Madrid a bit later. “I won't tell you now what I will say to his agents,” the manager joked. “If I do that now I can cancel the meeting!

"I can talk to the player [of course] but whether he stays or goes I need to talk to the agent. If he stays we talk about what price if he goes then we talk about how do we do it."

Wenger further hinted that the Beast will be heading back, saying: "this [Saturday's game against Portsmouth] could be Baptista's last game for Arsenal" (to rapturous applause)

Reading between the lines on the Reyes saga, again one can only anticipate that he will not return to arsenal. Wenger's comments implying the player will probably have the final say - his preference is clear. Although reasonably successful in his time at Arsenal, Reyes failed to settle - with many pundits citing the players difficulty picking-up the English language.

“Reyes coming back can happen,” said Wenger. “I have nothing against that but Reyes does not want to come back to English football, he prefers to stay in Spain."

If Madrid do not want him there are plenty of other Spanish sides that will sign him after especially after Saturday's performance for Madrid against Espanyol which saw Madrid go top of the table.

Is it possible we cold look at an exchange with Sevila for Navas or Madrid with cash + Robinho? Then next three months will see.....

Birmingham Sign Fabrice Muamba in 3 year deal

Birmingham have agreed a deal to sign England and Arseal central midfield loanee Fabrice Muamba on a permanent 3 year Deal. Muamba one of three loaned players from Arsenal which included Nicklas Bendtner and Sebastian Larsson (who also recently also signed for the blues). Birmingham had declared their interest in Nicklas Bendtner, but Bendtner has always stated his intentions were to remain at Arsenal and fight for a place there. This is the third arsenal loanee to be signed on a permanent basis with fellow reserve player Anthony Stokes opting for a permanent move to Sunderland under fellow countryman Roy Keane.

Reading expressed an interest in Muamba as Steve Coppell seeks a replacement for Steve Sidwell, but it appears Birmingham have won the race for the DR Congo-born midfielder's signature.

Birmingham moved quickly to set up a deal for Muamba with Arsenal agreeing to let him move on as he was far down the pecking order at Emirates Stadium.

Muamba had spent the whole of this season on loan at St Andrews and helped them win promotion back to the Premiership. The tough tackling all-action midfielder has himself an instant hit with the club's fans and Blues boss Steve Bruce made his signature his top priority once promotion was secured.



Muamba is believed to have agreed a three-year deal at St Andrews and is Bruce's first signing of the summer as he plans for life back in the Premiership.

The success of the loanees has invariably lead to other Arsenal youth players attracting attention from clubs in the championship who failed in their promotion bids this season, with a number of them tracking Joe O'Cearuill, Jay Simpson, Matthew Connolly, Armand Traore.

Interesting Hleb interview...

Alex Hleb is one player who has generated a lot of controversy this season. Worryingly self-awareness of his craven inability to shoot seemingly lies at the bottom of his goal trigger-unhappy complex. (If you have Arsenal TV Online you'll probably have already seen this, if you don't it's a good insight it the player)

Hleb talks about:

* the North London derby on Saturday
* the importance of the Champions League in attracting players
* this season’s run in Europe
* his goal-scoring record
* the people who shout "shoot" when he gets the ball
* the future at Arsenal

Lukasz Fabianski - Arsenal close on polish goalkeeper

The Legia Warsaw keeper has undergone a medical at the North London club after Arsenal agreed an undisclosed deal with the Polish club for the shot-stopper.

Arsene Wenger wants the 6ft 3in stopper to be Jens Lehmann's understudy next season and sees him as the long-term Gunners No 1. Fabianski's arival could herald the departure of one of Manuel Almunia or Mart Poom.

The Polish international has flown back to his homeland to play for Legia against Leczna on Wednesday and he is expected to return to London later this week to put the finishing touches to his move to Emirates Stadium.

Fabianski's agent Martin Wiesner has confirmed a deal is close to being sealed with Arsenal.

"We are very close to a deal with Arsenal, an agreement is there between both clubs," Wiesner told skysports.com

"We just have to arrange some details of his contract at Legia and with Arsenal.

"Lukasz had medical tests yesterday (Tuesday) and he has flown back to Poland to play for Legia on Wednesday.

"I expect him to return to London later this week to have more talks."

Arsenal are believed to have beaten two other clubs including Hertha Berlin to Fabianski.

"Lukasz has had three offers, one from Germany and one from another team," added Wiesner.

"Lukasz is in a good position and we are close to a deal with Arsenal."