WENGER will launch a £9million bid for Carlton Cole
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ARSENE WENGER will launch a £9million bid for West Ham hitman Carlton Cole if Nicklas Bendtner fails a Friday fitness test.
The Arsenal boss admitted: "There is no way we can carry on with only one striker. "Bendtner is being treated now and will come back on Friday for tests. If he is out For another two months, we will need to buy someone, absolutely."
Dane Bendtner returns to the club for a series of medical tests this week after missing Arsenal's last 14 games with a groin injury. And with Robin Van Persie unlikely to play again this season, Wenger needs more firepower.
Wenger said: "There is a 50-50 chance we'll sign somebody. Even if Bendtner is OK we will look around and if we find a good bargain we will still do it."
Unlike other potential targets, Cole would be eligible to play in this season's Champions League. And crisis club West Ham would not stand in the way of his departure for the right price.
But there was bad news for Wenger last night when Atletico Madrid confirmed they have signed a pre-contract deal with Gunners whizkid Fran Merida.
Midfielder Merida, 19, was regarded as the next Fabregas when he was snapped up from Barcelona in 2005. But he has run out of patience over his lack of first-team opportunities and will move to Atletico when his Arsenal contract expires in the summer. Wenger admitted: "I don't know for certain if he has signed but I fear the worst."
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too many potential kids but you only have a few slots in the team.
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How come they let him run down his contract and walk away free like Flamini?
But I think players under 23 or 24, there is a small compensation... But still won't be much though...
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mr carlton worth 9m so much?
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eh
wenger i rather u buy darren bent =.= -
Originally posted by Poignant:
mr carlton worth 9m so much?
Actually I feel £9m is a little under value... lol -
Originally posted by zocoss:
Actually I feel £9m is a little under value... lol
Actually I feel £9m is a little over value... lol -
Actually I feel £9m is just alright... lol
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It would be a good move for him, west ham are not going to do much this season... So a eye catching move to 1 of the top 4 clubs in the EPL would improve his chances of getting on a plane to South Africa in the summer.
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9m is under value for a striker leh. somemore he is english!
Look at berbatov? chao chao 30m.
the more is that carton cole is kinda proven to be a strong striker. i think he will be a good add-on to Arsenal's players! -
Atletico Madrid President: Of Course We're Interested In Arsenal's Fran Merida
But midfielder may have other offers to consider...
Arsenal midfielder Fran Merida would be a fine acquisition for Atletico Madrid but there has been no deal done yet, according to the Spanish club's president Enrique Cerezo.
Reports in England earlier this week indicated that the 19-year-old Spaniard was set to sign for Aletico after making only five appearances for the Gunners this season.
The midfielder is said to be keen for regular first team action and doesn't believe he'll get it if he stays in north London.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has also hinted that he expects the player to leave the Emirates soon. Cerezo maintains that his club are admirers of the player but the player may well have other offers to consider before a deal can be concluded.
"Of course we are interested, he is one of the best young players in Europe," the Atletico president told Spanish newspaper Marca. "But just as we are thinking of it many other teams in Europe will be thinking the same.
"I am sure that he has many offers because that's what someone of his quality deserves." The player's agent, Joseba Diaz, maintains that he is negotiating with no one but Arsenal though and that there are no other deals on the table other than the English side's offer of a new contract.
"We haven't signed anything with Atletico because, simply, the only club with whom we are negotiating is Arsenal," he said, according to sportinglife.com. The absolute priority of the lad is to renew with them. I repeat: There has been no agreement with anybody."Only if we don't renew with Arsenal will it be the moment to talk with other clubs. There's been interest from four clubs in Spain but I've not sat down to negotiate with any of them. "Arsenal have the priority. Moreover, as always, they are acting like gentlemen."
