Tag Archives: transfer rumours

Van Persie contract negotiations stall

  By jtom | 18/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Robin van Persie, Transfer News
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The big meeting on Wednesday did not go well for Arsenal, as reports suggest that Robin van Persie wants to assess his options before considering any contract to stay at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had wanted to sign the Dutchman to a new contract before Euro 2012, but that is now very unlikely. According to The Guardian, van Persie has “no intention” of accepting Arsenal’s proposed deal until he is able to review finalised offers from other clubs. With RVP currently training at the Holland camp, it appears as if this transfer drama will stretch out past Euro 2012 and late into the summer.

Manchester City and Juventus are the two favourites to land van Persie if he leaves North London. Both clubs firmly believe that the Dutchman has already decided to leave Arsenal, though the Gunners are still hopeful that they can convince van Persie to stay. Another outcome could see Arsene Wenger hold on to van Persie through the final year of his contract. Wenger has previously said that he would be willing to risk losing him on a free transfer next summer.

I am of the opinion that it is useless to employ a player who wants to go. If the Gunners cannot hammer out a deal with van Persie, then he should be sold. Imagine a scenario in which we do retain Robin for the final season of his contract. If he is adamant on leaving, then surely he will not give all of his heart for the red and white. In addition, van Persie could suffer through an injury-riddled campaign next season, and we could end up gaining no value for his departure next summer. Holding onto van Persie until his contract expires is not a smart football or business decision.

Patrick Vieira is also worried about how Arsenal will handle the Robin van Persie situation in the coming months. Though he currently works at Manchester City, Vieira is obviously knowledgeable about the way the Gunners operate. On Thursday, Vieira said:

“I think losing Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas last year was a big shock for the people who love Arsenal. If they lose Van Persie it will be a drama. With Samir and Cesc you could say, ‘OK those two are gone, but there is Jack Wilshere and Van Persie still at the club’. But if Robin leaves who is behind? If he leaves it’s going to be difficult for Arsenal to keep the top players, next year it may be Theo Walcott, then Jack Wilshere. But if they keep Robin they’re going to send a positive message to all the clubs and to all the people around. It’s really important to keep him.

“I’m quite surprised his contract (which is entering its last year) has got to this stage. It’s really difficult to find players of the quality of Robin Van Persie with one year left around the world and there will be a lot of teams who will want a player like him, not just Manchester City [who Vieira now works for]. They should have settled this a long time ago, but Arsenal don’t need me to tell them that. That’s the way it is and they will have to deal with it. There’s still a year, he’s not gone yet.

“Robin wants to win trophies. Arsenal have to show him he can do it with Arsenal. The best way for them to get him to sign a contract is to bring players to the club who can show him that the club are in the same line as him.

“We know how Robin loves Arsenal, that’s not the question; the question is how Arsene Wenger will convince Robin they can win trophies.

“Arsenal has qualified for the Champions League again but it’s not enough. I’m sure that if you ask Arsene he’ll say, ‘of course it’s not enough’. All the people at the football club will tell you it’s not enough.

“They’ve been quite close [to winning trophies] for quite a long time. They’ve got a lot of young players so over the years they can get experience and they’re going to be better players. The first step is to keep all the quality players and the talent.” (Source: The Independent)

Vieira’s anaylsis is interesting; however, it is not totally correct. If Arsene Wenger and his players were able to overcome the loss of their three top midfielders (Cesc and Na$ri left and Wilshere was injured for the entire season), then why can’t they handle the departure of van Persie? Time after time, Arsene Wenger has had to deal with a depleted squad, yet his teams always seem to avoid a total collapse. Arsenal existed before Robin van Persie, and they will surely exist without him if he decides to leave.

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Arsenal set for negotiations with Robin van Persie

  By jtom | 15/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Robin van Persie, Transfer News
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Robin van Persie will meet with Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis on Wednesday. The Gunners hope they can convince van Persie to stay at the Emirates Stadium by offering a record-breaking contract and explaining Wenger’s vision for the club. If Arsenal are unable to hook the Dutchman, Manchester City will be ready to pounce.

According to the BBC, van Persie, Gazidis, and Wenger will rendezvous at Wenger’s house on Wednesday at approximately 10:30 BST. At the meeting, Gazidis and Wenger hope to induce van Persie into signing a new Arsenal contract, though a deal is unlikely to be finalised before the Dutchman departs England for Euro 2012 training.

Meanwhile, The Telegraph have reported that van Persie will be offered a £130,000 per week contract for either three or four years. Also included in the deal will be a £5 million signing-on fee. If RVP accepts the proposal, he would become the highest-paid player in Arsenal’s illustrious history.

Arsene Wenger is expected to attempt to entice van Persie by painting a picture of Arsenal’s future. The French manager will declare Arsenal’s dream of capturing major silverware in the coming years. While that may seem laughable to some Arsenal critics, Wenger and Gazidis will discuss potential transfer activity to provide evidence for their vision. Apparently, van Persie fully endorsed the signing of Lukas Podolski.

In any event, Arsene Wenger and Ivan Gazidis will try their best to impress van Persie. However, if their plan fails, Manchester City—and a plethora of other top clubs—are prepared to strike. According to The Mirror, the new Premier League champions are willing to hand van Persie a £250,000 a week contract. Bearing in mind that the Dutch striker currently makes £90,000 per week, that would be a massive pay rise.

Yet the Gunners appeared determined not to let another player leave for Manchester City. Arsene Wenger has said previously that he would not sell van Persie to City, and reports have indicated that the Dutchman would not be keen on moving to an English club.

The season has just ended, and the drama surrounding van Persie’s future will continue unless a new contract is agreed to before the European Championship.

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No thanks! Van Persie won’t go to Juventus

  By jtom | 10/05/2012 - 7:30 AM | Robin van Persie, Transfer News
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Optimism is in the air at the Emirates Stadium as reports indicate that Robin van Persie will reject any offer from Juventus. However, Barcelona and Real Madrid still remain the primary choices for the Dutchman if he leaves Arsenal.

According to The Guardian, Robin van Persie is not interested in a move to a Seria A club. This is significant because new Italian champions Juventus have already publicly expressed their wish to sign the Dutchman. The general director of Juventus, Giuseppe Marotta, said:

“Van Persie is a great player. He is a complete player and would be useful to any team. But he still has one year left on his contract with Arsenal. We will try to put the icing on the cake this summer but the important thing is that the mix is good.” (Source: calciomercato.com)

Barcelona and Real Madrid are the main contenders in the battle for Robin van Persie. Still, Arsenal have the advantage because van Persie’s contract does not expire until the end of next season. As we have posted about previously, Arsenal will meet with van Persie and his representatives before the start of Euro 2012. If the Spanish giants have any hope of prying the Dutchman away from North London, they will need to submit a massive bid. Dominic Fifield of The Guardian is reporting that Arsene Wenger is under no pressure from the board to sell van Persie, and Wenger has said in the past that he would consider holding onto the Dutchman for the last year of his contract.

According to The Daily Mail, Robin has told friends and family that only an “extraordinary offer” from one of European football’s superpowers could force him to leave Arsenal. The Dutchman and his family are very happy and settled in London; the van Persie family has just moved into a new house.

The meeting between the Dutchman and Arsenal, which is expected to occur shortly after the season concludes, may decide whether van Persie stays at the Emirates Stadium. According to The Mirror, the Gunners will probably offer a £5 million signing-on fee to van Persie. In addition, any potential new contract awarded to RVP will break Arsenal’s current wage structure according to The Guardian.

If all of this information is to be believed and combined, the chance of van Persie leaving appears to be slim. Of course, as Gooners, we should realise that everything can change suddenly once a huge bid comes in from Real Madrid or Barcelona. Still, it’s nice that there is a feeling of hopefulness surrounding an Arsenal transfer saga for once.

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M’Vila close to Arsenal move

  By jtom | 08/05/2012 - 7:45 AM | Transfer News
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According to multiple sources, Arsenal are close to signing Rennes midfielder Yann M’Vila. The potential transfer may hinge on whether the Gunners secure qualification for next season’s Champions League.

The Sun, The Daily Mail, and The Mirror are all reporting that Arsenal are seriously pursuing Yann M’Vila. Arsenal would need to pay around £17 million to bring M’Vila to the Emirates. The 21-year old holding midfielder from Rennes is regarded highly because of his strong defensive play.

Frederic Antonetti, manager of Rennes, once said about his young star: “He reads the game like Claude Makelele, has the presence of Patrick Vieira and can pass the ball like Yaya Toure.” (Source: FIFA.com)

Arsenal are clearly trying to complete their transfer dealings quickly and early. The signing of Lukas Podolski has already been confirmed, and reports now indicate that the Gunners are very interested in Yann M’Vila, Clint Dempsey, Jan Vertonghen, Junior Hoilett, and others. All of the names listed present the possibility of promising squad improvement heading into next season.

Any move could depend on Arsenal’s participation in the Champions League, which is why it is so vital that Arsene Wenger’s side finish third in the table. If the Gunners assure automatic qualification to the group stage, then the transfer business will be able to be dealt with early. If they finish fourth, deals may be halted due to the uncertainty of a difficult qualifying round opponent, like Arsenal had this season in Udinese. If Arsenal do not make it into the tournament at all, transfer targets will look elsewhere.

Needless to say, Arsenal’s final game of the season against West Bromwich on Sunday is vital.

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Transfer News: M’Vila, Giroud, Sessegnon

  By jtom | 04/04/2012 - 7:15 AM | Transfer News
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Arsenal are reportedly tracking Rennes midfielder Yann M’Villa, Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud, and Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon.

Yann M’Vila from Rennes has been linked with the Gunners over and over again. As one of Europe’s top young midfielders, M’Vila has many potential suitors, though he would love to play for Arsene Wenger:

“Inter, Arsenal, Real… I will take the fun everywhere! These are great clubs. If the coach calls you and tells you he wants you to make you play, especially a French coach, it changes everything. The important thing for me is getting playing time for the France team.” (Source: Canal+)

Clearly, M’Vila wants to work with Arsene Wenger, and why not? Wenger has helped many French footballers become stars for their country. In fact, some, like Yohan Cabaye, credit Arsene Wenger with attracting French players to England. Last month, the Newcastle midfielder said:

“Before Wenger there were not many French players in the Premier League. Maybe after his success, some French players think it is a good championship for French players to come here. That is probably why so many have come over to try to be a success.” (Source: The Journal)

On the subject of Yann M’Vila, respected French journalist Julien Laurens sent out this Twitter message: “Got a bit more on M’Vila today. His priority is Arsenal. Wages won’t be a problem but transfer fee could be as other big clubs interested too.”

According to The Telegraph, Arsene Wenger has told his chief French scout Gilles Grimandi to provide regular reports on Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud. Giroud is currently the top goalscorer in Ligue 1 with 18 goals. The 25-year old forward has impressed so much this season that he earned his first call-up to the French national squad in November.

Olivier Giroud’s main strength is in the air. At 6 ft. 3 in. (1.92 m.), he is a big, physical striker who can challenge centre-backs when a cross is floated in from the flanks. Hopefully, he’s a bit better than Nicklas Bendtner!

Montpellier will not be quick to sell their star striker. In January, Montpellier owner Louis Nicollin said that any club hoping to sign Giroud would need to pay a £50 million transfer fee. If that price isn’t negotiable, Arsenal will surely look elsewhere.

According to the Daily Mirror, Arsenal are ahead of PSG in the race to sign Sunderland midfielder Stephane Sessegnon. The Black Cats have thrived with Sessegnon are the centre of their attack, but Martin O’Neill has already indicated that he may need to sell the talented 26-year old in the summer. A bid in the range of £10-15 million would be necessary in order to pry Sessegnon away from the Stadium of Light.

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Arsenal’s 3-step Summer Transfer Plan

  By jtom | 28/03/2012 - 7:40 AM | Transfer News
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Arsenal are planning to offload several ineffective players with high wages in the summer in order to free up money to increase the wages of some players and purchase two or three top-quality footballers.

While these steps are in order, some operations included in one step could happen before the previous step is complete. For instance, Lukas Podolski will probably sign with Arsenal before Nicklas Bendtner leaves North London. With that in mind, here are the three steps to Arsenal’s plan for the upcoming summer transfer window:

Step One: According to The Telegraph, Arsenal finally want to address the issue of player wages. Incredibly, the Gunners will spend £20 million more on wages this season than they did last season. Considering that two of our best players were sold last summer (Fabregas and Na$ri), that doesn’t seem like good business. The problem stems from the fact that several rarely-used players are paid disproportionate amounts of money.

Those on the chopping block include Andrey Arshavin (£75,000 per week), Manuel Almunia (£60,000 per week), Marouane Chamakh (£60,000), Sebastien Squillaci (£60,000), Nicklas Bendtner (£50,000), Denilson (£50,000), and Carlos Vela (£50,000) (all wage figures acquired from the Daily Mail). Of course, the trick will be actually moving these players on in the summer. Many of them would rather cuddle with their cash than play football.

Step Two: If the Arsenal are able to cut the wage bill by selling the aforementioned players, then the next step will be to secure a few of the key Gunners to long-term contracts. Obviously, the main priority is Robin van Persie, but do not forget about Theo Walcott and Alex Song. Arsene Wenger wants to keep all three of these players at the Emirates Stadium, and all three could receive a pay increase for their loyalty.

Another name set for a pay rise is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Telegraph reports that Chamberlain could see his wages double from £25,000 a week to £50,000 a week. Considering that Carlos Vela and Denilson also collect that amount, it only seems fair.

Step Three: The final step may be the one that most excites the supporters of Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is plotting to throw out the deadwood and sign a few top-quality players. Cologne striker Lukas Podolski is likely to be the first newcomer announced. In fact, that deal is expected to be announced any minute now.

Unfortunately, Mario Gotze, a long-time Arsenal target, just signed a contract extension at Borussia Dortmund. On the positive side, Arsene Wenger has another very promising midfielder on his mind- Yann M’Vila (Source: The Telegraph). The 21-year old holding midfielder could form a terrific partnership with Alex Song and present Arsene Wenger with a plethora of options in the middle of the park.

According to the Daily Mirror, the Gunners are also tracking Ajax center-back Jan Vertonghen. The 24-year old Belgian may cost Arsenal only £7 million because he the nearing the end of his contract at Ajax. Certainly, the addition of Vertonghen would only strengthen Arsenal’s back four.

A few deft moves in the summer and Arsene Wenger’s side could be flying high near the top of the table next season. That will only happen if the plan is executed effectively and has the desired results.

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Arsenal set to sign Podolski; Man City want van Persie

  By jtom | 08/03/2012 - 8:00 AM | Transfer News
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Reports indicate that Arsenal have reached an agreement with Koln to sign striker Lukas Podolski. Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini has said that he is interested in Robin van Persie, but the Manchester City manager believes the Dutchman will stay at the Emirates Stadium.

According to The Guardian, Arsenal will pay a £10.9 million transfer fee to Koln for Lukas Podolski in the summer. The agreement in principle has already been reached. Perhaps even more stunning, sources in Germany say that Podolski will sign a contract that pays him £100,000 a week, making him the highest paid player on the team. Unlike last summer, it seems that the Gunners will look to finish their business early in the transfer window.

While the addition of Podolski will certainly strengthen our squad, there are two other motivations behind this move- and both involve Robin van Persie. If the 26-year old Podolski is signed right at the beginning of the summer transfer period, van Persie may be persuaded that our club has the ambition to push forward and win silverware. Surely the idea of playing alongside Podolski would please the Dutchman. The second reason we will buy Podolski is just in case van Persie does decide to leave. The signing of Podolski could almost serve as an insurance policy, so that we will not be left scrambling on deadline day if van Persie is sold late in the transfer window.

Speaking of RVP, suitors continue to line up in an attempt to lure the prolific Dutchman away from North London. Roberto Mancini said about van Persie: “We are interested in all good players. This is normal, but not only us. I think all the good teams are interested in Van Persie.

“I think Van Persie at this moment is one of the best strikers in Europe with [Lionel] Messi, [Cristiano] Ronaldo and with Sergio [Aguero] and Mario [Balotelli]. I think he is a fantastic striker, but I think he will remain with Arsenal.

“I think if there is a good player who wants to leave a club, then we are interested. But if this player wants to stay, we don’t have any problem. In my opinion, Van Persie will stay at Arsenal. I think Robin van Persie will sign a new contract with Arsenal because if Arsenal lose also Van Persie, they will have a big problem.

“I think Arsenal will buy good players in the summer. Arsenal is a top team. They want to win the next Premier League, so for these reasons I think he will stay.” (Source: ESPN)

Mancini’s comments make me think that City have already contacted van Persie and been rejected. Hopefully, van Persie gave Mancini a good telling off on the phone. At least, that’s how I imagined it.

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Lukas Podolski set to sign with Arsenal

  By jtom | 01/03/2012 - 7:30 AM | Transfer News
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All signs and signals indicate that Cologne striker Lukas Podolski will complete a move to Arsenal in the summer. He has already agreed to personal terms with the Gunners, and Cologne seemed resigned to letting their star player leave after the European Championships.

According to German newspaper Bild, Podolski has made a provisional agreement to move to the Emirates Stadium once the summer transfer window opens. However, Arsenal still need to haggle with Cologne over the transfer fee. Jeremy Wilson of The Telegraph reports that the Gunners would need to pay around £16 million for Podolski.

Cologne manager Stale Solbakken has hinted that the German club will not stand in Podolski’s way if he decides to leave: “Lukas’ decision is important for us all, but also for him. We must respect this. I know a little more than you. I know a lot, but for me it is important that he has everything under control and can concentrate on the upcoming games.

“Podolski is a Koln player at the moment and we know that he will be here until the end of the season. Then we will have to see what happens.” (Source: Goal.com via SID)

At the moment, Podolski is one of the top goalscorers in the Bundesliga this season with 15 goals. He is in the form of his life, but he has not been happy with Cologne’s progress. Cologne, Podolski’s hometown club, are only four points off the relegation zone. When Podolski left Bayern Munich for his second stint at Cologne, it was understood that the club would aim higher than simply staying in the German top-flight. Cologne has not shown significant improvement, which is one of the reasons Podolski may want out of his beloved club.

Podolski’s first and only stay at a ‘big club’ was when he was at Bayern Munich. Unfortunately, his Bayern career was not successful, though it also wasn’t a total failure. During the three-year period, Podolski had to compete with the likes of Luca Toni and Miroslav Klose for playing time. He grew unhappy and decided to return to Cologne.

The real question may be whether Podoslki partners Robin van Persie or replaces him. Perhaps Arsene Wenger and company will purchase Podolski as insurance just in case van Persie bolts in the summer, but the ideal plan may be to have them play together. What a devastating pair they could form!

Even though Cologne are not expected to finish anywhere near the top of the table, reports suggest that Podolski’s move to Arsenal may hinge on whether we qualify for next season’s Champions League. Just another incentive for Arsene Wenger’s side to push on and secure one of the top four slots.

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Wenger’s tirade could signal summer exits

  By jtom | 17/02/2012 - 7:34 AM | Arsene Wenger, Transfer News
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Arsene Wenger tore into his players at training on Thursday, which apparently stunned many who had never witnessed him so angry. As a result of the 4-0 loss to Milan and Wenger’s subsequent tirade, Arsenal could sell off some of the flops in an attempt to rebuild the team.

According to most of the morining papers (including respected publications such as The Guardian and The Telegraph), Wenger showed no mercy in criticising his players at London Colney on Thursday. The manager described the disaster at the San Siro as the club’s “worst night in Europe.” A source told The Telegraph that Wenger “went crazy” during a ‘clear the air meeting.’ Most of the players were stunned by the outburst as they have never seen him so displeased.

Apparently, Wenger was quiet immediately after the final whistle. This is not a surprise since there is a general impression that Arsene does not care for half-time or full-time team talks. But after watching the match again on Thursday, as he always one day after the game, he must have been even more shocked at the display by his players.

There are also reports that Arsene Wenger is considering the futures of Theo Walcott, Tomas Rosicky, and Andrei Arshavin, among others. The clubs were thinking about giving Walcott a contract extension, but it now appears that they want to see more from Theo before they hand him a fat deal.

Most, if not all, Arsenal supporters (including myself) have been urging Arsene Wenger to ditch the dead wood. Arshavin, Almunia, Fabianski, Squillaci, Djourou, Park, Vela, Bendtner, Chamakh, and Denilson should all be dumped in the summer. Promising youth players deserve more of a chance than the aforementioned flops.

Rosicky has been playing well lately, so maybe we should hold on to him to keep some depth in the midfield. Walcott’s situation is very difficult. He is just so inconsistent but, at the moment, there are simply not enough quality players to replace him. In fact, Walcott’s good performances seem sprinkled in between mostly ineffective displays. If Wenger can find a proper replacement, then I would have no problem with him selling Theo.

One such replacement could be Lille winger Eden Hazard. It appears that Hazard’s agent has been hard at work recently, as the youngster has been linked to many, many clubs. Arsenal are just the latest in that long list. Hazard told Foot Sport magazine:

“There are several clubs that interest me in England and Arsenal is really a part. Of course, it’s always more fun when the football is beautiful. In addition, at Arsenal, there is a French coach and French players, as well as my compatriot Thomas Vermaelen.”

However, former Gunner Emmanuel Petit believes that we need more than just Hazard: “I like him (Hazard) a lot but what has he done at a high level? Has he been good in the Champions League? We haven’t seen him. Has he been good for Belgium? He’s sometimes even a substitute.

“What’s needed is five or six players of real stature, great experience. Players who are 27 – 30 years old at most. Players with technical qualities, obviously, but also strong character. A group of guys who refuse to accept defeat, who inspire confidence in the rest of the team.” (Source: sofoot.com)

Petit also had no sympathy for some of the current players, like Walcott and Aaron Ramsey.

Overall, this team needs more than just one or two players to compete for the Premier League title once more. A complete reconstruction is necessary, but that doesn’t mean that I’m asking for our clubs to spend as much cash as Manchester City and Chelsea. The Rangers saga should inform every club that they are not too big to fail financially. Perhaps, in twenty years or so, Manchester City and/or Chelsea will be on the verge of going into adminstration as well.

Even if we spend less than some of our competitiors, Arsene Wenger needs to be ruthless when buying and selling players. His keen eye for talent usually shines through, but he has to be more vigilant in offloading players who do not fit the bill.

If we can remain in the top four until the end of the season, it will be a real accomplishment for Wenger and the players considering all of the adversity. Despite the opinions of some pessimistic Gooners, qualifying for the Champions League is still very much attainable for Arsene Wenger’s team. For the rebuilding process to possible in the summer, it is vital that we finish in the top four.

 

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Transfer News: Eisfeld, Mariappa, Ryo Miyaichi

  By jtom | 31/01/2012 - 7:20 AM | Transfer News
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Arsenal are very close to signing Borussia Dortmund midfielder Thomas Eisfeld. Watford defender Adrian Mariappa also interests the Gunners. Winger Ryo Miyaichi is expected to sign on loan with Bolton for the rest of the season.

We may actually make a signing on deadline day, though you probably have never heard of Thomas Eisfeld. He’s a 19-year old attacking midfielder from Borussia Dortmund. His Wikipedia page was literally created today, and it already lists him as an Arsenal player. Officially, no deal has been completed yet because the Gunners want Eisfeld to pass a rigorous medical first.

Although he has not played for the Dortmund senior side this season, Eisfeld is regarded as a hot prospect. His lack of playing time is largely down to the players in front of him, including young star Mario Gotze. In 12 matches for Dortmund’s Under-19 team, Eisfeld has six goals.

Eisfeld tore his anterior cruciate ligament in 2009, so Arsenal want to be sure that he is fully healed. Stereotypical Arsene Wenger signing: young and injury-prone. At least that’s what the critics will say. Even so, Wenger and his team of scouts have proven to be experts in luring young talent to North London. Eisfeld’s contract with Dortmund runs out at the end of this season, and we will likely have to pay a transfer fee of £400,000.

According to The Sun, Watford defender Adrian Mariappa has impressed the Gunners with his recent performance against Spurs in the FA Cup. Arsene Wenger is ready to make a move for the 25-year old, who has also been linked to Newcastle, Swansea, and Wigan. He’ll cost £2m-to-£4m.

Instead of quickly flaming out like most Arsenal rumours, this particular story has gained steam since the first report was published.

Hailing from Northwest London, Mariappa can play at centre-back or right-back. Unlike Eisfeld, Mariappa has been a consistent starter for his club, albeit most of his appearances have come in the Championship.

Arsene Wenger said in his press conference after the Aston Villa match that he would make a decision on Monday regarding the fate of Ryo Miyaichi. If the Japanese youngster is loaned out, it will definitely be to an English club because Wenger wants Ryo to keep his status as a homegrown player.

Partly due to the emmergence of Oxlade-Chamberlain, and partly due to injury problems, Ryo has not been able to break into Arsene Wenger’s first-team picture. Bolton have been linked with a loan move for Miyaichi for quite some time, but now Fulham have entered the mix. I tend to think that we will send him to Bolton, given Wilshere’s successful loan spell at the Reebok Stadium. Also, Owen Coyle usually has his team play an attractive brand of attacking football.

No major moves seem to be on the cards at the start of deadline day, but, then again, no one expected any big changes. Still, there may be a couple of new faces at London Colney on Tuesday.

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