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Gunners set to chase trio | After an extended period of speculation, it appears that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is finally closing in on three of the club’s main targets this summer.
Spanish winger Juan Manuel Mata, Belgian midfielder Eden Hazard, and Blackburn defender Christopher Samba are all expected to be locked in negotiations over their proposed moves to the Emirates in the coming days.
Media reports circulating on Thursday suggested that Valencia youngster Mata has already arrived in London with his representatives to finalize a transfer that could expedite compatriot Cesc Fabregas’ long-awaited move to Barcelona.
However, Valencia’s sporting director Braulio Vazquez was quick to personally quash the speculation by insisting that the La Liga club has not yet received any formal bids for the 23-year old.
Although the asking price for Mata is expected to be at least in the region of £17.5 million, it would be well worth the investment, particularly since the Gunners’ bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur are also showing interest in the highly rated youngster.
The situation involving 20-year old Hazard is not much different, with Ligue 1 side Lille seeking around £19 million, an amount that could prove to be too high for Wenger.
Rovers skipper Samba is another player the Gunners can certainly use due to the incredible presence he offers in the defense.
Besides, the North London outfit’s repeated failure to sign Phil Jagielka from Everton could force them to offer Blackburn the £12 million that would release the ambitious Congolese defender from the 5-year deal he signed just a few months ago.
A major portion of the financing for these transfers could be provided by the sale of Fabregas but the club’s ability to unveil all three of these players could be in jeopardy after all if Wenger ends up pursuing an unlikely £25 million swoop for Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema.
Arsenal will play Boca Juniors and Red Bull New York in this weekend’s Emirates Cup festivities before launching into the last phase of their pre-season ahead of the highly anticipated Premier League season opener away to Newcastle.
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I think Hazard is highly unlikely. Lille have already lost Gervinho and Cabaye, the only way they’d sell Hazard is for Man City money not Arsenal money. Mata on the other hand looks a lot more probable, and a centre-half even more so. We should be patient though as paperwork for transfers these days can take ages to sort out. Click my name!
Hazard (funny, hope d legs & name rime?lol), Mata & Pereira might also be good additions to d Arsenal team. If we must win any laurels this Season then we must at least have good substitute legs whr necessary. Try as much as possible not to STRESS Alex Song, RVP or Walcot like last Season. Hence, make good buys & not gamble.
Come on, Wenger! The man has no respect from the players, he is not what he was, for the sake of the club get someone new in. The idiot below says slowly but surely… how much slower do you want things to be before they win? England has a better chance of winning the world cup than wengers does of winning another piece of silverware.
AussieGooner is right, in my view. You could do a lot worse than M. Wenger has – his record is second only to SAF on trophies and accolades, but possibly No.1 overall considering he kept the club in the UCL throughout the initial Emirates years.
Lots of managers have spent big and spent badly. And the club is the one that suffers… remember Leeds Utd’s last run in the EPL? Or how about West Ham Icelandic adventure?
As a Spurs fan for the last 30 of my 35 living years, and a proud one at that – you guys have no idea how lucky you are to have had him. I’ll always be proud of everything Spurs – but rivalry notwithstanding, I admire Arsenal most of the other 19 EPL clubs.
I know these r rumours but I really wish d mata and eden part were true
I won’t b suprised if we don’t sign any1,maybe he has spotted sm 16yr olds…dat’s d Wenger style
I believe in d Wenger purchase policy- taking his time and buying wel; in the likes of Vermelen & Gervinho. But he’s made mistakes in Scquillachi and others due to wat I call emotional picks…
Howbeit, I prefer d Everton or Bolton guys to Blackburn Samba 4 CD any day!
I cannot believe some of the ridiculous comments posted here and on other blogs.So Wenger and the board haven’t completed their dealings at a pace to suit you.So what?If you’re so fickle maybe you’re not a real Arsenal fan at all.Why not go and support ManC or Chelski if you’re just a glory hunter.Chelski jumped quickly for Torres.Paid too much and the player hasn’t performed.I prefer Wenger’s way any day.Slowly and surely,without rash purchases and without rash mistakes.
How truthful are these stories concerning Hazard,Samba and Mata?
probably just rumours spread to entice fans to attend the Emirates cup
Mr wenger remember u promised that transfers will pick up at the end of july and 2day is 29th and nothing has been done. We don’t trust u any longer in the market.