Gunners on the verge of landing striker

Arsenal close to announcing Giroud deal

By Zain Alvi | 19th June 2012

After widespread reports in the French sports media revealed yesterday that Montpellier striker Olivier Giroud has agreed a four-year contract with Arsenal, the Daily Mail has confirmed that the deal is close to being completed.

Gunners faithful were cautioned by certain sections of the English media that since French sources had not been alluding to any financials in their reporting, the deal was not as close as it would seem to be.

However, the financial aspect of the deal is now becoming known as Arsenal are set to pay a transfer fee in the region of £12.8 million along with a £45,000 per week salary package for last season’s Ligue 1 scoring leader.

While it is inevitable for some to feel that the arrival of Giroud is the club’s contingency plan in case skipper Robin van Persie decides to leave this summer, it is all the more logical that the signing is actually being made to persuade RvP.

If the Dutchman does, indeed, re-sign a new long-term deal worth £130,000 a week, along with a £5 million bonus, the club will have a front-line that features him alongside Frenchman Giroud and German star Lukas Podolski.

To make room for this potential new offense, Arsene Wenger is poised to off-load former Bordeaux forward Marouane Chamakh as well as want-away Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, who has been in good form nonetheless.