Arsenal are set to offer an improved bid worth £3m for Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer this week.
Schwarzer has made it plain that does not see a future in Fulham and has been vocal about joining Arsenal.
If the negotiations go as planned – it seems as if Fulham are ready to give up on him and pursue Shay Given. With Schwarzer’s contract set for two years, there will be enough time to develop the 20 year old Wojciech Szczesny or inject a shot of confidence in fellow Polishman Lukasz Fabianski.
The developments have got Manuel Almunia all nervous and wondering about his future.
“To be honest, it is so difficult to concentrate because Arsenal is a big club and speculation is always in the news and everywhere,” Almunia told the London Evening Standard.
“The only thing I can do is keep working because I have a contract here and I have to do what the manager wants from me. I have not spoken to him. If somebody comes in, I will have to talk about my future at Arsenal. That is it.”
Schwarzer will be an improvement over Almunia – he was very good in his long career at Middlesbrough and was a very important part of a Fulham team that achieved 7th position in Roy Hodgson’s first year. Last year his performances in the Europa League helped Fulham reach the final. He has been the goalkeeper for the Socceroos for 16 years and his international experience includes their 2006 and 2010 World Cup.
With the goalkeeper conundrum solved, Wenger can turn his attention towards signing a quality center back- Phil Jagielka or Gary Cahill are being considered possibilities.