Is it hurricane season yet? Gael force winds felt at Eastlands
Man City have reportedly made a £7m bid for Arsenal left back Gael Clichy which is soon to be accepted. The Eastlands side also contemplating a swoop for holdout Samir Nasri.
Gael Clichy’s demand for more money per week is likely to be met by the deep pocketed owners of City. His departure leaves no void with Kieran Gibbs in a lock for his position.
The second story is a bit more problematic. Nasri’s contract is in its final year and he could walk for free at the end a situation Arsenal is very keen to avoid. But they’re equally keen to avoid the sale of a player of Nasri’s calibre to a rival.
The more salubrious outcome would be Nasri waltzing out to a different European league with Arsenal holding a cheque for the same amount City can obviously afford. Today, however was officially the deadline for those wage negotiations and nothing has emerged so far which could mean two things. He’s leaving and he’s leaving. Nasri is also being courted by Utd, AC Milan, and Inter.
His departure could bring an £20m to the transfer pot and make more money available for additional signings. With Cesc’s impending departure and Nasri next to leave the question is can Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere be entrusted with providing the same quality to the midfield? In short, will we see that killer pass? Maybe not as much. But it won’t be the lack of trying. There will be a refreshing return of that good old bottle and more zip in middle earth.
However, one really feels Arsenal need to go after Juan Mata for that creative flair and having watched some of the Liga matches, the Valencia midfielder also has the necessary doughtiness for the Premiership. On the quieter defensive front (Wenger always has a yen for attacking players) it appears Arsenal have entered advanced negotiations with Bolton for Gary Cahill’s services.
A thought to chew on: Would the current trope of an Arsenal exodus be one if Wenger had jettisoned some of those players in the preceding years? This is overdue housecleaning. Apart from Cesc. Sniff. Sniff.