Press rumours indicate that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is looking to bring French player André-Pierre Gignac to the Emirates but may lose out to Manchester United in his long running pursuit of Sami Khedira.
Arsenal are interested in signing French striker André-Pierre Gignac from Marseille according to French media outlet Le 10 Sport. The 28-year-old, who plays primarily as striker but can also operate on the wings, could be available on a free next summer as he is refusing to sign a new deal with the Ligue 1 outfit.
The player’s agent, Christopher Hutteau has previously hinted that his client would be more than happy with a move to England, specifically mentioning the Gunners
“Given the fact that he is not very old, he has a real market value,” his told L’Equipe.
“This is a striker with a relatively atypical profile, responsive to the physical challenge, the archetypal player who can succeed at a big club.
“He can play in England, Arsenal or Liverpool , no problem”
He has 19 French caps to his credit and despite the fact he that he could be bagged on a free, you would have to wonder if such a deal would make sense from an Arsenal viewpoint, Wenger has an abundance of attacking talent but really needs more stability and steel at the back.
A defensive midfield player should be much higher up the shopping list, a player like Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira who has been linked with the Gunners for what seems like an eternity. The background is basically that Khedira is unhappy at the Bernabeu and wants out. The German is out of contract next summer, leaving Los Blancos in a weak negotiating position and would have to take a ‘no reasonable offer refused’ approach in the January transfer window.
Premier League heavyweights are keen to snap bag the bargain but the catch is while they would save on the transfer fee the 27-year-old is using his leverage to insist on a hefty pay cheque. Wenger was the front-runner to bag him all summer but the excessive wage demands were an issue for the thrifty Frenchman. Rivals Manchester United and Chelsea are less concerned about budgetary issues and the Daily Star reports that the former are now the favourites to prevail in the long running saga.
They report that the Red Devils could offer him an eye watering £200,000-a-week deal, but would wait until the summer and nab him on a free.
Dan O’Mahony, Pundit Arena.
Read More About: Andre-Pierre Gignac, Arsenal, arsenal news, arsenal rumours, arsenal transfer news, Arsene Wenger, Manchester United, marseille, Real Madrid, sami khedira
