Arsenal Rumours Thread

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal to clinch deal for Bolton kid Bartley

Arsenal are set to clinch the signing of Bolton Wanderers defender Kyle Bartley.

The Gunners are swooping for the England youth international by offering a bumper pro deal ahead of the Trotters. Bolton have had Bartley on their books since he was 10, but he is accepting as move to Arsenal, says the News of the World.

Arsenal are expected to cough up £200,000 in compo to Bolton for Bartley.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal plan major bid for Gomis

Arsenal are planning a major bid for Saint-Etienne striker Bafe Gomis.

Spurs chief Damien Comolli rates Gomis highly, however it's emerged today that Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is ready to bid big to take the youngster away from Saint-Etienne.

Gomis had a sensational second-half of last season after filling the void of Frederic Piquionne following his move to Monaco.

Source: tribalfootball.com

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal's Cesc: Henry will struggle to reject Barcelona

Cesc Fabregas admits Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry will struggle to turn down Barcelona this summer.

The Spanish youngster told Catalunya Radio: "I believe that he will find it very difficult to say no to Barcelona. I know that Henry likes Barca.

"Barca are one of the best clubs in the world and Henry is a great player. Barca always has the best players in the world and Henry is one of the best."

Cesc added: "Henry has already won the World Cup and now wants to win club titles. For me, Barca is a great club, Arsenal is also, but it is Henry who must decide what's best for him."

Source: tribalfootball.com

[BlackNess]

Henry's Agent Furiously Denies France Football's Barca Claims

Henry's Agent Furiously Denies France Football's Barca Claims The management group of Arsenal striker Thierry Henry have angrily denounced reports from France that the French ace has agreed a provisional three-year contract with Barcelona.


France Football magazine claims that Henry's agent met with Barca's sporting director Txiki Beguiristain last week.

But Jeff Weston, from the SEM Group that represents Henry's interests, told BBC Sport: "No such meeting took place. That is absolute rubbish.

"There's never been any question of him not being at Arsenal next season."

The 29-year-old striker signed a new four-year contract with the Gunners a year ago.

However, speculation that Henry's love affair with Arsenal and London was coming to an end heightened last week when he said he was flattered by interest from AC Milan but stressed: "I am an Arsenal player at the moment."

Both Milan and Barcelona have both publicly stated they are interested in the player, who is closely associated with Gunners manager Arsene Wenger.

France Football is claiming that Henry's agent Jerome Anderson has agreed a three-year deal with Barca worth 10 million euros (£6.78 million) per season, with the option of a fourth year.

"It is all just media speculation, as it was last year, and the year before," Weston said of the latest reports.

And Anderson is so furious with the report that he is "seeking legal advice against France Football".

In a statement, Anderson categorically denies the magazine's claims, saying: "No meetings have ever taken place between Jerome Anderson and Barcelona in France or anywhere else, and Jerome Anderson will be seeking legal advice against France Football."

Henry was also quoted as saying he had been "devastated" by the departure from the Arsenal board of vice-chairman David Dein following a difference of opinion with fellow directors over an increased involvement in the club of American businessman Stan Kroenke.

"The bosses have been unsettled and a lot of players at the club have been unsettled," he said, adding: "Although no-one is bigger than the club, Arsene Wenger and Mr Dein are really close to being Arsenal.

"So if you ask me if there was one person on the board I would not like to see leaving, I would have said Mr Dein.

"Unfortunately it is out of my hands. I don't agree with what has happened but sometimes that's the way things are. We just have to move on."

Barca were widely expected to sign Henry last summer, but the player committed himself to Arsenal, signing a new contract with the Gunners and declaring it would take him to the end of his career.

Nevertheless, Beguiristain has been quoted in the English media as saying that Barca continue to monitor Henry's situation.

"If he has the desire to play here, then we can see if it's going to happen or not," Beguiristain told the Sunday Express.

"Barcelona remains the same. It is the perfect place for players who want to come here. I always say the same thing - it's down to the players to decide."

Henry repeatedly said he was happy at Arsenal last season, and expressed frustration that speculative stories about a possible transfer continued to appear in spite of his declared commitment to the Gunners.

The latest statement from his management group and agent, as well as comments from Arsene Wenger in the last 48 hours about his own position at the club and his determinatrion to lead his promising young team to honours next season, will have done much to reassure Arsenal fans.

[Arsenal007]

yah I heard that Henry is going to seek legal action against the French magazine

[BlackNess]

Trezeguet-Henry Partnership At Arsenal?

Trezeguet-Henry Partnership At Arsenal? Arsenal are being linked with a move for Juventus striker David Trezeguet as they look to persuade Thierry Henry his future lies at the Emirates Stadium.


Trezeguet appears to be heading out of the Italian club after rejecting the offer of a new contract.

Henry is keen for manager Arsene Wenger to sign such established stars and would surely welcome the arrival of his international team-mate.

While Wenger would be unlikely to bow to player pressure, he may see Trezeguet as the experience he needs to add to the attack.

Wenger worked with Trezeguet at Monaco and knows the player well.

The 29-year-old has also been linked with Barcelona and Milan.

Henry’s recent remarks suggest his future at the Emirates is not assured, claiming he is an Arsenal player ‘for now’.

[hanuma]

So it can fail at club level like it does for France? Great news.

[kennethlindheim]

I think Trezeguet would be a good signing.

[nvn04]

Barca baulk at Wenger's Henry deal demands

Arsene Wenger has demanded Barcelona include Samuel Eto'o in any deal if Arsenal are to let Thierry Henry leave the club.

The Gunners boss reportedly held talks with Barca financial director Ferran Soriano in Paris earlier this week with Henry's future at the Emirates Stadium looking less certain than ever before.

Barcelona want a straight cash deal for Henry, which is why they sent Soriano - who has little say over the playing personnel at the Nou Camp.

But Wenger wants Eto'o and told him to take the message back to sporting director Txiki Beguiristain that Barcelona will have to lose one superstar sriker to gain another.

Henry has made numerous denials about leaving Arsenal, mainly through his agent so far this summer, but reports on Monday claimed he had reached agreement over personal terms if the clubs could broker his transfer.

If he does leave, which I hope he doesn't, this is a deal I'd like, as Eto'o is one of the top strikers in the world and younger than Henry, too.

[red pisces]

Real Madrid title hero Jose Antonio Reyes is reportedly set for a move to their city rivals Atletico.

Reyes, who spent the season on loan at the Santiago Bernabeu from Arsenal, has been linked strongly with Atletico during recent weeks.

And according to Radio Marca he'll complete a move to the Vicente Calderon later this week.

Reyes wrote his name into Real folklore on Sunday night when he netted twice as Los Galacticos came from behind to beat Mallorca 3-1 and clinch the La Liga title.

He joined Arsenal from Sevilla in January 2004, but failed to settle in London.

He moved home to Spain last summer with Julio Baptista going in the opposite direction, but found first-team opportunities at the Bernabeu limited.

Football365.com - REYES SET FOR ATLETICO - REPORT - All The News - Football365 News

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Gunners eyeing Sagna

Arsenal are reported to be very keen on Auxerre full-back Bakary Sagna.

France Football claims Arsene Wenger has already held talks with the 24-year-old as well as Auxerre vice-chairman Gerard Bourgoin.

Sagna is looking to leave Auxerre for a fresh challenge and has set his sights on winning a switch to England ahead of next season.

Auxerre, though, are wanting to keep the highly-rated defender and have slapped on a €10million (£6.75m) price tag.

"The offers we have received are far too low for a player of his level," Bourgoin told AFP.

"He is now one of the best French right-backs around and has improved a lot during each of the last three seasons.

"His desire is to go to the Premiership but we have received enquiries on behalf of very large European clubs - from Spain in particular."

The Gunners are hoping that a suitable offer will tempt the Stade Abbe-Deschamps side into selling Sagna over the summer.

Meanwhile, Marseille sport director Jose Anigo has confirmed Auxerre ace Benoit Cheyrou is a target for l'OM.

Anigo told the French press: "We are keen for a deal with him, but we are still waiting for an agreement with Auxerre.

"If we can't reach a deal, it means they will have demanded too much, so we would then look abroad."

Marseille are also interested in France Under 21 international goalkeeper Steve Mandanda.

The Le Mans shot-stopper, who would cost in the region of €2million (£1.35million), could possibly head to England.

Source: Skysports

[nvn04]

Vieira questions Henry's future

Former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira believes Thierry Henry will leave Arsenal if Arsene Wenger does not bring in several new players.

Henry's future with the Gunners has been the source of speculation for the past few seasons despite the fact that the Frenchman has repeatedly stressed that he is happy to remain at the Emirates stadium.

The 29-year-old added fuel to the rumours last week by saying that he is "an Arsenal player - for now," prompting the media to question whether his loyalty to the north London outfit is as great as it has been over the past eight years.

Boss Wenger is in the process of rebuilding his squad and is relying on a number of young players fulfilling their potential, as he looks to challenge the links of Manchester United and Chelsea for the Premiership title.

Vieira, who spent nine successful seasons with the Gunners, feels that Henry is at the stage of his career when he wants to win things and is keen to see the club match his ambitions in the transfer market.

Source: clubcall.com

I would agree. We need a couple big signings this summer and I could see Henry leaving if we don't.

[simaozinho200]

possible etoo to arsenal
tribalfootball.com - AC Milan see Arsenal as biggest Eto'o rival

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Real and Barca look to snatch Fabregas away from unsettled Arsenal

Real Madrid and Barcelona are ready to exploit Arsenal turmoil by making a move for Cesc Fabregas.

As former Gunners captain Thierry Henry was unveiled as a Barca player last night, the Catalan giants were preparing the ground to recapture Fabregas in a £15million swoop.

And with Arsene Wenger's prime target Ryan Babel set to reject a move to the Emirates because of doubts over the manager's long-term commitment to the club, Spanish champions Real will also join a bidding war if they see any sign that Arsenal may listen to offers, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.

Both Spanish clubs see the sale of Henry, and Wenger's failure to make any public commitment to stay after his contract runs out next summer, as proof that the Gunners are ripe for raiding. And they are poised to test Arsenal's resolve to keep the midfielder whose free signing from Barcelona's youth team four years ago was arguably Wenger's most audacious and successful piece of business.

Fabregas, the remaining jewel in the Emirates crown, is the prized asset Gunners fans would not countenance losing.

The 20-year-old, who signed an eight-year extension to his contract last October, admitted earlier this month that he "dreamed about returning to Barcelona one day".

Fabregas has told friends he wants to stay at Arsenal for one more season, after which he expects Wenger to quit and then he will follow the Frenchman out of the door.

Yet the Arsenal board would be reluctant to agree to any sale in the wake of Henry's exit, fearful of the message it would send out.

Source: The Daily Mail