Arsenal Rumours Thread

[Mighty T.A.L.]

David Villa, has fueled speculation that his future may lie at Highbury. The Valencia star covets a move to the Premiership and believes that Arsenal are the team for him. Villa said: "..the team I'm most attracted to is definitely Arsenal. Their brilliant one and two-touch football and the whole style of rapid counter-attack...is the one that suits my game best of all." Villa would cost a hefty 20 million, although with Eduardo on the sidelines until next year, Arsene Wenger may be forced to act.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Aleksandr Hleb could be on his way out of Arsenal in the summer. The Belarussian midfielder has stood out this season as one of Arsenal's top players with his skill and quick feet. His form has not gone unnoticed by Europe's big guns, with Real Madrid, Juventus and Barcelona reported to have shown an interest in signing him.

[Arsenal007]

I would love to see Villa over here, I dont think Hleb is out, I think he will stay at least on more season.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

If Villa joins Arsenal to summer then Wenger have to play two strikers.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Juventus have tabled a lucrative contract to Arsenal's Bosman prospect Mathieu Flamini. Juve have offered Flamini a five-year deal worth £3.5m a year, says the Daily Mail. The Frenchman has been outstanding this season but his impasse over contract talks at the Emirates has alerted Europe's elite.

AC Milan are also considering an offer for the 24-year-old.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

AC Milan have clinched the signing of Arsenal midfielder Mathieu Flamini. The Independent says it had appeared that Juventus were the favourites to sign Flamini but they have been out-bid by Milan who are willing to pay him four million euros a year - a million more than was an offer from their rivals - which includes a significant signing-on fee spread over a five-year contract. They have ear-marked Flamini as the eventual replacement for Gennaro Gattuso - which is ironic considering the midfielder was nicknamed after the Italian by his Arsenal team-mates.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal are taking a close look at Levski Sofia winger Nikolai Dimitrov. Dimitrov has already had trials at Emirates stadium and could arrive in the summer, says the Independent.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Gattuso is being linked with Arsenal. The Guardian says now 30, the Italian World Cup winner would be interested in a fresh challenge overseas, with the Premier League particularly attractive.

Gattuso thrives on high motivation but would not appear to be an archetypal Arsene Wenger target, his age and high wages, in particular, counting against him. Whether Wenger would court a figure like him remains to be seen.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal are ready to bid for Portsmouth midfielder Niko Kranjcar. The Mirror says Kranjcar is being lined up for a £12million move to Arsenal, according to the Portsmouth midfielder's father, former Croatia coach Zlatko Kranjcar.

Kranjcar senior said: "Arsene Wenger has tracked him for some time."

Kranjcar, 23, is seen as a replacement for Inter Milan-bound Alex Hleb.

[NimcHE]

I hope that Wenger, will do something to sing Kranjcar. And I hope tha Wenger changes his mind and makes an offer to Villa.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal are eyeing Birmingham City striker Mauro Zarate. The Argie joined Birmingham on-loan from Al-Sadd and hopes to return to the Premiership next season.

Zarate, 21, has already been the subject of speculation linking him with a move to Arsenal, although in the short-term he has headed back home to Argentina after holding talks with his agent.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal are ready to close a deal for Olympique Lyon winger Hatem Ben Arfa. The youngster admitted only last week: "It is true that we have spoken about Arsenal, but we will see how it is going to happen."

The Independent says Arsenal know that Lyons are a notoriously difficult club to negotiate with and that Ben Arfa's public declaration may be a bargaining tool for his own ends, but an offer of more than £11m is likely to succeed. It would also be a statement of intent from the club who have been angered by suggestions that they are strapped for cash in the transfer market.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsene Wenger is ready to deal in French youngster Francis Coquelin. The Daily Mail says FC Laval midfielder Coquelin, 17, is also expected to join Arsenal after a successful trial earlier this month.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Arsenal are planning a bid for Blackburn Rovers striker Roque Santa Cruz. The Times says Santa Cruz was given a four-year contract on his arrival in July 2007, but Arsenal believe that they can tempt him, and Blackburn Rovers with a significant offer.

Arsene Wenger knows that he cannot afford to go into the next campaign without a top-grade striker and was impressed with the way Santa Cruz, 26, quickly adapted to the combative style of the Barclays Premier League.

Blackburn would ask serious money for the Paraguayan if Mark Hughes, the manager, entertains selling at all. Wenger is adamant that if Adebayor leaves, he needs an established replacement in order to keep pace with Manchester United and Chelsea.

[Mighty T.A.L.]

Samir Nasri admits he's on the move from Olympique Marseille. A target for Arsenal and Tottenham, Nasri said on Saturday: "I've maybe played my last game at Stade Velodrome.

"In any case I wanted to finish well."

La Provence says the Gunners have all but agreed a fee with l'OM for the attacking midfielder.