Arsenal are weighing up a £35million
double raid on Swansea for striker Michu
and defender Ashley Williams as the club
look to respond to mounting criticism over
their lack of signings.
Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa
provoked an angry response from
supporters, who booed the team off at the
final whistle and chanted “spend some
f*****g” money to manager Arsene
Wenger.
The Gunners have only signed 20-year-old
striker Yaya Sanogo, having been frustrated
in their pursuits of a number of leading
players including Gonzalo Higuain, Luis
Suarez, Luiz Gustavo and Wayne Rooney.
The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust last night
called for the suspension of talks over an
extension to Wenger’s contract — which
expires in the summer — claiming “this is
inappropriate” with the transfer window
open until September 2.
Wenger has admitted he wants “two or
three” signings and is now considering
moving for a couple of players he has
tracked for some time.
Michu enjoyed a hugely successful first
season in English football, scoring 22 goals.
It is understood that Swansea are reluctant
to sell but have valued the 27-year-old at
£25m in the knowledge that a bid at that
level would be hard to reject, especially
with Michael Laudrup still keen to add to
his squad.
Arsenal view that figure as excessive,
especially given Michu cost Swansea just
£2m from Rayo Vallecano last summer but
in the context of their other centre-forward
targets, the deal could prove attractive.
Liverpool remain adamant Suarez will not
be sold this month and the Gunners have
not been encouraged to make a new bid.
The Gunners retain an interest in Rooney
but with Manchester United equally robust
in their stance blocking the 27-year-old’s
departure, Michu has emerged as an
intriguing alternative.
The Spaniard signed a new contract in
January but is thought to earn only
£30,000-a-week as a basic wage before a
variety of add-ons so Arsenal could offer
Michu a significant increase.
The club had a £6m offer for Williams
rejected this month but believe a deal
could be reached at around £10m. Wenger
is reluctant to go that high but the furore
surrounding the club’s poor start could
only intensify this week should they falter
in Wednesday’s Champions League play-off
first leg against Fenerbahce in Turkey.
Arsenal’s honorary vice-president Lady
Nina Bracewell-Smith joined the dissenters
last night when she claimed on Twitter to
regret selling her shares to Stan Kroenke in
2011.
Bracewell-Smith wrote: “What a shame the
board recommended a Kroenke takeover
and paid Rothchilds 3m fee. And how
deeply I regret selling to Kroenke. #AFC”
Bracewell-Smith also called for Alisher
Usmanov to have a seat on the board and
again called for the return of David Dein to
help Wenger negotiate on transfers.
“Bring David Dein and give Usmanov
representation on the board if we are to
have success going forward. #AFC,” she
said.
The comments have since been deleted
from her timeline.
Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas
Rosicky all expected to be fit for
Wednesday’s game after sustaining injuries
against Villa but Bacary Sagna remains a
doubt.
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