Fulham and Zenit Make Moves to Sign Arshavin

[Fran Solo]

Arsene Wenger is willing to listen to offers for the Russian, whose contract expires at the end of the season.

Arsenal value the 31-year-old between €5 million and £6m, and would prefer a straight sale rather than another loan in order to recover some of their estimated €17m outlay on the wide forward during the 2009 January window.

Despite rumours of interest from Reading, Goal.com understands that the two clubs who have contacted Arsenal about Arshavin are Fulham and Zenit.

Although the former Russia captain spent his entire career at Zenit before joining Arsenal, and returned to Saint Petersburg for a second spell on loan in the second half of last season, his preference is to remain in London.

Arshavin and his family are settled in the capital and would prefer to extend their time in England rather than head permanently back to Russia.

Craven Cottage manager Martin Jol is in the market for a wide midfielder in January after losing Clint Dempsey in the final hours of the August window and is a big admirer of Arshavin.

Jol believes he could offer the enigmatic wide player the same kind of opportunity to restore his reputation that the Londoners gave Dimitar Berbatov in the summer after he had fallen down the Manchester United pecking order.

However, any deal would require some lengthy negotiation, given Fulham’s strict £50,000-a-week wage ceiling.

Zenit boss Luciano Spalletti, who has guided the club to consecutive league titles, admitted in the summer that Arshavin was one of his top targets and it is understood that the big-spending Russian champions are still keen on bringing him back to his homeland.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/596/exclusi ... n-arshavin

[Goonerfromafrica]

I don't want him to go.

[GSK_AFC]

I don't want him to go.

I don't want him to go aswel but its better for us to cash in on him than let him go for free but
we may miss him in the COC.

[Goonerfromafrica]

I don't want him to go.

I don't want him to go aswel but its better for us to cash in on him than let him go for free but t
we may miss him in the COC.

It just doesn't feel right. He's Arsenals russian! I was at a pub once and that' s what the banner read.

[GSK_AFC]

I don't want him to go.

I don't want him to go aswel but its better for us to cash in on him than let him go for free but t
we may miss him in the COC.

It just doesn't feel right. He's Arsenals russian! I was at a pub once and that' s what the banner read.

[TheArsenalPost]

Let the man play!

[Goonerfromafrica]

Let the man play!

This !

[Bungle678]

He's had enough chances, the fleeting moments of brilliance are not enough to justify a run in the starting XI let alone a new contract!

The squad needs rid of passengers like Arshavin, Squillaci, Chamakh and Djourou. I'd sooner have a hungry youngster get minutes on the pitch than any of these, especially in the COC.

[Zedie]

He's had enough chances, the fleeting moments of brilliance are not enough to justify a run in the starting XI let alone a new contract!

The squad needs rid of passengers like Arshavin, Squillaci, Chamakh and Djourou. I'd sooner have a hungry youngster get minutes on the pitch than any of these, especially in the COC.

This. He needs to go. I'd rather give someone like Gnarby a chance that has the legs to run than Aa. Better still, sign someone already!

[thrice]

it's idiotic that Wenger continues to use Ramsey even though he's playing terribly atm, while Arshavin is rotting on the bench.

[Fran Solo]

I like Arshavin too, but maybe Wenger prefers Ramsey because he is still young and also a homegrown player.

[jacobharris]

i think wenger prefers ramsey because he is a hard worker, and will always track back, as opposed to arsh who would give up an dleave us exposed

[elkanofan]

Think he might like it at Fulham.

[Fran Solo]

He will be a threat playing behind Berbatov.

[Goonerfromafrica]

i think wenger prefers ramsey because he is a hard worker, and will always track back, as opposed to arsh who would give up an dleave us exposed

Can't agree with you mate, maybe the pre-injury Ramsey but not this fellow. Even if Ramsey worked hard and tracked back there's not a big chance that he would stop whoever he was trying to. If players like Ramsey actually tried Arshavin wouldn't have to be there to fill in and try save us.