SOCCER:ARSENAL WILL discover today after a Zenit St Petersburg board meeting the revised figure they will have to pay if Andrei Arshavin, the Russia playmaker, is finally to be signed by Arsene Wenger.
If Arsenal’s current offer of €12.8 million plus bonuses – thought to relate to appearances and any trophies the 27-year-old might help the club win – is not improved then “Arshavin is almost certain to remain a Zenit player”, Maxim Mitrofanov, the club’s general director, said yesterday.
Arsenal are understood to have set a deadline of Monday for the matter to be resolved one way or another before they would then look to pursue other targets – reported to be West Ham’s former Gunners defender Matthew Upson and Le Mans’ Ivory Coast striker Gervinho.
Mitrofanov, who is negotiating directly with Arsenal about Arshavin, hopes “the deal can be done within two days” because the deadline set by Wenger is Monday. He said he understood there was “already some agreement between Arsenal and the player about the terms of his contract” and that it now depended on the two clubs agreeing a price.
“As CEO I’ve suggested to my board several options. The Zenit president, Mr (Alexander) Dukov, told me last night that the board is split on which to choose. What’s for sure is that £12 million is not enough. I first offered the player to Arsenal for £20 million, so it all depends on what my board choose. Arsenal are waiting to see how much discount we can offer from this £20 million.”
Asked whether €15 million would be enough for Zenit, Mitrofanov said: “I don’t know. This is up to the board. I’m sure we will have some compromise (to offer Arsenal) especially with bonuses.” He indicated any price below €21 million would need to come with further added incentives.
“I have called Arsenal and asked them to wait until tomorrow afternoon for the board to meet again. The deal could be completed very soon. I know Arsenal have set this deadline for Monday because if Arshavin does sign they need to finalise the terms,” he added. “Or if not, they will need a week to look for another player.”
There is no delegation from Arsenal in St Petersburg, so the club are waiting to hear from Mitrofanov by fax once the Zenit board has instructed him. If Arshavin does not move to the Emirates it seems likely he will remain a Zenit player until the summer, at least. “I do not have any other offers for him,” Mitrofanov said.
Eduardo da Silva has told Arsenal he is ready to make his first-team comeback 11 months after suffering his horrific broken leg when playing against Birmingham City. The striker played 90 minutes for the reserves against Stoke on Wednesday.
“I’m ready. It’s been a long time since I’ve played 90 minutes and now I feel better knowing I can play a whole game. I feel much stronger and I am very happy now,” said the 25-year-old, who added he has no psychological scars from the fractured fibula and dislocated ankle. “In my head I am ready.”
His fellow striker, Nicklas Bendtner, has refused a move to the Bundesliga leaders Hoffenheim. “They have shown an interest,” Bendtner’s father, Thomas, said. “But Nicklas will stay at Arsenal.”
Meanwhile Arsenal have shunned an approach from Atletico Madrid for Emmanuel Eboue. The Spanish side made an approach via his agent Franjo Vranjkovic, who forwarded the offer on to the Gunners.
However, a response from Emirates Stadium was quick and definitive as they insisted they do not want to sell him.
Indeed Arsenal have told Vranjkovic that they want to extend the Ivorian’s contract at the club. “We received an official request from Atletico Madrid which was passed to Arsenal,” Vranjkovic stated.
“I have the fax from director Ken Friar who wrote to me to say they are not interested in the offer.
“Then I received a call from Arsene Wenger, who invited me to go to England to start negotiations over a renewal. I see no possibility that the player will leave Arsenal.”
Guardianservice
