Arsenal bid £17.5 million For M'Vila

Arsenal have made a £17.5 million bid for Rennes defensive midfielder Yann M'Vila, according to reports in France but the bid was unsuccessful. The news comes from the same source which first reported yesterday's news that Samir Nasri's move to Manchester City had stalled; Canal+.

It is though Rennes are worried that if they sell their star man now, they won't have enough time to find a good enough replacement. However, if this is true, and Rennes have rejected Arsenal's offer, Arsene Wenger has made a giant leap in the transfer market, and has at least attempted to make a big addition to his side, who have had a very poor start to the season.

The fans have begun to get on the teams back, and are unhappy with the boards transfer policy, with Wenger's lack of spending in the market a worrying factor for fans who have waited over six years for any silverware at the club.

M'Vila is a strong, powerful, and energetic defensive minded midfielder, with a big work rate as well as impressive vision, allowing him to create attacks from the back after breaking up the play. Manchester United and Liverpool have been keen on him in the past, but it has been all Arsenal links in the past few months, with a bid finally tabled.

Back in April, a Rennes source by no means ruled out selling M'Vila, accepting that a big bid from a big club would have to be carefully considered:

"We know there are many clubs who want M'Vila but only a big offer will tempt us to sell him. We have not received any official bids."

Wenger may have come to realise that his side needs a player like M'Vila to fire up some of the players around him, and a big signing would lift everyone at the club, including players and fans. After yesterdays game against Liverpool in which the young Emmanuel Frimpong impressed in a similar position to what M'Vila would play in the Premier League, Wenger is understandably eager for a similar, more established player in a similar position.

The 21 year-old French international M'Vila, had a fantastic season with Rennes last year, earning a nomination for the UNFP Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year to his name and a place in Ligue 1's team of the year.

An unsuccessful bid from Arsenal's point of view it may be, but it is still a very encouraging bid from Arsene Wenger, who is finally showing some intent to spend money to appease the fans and improve his squad.

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