Why Wenger wants Odemwingie, Doyle & Rodallega

There are always going to be murmurs of transfers surrounding the big clubs, and there are quite a few which you can brush off as rubbish. When Arsenal's interest in West Brom's Odemwingie was announced by the press, for example, Arsenal fans may have laughed it off as a bad joke. However, those rumours started to grow, and the interest from Arsenal became apparently real, leaving some, scratching their heads in confusion.

However, it seems he Arsenal manager is going for a certain "type" of striker. A few days ago, Kevin Doyle's name was mentioned quite a few times in connection with Arsenal. The Wolves striker doesn't exactly spring to mind when thinking of a player who would pair up with Robin van Persie, but he would be a useful commodity to have in reserve.

With the Doyle rumours swept under the carpet due to Mick McCarthy's announced desire for Doyle to stay put at Wolves, there was suddenly room for another striker to be linked. This time it's Wigan's Hugo Rodallega. Nine goals and an assist for the relegation battlers last season doesn't grab your eyes attention, but the Colombian does a neat job up front - always posing a danger - even for the bigger teams, in fact he's no stranger to seeing a shot from his boot hit the back of an Arsenal guarded net. Rodallega apparently said:

"Arsenal are interested in me and this is a club I have always liked. There are many teams interested, it’s true. Villarreal, Sevilla, Arsenal also have some interest, Everton, too."

“There is a lot of speculation but my future at this moment is at Wigan. I have signed for one more year in Wigan, but if the club decides on my sale that is no problem if the subject is positive for all parties.” 

So what are the immediate similarities between the three linked strikers? Well, first of all, they all adopt the same style. They are hard workers who will knick a goal when needed - not prolific - although in Odemwingie's case, he could be, but certainly capable of grabbing around 10 goals in a Premier League season. 10 goals is better than what Wenger had last season from any of his strikers apart from van Persie, who notched an impressive 18, but Bendtner and Chamakh trail miserably behind.

Then there is the price of the three. A striker at the age of around 25-29, who is playing for a side who regularly fight hard for their Premier League status near the depths of the League, and who have no real spending power themselves, will not command a huge transfer fee. Indeed, pair that with Wenger's reluctance to spend large amounts for any sort of player, and it's a perfect match.

Then there is there fitness. Arsenal have been the victim of rather large slices of bad luck in terms of injuries recently, while in contrast, the three linked players have not. Last season, Odemwingie played 32 games, Doyle played 26, and Rodallega made 36 appearances. This is exactly what Wenger needs some of in his side - fitness, and durability. A player who can physically match the demands of a long season under pressure - and these players have been under huge pressure at the bottom of the League.

While none of the three players would be regular starters now that Arsenal have signed Lille's Gervinho, their signings would be a shrewd move by Wenger - a move which would see Arsenal have strength in depth. But not depth like the Chamakh or Bendtner, who would come on to make very little impact at all, but a form of depth that would come on and have the experience and know-how in the Premier League to actually make a difference and add the energy while chipping in a goal or an assist to lift the team.

So don't scoff at the rumours, but rather be encouraged that Wenger is actually alive and moving in the market, and looking for, although not at a Benzema, (which would be expensive and unrealistic), a player more reliable than what Arsenal have already in Bendtner and Chamakh.

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball

Odemwingie "not happy" With Arsenal Offer

It is well known that Arsenal and Arsene Wenger do not spend significant amounts of money, and keep a more sensible and lower wage structure than other top Premier League sides, but Peter Odemwingie, West Brom's star striker was apparently offered a salary worth "peanuts" to him.

As a determined to leave Nicklas Bendtner is receiving bids from clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Arsenal are looking to replace him, and one of Wenger's immediate targets was the Nigerian striker, Peter Odemwingie. The fifth top scorer in the Premier League last season, with 15 goals - 2 against Arsenal, the 29 year-old would have been a good acquisition at only £4 million. 

But it has emerged from a source close to the player, that although Wenger was willing to spend the £4 million, or whatever transfer fee West Brom were looking for, the wages that Arsenal offered Odemwingie were far from what he had hoped. The source, said:

"Peter is not happy that, while the Gunners are willing to meet West Brom’s transfer fee, there will not be much change in his personal terms."

“The club are proposing what he considers to be peanuts for him.” 

In other words, Odemwingie saw moving to a bigger club meant bigger wages - wages which would surpass what he is currently getting paid by West Brom. He was wrong. The Daily Star does not rule out a move to Arsenal for Odemwingie, but does state that Tottenham may take advantage of Arsenal's weak offer.

Arsenal may have bigger and better things to contend with however, with the recent reports that Radamel Falcao may be made available for transfer. A move to Chelsea seems more likely though, and although there is plenty of time left in the summer transfer window, Arsenal may have to settle with Lille's Ivorian striker Gervinho, is is edging closer to a move by the day.

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball

Nasri: Spend In Transfer Market or I Leave

Frustation and anxiety is mounting over the future of Samir Nasri at Arsenal, and following the French midfielders comments about his future and the potential interest from Manchester United recently, the signs are hardly encouraging for the London club. Wenger's main aims surely include the imperative that Arsenal's best must stay at the club, but there is still no sign of Nasri signing an extension to his current contract which has only 12 months remaining.

The Guardian newspaper has now claimed that Nasri is stalling the signing of the offered £90,000 a week contract not only because he wants to be paid more per week - apparently holding out for £110,000 - but he also wants Wenger to confirm the idea of Arsenal having an "active summer". Nasri wants the reassurance that quality players will be brought in to help the current Arsenal side to success and trophies as well as a season in which the team has enough depth to last the whole campaign rather than wither out towards the end.

The rumours surrounding Arsenal and their transfer acivity in the upcoming market are rife, with links to Lille's Ivorian forward Gervinho very strong as well as an apparent interest in West Brom's Nigerian international striker, peter Odemwingie. The former deal looks more likely to go through, with Arsenal the favourites to land Gervinho, but one signing will probably not be enough to convince an ambitious Nasri to stay with the club.

He has been encouraged by his compatriot and Manchester United left back Patrice Evra to join him at United already, and his comments about waiting to see if the Manchester United interest is real or not clearly show a lack of full commitment to Arsenal. It also suggests a wavering mind, a mind which is searching for new opportunities, and the fact that he refused to rule out a move to Old Trafford is surely concerning.

Wenger has promised his fans an "active summer", but what Wenger's definition of "active" is and what Arsenal supporters definition is, most probably varies. Arsenal need a new centre back, and Wenger recognises this too, with Gary Cahill prominently linked, as well as PSG's Mamadou Sakhou, who looks a very promising talent. The issue that remains with Wenger is money.

Both player will cost in excess of  £15 million, and those who know Arsenal and Arsene Wenger know, that for Wenger to spend that amount on one player is a very rare occasion. His persistence to keep out of debt and keep the club stable is admirable, and stubborn, yet it may yet prove his downfall, for now Wenger has more reasons to spend money. He firstly has to improve his squad, whilst appeasing the current players such as Fabregas and Nasri, as well as the frustrated fans.

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball 

Arsenal Close On Gervinho - Odemwingie Latest

It is looking more and more likely by the day that Lille will be forced to let go of their star striker, Gervinho amid growing interest from the Premier League, mainly from Arsenal

Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham are all fighting for the signature of the Ivorian forward, with Arsenal reported to be in "pole position". However, for any chance of Gervinho joining Wenger at Arsenal, the manager would have to be willing to spend around £15 million on the 23 year-old, whose contract expires in 12 months time.

Liverpool have apparently placed a bid of £11 million for Gervinho, but Lille, who were thought to be prepared to sell their striker for only £6 million at the start of negotiations rejected Liverpool's offer, and requested a £4 million improvement.

According to several news sources, Arsene Wenger has been impressed by Gervinho this season, as the Arsenal manager watched his target score 14 goals and assist 9 for a Lille side who eventually won the Coupe de France - the French equivalent to the English FA Cup.

Gervinho said he would decide his future after his country's African Cup of Nation's qualifier against Benin today, and now that the game is over - Ivory Coast won 6 - 2, and qualified for the competition - an announcement should be close.

Arsenal's search for a striker has also led them to a reported bid of £4 million for West Brom's Peter Odemwingie. However, that deal now seems increasingly unlikely, because of the, firstly the size of the bid, and secondly, Roy Hodgson's adamant stance that Odemwingie will remain at the Hawthorns next season.

Hodgson has apparently offered Odemwingie a new deal to ward off Arsenal's interest, saying:

"I’m confident of keeping our top players, including Peter. They have contracts and the club are not keen on selling."

"We don’t need to sell players because everyone knows Albion are a well run club. We have no debts and we are not in the situation that many clubs are in, having to sell to match budgets."

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball  

Odemwingie to Arsenal? Bendtner "100%" Out.

So Arsenal are planning a raid on mid-table dwellers West Brom for their star striker Peter Odemwingie with a bid of £4 million. It's shocking, isn't it? Arsene Wenger? Spending money?

I suppose he has no choice though, now that his Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, who still believes he is one of the best strikers in the world, has decided that he will leave Arsenal this summer - he is 100% certain of it:

"I have decided 100% that I must leave Arsenal. I’ve considered this for a long time and was quite clear when I arrived at my decision." 

"It doesn't feel particularly strange to not know what my future holds – I’m quite calm and confident that I’ll be fine at a new club."

Odemwingie isn't a bad player at all - 5th top scorer in the Premier League with 15 goals this season for West Brom as well as winning the player of the month award twice in both September and April. He is a top finisher and a natural goalscorer, scoring at all the clubs he has played for, though he has settled very quickly in England, equalling his highest goalscoring total for a season.

The £4 million valuation however, would not be well received by West Brom fans who would not like to see their star player go, especially when he is one of their best chances of staying in the Premier League next season. West Brom's manager Roy Hodgson was not very enthusiastic about letting his top scorer go:

“Luckily they are under contract, so that’s not a great problem for us."

“We are working very hard to make sure they are happy at the club, and we will do our very best to ensure that. We are a club with a very healthy economy. The chairman has a very clear idea of the direction that the club wants to go in. He is certainly more interested in retaining our players than selling them."

“So players like Odemwingie and Brunt, who have long-term contracts, I expect them to stay at the club.”

Arsenal have needed a goalscoring striker for a while, with free agent last summer Marouane Chamakh not impressing with goals and Robin van Persie picking up several frustrating injuries which constantly stall and stutter his season. Odemwingie has twice penetrated Arsenal's defence last season in his run of goals, and at 29 years of age, although not a typical Wenger signing would prove a very useful one.

Earlier in the season, the players agent David Omigie eluded to Odemwingie's future being at the Hawthorns rather then elsewhere, with links to Juventus among other being rife at the time due to the Nigerians impressive form:

"West Brom haven't told us about anything and Peter is really enjoying himself there and doing very well."

"He will be happy staying there unless West Brom tell us otherwise."

To get his man, Wenger will have to do something he has never been too fond of doing, and up his bid to prize Odemwingie away from West Brom, otherwise it will be another disappointing transfer window for Arsenal.

Follow Me on Twitter @DBSFootball