Ricky Alvarez Deal - Inter Bid For Arsenal Target

Inter Milan have challenged Arsenal's bid for Argentinian midfielder Ricardo Alvarez, soon after Roma pulled out of the race for the 23 year-old's signature.

SkySports say that Inter Milan, the Italian giants, have placed a bid of €12 million (£10.6 million) to challenge Arsenal's bid, which is thought to be around €10 million (£8.9 million). Arsenal were previously thought to be favourites to sign Alvarez, but Inter will have moved ahead in the race, with their bid closer to Vélez Sársfields €15 million asking price.

The news comes after Roma confirmed they had pulled out of a deal to sign the attacking midfielder, with whom they had arranged a pre-contract agreement. The Roma director of sport Walter Sabatini revealed that they were involved in a pre-contract agreement with Alvarez, but the asking price is "a bit much" considering his lack of first team experience at the top level. He confirmed:

"It's true we had a pre-contract agreement, but €15 million for Alvarez is a bit much. I believe a player should be paid what he is worth.

"Alvarez was born in 1988 and has room for improvement, but it's also fair to say he hasn't played very much in the first team."

The players agent meanwhile, Marcello Simonian, was giving nothing away as to the whereabouts of Alvarez's future, but gave only a large hint that the player is indeed destined for a European move:

"I can only say that the footballer is prepared to play at a big European club."

He scored 4 goals in 36 appearances last season, but it his versatility that has attracted Arsenal's eye. Apparently he can play in any position in the midfield, and although not an immediate starter would add depth to the Arsenal. 

With rumours continuing to spread relating to the future of two of Arsenal's main mid-fielders in Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas, it may be understandable that Arsenal would be looking for possible replacements. However, the fact that Arsenal were linked to a move for Alvarez before speculation begun about the future of Nasri suggests that Alvarez interests Wenger as a future regular rather than immediate starter. 

Arsenal shouldn't have to fight to hard with Velez Sarsfield to persuade them to let go of their player, with the president Fernando Raffaini saying he was ready to sell Ricardo Alvarez for "financial peace of mind" whilst stating the future of Alvarez would be down to the players own decision. Though Wenger will be wary not to involve himself in a bidding war with Inter, because we all know that is something Wenger would love to avoid.

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Wenger Blamed - Nasri Talks Ongoing

Arsenal are beginning to show signs of life in the transfer window this summer, with imminent transfers said to be in place; Lille's Gervinho, and the Argentine midfielder Ricky Alvarez said to be close, as well as moves for defenders such as Chris Samba and Gary Cahill expected from Wenger.

However, it wasn't like this in the past few transfer windows for Arsenal, and many have been highly critical as a result. The latest critic of Wenger's transfer policy is Perry Groves, the former Arsenal midfielder, who signed for the London club back in 1986. He told TalkSport:

“The frustrating thing is [the Premier League] was Arsenal’s to win last year."

“But because they didn’t have the dominant centre-half which they could have gone and got in January that’s why [they didn’t win the league] and that’s why Arsene’s policy over two or three years has been proven wrong."

“There has been two phases when Arsene Wenger has been in charge. On the pitch from 1996-2004 that is how you structure a football team. Off the pitch from 2005-2011 is how you structure a football club, going from Highbury to the Emirates."

“Arsenal fans, the real die-hard ones, want trophies and that is the real be all and end all of how you’re judged as a football club manager.”

A trophy is exactly what Arsenal need next season to appease the frustrated fans, who may soon be approaching seven or eight years without any silverware, with the last piece coming in 2005 when the FA Cup was won. However, to have a chance to win a trophy, Arsenal will need to keep hold of their best players, and that includes Samir Nasri, who has been flirting with the idea of leaving Arsenal recently.

Talks are ongoing between the players representatives and the club, with the latest negotiations looking more positive than before. Nasri is still holding out for an increase in his wages, and a better deal than the £80,000 a week being offered in a five year-deal, but he is also waiting to see how Wenger acts in the transfer market.

Clubs are circling over Nasri, watching intently the progression of negotiations, preparing to pounce at any time, and with some of he biggest clubs around Europe said to be interested, including Arsenal's Premier League rivals, Manchester United. Nasri is ambitious, and wants to win trophies, so he needs the guarantee from Arsenal that, with new players purchases, the club will be real challengers for trophies.

Everyone involved would rather this saga was resolved sooner rather than later, as it is one of those transfers that could run seemingly endlessly throughout the window.

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Alvarez Signs Pre-Contract Agreement With Arsenal

Arsenal have made their first signing of the summer with the bosman transfer of Ricardo Alvarez from the Argentinian club Vélez Sársfield.

The 23 year old was born in Argentina, but has an Italian passport, so would require a work permit, but from who he has been compared to, it will be worth it.

A left footed attacking midfielder, Alvarez has been likened to Barcelona's star player and probably the best footballer in the world, Lionel Messi.

According to FoxSports, the player has signed a pre-contract agreement with Arsenal, allowing the player to join in June. A former Boca Juniors youth player, he has had a very good season at his current club Vélez Sársfield in the Argentina Primera Division.

He has only scored 4 goals in 36 appearances, but it his versatility that has attracted Arsenal's eye. Apparently he can play in any position in the midfield, and although not an immediate starter would add depth to the Arsenal squad.

Wenger promised signings this summer, so Arsenal fans will still be expecting him to spend some money, as this is just a free transfer for an unknown kid (sound familiar?), and the attacking midfield isn't exactly the area that needs improving on. Fabregas, Wilshere, Rosicsky, Song, Diaby, Nasri and Walcott make up the midfield on different days, but it is the defence which worries most Arsenal fans.

Arsenal also have the young Japanese talent Ryo Miyaichi to look forward to when he comes back to the Emirated from his loan spell.


However, it might be worth noting that there is a club called Arsenal de Sarandí who play, like Alvarez's club, in Argentina. The information that Arsenal have signed the exciting youngster in the foreign press, may have been lost in translation, and Alvarez may in fact be signing a contract with the Argentinian Arsenal. My thanks to @Kevin_Mega to bringing this to my attention.

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