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Mikael Silvestre snag could see Arsene Wenger turn his attentions to Klaas-Jan Huntelaar
James Olley15.07.09
Arsenal could decide to make a move for Real Madrid striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar after it emerged that Bordeaux would want Mikael Silvestre to be part of any deal that takes Marouane Chamakh to Emirates Stadium.
Arsene Wenger is lining up a replacement for Emmanuel Adebayor, who could seal his £25million move to Manchester City today. The Arsenal manager's first choice is Chamakh, who is entering the final year of his contract but Standard Sport understands the French club may complicate the transfer by demanding Silvestre moves the other way.
That could scupper the move as it is thought Wenger is reluctant to let Silvestre, 31, leave even though he has six centre-backs - including £10m signing Thomas Vermaelen - plus the versatile Alex Song.
Chamakh, 25, is valued at £7m but if Wenger fails to lure him then he may turn to Huntelaar, although that would set him back £17m.
The Dutch striker is surplus to requirements at Real following the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Karim Benzema and is stalling over a move to Stuttgart in the hope Arsenal make an offer for him.
Huntelaar rejected moves to Lyon - as part of the deal that took Benzema to Spain - and Marseille, while AC Milan have cooled their ardour after showing an interest in the 25-year-old last summer.
Wenger is an admirer of Huntelaar, who would relish the chance to link up with compatriot Robin van Persie. Although Stuttgart are confident of landing their man, the player's agent invited bids from other clubs by revealing that the transfer is far from concluded.
"The German club has reached an agreement with Real, but not with us," said agent Arnold Oosterveer. "We have to talk. The player needs to evaluate not only the economic aspect, but also the sporting one."
Adebayor, meanwhile, is expected to have a work permit hearing preceded by a medical in Manchester today as the two clubs put the finishing touches to his transfer to Eastlands.
The player's personal terms remain a stumbling block with Adebayor thought to be holding out for £170,000-a-week - a figure which would make him the highest paid player in the League and more than double his current wages.
Reader views (21)
Sell the following: Silvestre, Eboue, Gallis.
Great news that " I want more" Ade is now gone.. I think its time to let Walcott have a bash as Centre forward train him up like OWEN he has the speed.
Now moving onto getting people in:
Defenders: Hangerland, Upson, Richards, we need 2 at least.
- Durch, Germany
I think AW should get rid of dead wood sooner than later that includes Silvestre, Adebayor & Eboue . The money he will have he should buy a quality CB, DMF & striker. For CB i think he will buy one of Hangeland/Zapata , for DMF Matuidi/Inler/Veloso/Cana & striker Huntelaar /Chamakh / Goran Pandev. If above happens i'm sure we will go a step further than last year to claim a silver ware. Come gunners!!!!!
- Raakyn, PK
please mr wenger let silvestre go get huntelaar and chamakh and get a defensive mid and please try and get rid of senderos or eboue and that would give every player competition for their role in the team,and that would be arsenal with fire power and the best defence,come on mr wenger give us some tranfer news its about time.
- Fire, London
'Snag'? i think fact Bordeaux want Silvestre is a blessing.In fact i wld much rather we buy Huntelaar than Chamakh but only part of d latter deal which i like is we get rid of Silvestre (we have way too many CB's now - he and Silvestre sld go).We need a DM badly!!! Vieira,Frings,Veloso,Yaya,de Rossi,Huddlestone,Cattermole,Scott Parker or Inler!
- Nick Galea, Malta
We do not need Silvestre, please sell him and bring in Chamach in good time to train with others. We still have five to six decent central defenders. Move Toure to partner Song in the midfield and let Febragas to play behind a stricker.
- Kanayo, Lagos, Nigeria
I can't see any thing wrong with letting Silvestre go. First of all we almost picked him from the street - rejected by Manu. Secondly, We have more than enough centre backs.
I wd expect Arsene to accept this deal, after all we we=ould gain value out of some one we picked from the street. Come on Arsene....
- Peter Kenny, Kampala, Uganda
I think Chamak is not the guy Arsene is after. It might be
Hunteler or Marcus Berg. We already have a number of strikers. So I would not be surprised to see a young striker.
Instead I would love to see a good defensive midfielder and a good defender.
I am counting on Arsene to move for Hangerland and the move might include Senderos moving other way.
I am still not confident about a defensive midfilder. Might be a deal is already done which will see Mataudi
moving to Arsenal.
But to me the most appropriate deal would be go for Hunteler + Schnider(Real Madrid).
But Arsene is a clever man, he must have someone in mind about whom we have never heard of.
Hat's of to that man who have managed to take the club forward inspite of credit crunches. For last 3 seasons he has taken a young team to top 4 in EPL. I believe no other manager would ever dear to accept his post and keep up the tempo and example he has set.
- Arup Mondal, san jose
bring the king henry back or someone with his pace because arshavin is like bergkamp and could play good through balls to him
- Simon, swansea
What proof do you have that Arsenal are interested in Huntelaar? Huntelaar is essentially already in Stuttgart, they only need to increase his wages a bit and he'll sign for them.
- Sam, London
am an arsenal diehard can wenger sell silvestre and buy huntelar
- Martin Kisala, nairobi kenya
If possible Wenger should release Sylvestre to lower Chamack cost and also get Klaas-Jan. Both players can be within £25m (Adebayor's money)
- Martin, Katete/Zambia
Good ridance!Let him go and have one bad game,then start warming the bench.Whereas at Arsenal,he used always knew that he was the first choice striker no matter how many sitters he missed.We need Hantelaar as his replacement not a wonna be striker.
- Alex, Bristol
So Wenger was hapy let Eboue go for Melo but not Silvestre go for Chamaz??wow thats a wierd one but then again when did Wenger ever do anything straight forward.
Cant even bring myself to think Huntelaar will come its jus too exciting its really incredible that with al the chaos in the market we have pretty much got a straight forward route to get him,Huntelaar and either Matuidi or Inler and boy will we be set or what????
- Casicky, Highbury and Islington, London
arsen Wenger has to buy a world class stricker with the sale of adebayor other wise last season problem will happen again.Becouse must of arsenal middfilders are attaking quality rather than defensive,therefore they Must include a target man stricker.
- Workshet Ashenafi, Addis Ababa,Ethiopia
wenger let silvestre go please let him go he is not good and u know it. he will even make buying chamakh cheaper. i need a skillful striker this season. one whom even if he doesnt score can break the waist of defenders and allow ppl like VP and Asharvin score
- Uchenaija, lagos, nigeria
hunteller, would be a typical wenger signing, a good honest lad who loves to play, also has the ijax coaching in his blood which mixes well with wengers way off playing, reasonably priced in todays silly prices, but the bit wenger will love about him, is that he has a lot to prove to people as he was never given a chance by madrid, that would make him hungry and determined, something that adebeyor lacked since he arrived
- 02ba, kent
Mikael Silvestre has been one of the worst 1st team players I have seen play under AW.We should pay to have him taken away, like building waste.
I worry that we will not be able to compete for an ECL place with Citeh burning cash.
- Undercover Elephant, Dole Farm, Crays Hill, Essex
What a greedy piece of work Adepaymemore is. You can just imagine how awkward he is and just what he is demanding from City in wages, though they will be stupid enough to pay it. How sad it is if he does become the highest paid player in the PL. Still £25 million is a good deal for someone who really doesnt care where he goes as long as he gets well paid. Hell be lucky to score ten goals next year, wait and see. He isnt a good player.
- Spider, essex uk
Klass would be an ideal signing. Good in the air,great postional play and technically brilliant(thanks to the Ajax way)....look at what we acheived when we last signed a former Ajax player(DB10).He has those qualities and with a RVP around he should fit in perfectly.Go on Arsene sign him up!!! We could buy both Chamakh and Klass as we'll have £25m in the bank plus a defensive midfielder Lorik Cana perhaps? I understand that Arsene has approx £15m-£20m transfer kitty!!!
- Uday Desai, Coventry UK
This is mischievous stuff. Isn't it about time you outed yourself as a Spud, Olley? I can't remember your last positive or helpful piece on Arsenal.
- Shooy, London UK
As a die hard gunner, I welcome the idea of luring Chamach to the Emirates. Am sure his combination with Van Persie and Arshavin is all we need for the next season. Bye bye Adeba. Silvestre????, oh my God, we have had enough of him. After all, we have good centre backs. Please Arsene, dont hold on him. Let him go
- Charles Ogonyo, Kakuma- Kenya
