Arsene Wenger set to miss out on Marouane Chamakh

James Olley
20 Jul 2009

Arsenal's interest in Bordeaux's Marouane Chamakh appears on the brink of collapse as the clubs are yet to agree a fee.

Although the striker wants to join the Gunners he doesn't believe a deal can now be done.

Standard Sport understands the Gunners are unwilling to pay the £8million fee as Chamakh has just one year left on his contract.

Furthermore, the French club still want defender Mikael Silvestre as part of any deal but manager Arsene Wenger is reluctant to lose such an experienced player.

Chamakh wants to move to the Premier League and claims to be mulling over offers from Blackburn, Sunderland, Tottenham and Fulham but is yet to be given the option to discuss personal terms with Arsenal.

"I want a new challenge, I have a weakness for the English league," the 25-year-old told French newspaper L'Equipe. "My dearest wish is to leave Bordeaux. With my agent, we have agreed terms with several English clubs that are keen to sign me. They are just waiting for my decision.

"They are notably Sunderland, Blackburn, Tottenham and Fulham. Arsenal? I don't really believe in it any more. My officials have not received any offer so far. I have not made my decision yet. I am studying the offers."

Wenger's search for a striker -Klaas Jan Huntelaar of Real Madrid and Hoffenheim's Senegalese forward Demba Ba remain potential alternatives - has been prompted by Emmanuel Adebayor's £25m departure to Manchester City.

The 25-year-old took a parting shot at his former club by insisting the club's trophy drought was his motivation to leave.

He said: "People who think I have joined City for the money are wrong. I want to win trophies. That is my ambition. The team have quality and a manager who knows what he wants and is a nice guy."