Arsenal Transfer News - Mata, Jagielka, Fabregas, Hazard Brothers' and Campbell
Arsenal fans will be cautiously optimistic about their fortunes for next season, if they are the sort of people who believe daily rumours.
Some quarters has it that a deal for Costa Rican starlet Joel Campbell has been agreed while others claim that Valenica star Juan Mata is on the verge of completing a move to the Emirates. Manager Arsene Wenger is also readying an increased offer for Everton centre-back Phil Jagielka.
The Mirror reports that Arsenal already have agreed a fee with Valencia for the highly- coveted Mata, believed to be around £17 million. If successful, the deal will break Arsenal's transfer record. The news will come as a relief to the club's supporters, as well as some members of its board, as they were frustrated with the lack of big money moves in the transfer market, especially since it is cited as the main reason for a six-year trophy drought.
The demand for the Spaniard rose after a series of impressive performances in the European Under-21 championships. The 23-year-old can play down the left and though not a direct replacement for Cesc Fabregas, he can play in a central position as well.
Jagielka is also the subject of an improved £13 million move by Wenger after an initial bid of £10 million was rejected two weeks ago. Everton are demanding at least £15 million, however, while some quarters claim Toffees manager David Moyes would hold out for at least £18 million as the defender is one of his key players.
Wenger is in the lookout for a central defender though, someone who can put an end to Arsenal's long-term shortcoming of conceding during set-pieces. Bolton defender Gary Cahill and Blackburn centre-half Chris Samba have also been linked with a move to the Emirates, but Wenger seems to have set his eyes on England international Jagielka.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are maintaining their tough stance on Fabregas. They are believed to have stated an ultimatum to Barcelona, wherein the Catalans have been told to meet the £40 million valuation on the player or forget about a deal. In fact, Wenger is reported to have sent an email to Barcelona setting the deadline of August 5 for a possible deal, as he has to prepare his plans for the upcoming season.
Arsenal are keen for the saga to end but are left frustrated by Barcelona who have kept them waiting. Fabregas himself is frustrated, not least because of his hamstring injury that has kept him out of pre-season training.
The Gunners are also playing hard on Samir Nasri, preferring to lose him on a Bosman next season. Considering Fabregas moves on, the plan is to play Nasri in Fabregas' position while deploying Mata in Nasri's.
Arsenal have already signed Gervinho from Lille for £10.6m and Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic, but what will really send a message out to the club's supporters and the opposition will be the possible signing of Mata and Jagielka.
Though it isn't official yet, Costa Rican news channel Teletica has confirmed that an agreement is in place with Arsenal for Costa Rican sensation Joel Campbell. According to Costa Rica's coach, the player will join Arsenal after the Under-20 World Cup. However, he is one for the future and if rumours are true, he will be loaned out to a La Liga club.
Eden Hazard could also be subject to an Arsenal bid, as could his brother Thorgan, according to Caughtoffside.com. Eden, 20, had a huge impact for Lille last season, scoring seven goals and assisting eight while Thorgan, 18, is a highly-rated strike for Lens. Wenger is believed to be keen to reunite Eden with Gervinho, who were teammates at Lille, while the possibility of playing with his brother Thorgan could also attract him to the Emirates.
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