ARSENAL last night backed down in their war with Chelsea as
Ashley Cole finally moved to Stamford Bridge.
The Gunners agreed to take William Gallas in part- exchange plus
just £5million.
Blues boss Jose Mourinho was understood to be furious at losing the
French star. Yet Arsenal had originally demanded £25m for England
left-back Cole.
The midnight deadline passed without official confirmation of the
deal, which brought an end to 18 months of rowing over the most
controversial transfer of all time. Cole, 25, has signed a
five-year, £90,000-a-week contract.
After a medical yesterday, he concluded negotiations with Chelsea
chief executive Peter Kenyon at the England team hotel in
Manchester.
Yet the transfer only went ahead after Arsenal had been forced to
lower their demands and pay Gallas far more than they
planned.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger originally offered just £5m for Gallas,
29. He even rejected Chelseas straight cash offer of £20m at the
end of last week.
But with the transfer deadline looming and the prospect of being
stuck with a desperately unsettled player, Arsenal reluctantly
agreed to accept Chelseas compromise deal.
Even then the move was almost wrecked when Gallas insisted on
Arsenal matching the wages he had been offered at Chelsea.
The champions had promised Gallas £80,000 a week and the Frenchman
insisted he wanted the same deal.
Wenger was so desperate to land the experienced centre-half he
agreed to Gallas demands.
Arsenal also signed Brazilian Under-19 captain Denilson, 18, in a
deal with Sao Paolo which could rise to £4m for the
midfielder.
It seems like Chelsea got the better deal, only $5m with a
player that only had 1 yr to his contract...
