Andrei Arshavin is understood to be willing to take a
pay cut to join Arsenal after the Gunners finally agreed a deal
with Zenit St Petersburg.
The Russian club are thought to have accepted an offer in the
region of £15million after intense negotiations over the last few
days.
Reports have suggested Arshavin will ask Arsenal to break their
pay structure and match his current wages, believed to top
£100,000-a-week, but the 27-year-old is so desperate to move to
Emirates Stadium that he will not risk jeopardising the
transfer.
The forward had threatened to buy himself out of his contract at
the end of the Russian league season in November as talks between
the two clubs stalled and wants to seal a switch to north London
this month to avoid beginning another campaign in his homeland.
William Gallas is among the highest earners at Arsenal on
£80,000-a-week and Arshavin will expect to match that amount while
receiving a substantial signing-on fee.
'The fundamental understanding over the transfer of the player
is achieved between the clubs,' read a statement on Zenit’s
official website.
'At the moment the basic obstacle in realisation of the
transaction is Andrei Arshavin’s personal requirements.' There are
several other issues to be resolved such as Zenit asking Arshavin
to repay half the £4.5m bonus he received when signing a long-term
contract in 2006.
The Gunners now look set to cool their interest in another
transfer target, Micah Richards, after the Manchester City defender
insisted he is staying at Eastlands.
'It’s always flattering being linked with a club like Arsenal,
and they have one of the best managers in the world in Arsene
Wenger,' said the 20-year-old, who supported Arsenal as a
youngster. 'However, as I said before, I’m happy at Manchester City
and believe that the club is going in the right direction.
'We’ve had a difficult season all round, which can affect
performances, but I think that I can continue my development at
City and hopefully win some trophies.
