Arsenal boss Arsene
Wenger is ready to make a £10million bid for Russia's Euro 2008
star Andrei
Arshavin.
Wenger has already spoken to
Zenit St Petersburg chief Dick Advocaat about the talented forward
who has the kind of flair Wenger loves - and may need if he loses
any players this summer. And pals of Arshavin (right), who has a
fixed price clause in his contract, claim Arsenal are one of only
two Premier League clubs he would join - with the other being
Chelsea.
Arshavin lifted the UEFA Cup
for Zenit last month with a match-winning display and would move to
England despite his club qualifying for the Champions League. Zenit
are a wealthy club but will not stand in the way of Arshavin,
27.
Other clubs have declared an
interest, but the gifted forward will only switch to a club at the
highest level. Wenger watched Arshavin net Russia's second against
Sweden last night, but was on hand just to update his files. He is
already very keen to do the deal and will wait for permission to
pounce.
Ironically, Arsenal have been
the target of a Russian buy-up in the boardroom by billionaire
Alisher Usmanov - and could now end up having one of the country's
top players in their ranks as well. Arshavin can play across the
forward line, with the skill and touch the Gunners have lacked
since Dennis Bergkamp retired. He could also play wide.
Arsenal have the cash for
this kind of splash and will go in hard over the next few days in a
bid to get their man and start their spending in earnest.