Lyon's chairman, Jean-Michel Aulas, yesterday called on
Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool to formalise their interest in
Florent Malouda. "I'm waiting on a call from an English club so we
can sort out a meeting," Aulas said. "The transfer could move
forward if there is an offer that comes close to the price I've
fixed. On players' values, I seldom get it wrong: today Malouda is
[worth] £17m."
Of the English clubs monitoring the France winger, Chelsea are the
least likely to bid. They would seriously pursue Malouda, the
former Guingamp team-mate of Didier Drogba, only if Arjen Robben
were to leave; that seems improbable since a five-year contract is
currently on the table for the Dutch forward.
Liverpool would consider £17m a steep price and might prefer
Benfica's Simao Sabrosa, who is available for £12m. Arsenal would
be more tempted to make a move for the 27-year-old. Malouda would
constitute one of the players who would satisfy the ambitions of
Thierry Henry and the Arsenal captain has refused to commit his
future to the Emirates Stadium until he has assessed any new
signings.
Henry has expressed doubts about the club's transfer-market clout
in the absence of their departed former chief negotiator, David
Dein. Those doubts were exacerbated by his international team-mate
Franck Ribéry's £17m move from Marseille to Bayern Munich last
week.
In any event, Arsenal must begin to prepare their contingencies for
life after Henry. Barcelona and Milan have made their interest in
the striker known but no offer has been forthcoming from either
club, both of whom are waiting for the end of the Spanish league
season.
