Arsenal Transfer News: £10 Million Offer

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has submitted a formal £10 million offer for Atletico Madrid forward Adrian Lopez, according to a report at Goal.com. However, that valuation falls £4 million short of the £14.7 million release clause in the forwards contract with the La Liga side.

It is understood that The Gunners opened formal negotiations with Atletico over a move just before Christmas and have just now made a concrete offer for the forward, who has scored 22 times over two seasons with his current club.

Wenger is said to be targeting Spain as his main source for a new goal scorer, and has made enquiries about the availability of Barcelona’s David Villa and Athletic Bilbao’s Fernando Llorente.

However, Lopez is only 24 and the younger of the trio of potential signings, which has made him Wenger’s number one transfer target.

Wenger has also not ruled out a third spell at the club for legendary Gunner’s striker Thierry Henry. A six-week loan spell for the clubs’ record goalscorer could be on the cards – however Henry would only be viewed as temporary cover for Gervinho, who will be on African Cup of Nation’s duty from the middle of January – rather than as a long term solution.

Meanwhile, it is believed the Gunners stopped just short of triggering Lopez’ release clause as a test of Atletico’s resolve – the forward has started just six of their 17 La Liga matches and they could be tempted to part with the player for less.

http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/618109421?-21354:8869

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The Gunners have been linked with a move for Adrian for some time now and Goal.com's report indicates the north London outfit have submitted a formal offer for the forward, whose contract contains a £14.7m release clause. The report also adds Arsenal have been in talks with Atletico, regarding the Spaniard's situation, from before Christmas.

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Arsene Wenger has also been linked with moves for Barcelona's David Villa and Athletic Bilbao's Fernando Llorente, both of whom are out-of-favour at their respective clubs. However, Wenger feels the younger Lopez will be a better option than the aging La Roja internationals.

Chamberlain: Walcott is a Natural Striker

Meanwhile, Arsenal youngster Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain insists team-mate and compatriot Theo Walcott is a natural centre-forward.

Walcott, whose contract runs out in the summer, wants to lead the attack for the Gunners on a regular basis, after spending the majority of his career at the Emirates on the flanks. The 23-year-old scored a hat-trick in the 7-3 win over Newcastle United over the weekend and Oxlade-Chamberlain feels the England international has produced all the necessary attributes of a top-class centre forward.



"He definitely has all the attributes to play up front. The goals are coming. He has proven he can do a really good job for us up there. For someone with his pace it's hard for anyone to defend against and when he gets the service he can always punish teams so he's doing really well. His performance was amazing. You could see after his first goal he had a spring in his step but he has been like that all season. He has been brilliant," the 19-year-old told ESPN.

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Federico Fazio would be a superb addition for the Gunners. He is capable of playing in central defense or operating as a defensive midfielder.

Fazio would give Arsenal the physical presence they currently lack. He is an aggressive tackler and naturally commanding in the air.

The 25-year-old Argentinian is also a technically competent ball-player. He reads the game well and his imposing strength would be invaluable.

Arsenal were interested in Fazio back in 2009, but were spurned. Given the shaky state of Spanish football, the Gunners should explore the possibility of a new deal in 2013.

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Arsenal are reportedly chasing after Atletico Madrid striker Adrian Lopez, but the Gunners must be ready to pull out of negotiations if the Spanish club is unwilling to agree on a reasonable price.

Goal.com’s Wayne Veysey writes, “The Londoners have submitted a formal offer of around £10 million, which is lower than the £14.7m release clause in the forward's contract.”

While Lopez dazzled for Atletico last season—most notably with his 11 goals Europa League matches—he has not been able to replicate his success since the start of his current campaign.

He has started just six games for his club and has recorded two goals and no assists during his limited time on the pitch.

While he is still young at 24 years old, he does not have much longer before he should be peaking as a player, and he has had just one season in which he proved that he could contribute at an elite level.

Lopez is undoubtedly talented, but if Atletico is adamant about receiving no less than his £14.7 million release clause, Arsenal is better off seeking other options.

At this price, the Gunners would only have to cough up marginally more for out-of-favor Barcelona striker David Villa, who The Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel reports is valued at £16 million.


David Ramos/Getty Images
Villa may be 31, but he was one of the most prolific goal-scorers in football before he broke his leg a year ago. Prior to his 2011-12 campaign that was cut short, he had tallied at least 15 goals in each of his eight seasons in La Liga.

He has been pushed aside at Barça not due to declining health, but because of the club’s embarrassment of riches in the attacking positions. He is competing for time with Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Pedro, Alexis Sanchez and Cristian Tello.

Signing a player who has proven across his career that he can create goals while playing either down the middle or on the wing would be a better use of the club’s funds.

Lopez’ lack of experience makes him a significantly riskier signing, and given Arsenal’s position outside of the top-four, the team would be wise to play it safe and spring for Villa if it is going to be buying a player in the £15 million range.

However, if Arsenal can successfully negotiate with Atletico and meet somewhere in the middle on a transfer fee of Lopez, it will be getting excellent value for a young and talented player.

While £15 million is too much to pay for Lopez when a player like Villa is available, the Gunners would be making a smart signing if they could secure the Spanish striker for a fee closer to £11 or £12 million.

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...dates-signings