Gunners lie in wait to sign €20m Cazorla
Malaga manager Manuel Pellegrini has said it is impossible for his players not to be affected by the current difficulties amid reports Cazorla has already told associates that a deal bringing him to the Emirates Stadium has been agreed.
The Andalusians qualified for the Champions League for the first time in May after spending more than €50m on players last summer but have yet to make a single signing in this transfer window, with Madrid sports daily AS reporting that owner Sheikh Abdullah Bin Nasser Al-Thani has put the club up for sale.
Three senior players — Cazorla, Joris Mathijsen and Salomon Rondon — have also recently reported the club to the players’ union for unpaid wages, whilst Osasuna have made an official complaint against Malaga as money owed to them for the transfer of Nacho Monreal hasn’t been paid.
And Pellegrini said the situation has been exacerbated as the squad are currently in Venezuela as part of a pre-season tour.
“We are concentrating on the sporting side but when there is such a quantity of rumours, it is going to have an effect. Moreover, we are currently abroad, but we are calm because we are working very well on the aspect we can control.
“We have tried to isolate ourselves from the topic, but the truth is there is no certainty in what is going to happen and it is not good to say anything until I know more. We return to Spain on Tuesday and we will see what we find.”
Arsene Wenger will be back at his desk today after returning from Hong Kong, where he will look to accelerate attempts to secure Cazorla’s signature, with unconfirmed reports that he could be named an Arsenal player tomorrow.
The Gunners are hoping to secure the Spanish international for €20m even though Pellegrini declared that would amount to financial suicide for Malaga.
Arsenal are also strongly linked with a loan move for Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin, although the Turkish international has travelled with the rest of the Madrid squad to the USA.
Arsenal suffered a blow yesterday after it emerged Jack Wilshere will not return from injury until at least October.
Wenger said: “Hopefully, we will get Wilshere back playing for October.
“With Abou Diaby returning, it will be like signing two new players. This season, the squad will be strong and competitive.”
Wilshere, who will reportedly resume light training next month, underwent a procedure on his knee in May, having missed the whole of last season with an ankle problem.
Arsenal continued their build up to next season by twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Hong Kong thanks to goals from Theo Walcott and Thomas Eisfeld.
Wenger admitted that his side looked weak at the back and demanded an improvement.
“I think defensively we looked fragile, especially in the first half,” he said. “In the second half not so much because we were not challenged. Defensively we have a lot of work to do as a unit to do much better.
“We let everybody play today and some players are not yet at the level of the Premier League. It is a learning process. If you don’t do it in pre-season then you never do it — you give them a chance to see what is requested at the top level.
“I played all of the defenders during this tour to see who is ready and who is not. We have Sagna, Koscielny and Mertesacker at home — three experienced defenders.”
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
