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Arsene Wenger has said that Arsenal have started contract talks with left back Gael Clichy and want him to stay at the club next season. The 25 year old Frenchman has been linked with a host of clubs, but Wenger seems determined to keep him.
Clichy has been linked with Roma, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City among others, with the Merseyside club even coming in with a 5 million pound offer for the Gunner. But Wenger said that the Arsenal hierarchy still has hopes of retaining Clichy and are currently locked in talks with him.
Speaking to Sky Sports, he said-
“We have started talks with Gael and want him to stay,”
Clichy has been at Arsenal since 2003, when he joined from French club Cannes. He was initially understudy to first-choice left back Ashley Cole. But he stepped up to the plate after Cole left for Chelsea in 2006, and performed admirably in his first two seasons. He was chosen in the PFA Premier League Team if the Season for the 2007-08 season.
The last few seasons have seen a general downturn in form however, with sporadic solid performances being interspersed with horrible lapses in concentration and silly mistakes. It is believed that a new contract was offered to Clichy, but wages proved to be a sticking point. But it seems either one of Arsenal or Clichy have softened their stance, and are ready for renewed talks.
Arsenal currently have Englishman Kieran Gibbs and Frenchman Armand Traore listed as back-up to Clichy. Centre-back Thomas Vermaelen can also fill in at left back, having played there regularly for his previous club, Ajax. Arsenal are also reported to be interested in Newcastle left back Jose Enrique, and may use the windfall from the Clichy transfer to mop up a deal there.
Clichy has one year remaining on his contract and –with goalkeeper Jens Lehmann’s exit-is the final member of the famous Invincibles team (the team which went an entire League season unbeaten in 2003-04) left at the club.
Wenger would certainly profit from keeping Clichy in spite of the defender’s erratic form of late, because Arsenal need reinforcements in far too many positions for them to think about an additional left back too.
In the attacking front, Arsenal hope to announce three signings by the end of this week, with deals for Gervinho, Ricky Alvarez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being close to completion.
