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Arsenal are being linked with new names, and re-linked to some old names as things stand. The North London club are supposedly to lose a few key players from their squad, with the apparent departure of Gael Clichy to either of Manchester City or Liverpool and Samir Nasri to Manchester United or Milan. Also, captain Cesc Fabregas’ future at the Emirates is thrown into a veil of doubt as Barcelona are reportedly coming back with an improved bid for the Spaniard to lure him to his homeland. Yet, the Gunners are rumored to be looking at a Sunderland’s goalkeeper Craig Gordon and Southampton’s wonder-kid Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Gordon: Heading to higher grounds?
First-off, the Black-Cats shot stopper Gordon. Arsenal were searching for a good goalkeeper in the market for a long time now; and if the Daily Mail‘s report is to be believed, the Scotsman may have a bid coming up from the Emirates. He has been impressive under the bars at his current team, but looks to be on his way out of the club with various suitors from Britain lining up for him. His future has further been settled by the signing of former Coventry keeper Keiren Westwood by Steve Bruce. A number of clubs from Scotland and England have been interested in the goalkeeper, and a concrete deal may just be struck before the end of the transfer window. The key to his destination, though lies in the fact that he has had surgery at the end of this past season, and it might keep him out for quite some time. While Wigan, and Arsenal could afford signing him despite that, another high profile suitor in Celtic will have to pull out as they need someone who can play from August itself. He is expected to be fully fit sometime around October.
Chamberlain: when will the offer come?
And now, a player who is considered one of Britain’s brightest footballing talents- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. We all know that Arsenal have been interested in the boy for a lengthy time frame, but Southampton manager Nigel Adkins told Sky Sports News that no bid had come for the attacker till date. Speculations had arised saying that both clubs were in transfer negotiations with respect to Alex, but Adkins trashed these rumors by saying that Arsenal hadn’t even made an offer for the player to begin with. The Saint’s gaffer is certain that Arsenal are mulling an offer for the striker, but is adamant that they would have to follow a proper procedure to secure his signature. He said, “I think probably there is conversation going on in the boardroom at Arsenal about players who are probably going to stay and players that are going to leave. If Arsenal wanted to put a bid in I am sure they would put a bid in the right manner to the board and then this football club will decide what they want to go and do with that bid if it is offered.“. He further stressed that Chamberlain enjoys being at Southampton and nothing certain can be said about his future.
Who’s to come, and who’s to go, well only the future can make that certain. But it seems like Arsene Wenger is being silently active in the transfer window, and we can expect some big movement in the current weeks. With players coming in and going out of the Emirates, it’s turning out to be quite a rollercoaster transfer window for the Gunners. More on it as it unfolds.
