Rumour has it that Arsene Wenger is lining up a double transfer coup in January that will certainly have the Gunners motoring towards silverware.
He has been compiling dossiers on CSKA Moscow’s Keisuke Honda and Real Madrid’s Karim Benzema with a view to making moves for the players at the first possible chance.
Honda, a 24 year old attacking midfielder only signed for CSKA in December last year but Wenger is prepared to offer him a move to the Emirates and a bumper pay increase to secure the deal. Honda signed a 4 year contract with the Moscow club on his arrival from VVV – Venlo who never released the fee they received for his services instead releasing a statement saying “we are very happy with the fee as it almost matched our asking price”.
CSKA wont let a new signing who is a first team regular and, potential Asian Player of the Year go on the cheap though and are likely to demand massive compensation should an agreement be reached. A fee of at least £10 million would be required for the stylish midfield playmaker who has been capped 23 for Japan.
Benzemas situation being slightly more complex as he is a proven European performer who’s progress has been hindered at Madrid by the sparking form of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain. He is though considered one of Europe’s top marksmen with a host of top clubs including Manchester United and City strongly linked with the player at different times this summer.
He has been assured by the ‘special one’ that his future lies with Los Merengues although the Madrid fan base have not been impressed with what Benzema gives to the team in work rate and goal scoring return. This could prove to be a major factor on his decision to stay or jump ship to pastures new.
Even so, if a deal is to be completed Madrid will want to re-coup at least most of the €35 Million paid in July 2009. Wenger though would be willing to part with a substantial fee in order to secure the signing of the French talisman who he holds in high regard.
Only time will tell if these and potential other signings will arrive through the Emirates front door but at what cost to the clubs squad size. With these landmarks signings will the Arsenal board want to sell some of their squad players in order to balance the books. It has been touted in the media the Almunia’s days could be numbered and with the emergence of Fabianski and Szczesny the rumour that Athletico Madrid would be interested may come to the fore.
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