ohhh_yeah 2964 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 William Gallas yesterday confirmed the rumours that he wants to follow Thierry Henry out of Arsenal by claiming they lacked ambition and stating that "several players are questioning the club's future" even though they are poised to launch a £13m bid to sign Newcastle United's Obafemi Martins later this week. The signing of Martins, after the £16m departure of Thierry Henry, would add to the £8m purchase of Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva as Arsène Wenger reshapes his forward line. The Arsenal manager is also adding to his defensive options with the former French Under-21 right-back Bakary Sagna arriving in London last night for talks after Arsenal agreed a fee, thought to be close to £7m, with Auxerre. Sagna, 24, has pushed for the move to the Emirates for some time and even threatened to boycott pre-season training. Martins is yet to make up his mind on whether he wants to quit Newcastle. However, he has told the club that if he stays he wants a significant rise on his £60,000-a-week contract, which would take him close to the top earner, Michael Owen, who is paid more than £100,000 a week. If the demand is rejected, as appears almost certain, the 22-year-old Nigerian will press for a move and has a buyout clause which Arsenal are prepared to trigger. The purchases to add to the arrival of the Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski for £2m and the promising Harvard Nordtveit from the Norwegian club FK Haugesund, also for £2m, would take Arsenal's spending to £32m this summer, which makes a mockery of Gallas's claim that they are failing to " recruit". However, Wenger may also face another battle to hold on to his biggest talent after Real Madrid's new coach, Bernd Schuster, yesterday chose his first press conference to reiterate the club's desire to acquire midfielder Cesc Fabregas. "I like Cesc Fabregas, he plays in the same position as I did in my playing days," the former German midfielder said. "He has improved a lot in England, and learnt a lot from Arsène Wenger, a coach who I admire and who has done over the years a very good job with young players. I believe he is one of the few players in his position that can carry a team on his back, and when I say teams, I mean quality teams." Although the 20-year-old Spaniard has committed himself to Arsenal as long as Wenger stays it appears that resolve will be tested by Real who also still want Chelsea's Arjen Robben and may strike a deal to keep Jose Antonio Reyes on loan from Arsenal. Of less importance, but greater irritation, to Wenger are the comments from Gallas, which appeared on the player's own website. The French defender 30 next month said: "Today I am at Arsenal but I do not know what can occur tomorrow. All happens so quickly in football. Around us, all the teams are recruiting but what is planned to compensate for the departure of Titi Henry?" Gallas has made no secret of his desire to play for one of the leading Spanish or Italian clubs and his comments, following his poor form last season, will not be well-received by Arsenal's fans. He is also close to Henry, who made clear that one of the reasons he left Arsenal was that he felt he had more chance of winning trophies at Barcelona. Effectively Gallas made the same claim when he said: "I am not at Arsenal to play for third place. It is necessary to recruit players of reputation because the young players have many qualities but the season is very long. If not, one will have to change and do the same as the other teams: recruit with more means. I will have a discussion with Arsène Wenger and board members to know the objectives of the club this season and what they wish to set up to build an even more competitive team." A complication has been the question marks over Wenger's own future. With one year left on his contract he has made clear that he is also wants certain assurances before signing another extension. However, the Arsenal board is increasingly confident it can give those assurances and negotiations are said to have gone well, although Wenger is unlikely to make a final decision until the autumn. story from The Independent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay 10 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 See Gallas going to Italy if he leaves. Juve are looking for defenders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 30610 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 If Martins thinks that he deserves a pay rise he can fuck right off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay 10 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 If Martins thinks that he deserves a pay rise he can fuck right off. Hey I would be pissed off if someone who only played two games last season was getting paid more than me,. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Kelly 1245 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 If Martins thinks that he deserves a pay rise he can fuck right off. Hey I would be pissed off if someone who only played two games last season was getting paid more than me,. Not really a fair comparison that though is it? And Owen was going to be out for the season long before Martins agreed to his pay. Martins is definitely not worth that kind of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay 10 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 If Martins thinks that he deserves a pay rise he can fuck right off. Hey I would be pissed off if someone who only played two games last season was getting paid more than me,. Not really a fair comparison that though is it? And Owen was going to be out for the season long before Martins agreed to his pay. Martins is definitely not worth that kind of money. I never said he was worth that money. Think we should off load him to west ham if he does. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offshore Toon 0 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I think Martins is overpaid as it is. If he does leave, I think he'll get a booing everytime we see him. He has stated many times that he wants to stay here, and if he now leaves because he thinks he'll get more money at Arsenal, stingy stingy Arsenal, he can piss off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Norbert Colon 0 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 He sacked his agent recently because he didn't get a wedge of cash as a signing on fee - i would think that is possibly what he is after and is basically touting his availability by not committing himself - unfortunate that the two strikers that we have which are blessed with pace are fuckin us about - Sams not daft though and i reckon if he does go ke will have someone lined up fairly sharpish Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Does Martins think he had a good season last year or something? He did ok. He was fucking awful in about half the games though. Yes, I knowhe scored 17 goals btw. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammynb 3355 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Does Martins think he had a 3/4s of good season last year or something? He did ok. He was fucking awful in about half the games though. Yes, I know he scored 17 goals btw. But he did fuck all since about Feb! FYP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken 119 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I loved this guy when he first came to the club. Proven goalscorer who can shoot with both feet. He scored 17 goals and was looking forward to him playing again this coming season. But some of the things that have come out like the "I got shot at" incident, and feigning injury has turned me off this guy. He is too high maintenance and maybe not worth the trouble. Let him go and bring in Eidur from Barca. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 To put it in context he was about joint 12th or something in the Premiership goalscoring charts. Obviously we were poor last season which wouldn't have helped him. I'd be delighted if he went and we got Anelka and Gudjohnsen in though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 21922 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 there's no way martins is worth £13m like. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
khay 10 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 there's no way martins is worth £13m like. His contract would beg to differ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimbo 175 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 there's no way martins is worth £13m like. In the bizzare context of today's prices, he could quite well be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 9775 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 If only half of those stories around Martins are true he makes Gazza look like a member of MENSA... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 If only half of those stories around Martins are true he makes Gazza look like a member of MENSA... That's why Skirge 'FKN' loves him. Kindred spirit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Park Life 71 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 If only half of those stories around Martins are true he makes Gazza look like a member of MENSA... That's why Skirge 'FKN' loves him. Kindred spirit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jusoda Kid 1 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 That article reeks of shit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest stevieintoon Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 What's this shitey "FYP" mean? I think Martins has fulfilled 60% of his potential, some of the goals he scores, ordinary players just can't do. He needs fine tuning, but I will be sad to see a 22 year old striker leave who has so much scope for improvement. When Inter signed him from Reggiana people were saying he'll be the best player in the world, that was only 5 years ago. He has all the tools, selling him would be a bad move, but succumbing to a £100,000 a week demand would be worst. I get the impression he'll do whatever earns him the most money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest alex Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Fixed your post. I'm going to have to disagree with you this time Stevie. I don't think he does have all the tools. That's not to say he can't improve. But he's definitely lacking a consistent first touch and his movement is poor. He does have the ability to do something amazing out of the blue though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Isegrim 9775 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 I think Martins has fulfilled 60% of his potential, some of the goals he scores, ordinary players just can't do. He needs fine tuning, but I will be sad to see a 22 year old striker leave who has so much scope for improvement. I think he needs more than just a bit of "fine tuning". Some aspects of his games are incredible bad - especially his general understanding. He is a very instinctive player and he comes up with the occasional flash of sheer brilliance. I am not that optimistic that he will get taught here what seemed to be impossible in Italy where you probably get the best tactical training in the world. If it is possible then he will be deserving his 100k, but he isn't now - so if his demands are true then he is more than totally deluded... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordieshandy 0 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 Alledgedly he agreed to join Arsenal last night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toontoasey 0 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 The greed of some players beggers belief at times it really does, doesnt he realise that in the next couple of seasons we are going to replace Arsenal as a top 4 side regularly and they will fall into mid table obscurity, if he doesnt want to wear the black n white stripes fuck him, push him oot the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chaser 1207 Posted July 10, 2007 Share Posted July 10, 2007 another case of if he's not happy get rid. Definitely not worth offering a payrise and the club should certainly not be held to ransom over him, not least without removing the release clause in his contract. Arsenal despite their young talents do look a bit like a sinking ship at the moment with a number of them looking for the door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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