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Transfer News
From the Daily Mail, Arsène Wenger will have to pay around £12million to prise France striker Andre-Pierre Gignac away from Toulouse . Le Boss has placed Gignac at the top of a striking wish list that also includes Bordeaux ’s Marouane Chamakh and Inter’s Mario Balotelli. But Bordeaux insist they have no intention of selling Chamakh in the New Year, even though he becomes a free agent at the end of the season, and Gignac could prove almost as difficult to dislodge from Toulouse .
Brazilian playmaker Zezinho expects to sign for Arsenal in the New Year
The 17-year-old, who had a trial with the Gunners in the summer, believes he has played his last game for Juventude ahead of a move. Arsenal are understood to have made an improved bid after having offers of £1.5m and £2.75m rejected.
The Brazilian second division side were asking for £7m, though it is thought they would be satisfied with about £5m, which would wipe out the club's debts. Zezinho, who is 18 in March, would not be able to play competitively for Arsenal until next season, but could train with Arsène Wenger's side before then.
'My time at Juventude ended on Saturday,' he said. 'Until now, I thought that I would continue in the Gaucho, but my agent said that it is impossible.
'He told me that Arsenal will submit a new offer to Juventude - the third in a year, it seems - and this time it will be solved.
'I don't know about any other interested team. The only proposal is from Arsenal, the others were for trials.
I don't know about the price. I can only say that Juventude will receive 70 per cent, I'll receive 20 per cent and my agent 10 per cent.'
Zezinho was part of the Brazil side that won the South American Under-17 Championship earlier this year.
And the Sun reports that Arsène Wenger wants £15million-rated Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko to save the season. Le Boss is ready to smash their transfer record to sign the powerful Bosnia international next month. And he is praying bitter rivals Manchester United can do him a favour by dumping the German club out of the Champions League next week.
Wenger has vowed to splash out on a proven goal-poacher, after top-scorer Robin van Persie was ruled out for four months by ankle trouble. And Dzeko, 23, has shot to the top of his wanted-list, having blasted rank outsiders Wolfsburg to the German championship against the odds last season with 36 goals. He has hit another 13 in the current campaign.
Reportedly Arsène Wenger is prepared to top the £12m he forked out on Andrey Arshavin last January. At more than 6ft 3in, current German Footballer of the Year Dzeko is the powerful attack leader Wenger has been seeking since selling Emmanuel Adebayor to Manchester City back in July. He only signed a new four-year deal in the summer. But the Germans may have to cash in on their hottest property if they lose to United and miss out on the next round of the Champions League.
By Terry Dennis
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On this day in 1968
1968 - Arsenal right back Pat Rice gained the first of his 49 caps for Northern Ireland in the 3-2 victory over Israel in Jaffa.
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