Premier League - Zenit 'inflating' Arshavin price

Eurosport - Wed, 07 Jan 13:42:00 2009

Andrei Arshavin's agent has claimed Zenit St Petersburg are determined to inflate the price Arsenal must meet for the playmaker.

FOOTBALL Andrei Arshavin 2009 - all versions - 0

The Russians suggested a £20 million deal for the 27-year-old, who shot to prominence during Euro 2008, was set to be concluded for their prized asset - with both the Gunners and Italian club Juventus understood to be leading the chase.

Arshavin, a long-time target for Arsene Wenger, is reported to have visited the Premier League club's Hertfordshire training ground during a trip to England earlier this year, while it has also been claimed the player is in fact already in London to put the final touches to the move.

While Zenit boss Dick Advocaat, the former Rangers manager, is resigned to losing Arshavin - who helped his side reach the Champions League group stages for the first time this season - the player's representative maintains any talk of a done deal are premature.

"There are no negotiations yet," Dennis Lachter said in the London Evening Standard.

"It is the people of Zenit trying to initiate some kind of interest. They are trying to use the media to make the price of Arshavin £20m."

The Russians, though, may well be forced to offload the unsettled player at a cut price, with Arshavin having threatened to invoke new FIFA regulations and buy out the remaining 18 months of his contract to become a free agent.

While Arsenal could shortly be ready to formally table an offer as Wenger looks to bolster his options following injury to captain Cesc Fabregas, it is unlikely to be anywhere near the figure Zenit - whose domestic season ended in November - have touted.

Arshavin's hefty wage package would also have to be taken into account by the traditionally prudent Gunners, whose record signings under Wenger remain the £13m paid for Sylvain Wiltord and a similar package for Spain winger Jose Antonio Reyes, with neither move proving successful in the long term.

While the Arsenal manager maintained last week people were in "dreamland" if they thought the club would break the bank to land a star name just for the sake of it under the current gloomy economic outlook, Wenger did indicate he would be prepared to buy an "exceptional talent" - even if, like Arshavin, they were cup-tied for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

Arsenal have also been linked with Everton's Spain international Mikel Arteta - which Wenger rejected out of hand at last week's media conference.

However, when pressed on any interest in Arshavin, the Gunners manager was less abrasive, perhaps indicating he was hopeful of eventually landing his man.

"At the moment, there is no progress," he said ahead of the FA Cup tie against Plymouth.

"If there is any progress made, you will be informed I promise you."

TeamTalk / Eurosport

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  1. just buy arshavin at any price b4 another team @#$% him ...for godsake,mr.wenger,w need a lot of players in every position,u ved tested b4 gilberto in center midfield,wing,skipper, as well as abou diaby,denilson,ebou,song...and thats 100%wrong u should put every player in his position!!!other wise where is the stability of the team,if every player plays in different position every match?plz mr.wenger buy some top players u need,like arshavin,mexess,rebiry,adriano,toulalan

    From oussama707, on Thu 8 Jan 10:05AM

  2. I'd prefer Wenger were to get Nico Kranjcar. He's a good buddy of Eduardo. Maybe he can put a good word for Nico to Wenger.

    From hisham n, on Thu 8 Jan 9:45AM

  3. inflating the price, im sorry do what you please i do not beleive that wenger would spend 20millions, inflating the price all you want wenger will be deflating the price regardless.

    From steve m, on Thu 8 Jan 9:09AM

  4. arshavin is a good player no doubt because he shows fantastic performance in euro2008. but there are some guys who think that ibrahimovic will be a good sign for arsenal. how it canbe.he is only a big man just can shot the ball. arsenal have these kind of players plenty. they need a good player. i think arshavin can do that. there is also other options like aoroon lennon and arieen robben. arsenal should think clearly abou t that

    From ahamedtariqalam, on Thu 8 Jan 7:50AM

  5. Dont really Think he is worth 20m but i kind of believe he is going to excel @ Arsenal under a boss like Wenger.Vincent Olajide

    From Donvinci, on Thu 8 Jan 6:45AM

  6. Arsenal dnt need a russian at least not for $20mil the most any club should pay for a russian is $5mil.

    From dercute, on Thu 8 Jan 2:56AM

  7. hell no...arshavin is good..but podolski or ibrahimovic are way better!!!!!!!
    or even karim benzema..
    come on gunners..!!!!!!!

    From Edd, on Wed 7 Jan 11:58PM

  8. Arsenal dont need other forwards as mentioned by previous messages, they need to get midfielders who can fufil the role of holding the ball and giving good supply to the strikers. Arshavin is not worth 20mil.

    From Mr scott, on Wed 7 Jan 10:12PM

  9. um, don't forget to get a defensive midfielder.. senna is a good player 'hint hint' wink wink

    From Azatski, on Wed 7 Jan 8:54PM

  10. shevchenko is rubbish (ferrarif1v8).. he could not even score 10 goals when he was playing for chelsea he is not worth more than a dogs fart in a wind tunnel..he rubbish paying all that momey for a world class ac milan player and not scoreing many goals same with ballack..good player..waste of money

    From NEIL B, on Wed 7 Jan 7:11PM

  11. Wenger, if you can't get Arshavin for 10-15 million find a winger to take Nasri's place and let him play in the middle. Nasri was great when he played behind Van Persie. Did you see how many chances and that goal he created. Give him a chance. He led Ligue 1 in assists playing that position and he missed some of the year. He can do it

    From tom h, on Wed 7 Jan 5:53PM

  12. so does that mean gerrard,lampard and co are worthless ? because they are great players who for some reason play poorly for the national team and russia aint exactly full of world class players

    From opaogooner, on Wed 7 Jan 5:13PM

  13. Hmmm,you are talking about 20 milions and a player.OK!Somebody said Ibrahimovic,somebody podolski.Think about this players are forwards.Arsenal does'nt need Forwards.Van persie and Bentner are good strikers.They havea good team but have a problem.is playmaker,they realy need a playmaker.Arsenal think that Galas is the power and he is all defense.I'm sorry but galas is a Grandfather.20 milions I know how to spend it.Gourcuf,or KOne from Marseiile,or Ziani,lennon From Tottenham,Is a lot of this kind of players,young that want to play,but not kind of galas,shevchenko ballack,inzaghi,beckham,that plays for money their last years of footbal .i know a lot of them.I realy Want that A.Wenger See this mesage.And dont forget to Sell galas.:)

    From ferrarif1v8, on Wed 7 Jan 5:12PM

  14. he aint worth 20 million pence let alone pounds
    I watched him in all the matches he played for russia and he was very good for 1 match that was all
    btw I do not eat bacon or read the sun!!

    From Alex F, on Wed 7 Jan 5:04PM

  15. have any of u lot played football in your life, i have and it's obvious to me arshavin is a world class player with great feet who would easily fit in at the gooners and 20 mil seems a fair price

    From opaogooner, on Wed 7 Jan 4:42PM

  16. city want to lionel messi and kaka for their budget so they not intrested in him let him go to arsenal city beat arsenal so arsenal wnat him not city. i hate city very much.

    From niyiaderounmu, on Wed 7 Jan 4:24PM

  17. cool guy,does he still hook up with those tall beauties on the ta ll da ting site ____Tallmingle Com____ ???The last time I saw his profile is last monday, hope he does not leave.

    From dana z, on Wed 7 Jan 3:46PM

  18. Yeah I hope the deal dont go through we could spend 20 million on a much better player then him - let City have him we'll have Alonso.

    From michelle.lieberman23, on Wed 7 Jan 3:40PM

  19. City will take him LOL!

    From Shel, on Wed 7 Jan 2:40PM

  20. forget spending 20 million on Andrei Arshavin as there are other good players out there that are cheaper and score more goals than him.. let him stay there.. get Zlatan Ibrahimovic for 15 million and you can save 5 milllion and have a top goalscorer

    From NEIL B, on Wed 7 Jan 2:40PM
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