St Etienne’s Blaise Matuidi (L) maybe on his way to the Emirates
L’Equipe is reporting Arsene Wenger approached Bordeaux president Jean-Louis Triaud inquiring about the services of Marouane Chamakh. The Bordeaux striker had his heart set for Sunderland when Laurent Blanc excluded that move saying it represented a step down and calling for him to remain in Bordeaux. However, he was open to the idea of his transfer to a bigger club where he could improve himself. Triad on Wenger:
“Wenger called me. He said he had a list of strikers and Marouane was one of them.”
Chamakh’s going price is 15m euros but his last year on contract is a complication with Arsenal proposing 6 million euros for a buyout. Triaud fears that it could become “a complicated soap opera. ”
With Vieira’s move to the Gunners gathering steam, Wenger is setting his sights on Blaise Matuidi, the hard tackling St Etienne midfielder who reminds one of a younger version of Vieira. The youngster will receive valuable mentoring from a master, adept at slowing down and disrupting attacks. As per St Etienne sporting director and former Arsenal scout, Damien Comolli, a offer from a ‘top-10 European club’ would be difficult to turn down.