After weeks of speculation Lille have confirmed that Ivorian international Gervinho is in talks with Arsenal about a move to the Emirates.
The 24-year-old winger has been courted by several Premier League clubs in recent weeks with Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United heavily tipped to make big money bids.
It now appears that Arsene Wenger has stolen a march on rival suitors as he looks to seal a £10 million deal for the versatile attacker.
Speaking to French radio station RMC, Lille club director Freddy Paquet confirmed:
“He actually wants to go.We have developed contacts with Arsenal. We will soon discuss with them to see what they want. He expressed his desire to leave for England so we’ll see what will happen.
“Gervinho chose to leave for England, so that limits the scope of the situation. We will meet soon with Arsenal, see what they offer – but he is a player of value.”
Last week Gervinho went public on his desire to test himself in England before snubbing an approach from French rivals Paris Saint Germain.
“My mind is made up, I am leaving,” he told Skysports.com.
“I have made my mind up. I will soon meet the club and let them know, but they understand my feelings that I want to prove myself in a top league in Europe.
“My agents are moving things as I want, people know where my future lies, it is in England.”
Whilst im keen on new signings to strengthen our squad, and I believe a striker should be one of our prioritys, I am concerned that bringing in another player from the french league is a very risky business and has not always paid off in the past. I would prefer someone who has been successful in a higher standard league, epl or la liga etc
Anyway if we get him, it’s only as third choice striker . And that’s a definite upgrade compared to Bendtner.
It’s a tough one, yes new signings are positive but I think it is another big risk. You’d think with all our problems last year AW would be going for someone with experience in a stronger league.
Someone experience like Benzema huh? Spanish league has only two strong team and he played with one.
French Ligue 1 or not this guy won the league with his team last year, so maybe he can bring some of those ‘champion’ intangibles with him to Arsenal. I say good signing, if indeed true. Money left for other needs too…
Too right el gounah. Sign the frog
He’s not a frog you ignorant prat, he’s from the Ivory Coast.
Lol john you call rudy ignorant, but then u still go and use the name “frog” when I think the phrase that u are both looking for is englishly challenged
He’s not a striker stupid moron, but a winger.
Junichi, what’s with the aggressive lanuage cupcake? Someone not get laid last night so is filled with frustration? Let me just address ur point though, yes he can play as a winger but he can also play as a striker, its called versatility! Please in future refrain from name calling its not big its not clever and its certainly not funny!…..knob cheese x
Stupid moron?
Christ, I hate the internet sometimes.
Anyway, I hope he’s a good signing. Now to the defense and midfield please!
“We will meet with Arsenal soon and see what they have to offer- but he is a player of value.”. Worrying sentence I feel. They’ll want lots of money for the fella and the arsenal may not spend. I imagine the fee is hardly going to be astronomical but in a world where Andy Carroll is £35m anything is possible. We should also try to sign N’zogbia. Decent, relatively young, not too pricey and French. Seems built for Arsenal. Could also trade Rosicky for him.
[…] ninguém, ele não tem DNA de Arsenal e não sei o que o Xavi disse a respeito, mas acho que ele vai ser um gooner na próxima […]
We still wont be signing anyone… just saying like.
Thank god, just what we need, a pacey forward who plays on the wing, crossing cant be that bad, can it?? Oh and missing for 2 months at the most congested time of a season for ACON’s, atleast we are making signings!!!
More league titles than 90% of our squad, and Henderson was taken
Well if you look at it that way, Squillaci has won 2 French titles doesn’t mean he has done well for us!!!
I like this potential signing, but I wish we could sign Hazard instead. I realize that seems a bit unrealistic considering Lille will want a lot of money for him, but he is the man.
is it me or does it seem a lil risky that we are signing another african striker/winger, considering that both (Gervinho and Chamakh) will be unavailable in January due to the African Nations Cup?
Won’t that leave us a lil short up front (basically just RVP, Vela doesn’t count lol) for like a month or so?
Just a thought.
We should sign some tasty justin bieber boy boobs!!!
Hi, totally unrelated subject, but has anyone else had trouble with the new updated arseblog app for iPhone? I downloaded the update on tues, & it initially opens fine, but once I tap on a story to open it just closes the app! Jus said I’d let the guys know. in case anyone else had this problem.
[…] Lille confirmed that we were to ‘have talks’ with Gervinho and that we were the player’s […]
Will, just updated arseblog app and have same problem.
Chill out John you doosh bag. Ignorant of me but chill the fuck out.