ARSENAL ACCUSED
A FURIOUS Alan Pardew last night accused Arsenal of being ‘disrespectful’ in submitting a £12m bid for Yohan Cabaye before Newcastle’s clash with Manchester City. Pardew left his midfielder out of the side that lost 4-0 and claimed his head had been turned by the Gunners’ approach. He said: ‘When you do a preseason and prepare for three days with a team that includes Cabaye it’s tough for his head
to be turned on the eve of a game. I don’t see any reason why that needed to happen. Why they couldn’t give us the respect and honour of waiting until Tuesday morning? It’s beyond me.
‘I think it’s just a very difficult situation. It wasn’t us who gave him the news. It’s very hard to play a game of this magnitude. It’s pretty obvious that I’m upset about it. I’m not exactly sure of the terms of the offer but it’s below our valuation.’
Sportsmail understands that Newcastle will only consider offers of around £20m-25m for the 27-yearold, and it all points to the Gunners again struggling in their battle to land a top transfer target.
Wenger is also pursuing Juventus’s Paul Pogba and it is believed they have spoken to the Italians about signing the former Manchester United midfielder. Wenger has put a new defensive midfielder at the top of his hitlist and the 20- year- old is a prime target. Juve manager Antonio Conte will be reluctant to lose Pogba, who played regularly last season. Wenger is a long-term admirer and tried to land the youngster from Old Trafford last summer.
The moves for Cabaye and Pogba are the first signs that Arsenal are getting agitated at their fruitless summer in the transfer market.
The Gunners have been frustrated in their attempts to sign a number of big names including Luis Suarez, Gonzalo Higuain, Wayne Rooney and Stevan Jovetic.
But their interest in Rooney and Suarez remains, with a bid to United for Rooney thought to be imminent.
Wenger is under growing pressure to strengthen his squad after the club’s public declarations that they were ready to spend heavily.
It is understood a return to the club for Mathieu Flamini is also being considered.
The midfielder, 29, would be signed as cover in central midfield and right back. He has been training with the club after his exit from Milan in the summer.
The Gunners are also keen on Manchester City defender Micah Richards, while a deal is in place for Swansea centre back Ashley Williams, but Arsenal have so far failed to improve upon a £6m offer made earlier this year.
Wenger is also keen on Michu, but his £25m asking price is seen as too high. Stoke keeper Asmir Begovic is another player in Wenger’s sights.
Meanwhile, the Gunners travel to Turkey for the first leg of their Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahce sweating on the fitness of Bacary Sagna and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Aaron Ramsey, Tomas Rosicky and Kieran Gibbs have all been passed fit for tomorrow’s clash after picking up injuries in the 3-1 defeat by Aston Villa on Saturday.
Medical staff will assess Sagna this morning before making a decision on his availability after he suffered a neck injury against Paul Lambert’s side.
Oxlade-Chamberlain looks set to miss the rest of the year with a knee injury sustained at the weekend.
The club initially feared he could miss six months, but it is hope he could be back within five.