Arsenal beat Spurs to sign £16m Danny
6
ARSENE WENGER last night made a dramatic move to solve his lack of firepower by agreeing a £16million deal for England striker Danny Welbeck.
The Arsenal manager, in Italy to keep a promise to play in a fundraising football match, still made sure that charity began at home as he helped beat off a bid from Spurs to land the Manchester United star on a five-year contract.
Welbeck was initially offered on a season-long loan deal for £3m. But the 23-year-old was determined to force a permanent move to give himself a fresh start and that helped force down United’s £18m asking price.
Wenger had claimed several times he was not in the market for a new striker, despite losing last season’s top scorer Olivier Giroud until after Christmas through injury.
But that was a smokescreen as he made failed overtures first for Loic Remy then Radamel Falcao, before turning his attention to Welbeck.
And with Tottenham put off by the sums involved, Arsenal officials worked late into last night to complete the formalities.
Wenger has long been an admirer of Welbeck and has considered a move for him in the past, but he had always viewed the United man as a player who is best suited posing a goal threat from the flanks.
Wenger originally had Welbeck earmarked as a possible replacement for Lukas Podolski, who was set to leave the Em ates earlier this summe But with Arsenal so short of striking options following Giroud’s serious ankle injury, he will be asked to play in a central role.
United were keen to make the move happen as they tried to recoup some cash from their ow stellar transfer spendin but had less success with attempts to shift England midfielder Tom Cleverley.
The 25-year-old’s representatives were sticking to pay demands of £75,000 a week, which scared off interest from both Aston Villa and QPR — even though former Manchester United skipper Roy Keane, assistant boss at Villa, tried in per- to sell the advantages a move to his club. Cleverley was hoping Everton would follow their interest, but they were also put off by his pay demands and last night it looked as f the window would hut with Cleverley still Old Trafford. nited sources claimed Cleverley travelled to Merseyside after Everton had a £7.5m bid accepted but then made an unsuccessful attempt to knock United down to £5m.
It was a frustrating day for Goodison Park officials, who also made an enquiry for Manchester City centre half Matija Nastasjic but never took it beyond that.
Welbeck and Cleverley were not the only stars made available to make way for United’s expensive captures of Falcao and Angel di Maria. Leicester City snapped up Nick Powell and Tom Lawrence, the former on loan and the latter on a permanent deal.
One man definitely heading for the exit at the Emirates is Japanese winger Ryo Miyaichi, who has signed for Dutch club FC Twente on a season-long loan.
Liverpool were considering a late offer for former Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes. The 32-yearold is a free agent and can move outside of the window. He won’t be fit until December following a knee-ligament injury and Brendan Rodgers is willing to discuss a possible deal once he recovers.