Reports that Arsenal have made a sensational £22 million bid for class midfielder! The Gunners have activated the release clause in the Everton midfielder’s contract and are confident of wrapping up a deal for the 25-year-old in the coming weeks. Goal understands that Arsenal made the club-record bid on Wednesday, the same day that Roberto Martinez was appointed the new Everton manager. It is believed that Fellaini’s buy-out clause is £22m for a top-four club, and £24m for a club that finishes outside the Champions League places. So Fellaini eh? Arsenal have a real need of a defensively minded, powerful midfielder and Fellaini certainly fits the bill. The player has been used in a more forward position for Everton in recent years but could be deployed very effectively in front of the back four at Arsenal. Fellaini is still close to Arteta and the Spaniard has apparently encouraged both parties to consider the move. There are rumours that Wenger tried to buy Fellaini in the last minute transfer scramble in summer 2011 – but ended up with a different Everton player in Arteta. It would explain why Wenger has been slow to make moves for other defensively minded players like Alex Song and Etienne Capoue, both of whom have been linked with the club for a long time. It is possible that the move will push David Moyes into raiding his old club and trumping Arsenal’s bid. Although it should be noted that there may be an agreement – gentlemanly or otherwise – that Moyes leaves his old players alone for a period of time. With all that Premiership experience a bidding war surely is very likely.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Jun 2013 08:06:19 +0000