Arsene Wenger sizes up £35m bid for Swansea pair

 
James Olley19 August 2013

Arsenal are weighing up a £35million double raid on Swansea for striker Michu and defender Ashley Williams as the club look to respond to mounting criticism over their lack of signings.

Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa provoked an angry response from supporters, who booed the team off at the final whistle and chanted “spend some f*****g” money to manager Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners have only signed 20-year-old striker Yaya Sanogo, having been frustrated in their pursuits of a number of leading players including Gonzalo Higuain, Luis Suarez, Luiz Gustavo and Wayne Rooney.

The Arsenal Supporters’ Trust last night called for the suspension of talks over an extension to Wenger’s contract — which expires in the summer — claiming “this is inappropriate” with the transfer window open until September 2.

Wenger has admitted he wants “two or three” signings and is now considering moving for a couple of players he has tracked for some time.

Michu enjoyed a hugely successful first season in English football, scoring 22 goals. It is understood that Swansea are reluctant to sell but have valued the 27-year-old at £25m in the knowledge that a bid at that level would be hard to reject, especially with Michael Laudrup still keen to add to his squad.

Arsenal view that figure as excessive, especially given Michu cost Swansea just £2m from Rayo Vallecano last summer but in the context of their other centre-forward targets, the deal could prove attractive.

Liverpool remain adamant Suarez will not be sold this month and the Gunners have not been encouraged to make a new bid.

The Gunners retain an interest in Rooney but with Manchester United equally robust in their stance blocking the 27-year-old’s departure, Michu has emerged as an intriguing alternative.

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The Spaniard signed a new contract in January but is thought to earn only £30,000-a-week as a basic wage before a variety of add-ons so Arsenal could offer Michu a significant increase.

The club had a £6m offer for Williams rejected this month but believe a deal could be reached at around £10m. Wenger is reluctant to go that high but the furore surrounding the club’s poor start could only intensify this week should they falter in Wednesday’s Champions League play-off first leg against Fenerbahce in Turkey.

Arsenal’s honorary vice-president Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith joined the dissenters last night when she claimed on Twitter to regret selling her shares to Stan Kroenke in 2011.

Bracewell-Smith wrote: “What a shame the board recommended a Kroenke takeover and paid Rothchilds 3m fee. And how deeply I regret selling to Kroenke. #AFC”

Bracewell-Smith also called for Alisher Usmanov to have a seat on the board and again called for the return of David Dein to help Wenger negotiate on transfers.

“Bring David Dein and give Usmanov representation on the board if we are to have success going forward. #AFC,” she said.

The comments have since been deleted from her timeline.

Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Tomas Rosicky all expected to be fit for Wednesday’s game after sustaining injuries against Villa but Bacary Sagna remains a doubt.

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