Arsenal Plan January Swoop For Cavani, Draxler And Cabaye
The intensity of Arsenal’s links to Edinson Cavani, Adrien Rabiot, Yohan Cabaye and Julian Draxler is increasing as the year draws to an end. While Julian Draxler was a subject of an Arsenal move in January, 2014, Edinson Cavani and Adrien Rabiot were strongly speculated to be very close to joining Arsenal before the summer transfer window slammed shut on the 1st of September. Here, in this article are the latest updates on Arsenal’s pursuit of the players.
Cavani: According to a report from Metro, Arsenal are readying a deal worth a whooping £55m, thereby setting a new club record in bringing in Edinson Cavani, who is reportedly unsettled at Paris Saint Germain (PSG). The report says Arsene Wenger has been given the go ahead to work out the deal to sign the Uruguayan. Cavani, 27, who enjoyed a fantastic personal success at Napoli and Palermo in the Italian Serie A, joined PSG in July, 2013 on a five year contract worth about £53m, making him the record signing in French football breaking Radamel Falcao’s £50m transfer to Monaco. Cavani, who has forever been linked to Chelsea, is no doubt is the kind of attacker that intimidates defenders and adds enormously to the success of a team. However, the player has all summer long been reported to be unhappy at PSG following his deployment on the wings allowing Zlatan Ibrahimovic operate as the point man upfront.
Draxler: Arsenal is reportedly leading in the race to sign Julian Draxler, the highly rated 20-year-old Germany and Schalke 04 forward. In January, 2014 Arsenal was linked to the impressive forward who recently performed impressively against Chelsea in the 1-1 draw his club played with Chelsea in the UEFA Champions’ League. It was said that Arsenal almost signed him and the player was also itching for the move as well, but as the Arsenal situation goes most of the time, the reason why the player isn’t at Arsenal is not known. Now, reports say that Wenger is willing to bid £37m for the German star, according to Express.
Rabiot: Arsenal as well as Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea and Louis Van Gaal’s Manchester United, is still very keen on signing 19-year-old highly rated midfielder Adrien Rabiot from PSG. Adrien Rabiot had struggled since 2012 for game time in the star-studded Paris Saint Germain squad. The presence of Blaise Matuidi, Yohan Cabaye and Marco Veratti was said to have limited his playing time and he reportedly fears his lack of opportunity would increase as £50m David Luiz could also be deployed in the midfield relegating and undermining his talent. Rabiot made 25 appearances last term and only 12 of those appearances were in the starting line-up. He is a central midfielder who came through the youth system and is considered an all round midfielder- good at passing the ball and creating chances added to his defensive side of the game in tackling and intercepting the opponent’s attempted passes. He was however, thought to be the defensive midfield signing that Arsenal had been out for all summer long as his versatility across the midfield has been noticed. Reports according to Express now say that PSG would only allow the player leave on loan and are unwilling to sell the player.
Cabaye: There were talks recently that Arsenal is interested in Yohan Cabaye as Mesut Ozil’s replacement. Ozil has been ruled out for 12 weeks and Wenger was reportedly keen on Cabaye as a replacement. For obvious lack of playing time, Cabaye has been talking to the media, notably L’Equipe about his frustrations. He said: ‘‘Have I spoken to Laurent Blanc? No. What do I tell him? I am 28-years-old and not new to the job. But I am not satisfied with the situation. Am I completely happy? To be honest, no. it’s a new situation for me but I don’t complain. It’s the first time I haven’t played regularly for my club.’’ Arsenal would look to seize this opportunity to lure the player away, reports have said.