A busy summer for Arsenal is becoming a frantic one.
With Arsene Wenger attempting to plug the holes in his leaky central defence, another situation vacant will soon emerge at left-back.
As revealed by Goal.com last month, Gael Clichy has told the club that he wants to leave Emirates Stadium after rejecting at least two new contract offers in the last few months.
It leaves Arsenal in a similar situation to that in which they find themselves with Samir Nasri – cash in on a disaffected player or run the risk of him entering the final year of his contract with the unwelcome possibility that he could leave on a Bosman free in 12 months.
Apart from the fact that it smacks once again of poor governance by a board and an executive that has always prided itself on its competence in this area, it means the continued break-up of the post-Invincibles team.
Liverpool’s initial opening offer of £5 million for Arsenal’s longest-serving player is not much below the asking price of £5.5m that was quoted to potential suitors who had been alerted to Clichy’s potential availability in the summer transfer window.
Anfield director of football Damien Comolli knows Clichy better than most, given that he was instrumental in bringing the Frenchman to London from Cannes in 2003 when he was working under Wenger as Arsenal’s French scout.
While Liverpool cannot offer Champions League football next season, they can promise a future that looks far more enticing on Merseyside now that it did six months ago. Given his age – Clichy does not turn 26 until next month – experience, reliability and reputation as a solid professional and even more solid citizen, it seems a relative bargain for Liverpool although the Frenchman can demand a significant hike on his £50,000-a-week Arsenal wages.
Clichy’s options on the Continent have diminished in recent weeks. He has held informal talks with Inter but the Serie A giants are close to completing a deal to sign Japanese full-back Yuto Nagatomo for £7.5m from Cesena following a successful loan spell at the San Siro in the second half of the season.
Juventus made an enquiry for Clichy but have signed Reto Ziegler from Sampdoria on a Bosman free, while Bayern Munich, who have also pursued the left-back, have shored up their defence by tying up a £5m deal for Brazilian right-back Rafinha. Versatile club captain Philip Lahm is expected to revert back to left-back, a position he has filled many times for the national team.
A possibility remains for Clichy at newly cash-rich Roma, who are in the market for a proven left-back but it now appears that Liverpool’s main rivals for his signature are Manchester City.
The Sheikh Mansour-bankrolled club has two senior left-backs in Alexander Kolarov and Wayne Bridge, who has returned to Eastlands following his loan spell at West Ham, as well as the versatile Pablo Zabaleta, who can fill in on either full-back position.
City will need to move on Kolarov and Bridge to create room for Clichy, although Goal.com understands that they have asked to be kept informed about the Frenchman’s situation.
It is in Arsenal’s interest that there is a bidding war for a player who has been in north London for eight years.
One thing is certain. It will now take a considerable U-turn for Clichy to accept the improved contract from Arsenal and commit himself once again to a club where the exit door could swing off its hinges in the coming weeks.
