Transfer news: Arsenal look to bring in £25m Michu from Swansea as deals for Luis Suarez and Wayne Rooney hit the buffers
Arsene Wenger also interested in Manchester City defender Micah Richards
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Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal will have to pay £25million to bring Swansea forward Michu to the club as Arsene Wenger reportedly prepares to unravel his Plan B in the transfer market.
Wenger also faces a struggle to sign Manchester City’s Micah Richards having renewed interest in the right-back, with his availability depending on how Manuel Pellegrini decides to use the 25-year-old this season.
Swansea chairman Huw Jenkins has an agreement with Michu that will allow the club to demand £25million for his services, with the Welsh side prepared to play tough with clubs interested in the Spaniard.
Arsenal have had bids rejected for Wayne Rooney and Luis Suarez already this summer, and Wenger must be prepared to spend big if he is to please the club’s discontent fans.
Saturday’s 3-1 home defeat to Aston Villa was met with a chorus of boos, with many fans disappointed with the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market.
Michu’s current deal at the Liberty Stadium runs until 2016 after an impressive start to last season convinced Jenkins to tie down the 27-year-old in January, just six months after signing him from Rayo Vallecano for £2million.
He scored 18 Premier League goals in 35 appearances last term, and Jenkins will insist on following in Villa’s footsteps after staying stubborn on their £25million valuation of striker Christian Benteke.
Swansea manager Michael Laudrup is reportedly still looking for forward signings after capturing Wilfried Bony for £12million in the summer, and may opt to cash in now to invest in the squad rather than risk his valuation dropping next summer.
Meanwhile, England international Richards still has two years to run on his deal at the Etihad Stadium, but Wenger hopes to strengthen his backline if City are willing to sell.
Wenger may have no problems convincing Richards himself to join the club, having said in 2007 that he would jump at the chance of playing for Arsenal.
Richards made just seven Premier League appearances last term, with City opting for Argentine Pablo Zabaleta in the right-back position.
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