Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Arsenal and Manchester City track Hamburger SV' defender

Arsenal and Manchester City are reportedly hot on the trail of Hamburger SV's Marcell Jansen.

The 24-year-old is a technically gifted left back, who can quickly switch into the heart of play to occasionally offer the much needed assistance to Alex Song, whilst performing his defensive duties. Although Jansen, is yet to play professionally outside the confines of the German Bundesliga, he has amassed enough experience to stake a claim in the Premiership i.e. if he eventually agrees to the current terms on ground.

Tuttomercatoweb, were the first to propound the rumour, but just like a wild-fire during harmattan, the story has gradually gathered momentum, with Italian giants A.S Roma, who were believed to be at the forefront of the virtual race pulling out in the dying minutes due to financial constraints, leaving Arsenal and Manchester City as the only serious contenders.

Standing at 6ft 3in, Jansen isn't a toddler, and he's highly rated by the Bundesliga outfit. Hamburger SV, want any prospective buyer to feather-bed their cause with a cheeky payment of €10m in exchange for their man, who scored 6 goals in 18 appearances for them last season. Although, Jansen has managed a total of 35 caps for his national team, he struggled to cope with the intensity of the game in South Africa, partly because he has just recovered from a career-threatening ankle injury he sustained earlier on.

This slight dip in form, has prompted suggestions he's set to move on this summer. As usual, some people in the know believe Arsene Wenger, has found in him, the missing fraction of Arsenal's unbalanced defensive equation, and the Frenchman is set to snap the German international, who is also on Roberto Mancini's good books.

Jansen's agent and Spokesman Gerd Vom Bruch, recently spoke of his client's availability with regards to a potential move: "Roma, Arsenal or Manchester City? I don't usually comment on speculations.

"But what I can tell you is that I am pleased with his recovery from that serious injury. We can not deny that a number of clubs are interested in him. Marcell's contract runs until 2013, and he is ready to stay here."

Mr. Gerd, coyly refused to rule out the probability of someone having the final say on the issue: "The club will definitely decide what to do, if a great offer is made, then we will start the talks. For now, it is difficult because Marcell is in the World Cup, and concentrating fully on the match for third place.

"He wants to be in the starting XI before he bids farewell to a well-earned holiday."

If there is an iota of truth in this presumption, then as a rational fan, I think it is only logical to posit that Arsenal, can't win a potential free-for-all fight involving the oil-rich money-bags from the U.A.E whose stupendous wealth is at the disposal of their manager unlike the parochial-type of financial structure our club currently employs.