Friday, July 16, 2010

Samir Handanovic inches close to Arsenal

The Gunners are reportedly ready to hold talks with the goalie's club.

Arsenal's alleged interest in Udinese' goal keeper Samir Handanovic, is well documented with regards to other linked-players. But if news emanating from Italy, this morning precisely in an article posted on ilfriuli.it/udineseblog is anything other than the usual, then Manuel Almunia's days in the colours of the Arsenal can be calculated with a view to predicting the end of his somewhat turbulent tenure as the Gunner's chief-of-post.

The Slovenia star is said to have caught the attention of the Arsenal tactician with his impressive performance at the World Cup, especially in the match against the Three Lions, who pipped them to eventually crash out of the competition.

The report understands the 26-year-old would become an Arsenal player by next week, if the North London outfit decides to part with €10m, although it rightly acknowledged the fact that the stipulated sum might be the stumbling block of the deal, given their English counterpart's penchant for bargaining, and as such, the Friulan outfit is willing to negotiate with Arsenal, but the difference in price change may not be that much.

In Handanovic's stead, Udinese will bring in Chievo's Stefano Sorrentino. The 31-year-old shot-stopper's purchase will be funded from the proceeds they are likely to recieve from Arsenal, if and when the purported deal sees the light of day.