Thursday, 18th August, 2011
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is plotting a swoop for Lazio striker Mauro Zarate as he intends to use his ever-growing transfer kitty to transform the Gunners before the end of the summer transfer window.
Wenger has already bid farewell to Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue this summer, while Samir Nasri is on the brink of a move to Manchester City and Nicklas Bendtner is edging closer to the exit door.
And this leaves the Arsenal manager with substantial work to do before the end of August – work that should include Lazio hitman Zarate.
According to Corriere dello Sport, the Serie A side, who came agonisingly close to qualifying for this season’s Champions League, have become aware of Arsenal’s interest in the Argentine and are willing to deal.
Lazio boss Edy Reja has already bagged veteran Germany international Miroslav Klose and former Liverpool striker Djibril Cisse this summer to boost his attack and, while the 65-year-old is not enthused by the idea of selling Zarate, he is willing to make the sacrifice for the right price.
Zarate would, Wenger reasons, be able to adapt to Premier League football quickly, having enjoyed a successful loan spell with Birmingham City in 2008.
The striker did not always see eye to eye with Reja last season, clashing over the coach’s tactics, while Reja believed Zarate guilty of failing to follow instructions on the pitch.
A move to Arsenal would surely be welcomed by the Argentine, but agreeing a fee with Lazio could be difficult for the Gunners as the word over their desperation to make signings spreads across Europe.
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