Richard Law: Salamanca will get a player of incredible quality

Richard law, Arsenal’s representative of everything to do with the Salamanca partnership, has reassured UDS fans in today’s As by telling them that they will be getting a fantastic player, who, although he was not named, is very probably an EU player unlike Carlos Vela and Pedros were.

In a very interesting interview with As, Law spoke about a range of details to do with the Spanish club, including Pedro and Vela’s experiences, why Arsenal chose Salamanca, and who would be loaned out there next season, all of which you can read about below:

The reasons for choosing Salamanca and Vela’s time there:

“We looked at Salamanca three years ago for their style of play, which is very attractive. Arsenal also likes to touch and move the ball. Carlos Vela was a great success for all and opened a path [for us]“

On Pedro Botelho’s future and the changes at Salamanca:

I only know that he [Pedro] has to come back to Salamanca for pre-season on the 21st. He has lived in the first year and experienced a process of adaptation and this season things can go very well. We hope that the history of Botelho is as good or better than Vela’s. “

“Dani Lopez leaving does not have any influence [on the partnership]. One of the most important things in this agreement between Arsenal and Salamanca is that we do not press any conditions [on Salamanca] in any respect. “

On Salamanca’s potential new loanee:

“We quite some time talking with Salamanca about what we are doing, and very specifically about a player. He is a great footballer, with excellent potential and upon which we have placed high hopes . As you know, Arsenal hasve a team of reserves that we want to gain first team experience. It is necessary to consider that many of the players who we have are international. I do not want to err on the side of arrogance, but if you’re already signed up by Arsenal you have more than enough potential to be a great footballer. “

Whether or not the player is Non-EU:

“You do not have to [be Non-EU]. For the relationship that we have seen with Salamanca and the characteristics that meets the club in his dedication to new talent, it might be a EU player” .

It is believed by As that the player will be an attacker, and is probably either Rui Fonte or Nacer Barazite. Fonte seems the most likely, as he has already been linked with a loan deal to Sporting Lisbon this summer, and will be looking to gain first team experience. Barazite, on the other hand, is of a higher level and I would guess Salamanca may be slightly lower than the standard he can already play at.

Source:

http://www.as.com/futbol/articulo/futbol-law-desvela-posible-cesion/dasftb/20080715dasdaiftb_31/Tes

Arsenal could be a key player in the Barry deal

Arsenal need a defensive midfielder, that much is certain. It looks to me that Gilberto is as good as gone, following Flamini out of England. This means that we’re left very short for partners for Fabregas, only a year after we had the likes of Diarra, Gilberto, Denilson, Diaby, Flamini, Song all lining up for a chance.

And apparently Wenger is methodically looking at the Greth Barry saga with some interest, Pat Rice contacting Aston Villa in recent days with this to say:

“Myself and Steve Walford both know Arsene Wenger’s assistant Pat Rice,” O’Neill told the Sun. “He phoned Steve to ask how the Liverpool thing had gone and said that they might show an interest. At the end of the conversation Arsenal said ‘that’s fine’ and that they’ll let us know.

“That is exactly what happened.”

Interesting quotes from one of the most honest people in football. Clearly Martin O’Neill is getting tired of Liverpool offering bids far below what the Villa manager wants for his captain, and it seems Arsenal are waiting to see whether or not we can take advantage of this by offering a deal more attractive than Liverpool’s. Our main trump card in all this is while they are offering Steve Finnan, worth £1m, aging right back with only his worst footballing days ahead of him, we have Justin Hoyte, worth £4m, who is still only 23 and fits right in with O’Neill’s young and promising team. What’s more, we haven’t annoyed O’Neill in any way, which is always a bonus.

But outbidding Liverpool for Gareth Barry isn’t the only option available to Arsene Wenger, because there is also a transfer saga revolving around a Liverpool player. Xabi Alonso seemed a dead cert to be a Juventus player next season, with offers and counter offers being exchanged. But once again Liverpool annoyed a fellow club with their transfer actions, and Juve quickly changed targets and landed Poulsen instead.

Spanish website Publico.es today claim that Arsenal are keen admirers of the skillful midfielder, who has the defensive capabilities to fit in alongside Fabregas, but also the fantastic passing range to help the fluency in attack. Publico reckons he would love to come to Arsenal and apparently yesterday negotiations took place with Alonso’s agent, Inaki Ibanez.

I can only hope that we will get one of these great defensive midfielders this summer. They are exactly what is needed at the Emirates to compete for trophies next season - can you just imagine a team like this for the opening game against West Brom, assuming Hleb leaves, but we keep Adebayor.

———————— Almunia ————————

Sagna ———- Toure ———— Gallas ———— Clichy

————————- Alonso/Barry ——————–

Nasri —————- Fabregas ——————— Walcott

——————– Adebayor —– van Persie ————–

Subs: Fabianski, Senderos, Song, Diaby, Ramsey, Eboue, Vela,

 

Sources for this story:

http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5goXmuejOj-dlJcXpbnZCNYTDhanQ

http://translate.google.co.uk/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.publico.es/134548/arsenal/negocia/fichaje/xabi/alonso&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=1&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://www.publico.es/134548/arsenal/negocia/fichaje/xabi/alonso%26hl%3Den