Arsenal coy over Ribery rumours
Arsenal coy over Ribery rumours
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Tuesday, 08, Aug 2006 10:31
Arsenal have refused to rule out the possibility of signing Marseille's French winger Franck Ribery before the close of the transfer window at the end of this month.
Media reports claim a £13.5 million deal has been reached for the 23-year-old and that he will arrive in north London for talks later today.
Ribery is seen by Arsene Wenger as a possible replacement at the Emirates Stadium for Spaniard Jose Antonio Reyes who looks set to complete a £9 million move to Real Madrid before the end of the week.
The Gunners have so far refrained from confirming or denying the reports, however, and Wenger has now added to the uncertainty by saying he is confident wantaway Reyes will stay.
"[The speculation] does not come from him," Wenger said. "It comes out from Spain. What can I do to stop that?
"I extended Jose's contract last year, so that is quite clear about how I regard his future at Arsenal football club."
Reyes, unlike Chelsea target Ashley Cole, was yesterday included in Arsenal's travelling squad for their Champions League qualifying tie against Dinamo Zagreb in Croatia.
Should he feature in this match, Real would be less likely to pursue him as he would be cup-tied for the rest of the competition but Wenger added that this fact is insignificant as far as he is concerned.
"He is in the squad for Zagreb and if I decide to play him, he will play," the Gunners boss said. "There is no problem."