Ljungberg edges towards Viola switch
Tuesday, 10 Jul 2007 22:43
Ljungberg has spent nine seasons at the Gunners
Arsenal In Focus
Good, bad or just the same old, same old? What the fans made of the 2007/08 season. Full Story
Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg could be about to end his nine-year spell in north London after his agent claimed that transfer talks were underway with Italian side Fiorentina.
"The two clubs are in discussions. If they can come to an agreement, then Fredrik can think about looking closer at a move," Claes Elefalk said.
"Fredrik is really happy at Arsenal, but if it is an option he could also consider a move to Fiorentina."
The 30-year-old Swedish international has found first-team appearances increasingly hard to come by after a string of injuries kept him unavailable to manager Arsene Wenger for much of last season.
However the Frenchman has previously insisted that he is keen to retain Ljungberg until his current deal with the Gunners expires in 2009.
Should Ljungberg decide to head for Serie A, the £3 million Arsenal paid Halmstads for his services in 1998 would represent one of Wenger's most astute purchases.
With over 300 appearances and more than 70 goals for the club, he has been a major part of two title-winning squads, including the unbeaten 2003/04 team.
However his finest spell may have come in the 2001/02 title victory when he struck 12 league goals to power Arsenal to 13 successive wins in the run-in to their triumph.