Arsenal Close In On £4m Premier League Veteran and Centre Back Set to Leave: Wenger Hopes to Secure Schwarzer as Gallas Set for Exit

Emirates outfit hope to nab Fulham keeper and Mr. Gallas ready to pack his bags.

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ARSENAL chairman Peter Hill-Wood last night confirmed the Gunners want to sign Fulham keeper Mark Schwarzer.

Hill-Wood also revealed centre-back William Gallas is set to leave the Gunners because he has not been offered a new two-year deal.

But it is Arsene Wenger’s pursuit of Schwarzer, 37, that is the most telling, confirming Spaniard Manuel Almunia’s position as club No.1 looks over.

Aussie international Schwarzer is rated as one of the top keepers in the Premier League and would be highly unlikely to be wanted as back-up to Almunia, who skippers Arsenal in the absence of Cesc Fabregas.
Hill-Wood said: “We have made an enquiry for him and they are not prepared to sell him so we have gone away.
“We can only hope they will change their minds, but at the moment it doesn’t look like it.” (Daily Star)

It will be interesting to see what happens if the Australian international decides to push for a move to north London. Will Roy Hodgson just allow the veteran to leave? Any fee for the 37 year old would be pretty nominal with figures of around £3-4m being banded about.

Wenger wants a new keeper that seems clear. He has been linked with moves to many targets already but appears to be struggling to seal deals at the moment. Hugo Lloris is also strongly linked with a move to the Gunners and the French international would be a great signing and at just 23 would be a long term buy as opposed to Schwarzer who although fighting fit is clearly at the tail end of his career.

As for William Gallas, well he seems destined to leave and has been for some time. The Arsenal boss has his over 30 policy and he wasn’t about to change it this summer. The likes of Panathinaikos and Paris St Germain have been linked with a move for the unbalanced but nonetheless solid defender.