Emirates Stadium side ready to splash the cash.
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Having seemingly secured a deal to sign Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain for a club record £22m fee the Evening Standard today reports that Arsene Wenger will look to better that mark with a £23m move for Everton star Marouane Fellaini.
The Arsenal boss is clearly ready and willing to fork out large sums on established talents even if this is somewhat against his character and though Wenger had hoped to be able to bring in 25 year old Belgian Fellaini for a lesser fee it is believed that Toffees will refuse to sell the goal-scoring midfielder for anything less than his reported transfer release clause.
Man United are also said to be interested in Fellaini but given that David Moyes is in the advanced stages of his pursuit of Barcelona youngster Thiago Alcantara, it would appear that a move to also bring in his former Everton charge is somewhat unlikely.
Fellaini is adept at getting forward, and netted a dozen goals in all competitions last term, but it’s in a more defensive midfield role that Wenger may be looking to use the powerful Everton man.
Arsenal lack bite in the centre of the park and Fellaini has himself talked up the possibility of becoming a more defensively minded player.
Wenger has not adequately replaced Alex Song, who left for Barcelona last summer, and Abou Diaby continues to suffer with injuries and poor form whilst Mikel Arteta, who was used primarily in a holding role in 2012/13, would benefit from the presence of a tough midfield partner, who could also offer protection to the likes of Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla.