ARSENE WENGER faces a dilemma over the former Arsenal captain William Gallas after the France international indicated he is willing to see out the final year of his contract at the Emirates and leave for no fee under the Bosman ruling next summer.
Gallas said yesterday he is “relaxed” in anticipation of the season ahead with Arsenal, but he has yet to be offered new terms at the club and it is understood he is minded not to prolong his stay in north London beyond the end of the campaign.
The 31-year-old lost the club captaincy to Cesc Fabregas at the Emirates last November after publicly criticising team-mates, and that demotion is still a cause for frustration with the centre-half.
The former Chelsea defender’s current deal runs until June 2010 and while he has retained the support of Wenger, the manager may decide to seek a fee for the player now rather than risk losing him for nothing in a year.
While French clubs would be keen to get him home, Gallas intends to spend at least one more season at a club he believes are capable of challenging for European honours, whether that be Arsenal or not. Internazionale, whose attempt to sign Ricardo Carvalho from Chelsea is stalling, might offer him a route to Serie A.
The Frenchman could potentially partner the club’s new €11.7 million signing Thomas Vermaelen at the heart of Arsenal’s defence next season. Arsenal continue to pursue additions to their squad, with Werder Bremen’s Brazilian centre-half Naldo the latest to be linked, while the Wales midfielder Aaron Ramsey has also signed a new long-term contract. However, Mikael Silvestre and Emmanuel Adebayor could yet leave for Bordeaux and Milan respectively.
A rift appears to be developing between Wenger and Adebayor after Stephane Courbis, the striker’s agent, revealed a lack of communication over the 25-year-old’s future. Courbis said they “had heard nothing” from the manager following the Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani’s admission he had rung Wenger to discuss a move for the Togolese forward they pursued last summer and who won a new deal for staying.
Guardianservice
