Arsenal youngsters James Dunne, Abu Ogogo and Paul Rodgers are expected to find out today if they will be offered contracts by Nottingham Forest, or face an uncertain return to North London.
The trio have now completed a two week trial with the Championship outfit, featuring in Reserve games against Shrewsbury and Lincoln. Manager Colin Calderwood has been present at both fixtures, and told the BBC last week of how Liam Brady phoned up to offer the prospects – following on with the message put forward by Neil Banfield – that the Club will always try and help players find new employment.
Dunne has been the most impressive of the three, although he has been forced to operate on the left hand side of a 4-3-3. Ogogo has made less of an impression, but Calderwood is believed to have been happy with his work rate. Rodgers is also in pole position to win a contract, despite giving away a cheap penalty during the fixture with Lincoln.
Banfield has refused to slam the door shut on the players, telling Arsenal.com that the ball is firmly in their court over their futures.
“It’s not the end for them here, if it doesn’t work out for them at Forest they will come back and carry on training and we will try to help them. If they play well then who knows but we are just giving them another opportunity.
“If they come back they will be available for selection. We have got quite a few lads that we feel might have to find another club”
Should they fail to win terms at Forest, all three will take heart from Rene Steer, he also failed a trial last week, but returned to the Reserves squad for the clash against Stoke.
However, it is widely expected that Nottingham will take at least one of the youngsters, if not them all.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Will Arsenal receive any kind of fee for the transfers?
I take it if signed they will first team players at forest. And would they move straight away or not till january
Calderwood was not at the Lincoln game he was in China.
If they sign for us they will not be first team, from what I have seen they still are not ready.
gd wrk js
Wish our trio young guns
I assume there are 2 ways they could join forest straight away. Firstly, their contract with AFC is terminated, leaving them as ‘free agents’ and therefore able to move outside of a transfer window, with AFC also not receiving any fee. Or, moving on loan until the jan. window, when the move could be finalised with AFC maybe receiving a fee.
Hope it works out for the three of them, I’ve been impressed with Dunne particularly. It’s obvious though that none of them have a future at Arsenal despite what Neil Banfield says. Once you’re encouraging other clubs to take players on then the writing’s on the wall. As I said, hope they all get picked up.
According to the Daily Mirror, Paul Ince is trying to snap up Jason Banton, our former player.
The article is just recyled from Young Guns last week…
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/10/09/former-arsenal-strikers-elston-banton-find-new-clubs/
Who would you say is favourite to sign? I rate Rodgers highest out of the three.
I expect we’ll receive a little compensation of some kind, but nothing major.. I think Paul Rodgers has the best chance of getting a deal, he’s versatile, quick and pretty strong so it’s only technically he needs to improve, which’ll come with experience and games.
http://www.arsene-al.co.uk
am i being silly ??? cos i thought ogogo was part of carling cup sqaud??? x
bobbycoppin
Not being silly mate, more than a few people on here have commented on the strange fact that Ogogo is on the bench in the Carling Cup, then being sent out on trial just over a week later !!
I neva really got why he was in the squad. Ive always been more impressed by Rodgers and Steer than Agogo. Maybe Wenger did a typo on the team sheet…
I cant see any of the failing to get a contact with atleast a league one side. All on their day are great players to have in a side. Steer is very consistant and reliable whilst not being spectacular and Rodgers and Agogo are both versatile and flamboyant not to mention enthusiatic and from what i know have great attitudes. Dunne is probably the pick of the bunch and in my opinion could follow in the path of Steve Sidwell and end up one of the better premiership mid table players in the future.
most likely very small fees with big sell-on clauses.
Who do you think the other lads are that may need to find new clubs?