Arsenal look set to miss out on highly rated central defender Chris Smalling after Fulham reportedly turned down a bid from the Gunners and have instead accepted an offer from cash-strapped Manchester United.
The club have been making regular checks on the former Maidstone United defender after he broke into the Fulham first-team, and news emerged last week that Ivan Gazidis had approached the Cottagers and were readying a bid. Arsène Wenger refused to speak about the potential deal and suggested it would be better for both sides if they kept everything quiet until a deal was done.
Manchester United have now been alerted to his availability and this morning two formal offers were made for the England Under 21 international. Arsenal’s – believed to be around £7 million – was rejected while United’s was accepted and they have now been given permission to talk to the player. There is no news as yet to whether the club will return with a second offer.
Article By – J.Sanderson
well written J.sanderson. Im a bit dissapointed cuz i thought he would have been perfect replacement for gallas and perfect future partner to vermalen.
We’ll have to follow the developments of this Smalling deal.
There might be twists and turns in between.
Who knows what will happen?
I’d be a bit disappointed if United beat us to Smalling. He’s going to be a good one.
I am really disapointed to read that. I have not seen a lot of the player but from what i hear he would be absolutely ideal for us. Surely Wenger will match the offer and do what he did with Ramsey?
typical for Arsenal!! We will miss out again :-(. But I think 7 mill is enough!! So we wont come back with a 2. bid :-(. Where does Manu have this money???
It’s not over yet. Arsenal may match the offer and then he can talk to us as well. He may prefer staying in Lonodn and know that he can get a few minutes this season with us.
gutted, we need to go back and bid again.
are u sure Andy? You think Wenger will go for a bidding war? I am not to optimistic about that but hopefully you are right. Finally something is going on :-)!!!
see this is what is going to happen to all the players we want
a bigger and richer club will snap them up first
The interesting thing is that with the current state of United’s finances , this move more likely indicates the departure of Vidic to Spain and United are prob using that money to pay Fulham.
this is an example of man utd nicking players we are close to signing, every time. They did it with van nistelrooy, ronaldo, now smalling, their scouting network is awful, and have always been kept informed of the players Arsene has an eye on, and subsequently makes a move trusting wenger’s judgement.
No way would united have made a move for Smalling if our approach wasn’t leaked last week. In fact I doubt Ferguson had ever seen him play, probably asked for DVD’s as soon as our interest was confirmed. Unbeleivable. What you think J? Think we’ll come back with a bigger offer, personally I doubt it, a fee of up to £7m is just about right, but if United offered £8m, it might be worth stumping up that little bit more for a future England international centre half.
arsenal should offer more to make united waste even more money and put them into more debt
Man utd disgust me, they have nearly 700m pounds of debt yet they come in and outbid us. Wenger is a man of principles, I doubt he will enter into a bidding war.
I thought the move to the new stadium was supposed to help us bid this sort of money for players we want
it is said he is an Arsenal Fan!!!!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/606/A62373026
hope this can work like it did with Ramsey
bloody man u wankers, so much for a cash strapped club
£7 mill is the going rate
While wengers here we will miss out,yeah he’s right to not be stupid with the money but f.f.s why can’t he spend over the odds once in a while.There going on like if they spend more then 20 million we will go bankrupt
arsenal4ever i don’t think Man U will increase their offer if we match it. I doubt it is significantly more than ours (maybe £8m) so it is worth doing. Ferguson will also say that if he wantgs to play for Arsenal then he doesn’t want him at Man U. We got Ramsey from Man Utd’s hands when everyone thought it was a done deal.
Wenger has never recovered from the 9m wasted on Jeffers. Since then he has been reluctant to invest in unproven british talent.
As we need a reliable and probably one of the best defender in this position, I guess the Arsene/Garzidis need to up our offer as we have the advantage of location as well as giving young players chance more than any club in England right now. Most of their defenders (Man U) are injured; hence, their desperation in terms of offer being put forward. To this, I suggest the Manager try and up the offer to match them and see what the players decision is.
wonder how much united bidded
It might be that Man Utd have offered straight cash and we are offering instalments and add ons.
*Fingers crossed that Wenger uses a private jet to fly Smalling and his family from West London (or Greenwich if they still live there) to Highbury and Islington*
Please arsene please try get him! Does any one no if there is any news about huntelaar?! Will we get him?
NO striker , no DM and no smalling. this has been really disappointing. i see our season crambling and will be lucky to finish 3rd or fourth.
Does anyone know the players background?
I would guess arsenal would be the prefered choice…more chance to get in, and closer to home. But we need to get close to whatever united have bid. Shame we didn’t offer senderous in the deal. Maybe offer little JW on loan as a sweatner!
Either way if we miss out iam sure Wenger can use this 7m on another CB and he has identified a weakness showing the desire to fix the problem…that’s encouraging.
@ andy: Of course it could be like you said but I am gutted if we will fail for 1 mill or so. Hope Wenger will do something similar as he did with Ramsey. Surely he will be Billys replacement. But as I said before finally something is going on which are good signs!! :-)
same old arsenal wont spend any money on any one whats 7 or 8 million not alot wenger wud much rather spend it on sum useless french kid arsenal need some english players now like they had years ago big guys who wud win every thing in the air plus werent afaird too get hurted either so come on wenger buy sum english players that will make arsenal great again plus im not english im irish but bn a gunner fan over thirty three years
If I was Smalling, I would not leave yet.
Either he should reject Man U and tell Fulham he wants to stay.
or Hold out for a free and get into Fulhams team and prove he is worth the higher price.
Or if he realy wants Arsenal then he should tell them that.
As he is a london boy, he doesnt actually have to move house if he moved to Arsenal.
How do you know we actually had a bid rejected ? its all talk at the moment, I agree with the above anyway and we can just match their bid, I believe he’d join us over them as we are in London and he is an Arsenal fan.
Look at us, getting excited about a kid who has only played 1 premiership game …the days of signing superstars are well and truly gone.
united have begun talks with him…doesn’t look good.
according the official website this boy has 4 games played in the PL. Isn’t this a little but much money for a player who has only played 4 games ???
The world has gone mad….
Lets hope Gary Neville gives him a tour around OT, that will change his mind.
United will loan him back for the rest of the season. I heard about this on Friday night because United’s bid was made (and accepted) then, and I’m surprised it has taken this long to reach the main press. Fergie was tipped off by his son that Arsenal were due to make a bid, because one of Darren Ferguson’s colleagues is represented by the same Agency that represents Smalling.
Arse&nose – Wenger has rarely brought superstats, thats what united, city and chelsea do, often without success…berbatov, robinho, shevsenko, veron, etc.
Even when bergkamp and Henry joined they were on a low.
Wenger makes superstars
Campbell was a superstar.
Just being english add in the The new “Home Grown” rule and the fact the sturridge tribunal set a development fee as around £7m. i’d say the price was about right.
The point is whether we get smalling or not, we know the intention is there. We can all name other CB around the world who would make a huge improvement now and in seasons ahead, so let’s hope AW brings one in.
He’s also a big unit and we lack big units at Arsenal. Teams like Stoke and Bolton will continue to pepper us with the long ball game if we don’t get any physical presence. Smalling would learn so much from Campbell, Gallas and Vermaelen. Come on Arsene, let’s sign him and Victor Moses.
Utd want Smalling to solve their short term defensive crisis, after a few months he will be rotting in the reserves. If he came to Arsenal he would play a lot sooner.
Campbell was a free transfer though, so I wouldn’t class this as Wenger ‘buying’ a superstar.
good point guru, I guess only Arshavin falls into the bracket of a superstar player bought at his prime.Even that signing is thought by many as a Gazidis signing.
Overmars was recovering form a knee injury, Bergkamp was on a downer at Inter. Henry was in the Juve reserves, so was Vieira at Milan.
That’s what Ferguson would be telling the lad, with the injuries you’ll get a chance to play and if you impress you stay in the team. Can’t see Wenger coming back with another bid.
Mr Guru you say the intention is there but I think you are confused. The intention is there only for the RIGHT player. He wanted Chamakh for most of the summer but the intention hasn’t always been there to sign a striker. if Van Persie wasn’t injured Wenger would never be looking for one this window.
Most central defenders are over priced and quality ones difficult to find. Man Utd will have smalling we will have Djourou. Dear me. We should’ve made our bid last week they would’ve accepted and he’d be an arsenal player by now.
Let him go…we have Djorou and especially Kyle Bartley ;)
Yeah arshavin was seen as a superstar in Russia and apart from their last game he was superb in the euros. But he was still a risk, one that Barcelona and Spurs chose not to make and arsenal did…just ashame we waited until Jan, maybe last season would have been better had he been there all season and available for the champions league! We will never know
This is a source speaking to GOAL.COM so don’t know how reliable it is –
“A bid has been accepted and they club are awaiting permission to speak to the player and finalise a medical ahead of a possible transfer that we believe is a deal worth around £7 million in total.
“He chose to come to United at a time when a number of London based clubs expressed an interest in him. For United to convince him to relocate to the north is a significant coup.”
Looks like the reason we were rebuffed was because he preffered to move to United.
Wenger must try not to miss out on this Smalling guy. i love to see his Partnership with Vamaleen………
Yes the RIGHT player is all Wenger will sign, but there are so many players in the world I am sure in most positions he has 2-3 players on his radar and within budget who fit the right player. You can’t tell me smallings is the right player and has been part of the plan for a long time, otherwise we should and would have brought from maidstone?
As for chamakh…I believe Wenger wants him due to his price point, and as couldn’t agree fee in the summer will try a free transfer this summer. However he now risks that other clubs will come in at the smell of a freebie and may loose out in the battle of wages!
Wenger says on #Smalling: ‘It looks as if #ManUnited have offered more money, doesn’t mean it’s the end.’ Also says no interest in striker
from John Cross…
we will see.
People shouldn’t panic. If his heart is set on Arsenal, then Man U offering more money means nothing. He’ll come here…that is, if he wants to.
I imagine United are offering more money because they are resigned to losing Vidic come the summer. Fergie can offset some of this outlay against the money from that deal.
£7 Million is a lot of money for a young talent who has not realy been spoken of much in the past. I think I would be right in saying most of us only heard the name for the first time a a few weeks ago?
However – sometimes Wenger gets it wrong in the transfer market and sometimes Ferguson does – if they BOTH think he is worth this much and more, then he probably is.
Wenger is still going for him. Come on Arsenal….
‘12.52 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists that he is still interested in Chris Smalling, despite Sky Sports News’ understanding that Manchester United have had a bid accepted for the Fulham defender.’
It’s not just buying a defender, it’s about developing them and giving the opportunities. A lot of our current best XI might have been shipped out by other big clubs by now. Look at Bebels situation. He’s only 22!
12.52 Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insists that he is still interested in Chris Smalling, despite Sky Sports News’ understanding that Manchester United have had a bid accepted for the Fulham defender.
Does anyone else know if there is any truth to the Huntelaar rumour.That is a signing that truly excites me.
I still think smalling could end up at Arsenal.
yes andy you were right :-)!!! hope we will beat them but I am sure we will. He is an Arsenal fan :-)!!!
I don’t think we need a defender, well not until the summer as Senderos and Campbell well most likely depart.
Striker is key.. lets get revenge, I know Manchester United are also keen on Klaas Jan Hunterlaar and then, will be winning 2-1 lol!
Manchester United v Arsenal (Trasfer Battle)
Aaron Ramsey
Chris Smalling
Klaas Jan Huntlaar
i am fed up with wenger talking about players and then not doing anything and watching as they go somewhere else,
its typical that we will probaly lose him to utd after wenger made a big thing about smalling in a press conference….
come on wenger put your money where your mouth is and let us fans have something to be excited about duing a transfer window for once !!!!
Aparently on skysport news wenger is still interested in signing Smalling, so this ain’t over….
arsenal 4ever how do u know hes a gooner mate?
Where exactly did Wenger say he’s “still interested” in Smalling? I’m sick of those “from a source inside the club”, “from a family member” or “we understand”. When I see it on a press conference I’ll believe it, otherwise I’m afraid I don’t believe we ever made a bid for Smalling.
huntelaar lacks the pace needed for this arsenal side..ryan babel on the other hand, wenger would do wonders with him
Odio its’s on skysports mate.
And rock,i disagree about huntelaar…He is a proven goal-scorer who needs someone to believe in him again…If Arsene was bold enough to make a move,I think Klass would more than prove his class.
Always been a big fan of Klass and who has the track record to get the best out of players…Arsene who???
Klaas Jan Huntlaar…urm, great prospect when at Ajax, super finisher. However he has looked terrible at Real. I am not sure he would help, but if it was a loan deal then I suppose its only a small risk that might pay off, and I would rather this than nothing!
Ideally we want someone who can get in the box, with some pace, take chances, and score with his head once in awhile. The perfect player would be also available for the CL and cost under £15m – my concern is Wenger see’s Bendtner as this person!!!
”It just looks like Manchester United offered more money than us, but as long as the player has not signed anywhere it is not the end of it.
“Let’s see what happens there.
“We will not come out on what we are doing exactly. It has come out [elsewhere], but that does not mean it is true.
said by arsene wenger…. today at official press conference
“The Gunners are, however, yet to show their hand, with Wenger favouring a cagey approach in his winter transfer business.” it says here we didn’t bid yet, and frankly I didn’t think we will
daily mail and john cross said wenger is still interested in smalling
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1246164/Chris-Smalling-heading-Manchester-United-Sir-Alex-Ferguson-makes-beat-Arsenal-Fulham-defender.html
I think Huntelaar wouldnt suite to our style of play. He lacks pace and technical quality. Yes he can finish but I doubt at the Arsenal!!!
we bid for him. wenger said united offered more money at the moment. i am suer he will come back with an improved bid.
Exactly…If Baptista was worth a loan move,Then Huntelaar is 100% worth it.I feel at Real and also at Ac he has really been given a chance to shine.At Arsenal we beleive in our players and i think we will get the best of him.
This looks the fix was in. How much did Man U offer? Fulham may be playing games. http://bobbygee.wordpress.com/
at last some quotations :D anyways I think the news of the day is this: “Nasri, Bendtner, Sagna back for #Arsenal at Villa. Song reports back on Weds, could be back for weekend”
Islington I agree, Wenger is the person to rekindle a talented players career, and like Rock pointed out Babel also is one I think Wenger would work his magic on. I would add Kalou and Pavlyuchenko to a list of players I think Arsene could snap up at value and turn good.
BUT right now is not the time for risk.
NOW is the time to invest in a striker who fits the requirement, even if it costs £15m+, as we have a super chance of winning the title, and what will be proved ontop of our defensive frailties in the next 4 games, is we lack a CF to cause problems to the best defenders at the best clubs for 90mins each game.
Gunner guru,According to the mail he has ruled it out and said we are not in for any strikers at the moment.
I like nik..But surely he’s not gonna rest on the fact he is back and will come straight back into the team and fire on all cylinders??…Im sorry but at the momment its seemingly like more transfer spin again from Wenger and we will sign no one.
Sorry the evening standard..Not the mail.
http://www.newsnow.co.uk/A/397558600?-11203
Now I am going to through something out there which most will not agree…
Assuming we do not buy a striker, or if we do due to paperwork, fitness and training any new player will not feature a great deal in the next few games. Then what would you suggest we run with…because I STRONGLY believe neither Arsharvin or Eduardo have been effective up front, and that has been against lower placed opposition, now we face villa, united, chelsea and liverpool.
I would start Walcott up front through the middle…
* he will not win any headers…but we haven’t been anyway!
* he will not out muscle the opposition…but we haven’t anyway!
* he will not be the best at link up play…but that is what the 5 man midfield and attacking full backs are for!
* He will at a few points over 90mins out pace the CB and create himself a chance to score, because he is when confident a good finisher, and he is probably the fastest player in the league!
@Gunner Guru, I’m sure Wenger would never in a billion years play THIS Walcott through the middle. Let’s face it, besides pace he hasn’t got anything to differ him from an average player. Average as, let’s say, Stephen Hunt of Hull (who is much more effective btw)
Gunner Guru you’re an idiot, Walcott doesn’t have the skill to play centrally in our system. The reason he was so poor against Stoke was because he kept drifting infield where he cannot be effective. He needs to use his pace up the wing where he’ll have the space
Well in recent weeks I have seen Arsharvin become half the player he was since playing uptop…I have seen Eduardo look poor game after game, in the league from memory only scoring a tap in and a deflected free kick!…and Bendtner is hardly going to find his touch (if he ever had one) and fitness in quick enough time to be anymore than a good sub in the next two weeks.
Telegraph site @ 1.45pm
Wenger, though, maintains until the ink is dry, no deal can be considered done.
The Arsenal manager said: “It just looks like Manchester United offered more money than us, but as long as the player has not signed anywhere it is not the end of it.
“Let’s see what happens there.
“We will not come out on what we are doing exactly. It has come out [elsewhere], but that does not mean it is true.
“If we have anything more to tell you we will let you know.”
Wenger, however, rejected suggestions he was set to move for Dutch forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar.
He said: “We are not after any striker at the moment.”
The Gunners manager is, though, ready to let teenage midfielder Jack Wilshere go out on loan to get some regular first-team football.
“We have interests now from a few Premier League teams, it will be decided today or tomorrow,” Wenger said.
Crafty…Historically Wenger has always encouraged his wingers, since Pires and Freddie, and up to Nasri and Arsharvin, to drift in field while the FB’s overlap. So in fact your point only proves that Walcott does not have the style to play on the wing in our formation, not that this was why he played poorly v Stoke or why he can not play up front!
I agree with this point, he does not fit the way Arsenal play out wide. But to say he lacks skill, to play up front with such pace a player only needs two major abilities; ability to make the right runs + ability to finish = goals.
I am far from saying Theo is the answer, he has lots to learn and is too raw for what you would expect by now, but currently that is what I would do.
Supply & demand always ruins prices of english/british players because demand far outweighs the quality in depth produced by academies
No one has actually seen this guy play more than twice, get a grip!
@Gunner Guru, you saw Eduardo look poor game after game??? Which game did you watch mate. Eduardo’s been very good, his link-up play was exceptional, rarely lost possession, kept the ball, played his way into the box which is very hard when you’re on your own in attack.
I think that Walcott has to move to the left side and use his pace to come to a position where he can deliver a short pass for Eduardo to run on, the opposite of what’s he doing now, crossing the ball to a 1,70m high player.
We have just submitted another bid. Waiting to see if it is accepted. We are still in the hunt for this kid, as Wenger’s most recent comments suggest.
how do you know we’ve bid again dan?
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/wenger-still-interested-in-smalling-deal
mamadou sakho would be perfect for CD role
…the games where he has failed to put chances away, or create a bit of space to make a chance for himself!
In his defence yes he has been involved on some good link up play, but only a few times have we benefited.
I feel we have 5 midfielders and an attacking defence to create the link up play, and one CF to cause the opposition problems, make opportunities for themselves and get on the end of others. And that is not what either eduardo or arsharvin have been doing!
I don’t mean for this to sound negative, because it isn’t, but I’m surprised Wenger has let this much information slip!! lol I hope we get him. But he can’t be worth 10 million pounds because that is what we paid for Vermaelen isn’t it?? :S I know he is English but come on now:S
Finally some “heavy” praise for Szczesny :D
I wouldn’t be mad if we did not get Smalling, Even if he turns out to win the world player of the year in the future. I think 7 mill is way too much for a player like him. He is not a special talent or else he would be starting for fulham. He might be rated highly based on potential alone, but not all potential materialized. By the way where is Hangeland, I haven’t heard of him that much this year.
Arsenal bid accepted. Spurs are also involved now.
guys, wenger aint going for a striker as he is still hoping maroune chamakh confirms by end of window he will join us on a free this summer, this will save millions on buying now …
Just been announced that smalling has agreed terms and will join next season. Man U officially announced it
We missed out on Ashley Young because Arsene Wenger would not pay the price, i hope that the same thing does not happen to the Chris Smalling deal IMO.
all done…Wenger was too slow.
BREAKING NEWS ON SKY SPORTS NEWS!!
MANYOo COMFIRM THAT CHRIS SMALLING WILL JOIN THEM IN THE SUMMER AFTER AGREEING PERSONAL TERMS WITH THE PLAYER.
manutd.com jumped the gun with Ramsey, so I hope that’s what they’ve done again.
Shame if we missed out for just another £1m. Though they lad could have prefered Man Utd to us.