Championship loanees Vito Mannone and Aaron Ramsey are expected to learn the fate of their short term future in the next few days, as Arsenal make decisions on their loan status.
Mannone and Ramsey’s deals with Hull City and Nottingham Forest expire in January, and both clubs have already indicated they want to seal extensions until the end of the season. Arsène Wenger will have tough choices to make, as he balances the numbers and prepares his squad for the ‘business’ end of the campaign.
Ramsey made his first start for Forest on Wednesday night, playing an hour in a 5-2 win over Derby County. However, he has struggled for minutes due to postponements and manager Billy Davies’ concerns over pitches and how the Welshmen might react. The loan deal was fitness based, and with Aaron looking in very good shape, any further time spent on loan would be purley development related.
Mannone has had a fruitful time with Hull City, capping off what has been a fantastic spell with a penalty save from Reading’s Shane Long at the weekend. Vito has continued his 100% league record, having never been on the losing side with Arsenal or Hull. A selection of great stops and clean sheets have left The Tigers desperate to hang on to the Italian.
Wenger’s willingness to sanction that could depend on the future of fellow ‘keeper Manuel Almunia, who has been made available for transfer. Arsenal are not optimistic they can offload Almunia, due to his high wages, so may have to wait until the summer. It would mean Vito could stay with Hull, and return then to battle to be first choice.
News on the deals is expected shortly.
Elsewhere, Henri Lansbury’s hamstring injury sustained while on loan with Norwich City appears to have curtailed his loan spell. Manager Paul Lambert confirmed today that Henri is unlikely to play again for Norwich, as his deal expires in January, and talk of a Premier League loan is afoot.
Håvard Nordtveit has completed his transfer to Borussia Mönchengladbach. Nordtveit has signed a two and a half year deal, with reports that Arsenal have waved any fee, and have instead included a sell on fee in the deal. It would mean that if Mönchengladbach sell the Norwegian, a portion of the money would go back to the Gunners.
Håvard thanked Wenger for the opportunity to play for Arsenal, telling the German media that the Frenchman is ‘more than a coach, more a football professor’. He will go straight into the Borussia team where he will feature as a centre back.
Finally, Wenger also spoke about Emmanuel Frimpong on Thursday, saying he is a month away from a return to training with the football.
Great round-up, hows sanchez watt doing?
great news about frimpong, sooner than i expected.
also nice to see nordveit showing some respect to the boss on his way out. i wondered what happened there, a big love-in where player and club still went separate years. would the club consider him again in future???
Highly doubt that as Campbell was the first ever player Wenger re-signed as he has a policy against it, and in that situation it was an emergency anyway. I have no idea why Nordtveit wasn’t given a chance but it seems Wenger has gone for the cash and placed his faith in Bartley and Miquel
thanks a lot jamie this is a great round up and i’ve not commented here before but your site is great -_-
Someone said Pedro Botelho could return to us in January? Any truth in this?
Also loan moves for Lansbury and JET to Prem sides would be excellent
I’m pretty sure he’s on a season long loan and you can’t recall them, but he’ll definitely be back in the summer.
once pedro gets hit work permit i reckon clichy might be moved on because gibbs will be ready by then. same with denilson once ramsey comes back. nothing against those players but our squad is massive so we can make some nice wonga getting rid of some dead wood and then promote some other youth players… then spend the money on a beast of a CB hint hint!
Great article, a lot of information to digest there!
I hope Mannone stays with Hull until the end of the season, he’s doing really well. Almunia’s departure is only a matter of time, and if (or more likely, when) Szczesny lands the no.1 position, Fabianski won’t hang around forever on the bench. So Mannone has a very real shot at being made Arsenal no.2 in the not so distant future. In the meantime, his great form at Hull could pave the way for him to get a loan with a PL side next season.
JS, you didn’t mention how long Lansbury’s hamstring injury will keep him out for. Is it serious?
Good luck to them all.
Personally I feel they should be called back.We are in nearing the end of the season and the games are coming fast so we might be needing their services.