adminLONDON. – Arsene Wenger has refused to be drawn on reports linking Fulham striker Dimitar Berbatov with a move to the Emirates.
The Arsenal manager could be tempted to play in the January transfer window with strikers Olivier Giroud and Nicklas Bendtner sidelined with ankle injuries.
Giroud missed the 2-0 victory over Cardiff, which maintained Arsenal’s place atop the English Premier League table, while Bendtner sprained his ankle shortly after scoring the game’s opening goal.
Reports claimed Wenger was prepared to lodge a £2m bid for Berbatov and Arsenal youngster Yaya Sanogo even tweeted a “welcome to Arsenal” message to the Bulgarian adding: “You could fire us to the title”.
But speaking ahead of his side’s FA Cup third-round tie against Tottenham, Wenger denied any interest in the former Manchester United striker, although appeared to keep his options open.
“Dimitar Berbatov is a not a name we have considered, at the moment,” he said.
“I don’t want to go into speculation on any specific names as that would not help and would be disrespectful to the club where they are playing at the moment.
“We are just considering our options and I must confess they are quite restricted.
We have not even been out in the transfer market, we have not contacted anybody.
“We are just analysing our own situation and, of course, being very cautious until we are well informed about Bendtner and Sanogo, who is back in training now.
We will make a decision after that.”Of the game itself, the Frenchman revealed Giroud is 90 percent likely to miss out while Kieran Gibbs and Aaron Ramsey are definitely sidelined.
However, he will give a late fitness test to midfielder Mesut Ozil, who sat out the festive victories over Newcastle and Cardiff with a shoulder injury, before finalising his line-up.
Wenger was earlier reported yesterday to be set to continue his big spending ways with a £32million deal for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa.
Wenger surprised many by forking out an Arsenal record £42.5million to sign Ozil from Real Madrid in the summer — and it appears he isn’t stopping there.
According to reports, the Frenchman is ready to go big again to sign Atletico’s Brazil-born Spain striker Costa in the coming days.
The Daily Star suggests that Arsenal officials have already approached the La Liga club to inform them that they plan on meeting the 25-year-old’s £32million buyout clause.
The striker has scored goals for fun in the last 18 months, and was strongly linked with Liverpool during the summer transfer window.
Meanwhile, Berbatov has issued a “come and get me” plea to Arsenal after posting a video suggesting he could fire the Gunners to the English Premier League title on his Facebook page.
The Fulham striker has been strongly linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium in recent days, with Wenger looking to add to his forward options.
And Berbatov, who has made no secret of his desire to leave the Cottagers this month, is seemingly keen on the move after making the posting on his official Facebook page.
The video shows former Fulham star Billy McKinlay discussing the possibility of the 34-year-old moving to a new club, with McKinlay arguing that Berbatov would be an excellent signing.
The video of the chat was clearly stumbled upon by Berba, who posted the video on the social media platform.
It’s thought that Arsenal could pay up to £2million to land the Bulgarian this month.
And Arsenal forward Theo Walcott insists he would welcome the increased competition for places should Wenger bring in a new striker this month.
The table-topping Gunners have seen strikers Giroud and Bendtner suffer ankle injuries intensifying speculation that Fulham veteran Berbatov will switch to the Emirates Stadium.
Walcott said of the situation: “To be fair that is for the manager to decide if he wants to go out and buy anyone, whoever will come to the club in January, if not it is going to make the club stronger anyway.
“It is always nice to have competition with players coming in, but January is such a difficult period in the transfer market to get players in, especially the top players.
“The boss has already said that he is looking for special players and we have got a lot of special players in that dressing room.”
Arsenal returned to the top of the table, one point ahead of Manchester City, after a late double salvo secured a 2-0 victory over Cardiff at the Emirates Stadium on New Year’s Day.
On the chances of the Gunners maintaining their challenge for the title, Walcott added: “If you want to win titles then you have got to go to the end and the thing about this team at the moment is that we never give up.
“Every game that we win the belief gets stronger and stronger.” – Sky Sports-Metro
Online Reporter