Arsenal and United set for shock player swap

17:15 | 17.06.2014
Arsenal and United set for shock player swap

Arsenal and United set for shock player swap

Wenger wants Cleverley in Vermaelen deal: Arsenal will look for a part-exchange deal with Manchester United as part of club captain Thomas Vermaelen's proposed move to Old Trafford - and Tom Cleverly is the man they want. The Daily Mirror reports that Arsene Wenger is keen on midfielder Cleverley and also has an interest in World Cup defender Chris Smalling. The paper reports that United are hoping to do a £10m deal for Gunners skipper Vermaelen, with Cleverley and Smalling potentially acting as sweeteners to Arsenal, who may not want to sell to a direct rival.

Paper Round's view: So, Wenger has passed up the opportunity to sign Cesc Fabregas, but is interested in bringing Cleverley on board? There are some people who may suggest that Wenger is off his rocker. And they may have a point. Cleverley isn't a patch on Fabregas, but neither would he be even half as expensive. Wenger's always been cautiously shrewd in the transfer market (at least he was before last summer's blow-out on Mesut Ozil) and if he can land Cleverley in some kind of swap deal, it could turn out to be good business. The United midfielder is, after all, an England international, whose reputation as a promising young player was intact before the David Moyes debacle. Indeed, he became something of a scapegoat for Moyes' reign, perhaps somewhat unfairly. If Wenger can coax him back to some kind of form in an Arsenal shirt, this move may not be as crazy as it sounds.Gunners step up Balotelli interest: Arsenal are ready to pay £25m for AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli, according to another report in the Daily Mirror. The paper revealed two weeks ago that the Gunners have been offered the Italy international, given the Serie A club's financial problems. French side Monaco are also interested, but a top striker remains a priority for Arsenal this summer. Balotelli fits the bill.Paper Round's view: Bring him back. The Premier League has been a poorer place without the enigmatic Balotelli; his high jinks both on and off the field were a joy to behold when at Manchester City and they have been sorely missed. He might even be a better player now than he was at City, and if Wenger can get him to curb his antics somewhat (he will surely want to, even if the neutral would never want to see that part of him be stifled), Balotelli may well be what the Gunners have been searching for.(Eurosport)Bakudaily.az

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