Wenger: Eyes Holland over France? 08/10/2005 00:00:00
It appears Arsene Wenger will complete the signing of Hossam Ghaly from Feyenoord during the January Window for a reported £3m, unless of course the fact that the deal has become public knowledge alerts other clubs in to a bidding war.
Whether Ghaly gets, as he has called it, his ‘dream move’ to Highbury will become evident as the turn of the year approaches, but what is interesting is the increasing interest Wenger appears to be showing in players from the Dutch Eredivisie.
Already various media sources have linked The Gunners’ Manager with Ryan Babel, Wesley Sneijder and Steven Pienaar of Ajax, Kenneth Perez of AZ Alkmaar and now Ghaly. Of course Robin Van Persie and Quincy Owusu Abeyie are already at Highbury, and quite possibly the fact that Wenger appears to be veering away from any more young French players may be a signal that the school at Clairefontaine may be going through a lean period.
Added to that has been that Raymond Domenech has recalled his more experienced players for France, coupled with Holland’s rise through the World Rankings to be Europe’s top nation, may be pointing the Arsenal Manager away from his native Country to search for young talent.
Tottenham, in the form of their Manager Martin Jol, and Chelsea, controversially acquiring Frank Arnesen and also making a link with PSV Eindhoven; Wenger isn’t the only Manager who may be looking towards the Lowland Country.
It certainly doesn’t appear to be an accident that since ex-Gunners skipper Tony Adams, who now operates a coaching role at Feyenoord, has been in Holland these stories have begun to appear.
In the case of Ghaly, Adams would have had first hand experience of the players’ abilities, and it has been reported that he gave Wenger a glowing reference regarding the player.
Of course, speculation surrounding a club like Arsenal will always exist, but don’t be too surprised should more than just one player arrives at the club from The Eredivisie. Financially, considering the new Stadium at Ashburton Grove, Wenger may find he can secure a better deal for a player from Holland than sometimes is the case elsewhere.
NAAR HET ANDERE FORUM!