Arsenal end interest in Chamakh
Arsenal have reportedly ended their interest in signing Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh.
The Moroccan international, who has netted 15 times for his country, has been linked with a move to the Premier League throughout the close-season.
His 13 goals last term helped secure a first league title in 10 years for les Girondins, but Chamakh has made no secret of his desire to leave the Stade Chaban Delmas.
He has previously claimed to have agreed terms with Sunderland, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur, with Arsenal - his preferred destination - seeing a £5 million bid turned down by Bordeaux.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger previously insisted he would not be increasing his offer nor his efforts to sign the striker, stating he would rather wait a year and land the front-man for free.
But despite suggestions that the Emirates Stadium were planning to submit a second bid for the forward, the Daily Mirror have now claimed that Wenger has turned his back on a deal to bring him to North London.
Arsenal's exit leaves fellow London rivals West Ham and Fulham to fight over Chamakh's signature.
The Hammers are desperate to sign a forward to support Carlton Cole at Upton Park, with Barcelona's Eidur Gudjohnsen, Inter Milan's Mario Balotelli and Luca Toni of Bayern Munich also being linked with Gianfranco Zola's side.
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While the Cottagers are thought to be willing to offer Bordeaux French forward Diomansy Kamara in part-exchange for Chamakh's services.
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Gregg Davies is the Chief Sub Editor of FourFourTwo magazine, joining the team in January 2008 and spending seven years working on the website. He supports non-league behemoths Hereford and commentates on Bulls matches for Radio Hereford FC. His passions include chocolate hobnobs and attempting to shoehorn Ronnie Radford into any office conversation.