Wenger: Chamakh asking price still too high
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says he is still not willing to meet Bordeaux's asking price for striker Marouane Chamakh, although he has not yet ruled out recruiting the forward.
The Moroccan international, who has netted 15 times for his country, has been the subject of one of the longest running transfer sagas of the close-season.
His 13 goals last season 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 claimed to have agreed terms with Sunderland, Fulham, Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur, adding that he would prefer a move to Arsenal.
However, after the Gunners saw a €7 million bid for the front-man rejected, Wenger 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.
Reports have since suggested that Bordeaux have dropped their asking price for the forward down to €12 million from €18 million.
But the Frenchman insists he has not wavered fom his original stance.
"The fee asked is too high. We have to respect Bordeaux's decision," he told L'Equipe.
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"The player is under contract, so Bordeaux are making the decision. They can ask whatever fee they want.
"Will I abandon that trail? I don't know. I will give myself a few days to think about it.
"He is an excellent player that works for his team and makes the other players good. They are the kind of qualities that we like."
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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.
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