Sol Campbell *All threads merged*

Gunners close in on Koscielny deal
(UKPA) – 1 hour ago
Arsenal are on the verge of completing a £10million deal for French defender Laurent Koscielny from Lorient.
Press Association Sport understands a move will be officially confirmed by the Gunners soon, possibly even on Wednesday..
Arsene Wenger has tracked the 24-year-old for some time, as Koscielny, who is also eligible to play for Poland, impressed in the French domestic league.
The Gunners boss is in need of cover at the back, with Sol Campbell mulling over a new one-year deal and fellow veterans William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre set to leave after the end of their contracts.
Koscielny is expected to team up with the Arsenal players who have returned to the club's Hertfordshire training complex this week ahead of the traditional pre-season friendly at Barnet on July 17, although those who have been in international action will get extra time off, with captain Cesc Fabregas - a target for Barcelona - looking to join Dutch striker Robin van Persie in the World Cup final.
Wenger has already secured the capture of long-term target Marouane Chamakh, the Morocco striker, to bolster the Arsenal attack, which could be missing Nicklas Bendtner ahead of their opening game of the new Barclays Premier League season at Liverpool on August 15.
Fulham's Australia international Mark Schwarzer has been linked with a switch to Emirates Stadium should Wenger decide he needs a more reliable pair of hands in goal next season.
The Gunners boss has been in South Africa working as a pundit for French TV, but will waste no time on his return, with the squad set to head out to their Austrian training base before the Emirates Cup at the end of the month.
By then, Wenger will want Fabregas' future decided one way or another, as Barcelona appear to be growing impatient in the pursuit of their former trainee, but one which new president Sandro Rosell maintains will not come at any cost.


The Press Association: Gunners close in on Koscielny deal

do you think this will pave the way for celtic

 

Hope so mate. Surely sol will want to play as much as possible at this point of his career!

 

yeah looks like arsenal need him less and less. If he is serious about PLAYING football theres really only one option for him.

 

Sol is well known for being a committed player who expects every player on the field to give 100%. Hes a moody moaning bassa....just what we need. We need players who expect nothing less than winning.

 

CU Twitter says Bullard, Hooper and a final decision from Campbell all to happen in the next few days. I dont think I'm going to live to see it..so much suspense.

 

Deal done

TEAMtalk | Football | Premier League News - Gunners seal deal for Koscielny

Come on Sol, get signed up with the hoops now !

 

i can't wait for the season to begin, every transfer window for the past 2 seasons,i log in here everyday hoping that we can pull off that amazing transfer thats gonna wrestle that trophy back to paradise..under the maverick new management team we have in place and the signings we are gonna get ,,,,,this league is over before new year game.......go lenny .

 

I hope your right matey I think it will be a bit harder than that though

 

That's got to be insentive enough to sign for us. He'll end up 4th 5th choice if he stays at Arsenal.
If we get the players Lennon has admitted he's after then I can't see anything but success next season. Ledley, Hooper, Campbell, Bullard, Du-Ri, Mulgrew & hopefully Keane, that would be an excellent squad with the players we already have. Not sure about Boateng. Who knows maybe a good run in Europe???
Also I hope Hinkel doesnt leave I think he's got a lot left in him with the hoops.

 

This certainly seems to be going the way of a gamble in terms of us hoping we reach the CL for the money to sustain the wages.

Certainly more entertaining being in for these types than not.

 

^^

 

Sol knows now that Celtic is his biggest option, with Arsene Wenger splashing out a 10million deal for Laurent Koscielny it looks like Sol wont have a chance to play much with Arsenal next season if he chooses to stay, but if he comes to Celtic he's guaranteed to play nearly every game.

 

arsenal have offered sol a deal though and they only have 2 defenders the one they signed and vermaelen

 

Gallas??

 

he's left

 

Get real? lol mateee sol campbell is lucky a club of celtics size has came in for him... the fact he hasnt jumped at our club amazes me as he is holding out for a 2 year deal at arsenal.. i would say look sol son your what 34.. this is ur last big move.. i woudnt b surprised if lennon pulled the plug on this.

 

Players dictate the speed of deals. Not clubs.

 

ARSENE WENGER is ready to offer Sol Campbell a new contract at Arsenal, but knows the veteran defender may still decide to leave the Emirates if he can secure a better deal at another club.

Campbell, 35, made a successful return to Arsenal in January, playing 13 games in all competitions after his surprise return to the Gunners.

But he is now a free agent again and Scottish giants Celtic are ready to offer him a two-year deal that could tempt him away from Arsenal for a second time.

Newcastle are also interested in signing the experienced centre-back, but Campbell, who is getting married on July 17, has made it clear he will not be available to play or even train for anybody until he returns from honeymoon on July 27.

Campbell intimated at the end of the season that remaining at Arsenal would be his first choice, but Wenger has kept him sweating on his future as the Gunners boss raids the transfer market for new defenders.

Wenger has already moved to bring in Frenchman Laurent Koscielny, and is almost certain to buy again before the summer transfer window closes at the end of August.

But after Campbell's impressive displays towards the end of last season, Wenger is thought to be ready to offer Campbell a one-year deal with the caveat that he cannot guarantee him first team football.

Legendary Arsenal defender Martin Keown feels that would be the correct decision, and that Campbell could be a valuable presence next season.

"There is no substitute for experience," said Keown. "I think Arsenal have suffered over the last five years for not having quite enough experience.

"I am worried that he [Koscielny] is young. When he played last season I think Sol Campbell displayed an element that was missing from the team."

As reported in the Gazette a fortnight ago, French defender Koscielny's arrival for £8.1m from Lorient will be rubber-stamped this week, with the player likely to make his debut in the opening pre-season friendly at Barnet on July 17.

He will compete for a place in defence next season with Thomas Vermaelen and Johan Djourou, and while Wenger is attempting to bring in another centre-back, he wants Campbell on hand to deputise again if necessary.

French duo Mikael Silvestre and William Gallas are both set to confirm free transfer moves away from the club after their contracts officially expired last week.

 

To be fair to the big man he has not played Celtic along. He has said from the start he has offers and wants time to think about it. Its all hes doing. Celtic are free to pull out of it at any time and i'm sure Lennon is working away on other targets.

 

Arsenal have now signed French centre-back Lorient Koscielny for £10m...looks like Sol is no longer required at the Gooners?