Arsenal told to stump up £25m for wantaway Montpellier defender Emir Spahic

05 August 2010 10:46
Arsenal have been told they must pay £25million to prise Emir Spahic away from Montpellier. [LNB]The Gunners are in the market for a central defender and keen on the Bosnia defender - with Spahic even claiming that a move to north London was close to being agreed.[LNB]In demand: Bosnia defender Emir Spahic[LNB]'The most important thing is that so far the negotiations go as planned and that the transfer could be completed soon,' Spahic said on Wednesday. [LNB]However, Montpellier insist there has been no contact and club president Loulou Nicollin warned that Spahic would come with a hefty price tag.[LNB] 'He has three years of his contract left,' Nicollin told French newspaper L'Equipe. '(But) if he wants to leave, nobody is irreplaceable.[LNB]'He is worth three times Koscielny,' who Arsenal signed from L'orient for £8.5m in July. [LNB]'To date we have had absolutely no contact with Arsenal or anyone else.[LNB]'I believe Arsenal is a great club which first talks with the people involved before starting anything.'[LNB]Montpellier were stunned by Spahic's claims and boss Rene Girard phoned Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to be reassured.[LNB]'I can tell you one thing. Spahic is a Montpellier player,' said Girard. 'Wenger has a clear and honest way of working. If he wanted me to take his position at Arsenal tomorrow, he will call me first to tell me.'[LNB]Wenger is desperate to sign a new centre half before the start of the season, but has been told to forget about signing Germany international Per Mertesacker, after Werder Bremen insisted they would not be negotiating. [LNB] Bosnia defender Spahic claims he's heading to fill Arsenal's defensive crisisBlackburn coup as Arsenal target Nzonzi signs new five-year contractFace it Cesc: Arsenal demand Fabregas pledge of loyalty to fansARSENAL FC

Source: Daily_Mail