Lauren allowed to leave
13 Jan 2007 - 10:41:44
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he will allow right-back Lauren to leave the club, with West Ham interested in the Cameroon defender.
The 29-year-old has not featured for the Gunners for nearly a year, having failed to regain a first-team spot after recovering from a knee injury.
Wenger told the club's official website: "The problem is that since Lauren got injured I have Justin Hoyte who got promoted, I have Emmanuel Eboue who got promoted and I have Johan Djourou who can play there too.
"It's always the same. You make room for young players and then it is difficult to leave them out again. I feel we have too many players in that position now.
"Lauren is free to talk to anyone because it is the end of his contract, but frankly I don't know if he has spoken to West Ham.
"He doesn't have to inform me if he wants to speak to anyone."
Lauren joined the Gunners in the summer of 2000 for £7.2million from Spanish side Mallorca and has scored ten goals in 241 appearances for the north London club.