Source: Daily_Mail
Mark Schwarzer to confront Mark Hughes over Arsenal transfer
Mark Schwarzer has rescheduled his flight home from Australia's friendly in Slovenia in order to confront Fulham boss Mark Hughes about his future.[LNB]Schwarzer submitted a transfer request via email this week in an effort to force through a move to Arsenal but yesterday Fulham insisted they had no record of any such request.[LNB]The Aussie goalkeeper, who held talks with Hughes last week, is aware that the Gunners have been back in touch to confirm they are still interested in signing him despite having their initial bid of £2million rejected last month.[LNB] Eyeing the exit: Schwarzer hopes Hughes will be sympathetic to his ambition[LNB]Schwarzer, 37, has one year left on his contract and views a potential move to the Emirates Stadium as his last chance to play in the Champions League and compete for major honours. [LNB]He had hoped Hughes would be sympathetic to his personal ambition and was disappointed to learn Fulham would continue to resist Arsenal's approaches when he discussed his situation with the new manager at Craven Cottage.[LNB]The goalkeeper will return early from Ljubljana today and head straight for the training ground to speak to Hughes and chief executive Alistair Mackintosh about his future and state of mind, just two days before their Barclays Premier League campaign starts at Bolton.[LNB]Major test: The Cottager's new boss has a fight on his hands to keep best players[LNB]Fulham's success under Roy Hodgson was built on the spirit and togetherness inside the dressing room but Schwarzer's row threatens to disturb the equilibrium.[LNB]It represents a major test for Hughes, who fears central defender Philippe Senderos, a summer recruit on a free from Arsenal, may be out for six months after rupturing an achilles tendon in training.[LNB]Hughes also has seven senior players in the final year of their contracts, including Paul Konchesky, who finds himself in a similar position to Schwarzer because Hodgson is understood to be interested in taking him to Liverpool.[LNB]John Pantsil, Chris Baird, Simon Davies, Zoltan Gera and Dickson Etuhu are also out of contract at the end of this season. [LNB]Bobby Zamora, who was on England duty against Hungary at Wembley last night, has two years left on his current deal but is seeking improved terms amid interest from Birmingham.[LNB]As such, the core of the team which established itself in the top half of the Premier League and reached last season's Europa League final is unsettled on the eve of the season. [LNB] Schwarzer's situation has echoes of Joleon Lescott's move this time last year. The centre half was an Everton player wanted by Manchester City, who tempted him with the promise of an enormous pay rise and the idea of challenging for the title.[LNB]Everton resisted City's offer and manager David Moyes picked Lescott for the opening game of the season, only for his team to lose 6-1 at home to Arsenal with the 27-year-old playing poorly. [LNB]Although Fulham have every right contractually to demand loyalty from the goalkeeper they signed on a free from Middlesbrough in 2008, the Lescott episode highlights the problems of keeping a player against his will.[LNB]Wenger has earmarked Schwarzer as the ideal man to replace Manuel Almunia as Arsenal's No 1 for a couple of years, until highly rated 20-year-old Wojciech Szczesny is considered ready to step up to the first team.[LNB] You're going nowhere! Fulham tell Schwarzer to forget about ArsenalWenger's No 1 target Mertesacker snubs Arsenal to stay at BremenFulham rocked as achilles injury threatens to KO Senderos for seasonSign up to our FREE Fantasy Football game - with £40,000 in prize money up for grabsARSENAL FC
