Source: Telegraph
Arsenal line up Fulham's Brede Hangeland to replace Manchester City bound Kolo Toure
Fulham have offered to double the player’s wages to around £30,000-a-week, but he could command much more than that elsewhere and the prospect of Champions League football at the Emirates may be too tempting to ignore.
“I’m not in a rush to sign the contract,” said Hangeland. “We will wait and see what happens.”
Wenger claims that he has enough cover at centre back to allow Toure to leave after the summer signing of Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen from Ajax, but the addition of Hangeland, who was excellent for Fulham throughout last season, would still improve his options.
Fulham are set to play a Europa League qualifier against Vetra, in Lithuania, on Thursday and Wenger will need to act fast if he is to prevent Hangeland being cup-tied from European competition until the new year.
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Eboue is poised to be the latest player to leave Arsenal and, according to a report in the Mirror, will sign a five-year deal with Fiorentina.
Arsenal have given the deal their blessing and expect to recoup around £9 million on the 26-year-old.
Fiorentina coach Cesare Prandelli, speaking earlier this week, admitted that the club were keen to take the Ivory Coast international to Italy.
“Eboue is a very important player,” said Prandelli. “In attack he is second to very few players in his role.”
