Source: Daily_Mail
Matuidi back on Wenger's radar as Arsenal chase £5m St Etienne man
Arsene Wenger is ready to step up his summer-long pursuit of Saint-Etienne midfielder Blaise Matuidi, with Cesc Fabregas facing three weeks out after aggravating a hamstring injury in Saturday’s 4-1 win over Portsmouth.
Fabregas misses the return leg of the Champions League play-off against Celtic tomorrow night but, with Arsenal leading 2-0 from last week’s trip to Glasgow, coping without the Spaniard against Tony Mowbray’s side should not represent a major problem for the side.
Fabregas’s absence from Saturday’s trip to face champions Manchester United, however, is a bitter blow for Arsenal after their blistering start to the league campaign, in which they have hit 10 goals in two games.
The Arsenal skipper should return for the game away to Manchester City after the international break but, with the end of the transfer window fast approaching, Wenger wants to bring in playmaker Matuidi as cover.
Saint-Etienne sporting director Damien Comolli has spent the summer insisting the £5million-rated midfielder, who has drawn comparisons with Patrick Vieira, is not for sale, but Wenger has not been put off.
Meanwhile, David James has handed Portsmouth and England a boost by declaring himself fit to face Manchester City on Sunday.
The 39-year-old goalkeeper limped out of the defeat to Arsenal with bruising to his knee but should return to full training later this week.
