Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal told to stump up £25m for wantaway Montpellier defender Emir Spahic
Arsenal have been told they must pay £25million to prise Emir Spahic away from Montpellier. 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.In demand: Bosnia defender Emir Spahic'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. However, Montpellier insist there has been no contact and club president Loulou Nicollin warned that Spahic would come with a hefty price tag. 'He has three years of his contract left,' Nicollin told French newspaper L'Equipe. '(But) if he wants to leave, nobody is irreplaceable.'He is worth three times Koscielny,' who Arsenal signed from L'orient for £8.5m in July. 'To date we have had absolutely no contact with Arsenal or anyone else.'I believe Arsenal is a great club which first talks with the people involved before starting anything.'Montpellier were stunned by Spahic's claims and boss Rene Girard phoned Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger to be reassured.'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.'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. 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