If Freddie accepts pay-cut, he’ll join Fiorentina
773 comments July 11th, 2007
Freddie Ljungberg’s agent has confirmed that Arsenal and Fiorentina are negotiating a fee for the Swedish midfielder. If one is agreed, the player “can think about looking at a move”. However, it’s hugely unlikely that the Viola would be able to match Ljungberg’s heft wage packet, so he’ll be faced with a choice: first-team football in Italy, or more money for less playing time in London.
I don’t think deciding on a fee will be a problem. To be honest, I think we’re lucky to be getting a fee at all for a player who is clearly past his crime, on huge wages, and incredibly injury prone. I thought we might have had a Campbell-like free transfer situation on our hands just to get him off the wage bill.
Freddie is as loyal as they come, and has plenty of heart, but I would be content to see him go – primarily because it would force Wenger’s hand and make him bring in a new wide player. We desperately need someone with pace and the ability to go outside his defender, and losing Freddie might be just the impetus Arsene needs to plug that gap.
Remarkably, Freddie’s departure would mean that from the great Invincibles side, only Lehmann, Toure, and Gilberto would remain. That’s a hell of a turnaround. Talk about transition.
One player who was present in that era, but perhaps not the key reason for our success, was Pascal Cygan, who was yesterday voted Villareal’s Player of the Year. Impressive stuff, but then you have to remember how good Baptista looked in Spain, and Pichichi winner Diego Forlan – “La Liga” is clearly one big lie.
As far as Bakary Sagna goes, the player will probably return to France today unless a fee is agreed sharpish. It wouldn’t mean the deal was off, but the longer it drags on, the more you begin to worry. Fingers crossed there’ll be positive news soon.
UPDATE: Here he is trying on the number 3 shirt. Hm. Confirmation some time this morning, I’d expect.
