Melo would make more sense than Chamakh + Vermaelen on the verge
Add comment June 18th, 2009
Yesterday I reported on the news that Philippe Auclair, respected French journalist and pal of Arsene Wenger, believes Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh is on the verge of a move to London.
However, despite the strength of the source and the talent of the player – a rangy, skillful type with a genuine aerial threat – this wasn’t the transfer rumour that excited me most yesterday. That was a tenuous link with Brazilian midfielder Felipe Melo.
Melo started last season on the fringes of the Fiorentina first-team. In fact, he actually broke into the Brazil side before the Serie A outfit, leading to doubt and derision from the national side’s fanatical support.
However, over the course of the season he gradually established himself as a mainstay of the Fiorentina side, with a combination of tenacious tackling and crisp passing that saw him likened to former Arsenal stalwart Gilberto Silva. By the end of the season, there was talk of a multi-million pound move to champions Inter Milan.
With our midfield crying out for a defensive-minded presence in the Gilberto mould, Melo would be ideal. Chamakh is an exciting player and a potential hit in the Premier League, but until Emmanuel Adebayor is moved on his signing is simply not a priority. A player in the Melo mould is essential.
One man whose arrival is in little doubt is Thomas Vermaelen, the Belgian centre-back who has now revealed he will have a medical on Friday:
“The signature is not there yet, but everything is in order. On Friday I will fly to London to undergo a medical. Then I hope to sign.
I feel so proud. Arsenal is a fantastic club, and as a child I watched them play. On Friday, if I go to Emirates Stadium I will be seriously impressed.
This will be a big change in my life, next year I will suddenly be facing the best strikers in the world. This does not scare me, I will give everything my body has. This is one of the best days of my life.”
A centre-back and centre-midfielder are our real priorities in this window, and it looks as if we’re about to get halfway there. Vermaelen, Melo and Chamakh in / Adebayor (and possibly Eboue?) out would be a more than decent summer’s work.
Goodplaya has done a better job of analysing the fixtures than I could ever be bothered to do myself. The most positive way of looking at them is to say that an early win over United could generate some serious momentum early in the season, whilst an easier run-in (with no ‘Big Four’ clashes post February) could prove beneficial.
Till tomorrow, folks.
