Arsene Wenger has denied that Dimitar Berbatov is a current target for Arsenal, but hasn’t totally dismissed the notion of signing the Bulgarian.
Top of the Premier League, in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League and with the FA Cup to begin this weekend, the Gunners are well placed to finally end their trophy drought this season. Yet many of their fans feel their over-reliance on Olivier Giroud could be their undoing when the gongs are handed out in May.
As impressive as the France international has been this season, aside from him, only Nicklas Bendtner and the young Yaya Sanogo offer similar outlets. So with the transfer window now open for the month, it has been suggested that Wenger will aim to bolster his attacking options in his pursuit of silverware.
It was widely reported on Thursday that Berbatov, despite his Tottenham Hotspur connections, was a target, and that a £2million bid was being prepared for the Fulham frontman. Another bonus of such a signing would be that the former Manchester United ace, 32, is eligible for the Champions League.
Sanogo even tweeted a ‘welcome to Arsenal’ message to the Bulgarian, before offering his opinion that the Craven Cottage star could fire the Gunners to the title. However, speaking ahead of the FA Cup third round clash with Spurs, Wenger insists Berbatov is not on his radar…at least not at the moment, anyway.
“Dimitar Berbatov is a not a name we have considered, at the moment,” he said. “I don’t want to go into speculation on any specific names as that would not help and would be disrespectful to the club where they are playing at the moment. We are just considering our options and I must confess they are quite restricted. We have not even been out in the transfer market, we have not contacted anybody.”
Even with a fully fit squad Arsenal are in need of reinforcements up front, and this need has been heightened due to ankle injuries suffered by both Giroud and Bendtner. But with Fulham battling against relegation, would they be willing to sell the man most likely to fire them up the Premier League table?
