The Beautiful Groan

There is still over a week to go in June, and I’m already sick of the transfer sagas of the summer. We know Nasri is arriving, and Hleb is leaving, but the story that continues to divide opinion is that of Emmanuel Adebayor.

Milan have categorically confirmed that they want him, but have also said that Arsenal are ‘unwilling to negotiate’. That, for me, about sums it up.

What seems to be causing consternation amongst Arsenal fans is the fact that this story refuses to go away. In reality, I imagine this has a lot to do with the dearth of news - some are calling for Adebayor to again reiterate his intention to stay, but how many times does he have to do this before the media take the hint?

It just doesn’t seem like a likely Wenger sale. Adebayor has a long term contract, and is only 24. Wenger generally controls player sales very well, with players only leaving if they are past it (in his mind: Henry, Vieira), not going to make it (too many to mention), their contract has expired (Edu, Pires, Flamini) or they are kicking up a fuss (Bentley, Diarra).

The only category Ade can fall into is the last one. Wenger clearly rates the big man, and will not want to sell at any price. So only if he really wants to leave may he be allowed to do so. So does he?

I don’t see it, to be honest. He seems to have a very troublesome agent, first mentioning the United interest and now this, but the player himself seems strongly attached to both the club and the manager. With his stock still on the rise, the Premiership suiting him, and Milan not even in the Champions League, it would be an odd time to leave. I remain relaxed on this story, but I have been wrong before.

A player even less likely to leave is Gael Clichy, who seems as committed to Arsenal as anyone, but whose impressive displays have inevitably caught the eye of other clubs, with Roma’s manager Spalleti saying:

“Certainly, it would please me a great deal to see Gael Clichy in a Roma shirt. We will have to wait and see what develops.”

Not. Happening. Clichy has mentioned plenty of times in the past how much he feels he owes Wenger for sticking by him through his injuries. He can become an Arsenal legend, and he seems intent on doing just that.

So, in the transfer world, not much has changed, really.