KANU CLOSE TO NEW DEAL!!

Tolu · Post by **Tolu** » Mon May 10, 2004 7:53 am

Super Eagles star, Nwankwo Kanu is now ready to end his almost five-year romance with Arsenal after becoming fed up with the antics of the newly crowned Premiership champions.

Although barely two months ago the lanky player had exclusively told SUPERSports at his north London home that he would like to stay with the Gunners, the latest word is that the former junior international has finally realised that he has no future at Arsenal following the way the Highbury outfit is conducting negotiations over a fresh contract.

According to information reaching us, although the Nigerian can leave Highbury on a free transfer this summer, Arsenal is refusing to consider this in sticking rigidly to œ25,000 a week offer. Though Kanu has indicated his readiness to take a pay cut from his current œ42,000 a week, he believes that since he is saving the club losing his transfer fee should he opt to stay, Arsenal should reciprocate by offering him more money.

"Kanu knows that should he stay he now to be saving the club losing out on whatever money they can make by selling him at the same time it also means that he is also sacrificing because he will not be able to take a percentage on his transfer fee this is why he believes the club should consider this and make him a better offer," explained a source close to the player. We learnt that all attempts by Kanu's Dutch manager to get Arsenal to consider this have so far fallen on death ears, with the Gunners pointing to the fact that former Dutch international Dennis Bergkamp, who is considered to be more important to the club's cause than the Nigerian, accepted to give up almost œ40,000 a week in accepting there œ25,000 a week one-year deal.

"That has been the club's position since contract talks opened a few months ago. Arsenal is insisting that they will not make any special concessions for Kanu since Bergkamp who was on more than œ60,000 a week before his contract ended accepted to stay on reduced wages."

Under the Bosman Ruling, the Atlanta'96 star can leave the club on a free transfer at the end of his contract, which ends this summer, which means that any club willing to sign him on could make the deal sweeter by offering a bulk sum as compensation for the absence of a signing on fee in addition to a sizeable weekly pay cheque.

Incidentally this is what the Gunners did a few seasons ago when they lured Sol Campbell from cross-city rivals Tottenham Hotspur to Highbury. Because the Spurs skipper left White Hart Lane on a free, Arsenal was able to offer him œ80,000 a week in addition to a lump sum, which although far less than what they would have paid if a transfer fee was necessary, but never the less made his move worth while.

As things now stand Kanu is now seriously considering an offer from another London club Charlton Athletic and Manchester City although Charlton look favourites to get his signature because the Nigerian has never hidden his love of staying in the British capital. This is also the main reason why he is not looking across the English Channel where Spanish clubs like Real Mallorca and Barcelona have shown interest. Under Alan Curbishley, whose ninth season with the club makes him the second longest serving manager after Manchester United's Sir Alex Ferguson, Charlton has almost always challenged for a place in Europe unlike City, which only survived the drop this season by the skin of their teeth. This is another reason why Charlton, which already has two Africans - Mark Fish and Shaun Bartlett both from South Africa - on their pay role, seems to be the most likely destination for the Nigerian.

SUPERSports reliably scooped that Charlton is willing to offer the Super Eagles vice skipper a seven figure signing on fee to sweeten the deal and also match the weekly wage offer of the Gunners.

Although former French international Nicolas Anelka, a team mate of Kanu's at Highbury, is the brains behind the attempt to lure 'Papillo' to Manchester City, the fact that the club, coached by former England manager Kevin Keegan, is not in London and struggled this season means that the move up north is not very appealing to the Arsenal star.

Dodo · Post by **Dodo** » Mon May 10, 2004 8:24 am

This guy must love sitting down on match days if he is even considering staying at Arsenal

lowzeewee · Post by **lowzeewee** » Mon May 10, 2004 9:09 am

Bolton,Portsmouth,Fulham and now "Charlton Athletic,Manchester City,Real Mallorca and Barcelona"
THIS IS MAD! 8)

"Charlton is willing to offer the Super Eagles vice skipper a *seven figure* signing on fee to sweeten the deal and also *match the weekly wage offer of the Gunners*"
WTF?

"French international Nicolas Anelka, a team mate of Kanu's at Highbury, is the brains behind the attempt to lure 'Papillo' to Manchester City"
Wow, I was expecting this.

Riche007 · Post by **Riche007** » Mon May 10, 2004 10:29 am

This is probably from one of the Nigerian tabloids with their "ïnside infos"

tribalfootball.com · Post by **tribalfootball.com** » Mon May 10, 2004 10:51 am

Kanu has no future at Barca he will dare not go there.

Charlton Athletico is ok for him at the moment since he loves london.
Viva Barca

lowzeewee · Post by **lowzeewee** » Mon May 10, 2004 11:08 am

Finidi George has been waiting for Kanu in Real Mallorca! He is camping there with his M60 machinegun loaded with light-explosive bullets. Remember who recommended Finidi to England to Ipswich which the referrer said was "a good club"?

Riversboy · Post by **Riversboy** » Mon May 10, 2004 11:10 am

lowzeewee wrote:Finidi George has been waiting for Kanu in Real Mallorca! He is camping there with his M60 machinegun loaded with light-explosive bullets. Remember who recommended Finidi to England to Ipswich which the referrer said was "a good club"?

hahahahahahaha. Maybe he meant Ipswich Night Club for Elephant and Castle.

RB.

Akingbade · Post by **Akingbade** » Mon May 10, 2004 12:35 pm

Why can't he have a future at Barca?He has played with most of them before.

theYemster · Post by **theYemster** » Mon May 10, 2004 12:43 pm

Kanu in my opinion should've asked to be loaned out instead of just wallowing on the Arsenal bench...that would've been the only way to market himself better either to Arsenal or other prospective clubs instead of resorting to sentiments, unless of course he himself no longer has confidence in his abilities. I mean look at Morientes and Van Bronchorst.

Cristao · Post by **Cristao** » Mon May 10, 2004 12:49 pm

whereever he goes to .. he should pls not come to SPURS ... our bench is full already

TD · Post by TD » Mon May 10, 2004 1:25 pm

Cristao wrote:whereever he goes to .. he should pls not come to SPURS ... our bench is full already

See how una dey yeye my guy. Una wicked o.

nemi2002 · Post by **nemi2002** » Mon May 10, 2004 1:39 pm

Mek spurs no worry.
Kanu get him own bench wey him go carry go spurs. He no need to sidon for club own.

joplass · Post by **joplass** » Mon May 10, 2004 1:46 pm

I was expecting Kanu to retire this year. He WAS a good player at some point and he knows it too. He does not want to be part of a team where he will have to play every day.

Talk IT · Post by **Talk IT** » Mon May 10, 2004 1:48 pm

He does not want to be part of a team where he will have to play every day.

Cristao · Post by **Cristao** » Mon May 10, 2004 1:52 pm

nemi2002 wrote:Mek spurs no worry.
Kanu get him own bench wey him go carry go spurs. He no need to sidon for club own.

Its a Goal · Post by **Its a Goal** » Mon May 10, 2004 2:06 pm

[color=brown]Cristao[/color] wrote:whereever he goes to .. he should pls not come to SPURS ... our bench is full already

I concur, we are already loaded with enough quality strikers.

Mr Shows · Post by **Mr Shows** » Mon May 10, 2004 2:15 pm

If Kanu has serious ambitions to play in the WC then he needs to leave Arsenal now.

Wenger has given him his 10 appearances and immediately confined him back to the reserves.

With DB 10 still hanging on, there is no future for Kanu at highbury.

If he want to stay in London then Fulham (if interested) will be a better option than Charlton, or else he should head straight to Man City and reestablish the Anelka parnership and bring Fowler back to life. Even Wright-Phillips will have a feild day latching on to Kanu's through balls.

Cheers

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Mon May 10, 2004 2:22 pm

This bobo has to be one lucky bobo sha. 42K for just sitting on the bench. Some of us don't even earn that much in 8 months! And to think he still wants to be at Arsenal. The man must be unwilling to play again. He should go to Man city which is a decent club with decent players like Shawn Wright Philips, Anelka and Fowler. Moreover Manchester is a cosmopolitan city with enough women to quench his appetite. I think Man city were unlucky this season. They just couldn't lock up their goal post. They score enough but conceed too much.

Motown · Post by **Motown** » Mon May 10, 2004 2:40 pm

This Kanu guy nor get shame at all, dem nor want you for Arsenal but you wan siddon dey collect easy money.

Its a Goal · Post by **Its a Goal** » Mon May 10, 2004 2:48 pm

[color=brown]Motown[/color] wrote:This Kanu guy nor get shame at all, dem nor want you for Arsenal but you wan siddon dey collect easy money.

No talk dat one o. According to Robby and Waffi, Kanu suppose concern about money than playing time

.

tribalfootball.com · Post by **tribalfootball.com** » Mon May 10, 2004 4:14 pm

How many players in Barca did kanu play with?and please take a look at the team now.
Viva Barca

Goldleaf · Post by **Goldleaf** » Mon May 10, 2004 5:19 pm

Unfortunately for Kanu, we are in the age where teams request videotapes of player's performances from agents for proof of ability. The question then remains, which video from this season can Kanu's agent show prospective clubs?

Anyway, they can show the ones from Arsenal Reserves where he scores for fun!

If they show the one against Portsmouth last week, the videotape will go through the window followed quickly by the agent.

xxmanB2003 · Post by **xxmanB2003** » Tue May 11, 2004 1:10 am

Of all this teams mentioned, I still think FULHAM is his best option when you consider their successes since J. Tigana brought them to the EPL.

8)