After being unhappy with the recent fallout with fellow center back William Gallas and the limited transfer budget Kolo Toure is ready to move away from Arsenal with Manchester City the likely destination. Toure put in a transfer request in January which was turned down by the club and instead he was given the captaincy in the absence of Fabregas. Manchester City, who have been long admirers of Kolo, will tempt the Gunners with a 10 million pound offer for the Ivory Coast international. Arsene Wenger reportedly wants one of Sebastien Bassong and Felipe Melo to fill his shoes. Bassong was impressive in the Premier League campaign although his team, Newcastle United were relegated. Melo’s star has constantly been on the rise over the last year or so and it would be difficult to price him away from Fiorentina.
Also, Arsenal inched closer to completing the signing of Ajax centre half Thomas Vermaelen. The Belgian defender will fly to London on Friday for a medical after which the contract will be signed. Vermaelen is a good back up alternative especially when the futures of Kolo Toure and William Gallas hang in the balance.
‘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.’
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