Wenger hopeful of landing Zenit striker with £12M plus player deal

Arsene Wenger  will begin a frantic period of transfer activity by purchasing Aleksandr Kerzhakov  from Zenit St. Petersburg. The transfer is unclear but it is thought to involve around £12 million and involve at least one Arsenal  player moving in the opposite direction.
There was some dispute as to whether it would be Andrey Arshavin  moving back to his old club as Zenit have revealed in the press lately, they would love to have their old star back in their midst.
However, it seems Wenger feels Kerzhakov – who struck up a four-year long fantastic partnership with Arshavin at Zenit – can bring the best out of the Russian playmaker.
Kerzhakov finished an injury-hit season with 13 goals and has scored 7 goals already this season. This signifies a decent return but, like with every other club he has played for, the total fails to match up to Kerzhakov’s impressive totals whilst playing alongside Arshavin at Zenit.
It seems more likely that Denilson  will be the player to leave Arsenal. After featuring in only 16 games this season – finishing without a goal or assist – and with reported problems with the young Brazilian’s attitude, Wenger has made up his mind to let the midfielder go.
It was reported this week that Denilson was also used as a makeweight in a deal to sign highly rated Shakhtar Donetsk winger Douglas Costa. The offer was rejected as the Ukranian giants favoured money.
Cash-rich Zenit however will be interested in adding players to their ranks as they aim to establish themselves as the best Russian team. Fans will expect a follow-up to last year’s league title and will demand Kerkhakov is replaced.
The move will mark the start of a hectic few weeks for Arsene Wenger. As many as eight Arsenal players may leave the club, with Wenger aiming to improve the replace them with better quality.

After indifferent seasons from Nicklas Bendter, Maruoane Chamakh and Carlos Vela, Arsenal relied heavily on the irrepressible Robin van Persie. The purchase of Kerzakhov represents a lifting of the burden from the Dutchman which will allow him to flourish.

Super-rich Russian side to bid for Andrei Arshavin

Not many Arsenal fans will have heard of the Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, who came 10th in the Russian Premier League last season, but since being taken over by the billionare Suleyman Kerimov in January this year, they have become contenders for the title.
It is being reported by Sport-Express today that Kerimov has decided that he wants the Arsenal striker Andrei Arshavin to join them, to help the club close the three-point gap on the League leaders CSKA Moscow.
The billionaire is doing a Manchester City in Russia with massive investment in the team. He has already brought in Roberto Carlos to captain the side along with three other promising Brazilians, and the crazy Italian Gennaro Gattuso has turned Kerimov down when he made a bid last week.
But Anzhi did manage to secure the signing of the PSV Eindhoven winger Balazs Dzsudzsak, who has been reported as a target by many Premiership sides includoing Liverpool in the past, and the Hungarian international seriously believes that Kerimov will give take the club to the very top.
Dzudzsak said this week: ”The club has clear aims – they want to be a decisive factor in the Champions League,”
”We’re now second in the table and the first three teams qualify to the Champions League.”
If he can also secure Arshavin from Arsenal then even more people may start to take notice of the little team from the capital city of Dagestan……