ARSENAL to sign Baptista in a £13.6million deal.

• zocoss

  17 Mar 07, 09:59

  
  
  ARSENAL have been cleared by Real Madrid to sign Julio Baptista in a £13.6million deal. Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has decided to turn The Beast’s loan into a permanent stay. The Brazilian, 25, arrived in a swap deal for Jose Reyes at the start of the season with a promise of a contract for three more years if he impressed.
  
  Baptista’s agent Herminio Menendez insisted: “It looks like Julio will be staying at Arsenal and he’s delighted. “He’s very happy in London and playing for Arsene Wenger and is looking forward to everything being agreed. “He’s making a big effort to adapt to England and has stepped up his English lessons because he wants to settle in for a long stay.“We still have to speak to Arsenal but we don’t think there will be any problems.”
  
  Real are yet to decide on whether they want to keep Reyes. But Menendez added: “Although the players moved in a swap deal both transfers are independent of each other.”
  
  
• zocoss

  17 Mar 07, 10:09

  
  
  ARSENE WENGER has admitted he wanted to sign Andy Johnson but was scared off by the price. The Arsenal manager takes on Johnson’s Everton tomorrow looking for maximum points to strengthen the Gunners’ push for third place. And Wenger reveals he was ready to cough up for AJ until Everton started a bidding war with Wigan that finished with Crystal Palace getting £8.6million for the England striker.
  
  Wenger said: “Even when I knew Thierry Henry was staying here at Arsenal, I considered buying him but was put off by the price. Johnson’s work ethic is fantastic, he never gives up.”
  
  
• used

  17 Mar 07, 10:36

  wtf?!
  say johnson to expensive but then buy baptista at a much higher price.
  i rather have johnson than bsptista.