Freddie Ljungberg's long career at Arsenal may be drawing to a close if the Gunners accept a £5.5million bid from Serie A giants Fiorentina.
The Italian club's interest is sure to alert Premier League Portsmouth, who were interested in the Swede earlier in the summer.
Ljundberg has insisted he wants to see out the final couple of years on his contract at the Emirates Stadium.
He missed chunks of last season through injuries and it remains to be seen whether or not he figures in Arsene Wenger's plans as he attempts to rebuild the Gunners.
Fiorentina are keen to snap up Ljungberg and have even offered 21-year-old Bulgaria striker Valeri Bojinov in part exchange. Meanwhile, Arsenal are preparing to launch a £13.5million bid for Newcastle striker Obafemi Martins, who is viewed as a replacement for departed favourite Thierry Henry.
Magpies boss Sam Allardyce is still fuming that Martins was allowed a buyout clause in his contract and the Gunners are ready to pounce.
Martins has declared he may stay on Tyneside but is demanding a pay rise from £60,000 each week to nearer the £100,000 Michael Owen pockets every seven days.
Arsenal have already signed Croatian striker Eduardo da Silva from Dinamo Zagreb for £7.5m and will today hold talks with Auxerre's France Under-21 defender Bakari Sagna about a move to the Emirates Stadium.
Spartans
Although Martins is a very good and young player, but we have 5 strikers already, including walcott and bendnter. how to accommodate all 5?
CKeer
To think Ljungberg has such a big influence in their unbeaten season...
Cheers. CK
WiNtEr'SkiLL
cool...
deathscythe99
Bojinov? Hmms...
dragg
wenger is always keen on cashing in on older players.
stellazio
5.5mil is a good deal for the injury prone and out of form ljunberg.
the Bear
i was thinking that... it's a damned good deal for Ljundberg...
and i think he'll like that too.. 1st team football over the other side
dragg
good for him.
fiorentina is a good team.
used
his pace will be wasted if he joins italian football. but then again, does he still have pace like he did a few years ago
The man who was death
5.5mil is already too much for ljungberg and they wanna offer bojinov in part exchange???
are they out of their mind?? if this really happens, it's a better lobang for arsenal that that gallas deal....