WANTED ... Hangeland a £15m Arsenal target
The unhappy Gunners boss has been offered the club’s ‘unequivocal support by chief executive Ivan Gazidis following a long meeting this week. And now Wenger intends to cash in on promises of financial backing by making a club record bid for a defender.
Wenger is still angry that he has been blamed by fans for refusing to spend big money in the transfer market. The Frenchman feels he has been left to carry the can by a board that promises major funds for new signings but rarely delivers.
He will not back down in his pursuit of Norway international Hangeland and expects Arsenal to meet Fulham’s asking price.
The 27-year-old cost just £3.7m from Danish side FC Copenhagen 18 months ago. But 6ft 4in Hangeland’s value has rocketed this season on the back of solid performances.
Now Wenger believes he is just the man he needs to plug the holes in his leaky defence. The Gunners chief knows opposite number Roy Hodgson will not easily part with the defender, who still has two years left on his Fulham contract.
But the hard-up Cottagers are in no position to turn down £15m and Wenger has made it clear he sees this issue as a test of Arsenal’s commitment to challenge for major honours next season.
what?
Uh, he's been quite impressive except during the 0-4 trashing from Man Utd. 
Wah,first time i see Wenger buying someone from BPL.
Haha
this defender is good
good... solid... strong in the air... got physical size and strength.. able to deal with drogba and torres. Some more only 27 years old.. good good.. just buy him... and one more defensive midfielder and then arsenal will be there... But do not sell gallas or toure.. need him too.. as well as DJ...
Silvestre, diaby and adebayor... sell sell sell...no use de... I think anyone of YOU (yes!! YOU) can play better than the 3 of them combine... sucks!!!
lolx consider a Fulham defender? for 15m?
Wenger is fed-up already, at their recent shareholders meeting, the fans scold him and blame him for their current state...
But this guy is really a very good defender in my opinion...
Fulham is in the top half of the table is partly down to his form in the team... and not just because they have an experienced manager only...
Probably the best defender not in the top 4 sides right now... That how I see it.
he not bad
haha another non-englishman. I wonder why all gunners are willing to take this shit.
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is confident Brede Hangeland will sign a new contract.
"Brede's contract has still got two years to go so there's not panic when it comes to that," he said.
"He has been offered a new deal at the club which I hope he will be happy with and accept."
The agent of Fulham defender Brede Hangeland insists there will be no news about the Norwegian's future until the end of the season.
The Cottagers host Everton on the final day of the campaign on Sunday hoping to seal a place in next year's UEFA Europa League.
It has been a stunning turnaround for Roy Hodgson's side, who needed a Danny Murphy goal at Portsmouth 12 months ago to ensure they remained a Premier League club.
One factor of Fulham's success has been their ability to name the same back-five on a regular basis, with Hangeland a rock at the heart of the West London club's defence, making 42 appearances in all competitions this campaign.
The Norway international is now being linked with a big-money move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer, with Arsenal believed to be keen on securing his services to add both experience and a physical presence to their defence.
However, Hangeland's agent, Jim Solbakken, has said he would not be drawn on the player's future until the end of the season.
"It is natural that there will be interest such has been his form this season, and it is my job to listen to such interest," he told skysports.com.
"But Fulham have not yet completed their league campaign, and there is no comment to make on his future at the moment.
"I'm sure there will be conversations over his future as time develops."
fulham's defensive record quite good is becauuse of him
ya, i once saw a report that liverpool may also be interested to get him
Hmm he is trying to deliver his promise..
Hopfully he can form a genuine title contender with experienced signings, as well as to lead the young team..
The 27-year-old, who has been integral to Fulham’s push for a Europa League place, has been linked with moves to Arsenal and Aston Villa, but insists he is not hankering after a move away from West London.
"I haven't heard anything and therefore I don't think about it," he told Dagbladet.
"I am a Fulham player and if this is going to be my only Premier League club, that's fine with me."
fine with me too
Originally posted by SiMiLaiEh*:fulham's defensive record quite good is becauuse of him
He is good!!! together with Paintsil...
Wanted: Fulham's Brede Hangeland has been linked with a move to Arsenal
Fulham boss Roy Hodgson is determined to persuade Brede Hangeland to stay at Craven Cottage but concedes he will not be able to stop him leaving for the likes of Arsenal next summer.
The Norway international defender has been one of the successes of Fulham's record-breaking season which saw them clinch their highest ever top-flight finish of seventh.
It is only the second time in their history that Fulham have qualified to play in Europe and Hodgson is hoping that Hangeland will remain part of their plans for next season despite being consistently linked with a move to Arsenal.
'We'll do everything in our power to keep Brede,' said Hodgson. 'Everyone knows he's a player that we love. He's still contracted to us and we want to keep him.
'We're doing everything in our power - but our power sometimes can't be compared to the power of other clubs.'
Brede Hangeland has rejected rumours of an Arsenal bid but has not ruled out a move away from the club.
Reports in the English press recently claimed that Arsene Wenger had made a bid for the 27-year-old centre back, while Roy Hodgson admitted he may struggle to hold onto the Norway international.
However, Hangeland, who recently suggested he would be happy to sign a contract extension, says there is no truth in the reports.
“The rumours are a bit over the top, but it is just because of the fact that I have done well,” he told TV 2 Sporten.
“I’m very happy with what I achieved this season, but then you have to put up with all the fabrications in the press.”
Yet while he remains happy at Fulham and is keen to play a part in their Europa League campaign next season, he has suggested that he would a consider a move if it suited his game.
“If there is an offer on the table, style of play and formation would be important factors,” he said.
“I’m probably more protected as a defender at Fulham than I would be at some other places.”
Fulham defender Brede Hangeland insists he has no intention of leaving Craven Cottage to join Arsenal this summer.
The Norwegian has been a rock at the heart of the West London club's defence this season, making 43 appearances in all competitions to help guide Roy Hodgson's side to a European place.
As a result, Hangeland has been linked with a big-money move to the Emirates Stadium during the close-season, with Arsenal believed to be keen on securing his services to add both experience and a physical presence to their defence.
However, despite the speculation, the 27-year-old says he fully expects to still be a Fulham player in 2009/10.
"Speculation has become a part of daily life and at times it's quite tiring," he told Stavanger Aftenblad.
"I don't know anything about this story. Right now, there is no indication that I will change club."
Fulham defender Brede Hangeland is hopeful he will agree a new deal to end speculation over his future.
"There's been speculation but as far as I know there's no serious interest and I will repeat it again, I am really happy at Fulham," Hangeland told the club's offical website. "The prospect of playing here for another season with a European campaign is something I look forward to very much.
"Hopefully we can agree a new contract and then I'll stay here for a long time. It's been going in the right direction since the moment I came here. I hope we can agree on something soon."