Gunners Make Cazorla Bid

By Nick Lander

Arsenal are understood to have made a formal approach for Malaga star Santi Cazorla. According to Spanish newspaper AS, the Gunners have table an offer of €23m. However, the report does then go on to state that the midfielder has a release clause of €45m. A figure that Arsenal's bid is not even close to.

Signed last summer from Villarreal for €22.6m, Malaga are currently in a financial turmoil that could see them relegated in the next couple of weeks. A disaster for a club that should be competing in the Champions League next season. It had originally been believed that Cazorla would be available for less than €15m but, as a result of Malaga's tough stance, his price has gradually been increasing since the speculation first emerged.

Manuel Pellegrini, the Malaga manager, recently made his - and the club's - position clear. When asked about Cazorla's prospective transfer at a recent press conference, he said: "I do not think that for €20m Santi will leave the club, because it would be giving him away.

"It would belittle our intention of competing for the Champions League."

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Mikel Arteta recently stated his admiration for his compatriot saying "he is a top, top player. He has unbelievable quality and talent." A sentiment that manager Arsene Wenger was in agreement with, "I share the opinion of Mikel Arteta. Cazorla is a great player."

It will be interesting to see if the two parties can reach an agreement. It will almost certainly depend on the outcome of Malaga's financial problems, so, much like Robin van Persie's exit from Arsenal, this is a transfer that is likely to run over the whole summer.

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