Reports emanating from Switzerland today suggest that Udinese midfielder Gökhan Inler is set to join Arsenal on a 4-year contract by next week.
According to Swiss sports daily Blick, the 24-year-old will seal a deal in the coming days before joining up with Swiss national team mate’s Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou.
Dino Lamberti, Inler’s agent, was rumoured to have told newspaper Blick that talks with Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger went well.
“It is true that I met with Arsène Wenger. There were very positive talks.”
Udinese general director Pietro Leonardi rejected reports linking the hardman with a transfer to Arsenal last month by dismissing the reports as ‘absurd’, these latest updates suggest different.
Inler joined Udinese from Swiss side FC Zurich in 2007, and made 32 appearances for them last season, and has 15 caps for Switzerland.
Wenger is said to have been in contact with Udinese management, and knows the 6′0″ defense-minded midfielder has a get-out clause in his contract of just over £5M.
Tags: arsenal, defensive midfielder, Djourou, inler, newcastle, Senderos, udinese, Wenger
August 8, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Could you clarify what you mean by “reports”?
Do you mean general media? If so what paper/site/station and can you link?
Or are you claiming to be ITK?
Some clarification would be great. Thanks!
August 8, 2008 at 1:15 pm
Really?! I thought he was staying at Udinese? This is very good news if it’s true, which it probably is being on this blog! Keep it up!
August 8, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Dont want him prefer alonso “some experiance needed”
August 8, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Nin, there is a link on the word ’suggest’, those are the reports!
Cheers Joe
August 8, 2008 at 1:26 pm
i thought he was staying at udinese too. Had my heart set on marseille’s Cana. looks like a lunatic. just what we need. Once centre mid’s filled with a skillful strong-engined player we’re set…
where’s the ‘report’ from.
Nice one..
August 8, 2008 at 1:31 pm
true, was with Inler the other day and negotiations are going on.
Banitez is refusing to sell Alonso to a rival according to a friend of his………. Inler as definatley on his way rather dependent on a medical.
August 8, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Gooner chris do you really think its gonna happen or might just be some more paper talk. I no this site has a good rep but you just never no.
August 8, 2008 at 1:35 pm
He’s an attacking midfielder? Im sure he was a Holding player?
August 8, 2008 at 1:38 pm
wenger loves these swiss players and we all know how good the other 2 are
August 8, 2008 at 1:38 pm
James, Cana was never linked with us. It was just speculation from Le Grove after they saw a youtube clip of him. You’ve got to honestly question why they write most of their articles when it’s so clear that they know so little about the club.
August 8, 2008 at 1:41 pm
@ By the power of raah
Are you having a bad day or do you like spreading your depression onto everyone else.
August 8, 2008 at 1:42 pm
dis is madness. In what way is this guy experienced or good enough for arsenal and plus we dont need another flippin attacking midfielder for god sake. I aint happy about dis and i hope it aint true. We need experience not some average midfielder playing for an average club and an average country. kmt
August 8, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Hope its true. Finally, someone in the squad who can tackle
August 8, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Oh dear , just read the link , it’s based on an article from “the sun”
from last week . Forget about it
August 8, 2008 at 1:45 pm
The release clause is around 5M, that ‘ll be super discounted price compared to Alonso or Barry who both clubs are asking for 15-18 mil. However, the both of them has EPL expereince.
I have not watched Inler before, but just checked his stats and apparently looks like an upcoming star player. But he was listed as an Attacking Midfielder rather than a DM that we’re looking for.
August 8, 2008 at 1:46 pm
i hope he can replace Flamoney,, or maybe better than Flamoney…
August 8, 2008 at 1:47 pm
MMUSI, where are you getting your info from? Has anyone seen Inler play? How good is he? I’ve seen quite a few games involving Udinese last season and can’t remember him being outstanding. Not sure but Wenger knows.
August 8, 2008 at 1:50 pm
george,
le grove didnt generate the rumour it came from here,
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1042132/Marseille-captain-Cana-linked-Gunners-Everton-considers-leaving-France.html
August 8, 2008 at 1:51 pm
sameagain dave – The only info from The Sun is the details of his £5m release clause which most people know already.
August 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm
He may be an attacking player at the moment. However how many times has Wenger bought a player and changed his position. Inler is good in a tackle, box to box, got a good pass on him and can get a few goals. I see him as a perfect replacement for Flamini and better in the air.
August 8, 2008 at 1:53 pm
I think the pic above says it all, he’s a hardman midfield player who can provide an attacking threat – very similar to Flamini.
August 8, 2008 at 1:57 pm
For what it’s worth, the original German article doesn’t even mention the Sun. I think it’s new info….whether or not it’s accurate, time will tell!
As for Cana, well the Mail is even less reliable (and more anti-Arsenal) than le Grove!!
August 8, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Chris – Loving the fact that you are sticking up for Le Grove by referencing the Daily Mail article. If ever there is a bastion of truth it is the Daily Mail. Next you are gonna be referring to CaughtOffside for your ‘rumours’
August 8, 2008 at 2:04 pm
Dont know much about this guy.. is he what we need?
August 8, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Chris, you can’t possibly judge it by its picture
Flamini has never had any mean looking photos taken and Hleb can even look very mean in some pictures.. lol
Anyway, Wenger was talking about experienced players so I really can’t believe he’s going to buy a young player who has only 1 season of top flight football in Italy. Not that i’m saying it wont happen, cos you know Arsene, thats the exact type of player he’ll buy. Little reputation, young and cheap release clause. Sounds about right as a Wenger buy.
August 8, 2008 at 2:10 pm
considering diaby is injured already!!!!! we need someone asap.
August 8, 2008 at 2:11 pm
in comparison to the regular buys a 24 year old internation is almost an OAP by wenger’s standards!!!
August 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm
haha.
Maybe Inler is the experience Wenger was talking about? It wouldn’t surprise me if he was.
August 8, 2008 at 2:18 pm
Wenger never speaks to agents without speaking to the club first and getting permission.
So unless he has had a bid accepted (or bid the release clause) then theres no story.
Mind you the Udinese comments are a month old
August 8, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Oh right, so you know Wenger Double89?
August 8, 2008 at 2:26 pm
he is not going to spend 15m to 20m on anyone, so this fits the bill.
August 8, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Looks like Diaby is injury prone similar to RVP… and whenever he had the chance to play, Wenger played him off position because Cesc-Gilberto (2 seasons ago) and Cesc-Flamini (last season) has such good partnership.
Sometimes one ought to ask if its true that big club’s transfer funds are limited due to the world recession. And its not only Arsenal because we don’t see Chelsea splashing millions and clubs like Barca and Liverpool has to sell before purchasing again. Then you have Spurs spending millions and millions again season after another. Uh, where is the silverware though? or Champions League place?
August 8, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Diaby – not a DM
Denilson – not a DM
Alonso – not a DM
Inler – IS a DM! We need him, and he’s cheap and good!
August 8, 2008 at 2:28 pm
JamJam: ’some average midfielder playing for an average club and an average country’? A bit unfair: Serie A is still one of the top 3 leagues in the world; Udinese finished 7th in 0708; and Inler was voted overseas player of the year. This has got the look of a classic Wenger signing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.
August 8, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Cana was never linked with us ?
At age of 16 Cana nearly went to arsenal youth.. he had problem with his visa.. before he was playing in the swiss league but then he went to psg..
anyways inler wld be a good singin..
August 8, 2008 at 2:29 pm
did arsen vevger watch a player neamed yassine chikawi he plays for fc zurich watch him on dailymotion
August 8, 2008 at 2:30 pm
I’ll have a look Mohamed, cheers.
August 8, 2008 at 2:30 pm
internet, you are absolutely correct, whether it is inler or not, it shouldn’t be diaby or denilson, neither are DM’s or good enough anyway.
August 8, 2008 at 2:33 pm
just been on gazzetta,stampa and couriere dellosport, the only link is with newcastle ……
If he’s got such a low release clause why is udinese coming out with those statement . dont make sense
August 8, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Family Enclosure Man, I agree 100%. I think he would do very well, I’ve said before I’d probably prefer Cana as he’s well known for his hard man play and makes Roy Keane look like My Little Pony. But i haven’t really seen either of them play so I don’t have a scooby doo.
August 8, 2008 at 2:47 pm
thats poor,we need someone of premiership expreince and they go and buy this inler,he maybe what we need in a few years but right now we need someone who can just slot straight in with out having to adapt to the premiership!
i love wenger but this is a p*** take.
August 8, 2008 at 2:51 pm
It’s not really poor.. Look:
34. Family Enclosure Man – August 8, 2008
JamJam: ’some average midfielder playing for an average club and an average country’? A bit unfair: Serie A is still one of the top 3 leagues in the world; Udinese finished 7th in 0708; and Inler was voted overseas player of the year. This has got the look of a classic Wenger signing, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happened.
August 8, 2008 at 2:53 pm
crap signing !!!!!!!!! But Tesco cheap.But still dont believe a word of it !!!!!!!
August 8, 2008 at 2:58 pm
look…this inler guy is going to be better than..
Diaby-holds onto ball too long and passes wildly sometimes
Denilson-not a DM as others have said
Ramsey-Will be good in years to come but cant rely on a 17yo throughout a season
August 8, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I think some fans just enjoy big name, big money signing for the sake of it, Inler is a very good player and still has the hunger, voted Udinese’s player of the year ………..I will be happy if we sign him for about £5m.
August 8, 2008 at 3:16 pm
I don’t think Tesco cheap is 5 mil, Danish Gooner. But it’s still cheap for a player of his quality. Just think we could have bought Barry for 18 mil instead of someone probably equally as good for only 5 mil.
August 8, 2008 at 3:21 pm
Didn’t take long for someone to make a carbon copy of this article – http://www.premiershiplatest.com/news/swiss-international-inler-sign-arsenal-n-5512844.html
August 8, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Before last season, I thought Flamini was an absolute crap player. And, now, there’s broad agreement that he’s a quality DM. Who’s really to say who will work best until they actually play for a while?
August 8, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Exactly TehQuotient. What mugs Chris! That must be so annoying!
August 8, 2008 at 3:47 pm
go to the can inler what a joke if this happens
August 8, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I dont see it happening guys
http://theworldsmostbeautifulgame.wordpress.com/
August 8, 2008 at 4:16 pm
Great article again Chris looks good hopefully we will sign Inler and that Annan guy then Arsenal are most certainly sorted as far as CM goes.
August 8, 2008 at 5:08 pm
I think you mean ‘to have told’, not ‘to of told’.
August 8, 2008 at 5:27 pm
he is better than alonso ..
he can play as well as the greatest player ..
i hope !!!!!!!!!
August 8, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Cheers JohnV
August 8, 2008 at 6:07 pm
i thought cana was a great replacement in the mid-field. i have seen some videos of cana, he’s big, very strong,energetic, the biggest form of gatusso.please venger sign both inler and cana.
August 8, 2008 at 6:36 pm
I would have preferred alonso tbh…. and I didn’t think that wenger would end up with inler, after repeatedly saying he wants experience, but then again 24 is old for a gunner.
Why would arsene take annan on trial if he is close to signing inler and already has bischoff denilson and diaby.
Inler impressed in the Euros so I’m not too dissapointed if we sign him.
August 8, 2008 at 6:50 pm
All this speculation is complete nonsense, the defensive midfield position does not require a £18m spending. Well, not the way the Arsenal spend money. Arsene will spend no more than 10m maximum. As for Cana, he looks like a complete Animal, and would probably spend most of the season suspended, if he were to join. As for Inler, I am yet to see him play but his price will be attractive if he’s half-way decent as a holding midfielder.
August 8, 2008 at 7:22 pm
get in there lol
August 8, 2008 at 7:35 pm
Good news we r going to sign inler and chelsea want to sign robinho , man.utd David silva ad liverpool gareth barry!! is inler the experience player wenger want to sign!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???????
August 8, 2008 at 8:23 pm
inler is probably the best choice bcoz v need a defence minded mid and the other options were
-veloso
-de la red
from which de la red is staying at real and veloso is stayin at lisbon so this wa probably it. and “mr.lebanese arsenal fan” those clubs r signing these players bcoz they need them on the other hand v didnt actually need any one
August 8, 2008 at 8:33 pm
what do u actually expect out of a DM, the real hereos are the goal scorers. so what im trying to say is, it dosent matter who it is as long as its a DM and its a good thing v got one realy cheap!!!
August 8, 2008 at 9:11 pm
We dont need a DM. Did you guys see Denilson? What a remarkable performance today. Mind-blowing
August 8, 2008 at 9:11 pm
f************k your all gooners fan!
who is this inler? go for xabi or barry? and tell wenger to open is check books
August 8, 2008 at 9:14 pm
f************k your all gooners fan!
who is this inler? go for xabi or barry? and tell wenger to open is cheque books
August 8, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Eskay read point 42. It is true. He is one of the best players in Italy.
August 8, 2008 at 10:00 pm
Senderos should be played ahead of Toure. He looks much better with Gallas around. I am not at all impressed with Toure since the beginning of the year. He cost us the Championship trophy.
August 8, 2008 at 10:15 pm
News flash if i am caught giving away this info i will be sacked
“Arsene is buying Patrick Viera this is the exp player he was on about” belive me 100% true
August 8, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Hahahahaha “inside arsenal”! Funny enough, i actually read that comment/rumor on the skysportsnews paper talk today! Would be freaking hilarious if it was true! Talk about the return of the prodigal son, lol. I personally think Wenger knows who he wants to buy but is waiting for the window to draw closer so that prices drop as clubs might have their hands forced in letting go of players who want to leave if offers come in. From what has been reported we’ve supposedly inquired about or had talks with handful of players. Won’t be surprised if we end up with Gareth Barry tbh. Gerrard is injured for their champs league qualifier and with a couple of their CM at the Olympics, chances are that Alonso will play. That would make him cup-tied, which would more than likely put off potential suitors. Barry himself is getting frustrated and supposedly wants the move tied up within the next 8 days. If Liverpool continue waste time, we could swoop for him. Either that or we get Alonso so that Rafa gets the money to buy Barry, as apparently the American owners have failed to come up with the cash.
August 8, 2008 at 11:47 pm
News flash if i am caught giving away this info i will be sacked
“no68 (inside arsenal) is a f**king twat” belive me 100% true
August 9, 2008 at 12:43 am
we shoulda got yaya when we had the chance in hleb’s deal :/
August 9, 2008 at 1:39 am
I would have Vieria back but only if he was under 2mill, and groom him to be the next Arsenal Manager!
August 9, 2008 at 2:50 am
I’d be very happy to see this deal go through, although reports from the player that I’ve seen over on the Gooner Forums suggest he’s happy at Udinese…
Inler is a very aggressive-looking midfield player that runs from box to box, and seems to be decent on the air for challenges and on set-plays… just the type of player we’re really missing. This guy’s tenacity is right there on the challenge, and the only players I see in our side right now that have that type of intensity are Kolo, Eboue (who kicks the opposing players sometimes, too), and possibly Clichy and/or Sagna (who really just out-run the opposition versus actually tackle). The case could be made that Senderos tackles well, but usually he’s pulling shirts and awarding penalties to the opposing team when beaten.
Five Mil for this guy is a steal… given the relative “shortage” of DMs on the market this transfer season, and the fact that any players who are English or from Liverpool will be grossly over-priced mean this will be someone Wenger is looking at. (also, de la Red looks to be staying in Madrid, Yaya wasn’t really ever on the table with the new management at Barca, Cana wouldn’t be leaving OM to the same club that has also purchased Nasri in the same transfer window, and Veloso is rated too highly by Sporting meaning he’ll cost… seems like Inler is our man).
August 9, 2008 at 3:45 am
i think we really need a hard man on the center midfield…
although i think Denilson plays quite well yesterday…
but i still think his style quite similar to Fabregas…
August 9, 2008 at 5:09 am
The Sun and Caughtoffside are those make funny reports… Unreliable…
August 9, 2008 at 7:17 am
guys this is realy hell wenger wants another season to go without trophies . but believe you me he will switch directly to PSG because he will not take it any more. but why is our manager so complicated .he has seen the likes of liverpool totenham and chelsea buy quality ,and yes the quality has on occasions delivered so surely whats wrog with arsene.look at the game of ajax ,you will believe what am saying .the result does not matter much because if you are exposed like that in premiership even the likes of leeds will hit at you .so wenger style up or you go before we find our selves copeting for the 10th position
August 9, 2008 at 8:50 am
Man will some of you pessimists just shut the F**K UP!!! Christ! Inler is a DM…and a damn good one,only thing he lacks is big game experience! He wouldn’t be ma first choice as a DM but if we do sign him I will still be happy! But just remember The Blick is like The Sun when reporting stories. But still Inler is a damn good DM!
August 9, 2008 at 12:43 pm
If this guy is coming to the emirates we are ready to sweep at least two trophies…believe me and take note of my words!! Arsenal are lacking “HARDMAN” to assist the central defenders…someone who plays both defensive and offensive football…someone who can run like a dog and work tirelessly like a donkey!! Just see this dream lineup: 1. Almunia 2. Sagna 3.Clichy 4.Toure 5.Gallas 6.Inler 7.Walcott 8.Fabregas 9.Ade 10. van Persie 11. Nasri….SUBS Eboue, Fabianski, Wilshere, Vela, Denilson, Bendtner, Song, Rosick!!! If 1998 was for the gunners why not 2008?
August 9, 2008 at 8:16 pm
y doesnt wenger go and sign some 1 like de la red , xabi, iniesta?? sum1 good and well know to create a leathal partnership with fabregas!!
August 9, 2008 at 8:48 pm
Who the hell knows besides Arsene when you get right down to it?
Watching the youngsters get battered by Sevilla should remind everyone that we can’t count on young depth, especially defensively.
On the other hand, Fabianski looked like the second coming of Iker Casillas, but that’s a story for another time.
Obviously, AW is going to buy AT LEAST one defensive mid. Inler surely will do. I’ve seen him play three or four times and while I wouldn’t call him a “hard man” — like the lunatic Cana, for instance — he’s tough enough. If you’re a successful DM in Italy, where they practically invented defensive football, you can play.
None of us know enough to sort through the options and costs, but if it’s Inler — and maybe Annan as well, just as a flier — then not much money is out but we’ve got a couple of very good athletes who want to tackle and knock heads. I’ll go for that.
The current defence won’t hold up — it’s unbalanced, and it was the same last year with the now-sainted Flamini, who often ran himself out of position with all his hard work. The Gallas/Toure partnership isn’t as awful as it looked at Ajax, but it hasn’t been airtight, either.
All of the great defences are tactically AND physically sound — well, we can learn the coordination part (eventually) but without Senderos, it’s a back four full of midgets who can’t deal with long balls, which leads to chaos in the box and a bunch of cheap goals.
Bottom line: Get a tough, disciplined DM in here — and I suspect Inler fits that description — and at least the gang at the back have some protection.
Because as everyone agrees, we WILL score goals. But not enough against the big teams to win a title. If the defence can be tightened just a little, then I’d say “it’s up for grabs now.”
But hey, people making fun of Inler and demanding massive amounts of money being spent — mostly needlessly — seriously need to get a grip.
Cheers!
August 10, 2008 at 11:51 am
With the signing of inler almost certain and possibly hoyte and senderos going out the other way i wouldnt rule out arsenal signing a more experience after inler with the funds anything is possible. There is a chance Huntelaar could join but most likely next season Arshavin is a dead loss with everyone wanting him but no one wanting to swap 20 million pound for him also David Villa and Silva no one will sign unti prices are reduced which will happen in a year or two. But then again theres a 2 and a bit weeks left anything could happen.
August 10, 2008 at 2:53 pm
[...] midfielder Gökhan Inler could soon be an Arsenal player according to the players agent as we revealed just days [...]
August 10, 2008 at 6:09 pm
Arsenal are also interested in in Juventus starlet Giovinco who is only 21 and one of the lowest payed player in the first team squad and rumours have arose that Arsenal are steadying a 5.8 million pound bid for the midfielder.