Arsenal To Reignite Their Interest In Hangeland

[White Noise]

http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/arsenal/arsenal/arsenal_reignite_their_interest_in_norway_defender_1_772799

Arsenal reignite their interest in Norway defender


Thursday, 13 January, 2011


7:09 AM

Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland is back on Arsene Wenger's radar

ARSENE Wenger is to renew his interest in Fulham's Brede Hangeland after confirming he will buy a defender in this month's transfer window.

Wenger had hinted over Christmas that he would dip into the transfer market if Thomas Vermaelen's troublesome Achilles injury did not clear up, and now the Arsenal manager has been dealt a further injury blow.

Wenger confirmed that Belgian defender Vermaelen, who has not played for the Gunners since August, has suffered a further setback in his recovery that could rule him out for at least another month.

And it now transpires that French centre-back Sebastien Squillaci picked up a hamstring injury in the 1-1 draw with Leeds at the weekend, and will be out for at least a fortnight.

"He [Vermaelen] had another setback on Saturday that we are concerned with," admitted Wenger this week. "We are consulting top specialists around the world. We'll know more later [this week].

"Unfortunately I can't give you any precise date but I concede that, with this little setback from Thomas, we are in a situation where we will have to look around.

"Squillaci will be out for a maximum of three weeks, minimum two. It is a hamstring injury but it is not too bad – a grade one. He'll be back in two weeks if all goes well."

As a result, the Gunners boss is on the lookout for an experienced defender, and will again try to tempt Norway captain Hangeland away from Craven Cottage.

The Arsenal manager first made enquiries about the 29-year-old in 2009, before he went on to sign Vermaelen from Ajax.

The 6ft 5ins centre-back was a lynchpin of the side that reached last season's Europa League final under former boss Roy Hodgson, who Hangeland knew from his time in Norway.

But Hodgson's successor Mark Hughes has not had similar success at the club, and Hangeland, who is under contract until 2013, could be tempted away for around £8m.

However, Hughes has already played hardball with Arsenal over keeper Mark Schwarzer in the summer, and is desperate to keep his defensive rock for the Cottagers' battle against relegation.

Another player Wenger has spoken of highly is the Bolton Wanderers defender Gary Cahill.

But the Trotters have slapped a £20m price tag on the player and, even though Wenger has up to £50m spare cash in a transfer kitty according to the board, he is unlikely to break the club's transfer record by paying over the odds.

This time last season Wenger was in a similar situation and decided to re-sign his former player Sol Campbell, but reports linking 36-year-old Campbell with a third move to Arsenal look wide of the mark.

Campbell, pictured, moved to Newcastle as a free agent in the summer to link up with his former coach at Tottenham, Chris Hughton.

Hughton's sacking and replacement by Alan Pardew before Christmas has left Campbell out in the cold, but Wenger is not likely to be interested this time around.

[mrska]

i'll await Wengers 1 million pound bid.....REJECT REJECT REJECT!!! :yay:

[AlFayedsChequebook]

£8m is a JOKE. He has signed a long term contract, has stated he is happy and is one of our most important players.

Offers can START at £15m. At least that rules out Wenger, the tightwad.

[The Doctor]

The Mirror are linking Arsenal with Matthew Upson.  Sounds like the usual media scattergun approach to me

[Tom]

Someone tell Arsene to feck off!

[os5889]

Yawn, the journo's are fishing! 1 defeat and they all regurgitate the same old tripe of whos a good defender not at a top 6 club.....

Shawcross is far more Arsenal than Hangeland, pity he blew that when he broke Ramsey

[Matt]

Someone tell Arsene to feck off!

:54:

[TonyGilroy]

Upson's out of contract at the end of the season and West Ham would presumably sell. Samba's available.

Wenger already knows that Hughes will play hardball and Hangeland hasn't yet seemed tempted by Arsenal.

[Matt]

I'm quite sure Hangeland is more than happy at Fulham. He always praises the club and everyone involved in it in the press, especially in Norway. With the new contract as well, I don't think he'll go. It seemed more resonable before he extended it.

[BalDrick]

'Upson's out of contract at the end of the season and West Ham would presumably sell.'

He's also rubbish.

[ImperialWhite]

'Upson's out of contract at the end of the season and West Ham would presumably sell.'

He's also rubbish.

Perfect for Arsenal then.  :drums:

[Rambling_Syd_Rumpo]

I think there might be something in this,they need a center back big time,yesterdays game showed that.I've always said any player can leave if the money is right and we can get a better player in.The only problem with that is ,is their a better player in his position playing the system we play available?

[TonyGilroy]

I think there might be something in this,they need a center back big time,yesterdays game showed that.I've always said any player can leave if the money is right and we can get a better player in.The only problem with that is ,is their a better player in his position playing the system we play available?

No.

Hangeland's partnership with Hughes is perfect. I don't think we'll ever see better at Fulham.

[ImperialWhite]

I don't think he will go - this rumour is too old now, he would have gone already I think.

Breaking up the H&H partnership would be a disaster - we can't score, so it's Hughes/Hangeland/Schwarzer/Stockdale that are keeping us in it this season. We have a GD of -2 (compare to the teams below us, who all have -13 or below with the exception of Birmingham), and our defence is still near to the top ten.

[BalDrick]

I don't think he will go - this rumour is too old now, he would have gone already I think.

Breaking up the H&H partnership would be a disaster - we can't score, so it's Hughes/Hangeland/Schwarzer/Stockdale that are keeping us in it this season. We have a GD of -2 (compare to the teams below us, who all have -13 or below with the exception of Birmingham), and our defence is still near to the top ten.

Sincerely hope you're right Imperial, because without our rock solid defence we're up a certain creek without a certain instrument, to quote Blackadder (there's always a Blackadder quote, whatever the situation).

[cebu]

That rumour is now officially out of fashion. The new rumour is that Hangeland is going to Spurs!   :hook:

[Whiteroom]

I would be devastated if Hangeland went. He is my favourite player and I really don't think that there is a better combination of centre backs in the prem than H&H. I also think that this rumour is wearing a bit thin.

[jarv]

OK, tell wenger 50 mill plus Fabregas. That should kill it off.

[AlFayedsChequebook]

OK, tell wenger 50 mill plus Fabregas. That should kill it off.

or alternatively, we will sell Hangeland when he sells Fabregas.

[Jimpav]

I think we should take the option of slapping a 20 million price tag on him. It's not the most sophisticated approach but it seems to work when the likes of Gary Cahill, Scott Parker etc are moved to bigger clubs.

Hangeland is a massive player for us but if we could get 20 million and it was re-invested wisely I would take it.