Gervinho signs for arsenal - confirmed

Kelvin

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Sky Sports sources understand Lille striker Gervinho is undergoing a medical with Arsenal ahead of a €12million (£10.7million) transfer.

The tricky forward is thought to have travelled to London on Tuesday night at a time when a fee was reported to have been agreed between respective club officials, with only additional bonuses left to be discussed.

But with Gervinho now having a medical in England, personal terms on a four-year contract are likely to be on the schedule on Wednesday afternoon and the move could soon be confirmed.

The developments will provide a welcome boost to all associated with Arsenal in what has become somewhat of a summer of discontent in the transfer market.

Gael Clichy has already moved to Manchester City, while captain Cesc Fabregas is expected to return to boyhood club Barcelona, as Arsenal attempt to earn a fee as close to £40million as possible.

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Samir Nasri is another edging towards the exit and he is a target of Manchester United and City, with Chelsea now also interested after the Frenchman indicated earlier in the summer he will not extend the 12 months remaining on his contract.

Arsenal have brought in teenage defender Carl Jenkinson from Charlton, but the imminent announcement of Gervinho would be the first to truly excite fans, who have grown increasingly restless.

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international scored 15 goals as Lille won the French Ligue 1 last season and his arrival at Arsenal could mean Nicklas Bendtner is sold amid claims he is a target of German champions Borussia Dortmund.

It was confirmed earlier on Wednesday that Arsenal have missed out on attack-minded Argentine midfielder Ricky Alvarez after an initial £10.6million deal was agreed between his current club, Velez Sarsfield, and Inter Milan.

On top of creative replacements for Nasri and Fabregas, Wenger is also thought to want a British centre-back and has been linked with Birmingham's Scott Dann and Bolton's Gary Cahill.

Gervinho has Arsenal medical | Sky Sports | Football | Premier League | News
 
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Lille's Ivory Coast striker Gervinho.

The 24-year-old scored 15 goals to help Lille win the French league and Cup double last season.

The Gunners are currently on a pre-season tour of the far East and manager Arsene Wenger said: "Gervinho has joined. He had a medical on Thursday.

"We sent him home for a couple of days because he has a family and children. He did not come [on tour] because he has not had a [training] session yet."

Gervinho, who captained Ivory Coast at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, recently told France Football magazine: "I chose Arsenal because it's a young group within which I will be able to integrate easily.

"I had no hesitation. None. But in a transfer there's always a period of analysis and negotiations.

"All sides had to be satisfied so that things could develop smoothly. I'm going there to play, not to be on the bench. Arsenal love the game and I love teams that love the game.

"The Premier League is a notch above. It's maybe the best league in the world. I want to live that sensation."

Paris St Germain have also enquired about Gervinho but Lille general manager Frederic Paquet did not want to "strengthen a competitor" by selling to a domestic rival.

Paquet went on to describe 20-year-old Belgian winger Eden Hazard, who is also thought to be an Arsenal target, as "untransferable".

BBC Sport
 
That's not far from their record-breaking signing for them right?
 
Well, he might have the same stamina problem as Chamakh so between them they can manage nearly a full season.
 
Good signing and with Wenger holding on to Fabregas and Nasri.A good day all round for arse.
 
Francis Jeffers = £8m.

Still their best buy.
 
I don't know anything about this guy but if he can be arsed to play more than a few games a month then he's a step up from Marouane 'I'm too tired' Chamakh.
 
Blair said:
They never set the French league alight, pretty poor goals to game ratio at a lower level.

Chamahk has already been founded out in the PL, Gervinho will follow.
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Gervinho's a wide player though.
 
Blair said:
In the same way as David Villa is? Is Gervinho a winger?

I was under the impression the guy was a striker who plays out wide - like Villa (a striker).
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Not sure about Lille but that is how he played for Ivory Coast. A bit like Kalou.
 
Blair said:
In the same way as David Villa is? Is Gervinho a winger?

I was under the impression the guy was a striker who plays out wide - like Villa (a striker).
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He's a wide forward who plays as a wide forward, more Pedro than Villa in that sense.
 
Someone should do a thread like the Chamakh V Hernandez one for this coming season for Ashley Young V Gervinho - who'll score more PL goals.
 
I have only seen bits and pieces of this guy, he looked decent whenever I saw him play but I really don't think he is the kind of player that will take Arsenal to the next level.
 
Mickey said:
Does anybody rate him? Never seen him play personally.
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Only saw him at the World Cup last year and to be honest I was impressed. He was playing wide left but cut inside regularly, had pace and was pretty direct in his running.

Just from what I saw I would question if he is the sort of player than needs space to run into in order to effectively "dribble" a la Walcott and Bale but thats on the basis of 2 or 3 games I saw that sort of space is rarely afforded in the Prem.
 
Pogue Mahone said:
The only thing that's ever made this guy stand out for me in any game I've watched has been the absolute fecking state of his barnet.

A like for like replacement for Chamakh? (on the shit hair front, that is)
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Him and Sagna can fight it out for the shittest barnet in the world award.
 
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