Will Arsene break the bank for Fellaini?

Money saving expert and part time football manager Arsene Wenger is preparing a club record £25m bid for Marouane Fellaini according to Caught Offside. Apparently Wenger is getting sick of Arsenal’s lack of silverware and the criticism it earns him – aren’t we all – and has identified the Belgian as the man to wrestle this particular monkey from his back.

Yes, I know how ridiculous the idea of Wenger spending £25m on anyone is a little preposterous, but the site does report that he will wait until summer to make the deal. Whether Fellaini will still be at Everton by the end of the season is another matter. He has made comments in an interview for Belgian reporters suggesting he is open to a move and was recently publicly condemned by manager David Moyes after receiving a ban for violent conduct in a league match against Stoke, further fuelling speculation that he was on his way out of Goodison Park.

Both Chelsea and Manchester United have been rumoured to be interested in a January move and are both probably likelier destinations for Fellaini given that he is keen to be playing Champions League football next season, something that Wenger can no longer guarantee. However if Fellaini does fancy a move to United or Chelsea he may have to adapt his role a little. This season has seen the 25-year-old move into the now absent Tim Cahill’s supporting striker position behind Nikita Jelavic, a move which has produced excellent results – he is the toffees top scorer – however the first and third place club are much more in need of a deeper lying midfielder, more In the mould of Fellaini of the last few seasons.

Whether the big Belgian will be happy to curb his attacking instincts is questionable, and if that is the case he may well push for a move to the Emirates. As long as he can offer Wenger a few quid to pay the transfer fee.

Jack Johnson

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