Andrei Arshavin, is still in the hunt for a new club after two spectacular performances at this year’s Euro 2008, which has seen him receive interest from various clubs, including Barcelona, Arsenal and now Chelsea.
Arshavin is interested in a move to Barcelona, the club he has been a fan of since he was a boy, but new reports suggest that Chelsea have now entered the race for the player, and rightly so.
I stated in one of my earlier posts that Roman Abramovich, Chelsea’s owner, being Russian, should bring in at least one of the talented countrymen of his, who were on display at Euro 2008. Recent reports suggest that Abramovich has indicated to coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, that he must include at least one Russian player in his plans. So what are Scolari’s options? Yuri Zhirkov(defender), Konstantin Zyryanov(midfielder),Roman Pavlyuchenko(striker),and Andrei Arshavin(striker), all of which have been named in the 23 man, Team of the Tournament at Euro 2008.
Zenit has clearly stated that they do not intend to sell Arshavin, and that they will sit with the player and his agent to determine his intentions. Maybe they think Arshavin wants more money, but genuinely I believe the player wants to show his talent abroad, he’s stated it for weeks now.
Barcelona could very well loose Arshavin to Chelsea, as they are running out of time, with the vote of no confidence against Joan Laporta, current Barcelona club president, and his board taking place on July 6th. It is believed that Barca has made one last bid before this date in hopes of signing the player. If Laporta is voted out of office, new elections will be held, transfer activity will cease and Chelsea could very well get their man.