Sport

Arsenal or Chelsea, Andrei the choice is yours? London rivals battle for Russian

13 April 2012

Arsenal and Chelsea are set to battle it out for Andrei Arshavin with Barcelona preparing to pull out of the race for the Russian.


Barcelona are poised to sign Alexander Hleb and a source close to Arshavin confirmed the Spaniards will no longer pursue the Zenit St Petersburg forward once a £15million deal with the Gunners for Hleb is completed.

Zenit star: Andrei Arshavin of Russia celebrates after scoring his team's second goal against Sweden

That leaves Arsenal, who are believed to have had a £19m offer turned down this week, and Chelsea to fight for the 27-year-old, rated at £24m by his club. Chelsea maintain they are not interested but owner Roman Abramovich is thought to want a Russian star at his club.


Arsenal will need to strengthen should Emmanuel Adebayor leave north London and manager Arsene Wenger is an admirer of Arshavin's talents.

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MORE ABOUT

Alexander Hleb
Arsenal
Chelsea F.c.
Emmanuel Adebayor
FC Zenit St. Petersburg
Roman Abramovich