Malaga mess presents transfer opportunity to Arsenal

Michael Lintorn
24 July 2012

Santi Cazorla has represented world champions Spain 47 times

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Arsenal are reportedly planning to pounce on the confusion engulfing Malaga by nicking their star player Santi Cazorla...

"The Guardian claim that they are preparing a £15.6 million bid for the creative winger, having agreed personal terms with him."

Malaga's mingle with Middle Eastern investors is threatening to follow a drastically different trajectory to the apparent happy-ever-after stories at Manchester City and Paris St-Germain.

There have been familiar themes: the hiring of a high-profile coach (Manuel Pellegrini), the glamour signings (Santi Cazorla, Ruud van Nistelrooy) the tricky teething period in which there is temptation to freshen up the dugout (they didn't) and the moment of arrival (Champions League qualification).

Less common is the manner that they have followed up reaching Europe's premier competition: the unpaid wages, the outstanding debts and the danger of not only being pulled out of the Champions League but La Liga too if they don't resolve the situation by the end of the month.

The likelihood is that all will eventually be tidied up as evasive owner Sheikh Abdallah Ben Nasser Al-Thani still has the funds to fix things, however the uncertainty is ruining their pre-season and has completely crushed the momentum that they were building.

Euro 2012 winner Santi Cazorla is thought to be among those most disaffected by the delay in payment and a lack of summer activity and it is suggested that Arsenal are hoping to take advantage.

The Guardian claim that they are preparing a £15.6 million bid for the creative winger, having agreed personal terms with him. The 27-year-old has a minimum fee release clause in the region of £35 million, though given his unhappiness and Malaga's predicament, the Gunners are optimistic of striking a deal at a reduced figure.

They won't be the only club tracking developments at La Rosadela with a view to strengthening their squads. Pellegrini's side also features the likes of Joris Mathijsen, Jeremy Toulalan, Julio Baptista and Salomon Rondon.

Malaga's Champions League odds have more than doubled on account of the problems casting their involvement in doubt, from 55.054/1 to 120.0119/1, while Arsenal are 28.027/1 to go one better than they did in 2005/06.