Kranjcar confirms Wenger interest

Arsenal boss reported to be big fan of Pompey star

By Vlatko Siljanovski   Last updated: 3rd May 2008

Niko Kranjcar and Jonathan

Kranjcar: Arsenal interest

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Niko Kranjcar's father has confirmed that Arsene Wenger is big fan of the Portsmouth star.

The Croatian midfielder is believed to be high on Wenger's list of summer targets, and with the futures of Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb far from certain a move for Kranjcar could be in the offing.

Zlatko Kranjcar is former national coach of Croatia and is a huge influence on his son's career and he has confirmed Arsenal's interest.

"Wenger likes players with a sense of the game," Kranjcar senior told Croatian tv station Index.

"Arsenal plays creative football and Wenger recognises this in Niko and he would be a logical replacement for Hleb."

Long-term interest

Kranjcar revealed that Wenger has been tracking his son for most of his career from his days in Croatia to Portsmouth.

He added: "Wenger was interested in Niko in the Croatian League and he has tracked him for sometime."

Portsmouth boss Harry Redknapp has already insisted that Kranjcar would not be allowed to leave the club this summer, although should Wenger make a push for him, it could be very hard to keep the 23-year-old at Fratton Park.