Gunners losing Flamini battle

Frenchman's future continues to be shrouded in mystery

By Chris Burton   Last updated: 23rd April 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Gunners losing Flamini battle

Flamini: Edging closer to exit

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Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood admits that Mathieu Flamini's days at the club appear to be numbered.

The French international's current contract at Emirates Stadium is due to expire in the summer, and he is yet to sign a new deal despite a reported £50,000 a week offer being on the table for over a month.

The Gunners now fear that Flamini may have already agreed a pre-contract agreement with Italian suitors Juventus, and accept that they may be forced to part company with the combative midfielder in the near future.

Generous

"We have made what we think is a pretty generous offer and we are waiting to hear whether he will accept or not," Hill-Wood said in the Daily Star.

"You just don't know nowadays. You think players have a pretty good life, but, somehow, someone persuades them the grass might be greener somewhere else.

"So I don't know the answer, all I know is we think we have pushed the boat out."

Juventus have been tracking Flamini for some time now, and are believed to have offered him a deal worth around £10,000 a week more than the Gunners.

Advantage

The Italian club's director Jean-Claude Blanc confirmed on Tuesday that a deal for the player is almost complete, and has now dismissed speculation which has suggested that their arch rivals Milan could be set to hijack the move at the last minute.

"We have the advantage (over Milan)," he said.

"As a child Flamini was a supporter of Juve.

"We also have a sporting project in place and we will be in the Champions League. Milan will not."