Gunners close in on Arshavin

Premiership clubs have already spent over £140 million on signing new players this month and that figure is expected to significantly increase today as the clock ticks down in the final few hours of the transfer window.

Arsenal should finally seal a deal to sign Russian playmaker Andrei Arshavin although Gunners’ manager Arsene Wenger insists the 27-year-old will not be ‘an instant saviour’.

The London club are in need of new recruits to try and get their challenge for a Champions League place back on track but Wenger says it may be three months before the Arsenal fans see the best of Arshavin even if he joins from Zenit St Petersberg.

The Russian league season ended in November and Arshavin, who has arrived in England for talks, has been preparing for the new campaign which doesn’t start until March. “He would not be an instant saviour. I don’t believe in instant saviours,” said Wenger.

Meanwhile, former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein admitted the club are in real danger of not qualifying for the Champions League for the first time in 12 seasons.

“When I left I said it was only because I could see what was on the horizon. We were in danger of slipping and I think that is what is happening at the moment. Arsenal desperately need to sign a new player,” said Dein.


Newcastle

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Shay Given says he is joining a club that is ‘going places’ after finalising his move from Newcastle to Manchester City for an undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £8 million.

The 32-year-old Republic of Ireland goalkeeper said: “These are exciting times at Manchester City with the owners and this manager. There are big plans for the club. I am very excited to be joining and delighted that City want my services. I’m happy that that the two clubs could reach an agreement.

“They (Newcastle) have been great to me for so many years and I thank them for that. But I just felt this was an opportunity for me to come to a club that in my opinion is really going places. I am even excited to be going training with them for the first time, it’s a new chapter in my life and one I’m looking forward to.”

Given’s former club Newcastle have failed in a bid to sign experienced Liverpool defender Sami Hyypia after the Reds turned down an offer for the Finland international.

Magpies’ boss Joe Kinnear, who has already signed midfielder Kevin Nolan and Wigan full-back Ryan Taylor, said yesterday: “I have spent the last two days trying to get finance and players. I tried to sign one central defender but got knocked back. Liverpool weren’t prepared to let Hyypia go.

“Fingers crossed we can get a deal done because I want someone with experience given the position we are in. We have a very young back-four and I want somebody with experience. This has been a struggle from day one since I walked in here. We have been torn to shreds with turmoil, injuries – we have had the lot.”