Newcastle United manager Sam Allardyce is interested in taking Arsenal’s Lassana Diarra in the January transfer window, and the player is said to want to leave the Emirates.
Lassana Diarra – ready to leave Arsenal
Arsene Wenger has put a £6M price tag on the want-away 22 year-old former Chelsea player Lassana Diarra. Diarra cost only £2m from Chelsea in August, and the Frenchman is hardly pleased that after just a few games with Arsenal, the club wants to make £4M on the player.
Diarra was brought to Chelsea from Le Havre in July 2005 for just £1M, and has also been linked with Tottenham. But Newcastle have lots of French players, and players with French league experience in their side right now, and the Tyneside club may prove to be an attractive proposition to the young Frenchman.
Lassana is comfortable playing in midfield or defense, and has spent the last two seasons with Chelsea, where he collected a Carling Cup winner’s medal in February this year after playing in the final against Arsenal. He was awarded individual accolades as Young Player of the Year by both former clubs, Le Havre (2004) and Chelsea (2006). Diarra has already played for the full France side in their European 2008 qualifying campaign.
There’s no doubt the Frenchman will be in big demand and former Newcastle manager Glenn Roeder was also keen to sign Diarra this year. Aston Villa are also said to be monitoring the situation. Monaco and Paris St German are reported to be interested in the Frenchman, but Lassana would prefer to stay in the Premier League.
We think Lassana would be an excellent buy for the Magpies, and we are hoping this story is true.
What do you think? Let us know – comments and opinions always welcome.
19 comments so far
t-g-w
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:16 AM
Comment #1Where has this story come from exactly?
adam
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:23 AM
Comment #2he was the best arsenal player when we played them not too long ago. we should definetly sign him if we have a chance
dragoner
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:30 AM
Comment #3exactly, where has this story come from???
Ed Harrison
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:32 AM
Comment #4It’s in the People today.
dragoner
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Comment #5Tottenham a few french, or french speaking players aswell, AND all in the first team.
chimbonda, zokora, malbranque, kaboul,
Halliday
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:45 AM
Comment #6Canny player. Do we need this type of player though?
No is the answer.
Howie
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:52 AM
Comment #7i would take him but only on loan at the beginning.
Tom_Toon
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:56 AM
Comment #8We can do much better than diarra: Mavuba, Vukojevic, Bolatti.
Tom_Toon
Dec 23, 2007 at 12:06 PM
Comment #96 mil for him! thats a sick joke. No way would we be stupid enough to pay that.
iain
Dec 23, 2007 at 12:12 PM
Comment #10scary how much he looks like makelele.
seemed pally enough with the zog after the recent arsenal game. wonder if they are mates.
they came through the same academy at le havre but at different times i think
scott 9
Dec 23, 2007 at 12:18 PM
Comment #11this would be an exellent signing for dmf with barton in with him and a winger on either side hes more mobile than butt and geremi nad also a better passer than butt also great for our ytouth transfer policy i really hope theres truth in this i have wanted us to get diarra since glen roeder wanted him on loan last january.
ToonKing
Dec 23, 2007 at 12:50 PM
Comment #12don’t want him ……there are better and cheaper options out there.
paul
Dec 23, 2007 at 8:50 PM
Comment #13definetly should buy him. is an excellent player, considering the other options we have in this position, nicky butt?
Kiwi Toon
Dec 23, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Comment #14Theres no doubt he’s a good defensive midfielder and one for the future but at 6 mil he looks a bit pricey to say the least. Our midfield is already clogged up enough at the moment and would add another selection headache for Big Sam. He should only be signed for 3 – 4 mil if Butt is sold imo.
Leo
Dec 23, 2007 at 11:22 PM
Comment #15yeah he does look like makelele it is strange, i would take him rather than gilberto silva
Daniel Petersen
Dec 24, 2007 at 7:08 AM
Comment #16I agree with you Leo. I would much rather have Diarra than Gilberto. Which of course knowing BSA means Gilberto is probably on his way. Diarra was the best player on the field for Arsenal during their last Carling Cup match against Blackburn. A great player, though 6 Mil seems a tad too high.
andrew
Dec 24, 2007 at 12:36 PM
Comment #17I don’t think that Wenger wants £6 millions for let him leave. I think it’s a rumour just for make people think that the player is very expensive!!!
Ed Harrison
Dec 24, 2007 at 12:38 PM
Comment #18andrew – you’re probabaly right – hope so 😀
marco
Dec 24, 2007 at 12:47 PM
Comment #19i think he will leave for £3 millions, all the rumours in football come from the agents of the player, this is a game to make money!!!!!