Arsenal 'offer Adebayor to Milan'

AC Milan claim Arsenal are ready to sell Emmanuel Adebayor, a month after insisting he was not available. The Gunners told Milan on 13 June that the striker, 24, was not for sale. But Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani revealed the Gunners have since written to the Italian club to say they have changed their position. Galliani told Italian TV station Antenna 3: "I have a letter from Arsenal that says 'we will consider a deal if it still interests you'." However, the clubs still need to agree a fee, with Milan unwilling to meet Arsenal's £36m valuation of the Togo international.

Galliani says he has spoken to Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger about a deal but that they are "divided" on the player's value. Milan said in June that Adebayor was their "sole transfer target" of the summer, although they later said they could not afford him.

After selling Alberto Gilardino to Fiorentina and with Ronaldo out of action because of a serious knee injury, Milan have made signing a striker their top priority, although Barcelona also covet Adebayor, who scored 30 goals in 48 games last season.

"If Adebayor decides to leave, Milan definitely want him but it is clear that if an offer arrives from Barcelona it would be difficult for him to say no," Galliani added.

AC Milan quit Adebayor race after refusing Arsenal's £35m price tag

AC MILAN last night pulled out of the race to sign Emmanuel Adebayor after claiming Arsenal's £35million price tag has left Barcelona and Chelsea fighting it out for his signature.

Barca have already had a £25m bid turned down and Chelsea could launch a raid on their London rivals to get Adebayor as a ready-made replacement for Didier Drogba if he ends up quitting Stamford Bridge this summer.


Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani said: "Adebayor is overridden by continuous requests for £35m - these figures are impossible for clubs in Italy.

"When big clubs like Barcelona and Chelsea arrive it is impossible to compete because they have a much more advantageous fiscal situation."

Milan had been leading the chase for Adebayor, who has three years left on the £40,000-a-week deal he signed last summer but Arsenal are determined not to sell the Togo striker on the cheap until they have a replacement, with Blackburn's Roque Santa Cruz top of their hitlist.


dailyrecord.co.uk

Adebayor Talks Up Milan Move

Emmanuel Adebayor is ready to forget his promise to stay at Arsenal next season and push for a big-money move to AC Milan.

On Friday afternoon the Togo striker, who scored 30 times for the Gunners last season, pledged his future to the Barclays Premier League club, insisting: "I have three more years (on my) contract so no matter what I have to stay. I'm staying at Arsenal."

But just minutes afterwards, in a briefing with the written press in Vienna, Adebayor once again hinted strongly that he would demand a transfer to the San Siro in showdown talks with manager Arsene Wenger next week.

"I had a dream of playing for Arsenal, and Arsenal are one of the loveliest clubs in the world," he said.

"When I go back to Africa it is obvious that a lot of people love the club. But now I have a chance of playing with one of the biggest clubs in the world."

Adebayor added: "I haven't had a chance to speak to the manager yet. But we will sit down next week and decide what is good for my career.

"We will have to meet with the manager before anything can be decided. But, as you know better than anyone, a lot of teams want me to play for them.

"It will not be a difficult decision. I'm just going to sit down with my agent and with my family and decide what is good for my career."

Milan midfielder Clarence Seedorf believes Adebayor has already made up his mind.

He told Setanta Sports News: "When I spoke with him I said 'I'm waiting for you'. Let's see what will happen.

"He already said he would come, but it depends now on Arsenal.

"If he leaves Arsenal, it's a done deal. He comes to Milan."

Whatever the outcome, Adebayor insists money would never be a motivating factor if he were to move clubs.

Arsenal would stand to make a substantial profit if they were to sell the striker, and Adebayor himself would also expect to see his wages increase.

However, the former Monaco striker said: "When I was young I had a dream to be a good footballer and play for a big team.

"I was born in Togo so I never cared about playing for money, my happiness was to play to enjoy myself. That's what I've been doing until now.

"You can see people changing clubs because of money, because they want a change of atmosphere or to get their names in the big leagues. I just play football to enjoy myself. I play because I love it."

DOMINO EFFECT (Galliani transfer isuues declaration)

"Adebayor? It depends on Arsenal. If Arsenal don't let him go, Adebayor still has two years on his contract, but if they ask huge amounts for him it's over. Otherwise it's not over, but nothing's for sure yet. Morabito is right when he says that Milan are after Adebayor and no one else at the moment, it's true, but that doesn't mean it stays like that until september 1st, the last day of the transfer window. But it remains to be seen what happens in this ballet of strikers, Eto'o, Ronaldinho, Adebayor, Drogba, how they will move because sometimes there's a domino effect and sometimes there isn't.

I think the fans should be grateful not to the fan Galliani, but to President Berlusconi who, through his Fininvest company, continues to pour money into this club. He's been doing that for 22 years and he transformed a club who was on trial and relegated twice to Serie B in the 80s, into the most title-winning club in the world."

acmilan.com