Gunners eyeing Demba Ba.
Arsenal are ready to offer Chelsea £15m for striker Demba Ba in January, according to Italian source CalcioMercato.
The Gunners almost landed the Senegalese on August transfer deadline day but, according to a number of sources, Blues boss Jose Mourinho blocked the season-long loan deal after Arsenal signed Mesut Ozil.
The Portuguese is thought to have feared that Arsenal with Ba and Ozil could genuinely challenge Chelsea for the Premier League title – a concern not without substance given the Gunners current position five places ahead of Chelsea at the summit of the Premier League.
But Arsenal reportedly remain interested in Ba and CalcioMercato believe they will temp Chelsea with an offer of more than double what the West London outfit paid Newcastle for the forward in January.
This is despite Ba struggling since his move to Stamford Bridge, where he has netted just two goals in 16 Premier League appearances.
Indeed, the Senegal international has made just two league starts this season and is yet to score, with Mourinho preferring a rejuvenated Fernando Torres as a lone striker and Samuel Eto’o as back-up.
Arsene Wenger is short of strikers at present, with Nicklas Bendtner currently the only fit, senior alternative to on-form Olivier Giroud but Lukas Podolski and Theo Walcott both close to returning from lengthy injury lay-offs.
COMMENTS