Wenger: Dennis must fight for place
Arsenal striker Dennis Bergkamp has been warned by manager Arsene Wenger
that he faces a struggle to win a first-team place alongside Thierry Henry,
even if he does sign a new contract at Highbury.
The former Dutch international appears to have found common ground with
Arsenal after a summer wrangle over an improved deal.
Bergkamp's agent Rob Jansen believes that a deal could be struck within
48 hours, but the former Ajax and Inter Milan player then faces stiff
competition to become an automatic selection.
Wenger has kept hold of Kanu, Francis Jeffers and Sylvain Wiltord, despite
speculation that he would be prepared to release any of them at the right
price.
Highly-rated French prospect Jeremie Aliadiere is also fit after missing
the final six months of last season through injury and came through the
first half of last Friday's friendly against Peterborough along with Jeffers.
Wenger, who has also been linked with a move for Lens striker Daniel Moreira,
can therefore offer 34-year-old Bergkamp no guarantees despite his continuing
faith in his ability.
'It is very difficult to say who will play up front alongside Thierry Henry
this season,' he declared. 'Will it be Aliadiere, Wiltord, Jeffers, Bergkamp
or Kanu? We will have to see.'
As for the ongoing negotiations with Bergkamp, Wenger told the club's website
: 'Things are quite good. We are talking and that's it.'
Bergkamp, who has remained in Holland instead of returning to pre-season
training, will be back in north London later this week.
Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce has revealed he 'came close' to bringing Bergkamp
to Bolton.
'I came close to signing Dennis Bergkamp but he was not interested in coming
north to play,' Allardyce told Bolton's official website.
'It's disappointing because he would have been a fantastic acquisition for
this football club. He was out of contract at Arsenal and we could have bud-
geted for his wages.'
--
"Weg von hier, das ist mein Ziel."
"離開這裡,那就是我的目標。"
~~ Franz Kafka
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※ 編輯: graceki 來自: 211.74.242.47 (07/16 17:31)