Arsenal Transfer News: Gunners To Make Bid For Gareth Barry?
The Sun The Gunners are weighing up the possibility of making a move for the 32-year-old, who only has one year left to run on his £100,000-per-week deal at the Etihad. Arsenal would not be prepared to match those wages however, and do not necessarily see the veteran midfielder as a regular starter should they bring him to the Emirates. They could however put a two-year deal on the table on lower terms, which may be appealing for Barry. Manager Arsene Wenger is in the market for a holding midfielder having been rebuffed in his efforts to sign Lars Bender, 24, from Bayer Leverkusen. However, it is understood London rivals Tottenham could also be interested in Barry, with Andre Villas-Boas' side seeking a replacement for Scott Parker this summer. Wenger has had a long-standing interest in Barry. Along with Liverpool, the Frenchman was in the market for his signature five years ago and made another move a year later, shortly before the then-Aston Villa star moved to City. Barry has made 175 appearances for the Citizens and in 2011 lifted the first major piece of silverware of his career when he won the FA Cup with the club. He had previously been a runner up with Villa in 2000. He went on to win the Premier League a year later. An insider said:
It looks like Arsenal are just weighing things up at the moment and they do have other priorities. But they know Gareth would do a good job for them.