Arsenal Transfer News: Barcelona's Song Deal Confirmed

Arsenal announce £15m deal with Spanish giants for Cameroonian's services.

By Simon Gallagher /

It seems that Alex Song has become the second high-profile Arsenal player to leave the club inside a week after Arsenal agreed a £15million deal with Spanish giants Barcelona for the Cameroonian midfielder to leave the Emirates Stadium for Camp Nou, according to SkySports. The deal has been mooted for the last couple of weeks as Song's future at Arsenal looked increasingly in doubt, with the Telegraph suggesting that manager Arsene Wenger, has concerns about Song€™s positional discipline and has been scouting other holding midfielders since the end of last season. The same source suggests that Wenger sees the returns of Jack Wilshere and Emmanuel Frimpong as providing sufficient midfield cover, and so, his club last night announced that a fee for the midfielder had been agreed with Barcelona. Wenger spoke after the announcement to confirm his side's strength in depth, as quoted in the Telegraph:
"It is always both . He had expressed a desire to go to Barcelona. In midfield we have plenty of players at the moment. You can count Diaby, Ramsey, Arteta, Cazorla, Rosicky and Coquelin, with Frimpong and Wilshere coming back. We have nine or 10 midfielders. We will still have someone else in the defensive area.€
Song was a notable absentee from yesterday's draw with Sunderland at The Emirates, and Arsenal have now confirmed they have agreed a ‚19million (£15million) deal with the Catalan giants for his services. According to both SkySports and the Telegraph, Song will now fly out to the Spanish club to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms ahead of signing a five-year deal. Both club's released statements to confirm the deal. Arsenal's read as follows:
"Arsenal Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed for the transfer of Alex Song to Barcelona. Song will now travel to the Catalan club to agree personal terms and undergo a medical ahead of the proposed move."
And a statement on Barcelona's website confirmed that the player would undergo his medical on Monday:
"FC Barcelona has agreed a deal with Arsenal FC for the transfer of Alex Song to the Camp Nou. The fee is 19million euros. The Cameroon international midfielder will sign for the next five seasons with a release clause of 80million euros. On Monday he'll have a medical and then join the rest of the squad for the official team presentation at the Gamper."
The Telegraph are also suggesting that Arsene Wenger will now move quickly to capture Nuri Sahin from Real Madrid on a season-long loan, though when asked directly about the Turkish player, Wenger was a little evasive:
€œWe might bring another midfielder in as well. You have to be patient a little bit.€
So what do you think Arsenal fans, are you happy with the transfer fee that will take Song to Barcelona, or would you prefer to keep the player? Do you think Nuri Sahin will make for a strong replacement for the Cameroonian? Share your thoughts below...