Arsenal in bid for Uruguayan star?

By European Football
November 2 2005

Arsenal FC has shown clear interest in Villarreal’s striker Diego Forlán and may be ready to land him in January. Despite some negative answers from the Spanish club, the Gunners seem very keen on getting the Uruguayan star and may be ready to present a huge bid of 24 million euros.

Diego Forlán won, together with Thierry Henry, last year’s Golden Boot Award in Europe as he scored 25 goals, as well as being the top scorer in Spain. It is Arsenal’s dream to get the two award winners playing together for the team.

Forlán, who had a bad spell in Manchester United before joining Villarreal, said:

"I have heard there is interest in me and that Arsenal have been to watch me"

"I don't know what has been said, but there has been some contact.”

“We will have to wait and see what happens.”

“I like The Premiership and it would be nice to think I could play in England again."

Yet, as Villarreal’s president Fernando Roig dismissed the approachs by stating that "Diego is key for us and we will not enter into negotiations about his sale" and "it would take a spectacular proposition to tempt us into selling", Forlán added that "I am focused on Villarreal; the option of returning to England is not in my mind."

After these declarations, Arsenal would be considering to make an offer of 24 million euros.