MOVE FOR MAARTEN PUTS MANUEL IN MIRE

Wenger after Stekelenburg as replacement for Spanish stopper.

GUNNING FOR ARSENAL? Stekelenburg could replace Almunia

By Alex Shaw, 24/07/2010

ARSENE WENGER is monitoring Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, putting Manuel Almunia's Arsenal future further in doubt.

The Dutch goalkeeper was pivotal in his country's run to the World Cup final and has been at Ajax since 2001.

Although Ajax have been boosted by Martin Jol's snub to Fulham, the former Tottenham boss has been told he will have to sell players if he wants to strengthen his squad.

Luis Suarez, Ajax's most saleable asset, looks set to stay at the club after Jol's decision to stay on as manager as the pair enjoy a good relationship but other stars will have to be moved on.

Goalkeeper Stekelenburg has attracted Wenger's interest and the Arsenal manager is now weighing up a bid.

Wenger claimed he does not have a number one choice as goalkeeper, with Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski failing to command his confidence.

Stekelenburg would be available for around £4m and at 27 would represent a more viable long-term option than Wenger's other target, Fulham's 37-year-old Mark Schwarzer.

An Ajax insider said: "I don't think Luis Suarez will leave us this summer but as for the others, there's a good chance one or two have to leave.

"I know there's an English club interested in the goalkeeper, for sure."

Your comments

This article has 36 comments

Ian Vaissiere - are you dumb? or you just like to joke around with low IQ? swapping vela,rosicky n denilson w A. Young? wow! ridiculously dumb, even in FootballManager game aston villa will happily give u young for free and wondering if they need to compensate your loss with some money

By Adam.. Posted July 26 2010 at 8:06 AM.

Hey Guys, I fully agree that Arsene winger has to look young strong goal keeper like Maarten Stekelenburg,and also it would nicefor the club to compute for the title by selling this Bendtner.
I do not see the importance of this striker! I think Arsenal is big club, so needs star players like cse,vp.. but I am not sure on the quality of the Dansih striker!

By ANDEBO ABESHA.. Posted July 26 2010 at 12:00 AM.

Why don't Arsenal try developing their own talent, instead of always reaching for the cheque book.
I'm a bit hacked off with Ajax always training up talent just to be creamed off by clubs who can' t be bothered to develop their own youth policy.
Dig your heels in Ajax board.

By Ajacied1.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:19 PM.

Wenger should buy this guy, Sketeluburn, rathan than trying to lure the old guy Schawzer. Metersacker is also good option to strenghten our defense.

By tuan nguyen.. Posted July 25 2010 at 9:31 PM.

I think Arsene, should go for a good keeper & a defender too, Stekeleburg, Jagielka are the preffered choice. And also look for a decent striker to assist vp & chamakh and do away with bendtner.

By Chriswhizzy.. Posted July 25 2010 at 8:46 PM.

Carlos you are a true Arsenal supporter as you can see quite clearly that Bendtner is a total waste of space. I just can not see what Wenger sees in him. We know he is clever but in this case he must be as thick as 2 planks if he thinks Bendtner is Arsenal quality.........more like Accrington Stanly.Buy
Mertersacker ,he is tall ,athletic and a fighter which we need in defence if we are going to win the League Not sure about the GK but Hart would be my choice

By WINSTON.. Posted July 25 2010 at 6:36 PM.

if arsenal fall to secure two more players ( good keeper center back}it will affect our tittle hope this season.please ansene wenger try to buy this players to make the fans happy this season i don,t want go with shame again, i have many man U and Chelsea fans in my home.

By excel bobby.. Posted July 25 2010 at 4:55 PM.

Arsenal shud buy (or at least try to buy) these players, Stekelenburg, either Jagielka, Cahill or Mertersacker, De Jong, Ozil and mayb Remy, total cost of around 40mil, which we can easily afford to spend on 5 players that wud improve our squad alot! i wud love to see Arsenal go for Hart, but i really doubt City will sell him as they dont need the money and they know how good he is!

By mic.. Posted July 25 2010 at 3:41 PM.

i think arsenal still need a point man,a defensive midfieder and a good goalkeeper for us to win the league .

By chibuzor emelu.. Posted July 25 2010 at 2:51 PM.

How to destroy a club like Ajax. It plays crucial game next wednesday. Nice when the big clubs come. Van der Wiel, suarez, Stekelenburg. Lost Pantelic, Rommedahl. Almost lost the trainer to fulham, just a week ago. The difference between rich en poor, becomes bigger and bigger, en so destroy football.
And how it's possible the Englisch national team makes nothing at championships.

By D. Rama.. Posted July 25 2010 at 2:21 PM.

Arsenal should go for "Ozil and if Fabregas wants to go let him go , not worth keeping a player if he wants to go. Now Arsene should go for the Portugal Eduardo
there was mention of the keeper wanting to play in a better league!!! Definitely no Mark Schwarzer .We have a very talented first team young players so, young players all over the team ...

By Irwin DS.. Posted July 25 2010 at 1:38 PM.

For sure Ajax won't sell him for 4M.
Asking Price is around 15M Euro's and I don't think Arsenal will spend this , although they should because they have louzy goalkeepers since I follow football.
I think Man Unt will go for him next year as possible replacement for the best goalkeeper of the last 10-15 years , v/d Sar

By Michael - Holland.. Posted July 25 2010 at 1:29 PM.

As agunner feel we need to offload Sagna and Clichy if better deals come through, They exposed the keeper on many occations. a new keep will bring in competition howhever the English pair at M.City are good but might be expensive. The German Mertasaker will be agood buy together with The Ajax keeper.

By Sam Nkhoma.. Posted July 25 2010 at 1:22 PM.

Its all good that we are getting a keeper. But with eduardo gone we could do with a striker. I have heard rumours of arsenal getting Remy. But is it all just gossip. Whats happening?

By William Baxter.. Posted July 25 2010 at 1:23 PM.

Its all good that we are getting a keeper. But with eduardo gone we could do with a striker. I have heard rumours of arsenal getting Remy. But is it all just gossip. Whats happening?

By William Baxter.. Posted July 25 2010 at 1:26 PM.

Not sure where the figure of £4 million comes from?? Only in your dreams would Ajax part company with him for that. As a Dutchman living in the UK, I keep an interested eye on Ajax and the press in Holland. It is a known fact that Ajax value Maarten Stekelenburg at a figure of 15 million Euro.His excellent performances during the World Cup only added to his value.
Arsenal are crying out for a decent keeper; never replaced David Seaman when he retired, so here is Wenger's chance to get one of the best keepers in the world currently, with his best years still ahead of him. Look at van der Sar at United, Stekelenburg will be in the same class in the not too distant future!

By Andre Busman.. Posted July 25 2010 at 1:09 PM.

Maarten Stekelenburg would be an excellent buy, but he is absolutely not a bargain. Don't know where the 4 million pounds come from. 8 million is more likely.

By buzz.. Posted July 25 2010 at 12:19 PM.

the worst that can happen is to start the season with any of the keepers we have now, but more worrisome is the fact that there is no serious option to fall on when song is unavailable. And when playing against the top 4 to play tough or rough we need another dirty marker to support the brilliant young man i.e scot parker, huddlestone, mascherano or felipe melo

By ojeleyeopeyemi.. Posted July 25 2010 at 12:13 PM.

This needs to get done

By MIke.. Posted July 25 2010 at 11:54 AM.

I think that Vito Mannone should be given his chance. Has he ever let Arsenal down? Played 8 times for the first team and was not on the loosing side!

By Carlos Menem.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:48 AM.

What we arsenal need now is only two players, one defenssive midfielder and one good goalkeeper, I promise we can win the league. Denilson is too young for that roll and also is Song. Rosicky can stay for another season, but Benthner with the love Wenger have for him, he is the worst player I have ever seen in my whole life.

By Kennedy.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:36 AM.

Stekelenburg is the right guy for the job, @27 and for a paltry 4 million, whaty else can one ask for, its the biggest bargain of all time, the guy has nothing more to prove to the world, he just did it at the recently finished WC games in South Africa. It gives Wojciech the much needed time to mature under the wings of a top class player, As for the money, we have enough to finnce this deal, Eduardo just earned us a cool 6 million, and more loose money from Senderos's sale earlier on, Almunia and Fabiansky must be given a hard boot out of the Emmirates, they cost us the champions league and premiership coz of silly high school errors, After this we need just another quality out and out striker to provide cover for VP and Chamakh, if the right offer comes, clincy and sagna must also be shown the exit, eboue , traore and gibbs are more offensive players in these positions. Vela must be given one last chance, (season ), to prove his worth, we cant keep paying his wages wen three quarters of the season he is out injured

By alfred mukarakate.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:14 AM.

Ajax keeper would be a good buy, Schwarzer would only be a stop gap. Almunia is an ok keeper but has never inspired any confidence!

By ian westwell.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:09 AM.

Stekelenburg is the right guy for the Job, @27 and for a paltry 4Million Pounds, what else can we ask for,this gives Wojciech the much needed time to mature under the wings of a top class player. Money is not an issue, we already have 6 million from Eduardo's sale and another from Senderos, the money bag is big enough, after this we need to move on for another striker and and maybe Michel Bastos, i dont trust clincy any more, Fabiasky and Almunia must be shipped out with the fastest speed, they cost bus the premiership and champions league last season, i wouldnt mind AW cashing in on Sagna too, Eboue is more effective in that position

By alfred mukarakate.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:04 AM.

Hands of Maarten Stekelenburg !!! He's one of the strongholders of the current Ajax team and should at least stay another year. If anyone wants to sign him, they should at least bring EUR 10 mil.

By Peter Beenhouwer.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:01 AM.

Yep Stekelenburg's a bargain at 4 million and I think De Jong at City would also be an astute signing

By dom.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:00 AM.

I think stenklbrg is de righ choice and anatha central defender wetha Jag, Cahil or Metersker that wil guarantee us the title .GO Wenger! go!.

By Yasir.. Posted July 25 2010 at 9:55 AM.

By alfred mukarakate.. Posted July 25 2010 at 10:04 AM.

We do not need Joe Cole. It will give space for Wilshire to develop into the player Joe Cole was ment to be for England...
I'm not too keen on Mark Sch... Stekelenburg much better prospect. Was pleased with him in World Cup.
Jagielka is not worth the money. Just because a player is English they up the price about 7 to 8 million. 10 million was fair but i do not rate him much. Cahill or that German centre back for me...

By Shaun.. Posted July 25 2010 at 9:24 AM.

Ian Vaissiere --- well I suppose even idiots get there right to post, GK would be nice , funny enough would like Young at arsenal but never a swap for any of those players this idiot has offered, straight cash deal, as I think he does have huge potential.

Don't see a deal for this keeper ever happening

By Talkspot.. Posted July 25 2010 at 9:07 AM.

Ian Vaissiere what are u on about u have no idear.

and anthony saying young is over rated then u go on to say you should have got joe cole, no manager at chelsea has had faith in him nor did capello that must say something, and apparently this keeper is already on his way to united.

By chris andrews.. Posted July 25 2010 at 8:50 AM.

I really hope Arsenal will sign a keeper before too late. Stekelenburg would be a great choice...as he has his best years ahead of him still and also accumulated plenty of experience so far.....something tells me though all the big guns will jump on the band wagon and try sign him up too.......it wont be easy for Arsenal unless there is more to it then we know.......I would also settle for Hart....but Schwarzer ??.....isnt he a bit old ??.....

By M4r1u5.. Posted July 25 2010 at 8:10 AM.

some people making post on this site, about Arsenal have no respect for the Club,players or team they support its embarrassing.The reason we are supporters is to support not to cast stupid opinions about a sport you clearly know nothing about.Vela Rosicky and Denilson for Young you must be mad.I will bet my bottom dollar you have not played the game a any level,to have that kind of opinion.

By anthony .. Posted July 25 2010 at 7:34 AM.

I'm loving the fact that the likes of Emmanuel-Thomas, Frimpong, Landbury and Whilshire are training with the first team. If by next season the likes of Denilson and Bendtner do not reach their potential they might be shown the door. I don't think we need to buy any more offensive players especially the over rated Ashly Young.

It's a pity we didn't buy Joe Cole but in a way I think he made the right decision for his career. Seeing that he doesn't want to fight for his place in a team he wants to walk straight into one.

As for the goal keeping situation I think we should go for one of three goalies. They are Joe Hart, Shay Given and Stekelenburg. Hart is one of the best goalies around and so is Given. I doubt City can keep them both happy. Stekelenburg showed how much of a quality keeper he is during the World cup and at 4 million I think that's a bargain.

If we can't get Jagielka then we should go for Boltons Cahill. A good English defender would be welcomed by all Gunners

By Arsenal Blaizer.. Posted July 25 2010 at 4:21 AM.

And I thank god that Ian Vaissiere is not Arsene Wenger.

By KK.. Posted July 25 2010 at 4:06 AM.

And as soon as Arsene has secured a keeper he needs another center back. Theres a rumour hes tracking Jagielka from Everton for £15+, I'd save my money and look at Kompany or Richards at M City. I'd also unload Bendtner (his goal to chance ratio is poor) and bring in Wickham. And if he does have some cash to splash then I'd put a package together for Villa, Vela, Rosicky & Denilson plus cash for Ashly Young.

By Ian Vaissiere.. Posted July 25 2010 at 12:48 AM.

We have to check every comment before we can allow it to be published. But don't worry, we've got a team on it 24/7 - so check back soon! Please note that we cannot publish all comments received. The editor's decision is final. Please note that your email address will not be displayed next to your comment.