Arsenal Hope to Sign Juventus Keeper Gianluigi Buffon for Free

Emirates boss considers move for Italian keeper.

Arsenal are weighing up the option of signing Italy’s veteran goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon on a free transfer from Juventus.
Arsene Wenger has turned to Jens Lehmann to try and solve his long-standing problems in goal, but the 41-year-old made a less than impressive return for the reserves at Wigan on Tuesday. Now the Arsenal boss is considering Buffon whose 10-year stay in Turin is expected to end in the summer as Juve look to offload his £125,000-a-week salary. It is doubtful that Arsenal would pay that much for a 33-year-old who has struggled with injury but, surprisingly, there would be no fee for Buffon under a clause inserted in his contract when he agreed to stay with Juve following the club’s demotion to Serie B in 2006.

SOURCE: Daily Mail

Given the keeping crisis Arsenal are currently in, although perhaps crisis is too big a word, Arsene Wenger will be licking his lips at the prospect of being able to land a keeper as accomplished as Gianluigi Buffon for nothing. Quotes coming from the player’s agent have suggested that a move to the Premier League interests the Italian international.

Arsenal started the season with Manuel Almunia as first choice but a series of clangers appear to leave the Spaniard without much of a future at the Emirates. Lukasz Fabianski was then brought in and although improved the Pole still looked liable to make mistakes, he then got himself injured. In came youngster Wojciech Szczesny who very much looked the part but then he too made some costly errors but clearly still has great potential. Vito Mannone was loaned out to Hull City and is apparently likely to leave in the summer.

Wenger chased Mark Schwarzer last summer but Mark Hughes was unwilling to allow the Fulham keeper to leave and the Gunners boss has since been linked with very real interest in Liverpool goalie Pepe Reina. One can understand how the North London club would be interested in Buffon, there are few keepers in the modern game who have accomplished more than the 33 year old, but no doubt there will be many clubs who will make an offer for the goalie should he look to end his ten year long association with his Turin employers.

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Arsenal to Make Shock Move for Juventus Keeper Gianluigi Buffon

The Stadio Delle Alpi goalkeeper could be on his way to the Emirates or to the Stadio Olimpico following a contract dispute.

Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon could make a surprise move to Arsenal this summer after contract negotiations broke down. La Republica reports the 33-year-old’s contract expires in 2013 but negotiations over a new deal stalled as the Old Lady wants to half his €6million a year salary.

Buffon has repeatedly said he wants to stay at Juventus but is unhappy about the terms being offered. “Future? I do not feel I need to address this issue now,” Buffon said. “Juve are experiencing a situation so delicate, contrasting with the club’s history that the last thing interesting to the fans are the individual situations.”

The club also wants the Italy international to sign but if he refuses they will cash in on him to remove his hefty salary. Arsenal will hope to take advantage of any problems at the Stadio Delle Alpi and will want Buffon to solve their goalkeeper crisis. Buffon rejected a bid from Manchester United last summer but he and his family are tempted more by a move to North London.

Juventus will consider the idea if striker Robin Van Persie was included in the deal. The new Roma owner Thomas DiBenedetto, and a partner in the New England Sports Ventures, is also an admirer of the goalkeeper and would love to make Buffon his first signing.

But ‘Gigi’ does not want to move to a direct rival of Juventus and his agent, Silvano Martina, has recently denied a move would ever materialise. “Gigi to Rome? Nothing is true,” Martina said. “Buffon will remain at Juve, but he has still two and half year contract.”

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