Fulham want Arsenal’s Carlos Vela and cash for Mark Schwarzer
Fulham have reportedly demanded a swap deal for Carlos Vela as well as cash if they are to allow goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to leave for English Premier League rivals Arsenal.
As Schwarzer is 37 years old, Arsenal are unwilling to match Fulham’s valuation of £4m for the player – who handed in a transfer request last week as he attempts to push through a move – as he has no sell-on value. Arsenal made a bid of around £2m earlier this summer which was rejected and they have yet to make a second official bid, but the two parties are said to still be in talks over the transfer of the Australia international.
'Different valuations'
Goal quoted a source close to the deal as saying that: "They have different valuations of Schwarzer. Arsenal don’t want to pay the £4m that Fulham want but one possibility is a player exchange deal to push it through."
Several of Arsenal’s squad men are believed to have been mentioned during the discussions and Vela has been one of the players Fulham have inquired about. Arsenal’s valuation of Vela is likely to be far higher than £2m, however the Mexico international striker has struggled to feature regularly under Arsene Wenger and appears to be running out of time to impress and start more games.
Replacement needed
Another factor in the deal being held up is the fact that Fulham have yet to bring in a goalkeeper to replace Schwarzer. They had been in talks with free agent David James before he decided to move to Bristol City while a loan bid for Shay Given, of Manchester City, may also be an option as City boss Roberto Mancini has decided on Joe Hart as his first choice between the posts.
Even though there are several roadblocks to Schwarzer moving across the capital, both clubs expect a deal to be struck before the transfer window closes at the end of the month.
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