Could Ghana captain Appiah be on his way for a trial at Arsenal?
The transfer window my have slammed shut without Arsenal adding to their summer buys, but the rumours about an interest in Ghanaian captain Stephen Appiah refuse to go away.
The 27-year-old terminated his contract with Fenerbahce during the closed season and the fact that he is now a free agent means that he can still sign for anyone, with the English interest said to be with West Ham, Portsmouth and, of course, the Gunners.
As Appiah is no longer attached to a club, he is free to come to England as a trialist and given that Arsene Wenger prefers to run the rule over players during week-long trials, the possibility of him becoming an Arsenal player are not beyond the realms of possibility.
Appiah has been plagued by injury and illness, but having signed Amaury Bischoff and Mikael Silvestre as crocked players during the summer, the African’s problems would not prevent Le Gaffer from considering him.
The fact that Appiah is his country’s skipper is also a bonus, while the fee – or lack of it – might also appeal to the Arsenal manager...
Appiah himself has expressed a desire to join the Gunners and the club reportedly sent a scout to watch him during Ghana’s clash with Libya last Friday.
One potential stumbling block for a deal that has been mentioned in certain quarters is an accusation that Appiah and other Ghana players accepted a bribe from an Asian betting syndicate to throw their game against Brazil in the 2006 World Cup.
Arsene Wenger is a steely campaigner against corruption in the beautiful game and if he thought a player could be bought, there’s no way he’d consider offering him a contract.
However, Appiah has strenuously denied the allegation and the Ghana Football Association is considering legal action against the Canadian author who made the claims.
Appiah says, “The truth of the matter is that I have never accepted money to influence the outcome of a game and never will.”
The midfielder admits to meeting the author but insists he might have been misquoted. “He interviewed me but all I told him was that we are given money to win. Maybe he misunderstood me but I was only talking about winning bonus which is a common thing from the Ghana Football Association,” says Appiah.
So with that little misunderstanding cleared up, could we be seeing Stephen coming to London Colney for a trial with the club? And more to the point, could he slot into the Arsenal system and give Wenger better options in the middle of the park?
I tend to think he won't come, but what do you lot reckon?
GM
Reader Comments (11)
1st! Any player with he's experience and in his respective position on the pitch would be welcomed at the arsenal. He's a freebie too!!!!
Chelsea could come in for him w/ NO trial and higher wages to replace Essien who is done for this season and probably the start of 2009-2010.
Redknapp is quoted saying that we were in for him, so maybe there is something more to the story...
I'm not convinced by his win bonus explanation. Is he suggesting that Canadians or any non Ghanians would have been unaware of the difference between a win bonus and a bribe? I am staggered though that Brazil would need any help in winning a World cup match against Ghana.
I am not overly optimistic of him coming either unless Arsene can persuade him to take a short-term contract as I feel Arsene is determined to fit Diaby into the DM role long term.
Rubbish!!!
Nothing new here at all but i suppose it got you hits from NewsNow.!
normally we know when players are on trial at Colney, and there has not been any news saying that he's been there so I dont know if there's any truth in this rumour. I heard he did fly to London but where on earth he went after Heathrow is anyone's call.
I hope wenger does sign him because he can give us something different defensivly and going forward. We need cover for Fab plus Appiah can play anywhere across the midfield and also can operate as second striker.
Please Wenger get you finger out and make him sign. We wont regret it.
Don't think Wenger will sign him though he will be immense for Arsenal. Wenger believes that we are well covered in DM with Denilson, Song, Djourou, Ramsay and now Eboue. And I think Wenger will try to convert Diaby into DM. My view is this is an inexperienced DM lineup but hey, Wenger is in charge, not me.
Appiah is class, providing he is fit would bring power, strength, leadership, experience, and steel to the club. He would be wasted a West Ham but i hear he has ties with people at the club..
Why do you post the same article twice?
Yesterday, I posted on some blogs that I received privileged info that Appiah had been locked in talks with Arsenal. He has to decide between Arsenal and West Ham. It's entirely up to him at the end of the day. But I will be very shocked if he went to West Ham. If a club like Arsenal come in for you, it must be a dream come true.
Finally, I will say, if Appiah was going to join West Ham, he'd have probably said it by now but I feel very strongly that he is on his way to the Emirates, whether vertain fans like it or not.