Kuyt And Malbranque Snub?

Last updated : 28 June 2006 By Footy Mad - Editor




Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told the London press he has checked out 25-year-old Dutch striker Kuyt: "I went to Feyenoord to check on him and he is a very generous player who works for the team".

Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur are already in the hunt - along with Newcastle of course - but the Dutchman is said to prefer a move to London. So that rules two out! And Liverpool have already signed Craig Bellamy, which will have been noted by Kuyt I'm sure.

Kuyt has failed to impress in the short spell he has played in the World Cup, but so too has Michael Owen, so can you base a decision entirely on that? There are arguments both ways, of course. Stephan Guivarc'h won the World Cup with France but didn't play well during the competition, and didn't set St James' Park alight either.

Meanwhile midfielder Malbranque is a target for Boro and they are first to make a move with a £5m offer. Whether United follow that up, only Freddy Shepherd can say.

But the 26-year-old is another who wants the bright lights of London, and a move to Teesside would frighten the life out of most of us ... never mind a man with a choice of clubs. He has openly said he wants to remain in the capital, but is there a London club showing interest? West Ham have already put themselves in a desperate financial position backing Alan Pardew, and although he would love to take the player, will his chairman push the boat out THAT far?