July 16, 2007
ARSENAL are poised to smash their transfer record with a £15million swoop for Argentinian striker Rodrigo Palacio.
Reports in Argentina claim Palacio, 25, will fly to London tomorrow for a medical after Boca Juniors accepted the Gunners offer.
He is destined to wear the No 14 shirt vacated by Thierry Henry’s recent £16m move to Barcelona.
Palacio wears No 14 for Boca and Argentina and is seen as a direct replacement for Henry.
Ironically, Barcelona had agreed a £14.9m deal for Palacio just days before learning long-term target Henry was available.
An earlier bid of £12.7m had been knocked back by Boca president Mauricio Macri, who said: “It would have to be a much bigger offer because, for me, he is the best striker in Argentina.”
The deal was further complicated by the fact former clubs Huracan and Banfield are both due a cut of the transfer fee.
But now it appears all obstacles have been removed after Arsenal came in with a record-breaking offer.
Palacio is currently in Venezuela as part of the Argentina squad which played Brazil in last night’s final of the Copa America.
He is eager to prove himself in Europe after going to the World Cup in Germany last year as back-up to Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez.
Palacio has scored 39 goals in 79 appearances for Boca and has won five Argentine caps.
He partnered Tevez in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Paraguay on July 5.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has already spent £16.5m this summer on striker Eduardo Da Silva and full-back Bacary Sagna.
Palacio’s arrival would smash the club-record £12.5m paid for Sylvain Wiltord in 2000.
ARSENAL are poised to smash their transfer record with a £15million swoop for Argentinian striker Rodrigo Palacio.
Reports in Argentina claim Palacio, 25, will fly to London tomorrow for a medical after Boca Juniors accepted the Gunners offer.
He is destined to wear the No 14 shirt vacated by Thierry Henry’s recent £16m move to Barcelona.
Palacio wears No 14 for Boca and Argentina and is seen as a direct replacement for Henry.
Ironically, Barcelona had agreed a £14.9m deal for Palacio just days before learning long-term target Henry was available.
An earlier bid of £12.7m had been knocked back by Boca president Mauricio Macri, who said: “It would have to be a much bigger offer because, for me, he is the best striker in Argentina.”
The deal was further complicated by the fact former clubs Huracan and Banfield are both due a cut of the transfer fee.
But now it appears all obstacles have been removed after Arsenal came in with a record-breaking offer.
Palacio is currently in Venezuela as part of the Argentina squad which played Brazil in last night’s final of the Copa America.
He is eager to prove himself in Europe after going to the World Cup in Germany last year as back-up to Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez.
Palacio has scored 39 goals in 79 appearances for Boca and has won five Argentine caps.
He partnered Tevez in Argentina’s 1-0 win over Paraguay on July 5.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has already spent £16.5m this summer on striker Eduardo Da Silva and full-back Bacary Sagna.
Palacio’s arrival would smash the club-record £12.5m paid for Sylvain Wiltord in 2000.