[funkdoctorspock]

I personally think there is no truth to this, but Arsenal are now in for Silvestre apparently.

So lets recap... This summer Bordeaux, City, Celtic, Sunderland and now Arsenal are interested in picking up Tweety.

Add to this Lyon.

Now as much as Silvestre gets slagged by many United supporters, he is a capable backup. More importantly he is a wingback who is great in attacks which is basically a requirement for any back at Manchester United.

Tweety worth only 750k? Sir Alex and Wenger never doing a deal... hmmm thoughts on this?

Manchester United defender Mikael Silvestre was last night on the verge of an astonishing move to bitter rivals Arsenal.

The 31-year-old France international had appeared to be on his way to Manchester City or Sunderland. But Sportsmail can reveal that Arsenal came in with a late offer to tempt Silvestre into one of the summer’s most unexpected transfers.

Sources close to the player revealed last night that the 31-year-old had been won over by Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, one of his home country’s most revered coaches, and the promise of Champions League football at the Emirates.

Arsenal will expect to pay United around £750,000 for a player who moved to Old Trafford from Inter Milan in the 1998-99 season and will offer him £50,000-a-week.

What makes the deal so remarkable is that Wenger and his bitter rival, United manager Sir Alex Ferguson, have never before traded players in the 12 years they have been in opposition in the Premier League.

The two men have often been in competition for the same player from overseas and have at times coveted members of each other’s squads. Wenger, for example, considered a move for David Beckham when he left United in 2003 and Ferguson always wanted former Gunners captain Patrick Vieira. But no deal between the two men has ever been close to coming off.

Silvestre, who has made 361 appearances for United in all competitions, was thought to be holding out for a testimonial next year when he turned down summer approaches from Bordeaux and Paris Saint-Germain in his homeland.

It was also thought that his family wanted to remain in the north-west.

But it appears the opportunity to join another top English club, especially one with such a strong French influence, proved too hard to resist.

Wenger wants to integrate Silvestre into a defensive unit that already contains Frenchmen Gael Clichy and William Gallas. The arrival of Silvestre — if the transfer goes through — would also probably spell the end for Arsenal’s unreliable Switzerland centre back Philippe Senderos.

Source

[Dirtycheat]

Arsenal are cheapskates, 750,000 isnt acceptable tbh for someone who is as experienced and tweety.

Hopefully keane will put in a massive bid like he did for richardson. I thnk we should keep him though, he is a very good backup and we might need him.

[funkdoctorspock]

Deal is confirmed.

I'm a lil stunned to be honest. This weakens our defensive cover. But I'm going out on a limb that O'Shea/Fabio/Evans will be ample cover for Evra.

What is the depth chart in your opinion after Evra in the leftback position?

Arsenal sign Man Utd's Silvestre

Arsenal have signed Manchester United's France international defender Mikael Silvestre for an undisclosed fee.

The 31-year-old, who can play at left-back or centre-back, joined United in September 1999 and had one year left on his contract at Old Trafford.

He made 249 Premier League appearances in nearly nine years with United.

Silvestre missed most of last season with a cruciate knee ligament injury, but returned to action in April.

More to follow.

Source

EDIT:

[Dirtycheat]

Evra really has this strange effect on rival left backs that gives them a sudden urge to join a rival. First it was hienze, now tweety.



best defender at the club now.

Maybe he will be captain?

Arsene is trying to build the france B team here. He is clearly after domonech's job.


In terms of people who can fill we have

- Da silva, one of them, i get confused which one
- Oshea
- Evans (i saw corrie evans play there once in a reserve game)
- Simpson (but he is on loan)

so no real experience in that position then. I doubt united sold for the money so tweety must have been unsettled.

[dada]

Best of luck to him. I think at his age he just wanted an opportunity to see more football on the pitch and when a club like Arsenal became interested he expressed his wish and Fergie obliged. A gift for his years of service I suppose.

[TeKnIcIaN]

I can't say I'm totally sorry to see him go. I'm not sure why, but I never really cared for him all that much.

Best of luck to him, and may he well enjoy his 3rd place EPL medal (certificate, bobby pin, whatever they get)

[carlyluvsunited]

Originally Posted by Dirtycheat

Evra really has this strange effect on rival left backs that gives them a sudden urge to join a rival. First it was hienze, now tweety.

best defender at the club now.

Maybe he will be captain?

Arsene is trying to build the france B team here. He is clearly after domonech's job.

In terms of people who can fill we have

- Da silva, one of them, i get confused which one
- Oshea
- Evans (i saw corrie evans play there once in a reserve game)
- Simpson (but he is on loan)

so no real experience in that position then. I doubt united sold for the money so tweety must have been unsettled.

Evra has a strange effect on me too ...

But this is neither the time nor the place, Ahem ...

The Da Silvas can both play at left back I thought ...

Fabio is the specialist, and wow can he score a goal too ...

Did anyone see the one he got for the reserves ?

Fergie was praising him for a week after that game !

[Codd1e]

Now it is already clear, he damages after a so long time is changed, but with Vidic, Hargreaves, Rio and Evra one simply cannot himself put through.

[Prongs]

In a way ,fergie might have felt Arsenal ain't all that important for the title race , else i don't see how he made his rivals get strong .

He must have been really convinced after seeing fabio / rafael brothers . Besides , this is a good news for Evans . Now he would be preferred easily to start games and boy he is a talent and its very important to have him around to replace Rio .

As for Silvy . Would never forget the shove of bergkamp and then headbutting the little cunt ljungberg to where he belonged .

The brace against Scousers .

The assist for Rooney against Arsenal around 2005-06 season .

Great Memories . More than decent player. Steal for Arsenal . But then , they have toure and gallas , So i don't see him getting a regular CB role . Maybe a back up to clichy . But clichy plays like Evra , all season , all games . So maybe i won't get the need to boo him as he won't play much .

9 years . Good player . Good Luck Silvestre , go eat fabregas in the training

[funkdoctorspock]

k, the shock has worn off.

Wishing Tweety all the best at Le Arse. A very good servant for the club. 9 years is no small feat at all!

the kiddies are going to have to step up this season.