Marouane Fellaini’s dream move to Arsenal has hit the rudders, with Arsene Wenger reportedly reluctant to trigger his £23million release clause.
The Gunners have been strongly tipped to make a move for the Belgian international, but Goodison Park sources claim no inquiry has yet been lodged.
Fellaini is understood to have his heart set on a move to London, but Arsenal are still mulling over whether to break their club transfer record for the midfielder.
Everton maintain they will not sell the 25-year-old for less than his £23m buy-out clause, leaving the door open for either Chelsea or Manchester United to swoop in ahead of the Gunners, who are dragging their heels.
New boss Roberto Martinez is bracing himself for a bid though, with the 25-year-old revealing to close friends that he would love a switch to the capital – where he would be less than two hours on the Eurostar away from his Brussels birthplace.
Former Goodison boss David Moyes is also thought to be interested in taking the player with him to Manchester United, but sources close to Fellaini suggest that if Arsenal or Chelsea make a move, then he would encourage their interest.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger has made his admiration of the Belgian clear, and the Emirates club insist they have the funds in hand to make a major impact in the transfer market over the next three months.
Wenger has insisted Arsenal are ready to finally spend big this summer, and Everton’s hardball stance over Fellaini will test this new philosophy.
Gunners chief executive Ivan Gazidis said this week of Wenger: ‘He is not scared to spend money, but he has to believe he is a getting a top-class player.’
– By Metro and Daily Mirror
