11 February 2002
Unsettled Tottenham Hotpsur striker Serhiy Rebrov has revealed that he is wanted by north London rivals Arsenal.
"Arsene Wenger told me that if he manages to sell Kanu and Wiltord, he will buy me," the Ukraine striker explained.
Rebrov has been frozen out by White Hart Lane boss Glenn Hoddle and admitted their mutual ill-feeling has left him ready to follow former Spurs skipper Sol Campbell to Highbury.
"We simply don't have a relationship," said the striker. "My attitude to him [Hoddle] isn't good and vice versa. I am living out my last months at Tottenham."
The Ukraine star insisted Wenger informed him of his plans but added: "It can only happen at the end of the season. I want to leave now, but it is not easy as the transfer window has ended in many countries."
Rebrov's claims will have an unsettling affect at Highbury. Despite his knack of scoring important goals, Wiltord has failed to live up to his billing as Arsenal's record signing.
Kanu was expected to quit the Gunners at the start of the season after the signing of England Under-21 star Francis Jeffers took the number of forwards in Wenger's squad to five.
However, Jeffers' persistent injury problems gave the Nigerian another chance and he responded with a series of encouraging displays before his departure to the African Nations Cup.
Rebrov, too, has failed to reproduce the form that made him one of Europe's most coveted strikers alongside Andriy Shevchenko at Dynamo Kyiv.
Hoddle prefers Les Ferdinand and Teddy Sheringham up front and, with Norway striker Steffen Iversen now back after injury, Rebrov has been pushed even further down the pecking-order.
He was brought to the Lane for a club record oe11 million by former boss George Graham at the start of last season.
Rebrov added that French club Bordeaux, Italian giants Lazio and west Londoners Fulham have also shown interest. "There was a proposal from Bordeaux but the clubs failed to agree the fee," Rebrov explained. "And Lazio haven't got the money at the moment."
Rebrov's agent, Sandor Vargas, claimed on Sunday that he was 'very surprised' to hear about the Arsenal link but admitted that there had been talks of a move earlier on.(ACONS)
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