Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Amos 
Date:Thursday November 5 2009
Time: 4:50PM
UK time is: 10:05:34
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Merida being 'destabilised'
With the press speculation that Atletico Madrid and other clubs are taking an interest in Spanish midfield starlet Fran Merida, Arsene Wenger has revealed that a verbal contract has been agreed but remains, as yet, unsigned.
It seems an odd step for the club to take to publish what might be deemed sensitive information on its official website but not only have they done so they also reveal concerns about the actions of other clubs.
Wenger is quoted as saying , ahead of the Premier League encounter away to Wolves at the weekend that "Some clubs are doing work behind our back to destabilise him. We cannot stop them but it is a fact."
Merida opened his senior goal scoring account with a tremendous strike in the Carling Cup win over Liverpool last week. After the game he was delighted to have scored and expressed his desire to secure a new contract as his current one expires at the end of this season.
"At the moment I am talking to the Club so I don't know what is going to happen," he said at the time.
"I am really happy here so hopefully everything is going to be OK. We are going to sit down and talk about [a new contract]."
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Your Comments
This is concerning....amazing that the club put it on the official site! But isn't this partly the club's fault for taking so long to extend his contract?
jaelle
Hmmm, kind of like that other guy, what's his name??? Fan...fil...flan...flamini? I had hoped we learned our lesson about letting useful or promising players get into the final year of their contract.
smithdj74
As much as I like Fran and also his agent who has inisted that his client wants to stay at Arenal, I really do not believe the club shoud be connered into signing deals. About Flamini, he and Alex Hleb leaving seems to have been a blessing in disguise for us as I really doubt if Flamini has the same skills that Denilson and the fast becoming meaesto of defensive midfield Al Song have been displaying and Hleb would hv prevented us getting the magic of the russian assasin. They Flam and Hleb were/are okay then but have since passed their "due by" date.
phreddy
I agree with Phreddy there, Flamini was a total flash in the pan (as iceman pointed out the other day, he tailed off in that 07-08 season when the going got tough and he's done nowt at Milan). I was a massive fan of Alex Hleb and thought he was an excellent player for us. But I'd take Arshavin and a fit Rosicky every time. I think Merida is waiting and seeing as to the amount of football he can expect to play. To be honest, with what's in front of him, I wouldn't blame the lad for leaving at all because it's hard to see where he fits in.
Little Dutch
I think it was a good move to put up a statement on the site. Call Atletico's bluff, and see if they are willing to do more about it, than just issuing statements without action. Its time we did something different about such transfers. As for Merida, like LD says, he wont get into the 1st team for a couple of seasons more. Perhaps, a loan spell will do him good, but he's at that stage where a loan spell might not be what he wants. I hope he signs as he shows a lot of promise. Perhaps, FA Cup appearances for the lad will be good.
prits
Merida can surely only be seen as Cesc's replacement? But you would give that to Ramsey, Wilshere or even Nasri before Merida, in my opinion. I expect him to leave AFTER this season if he doesn't make his breakthrough, and wouldn't begrudge him for it.
Tom14
Merida Cesc's replacement? Not a chance. He's a left midfielder more than a central midfielder, after Arsene played him on the left of the front 3 in the CC I'm pretty sure he agrees with me.
Ozi Gooner
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