Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger has denied reports from Russia suggesting the Gunners have agreed a fee with Zenit St Petersburg for their star Andrei Arshavin.
Wenger has bid £12 million for the 27-year-old, with the promise of a further £3 million to follow in later instalments.
And it looked like a deal between the two clubs had been agreed as Zenit had claimed on Monday that an agreement had been reached and all that was required for the deal to go through was for the player to agree terms.
Zenit said in a statement that Arshavin was being too stubborn in contract negotiations with Arsenal. Arshavin is reportedly earning £100,000 a week at Zenit and will likely have to take a £20,000 cut to join the Gunners.
But Wenger says those reports are untrue and insists he is far from certain of signing the Russian forward.
Wenger said at a press conference: "It is not true a fee has been agreed. We are not close to concluding any transfer – Arshavin or anybody else. At the moment it is all quiet.
"For me, it is of little interest. I can understand that when the transfer window is open, it makes headlines.
"I like quality football, and for me that is more important than having one more player here.
"Time is getting short and at the moment I am more focused to win the game against Everton tomorrow.
"We know we are in front of a big game and the most important thing is to focus on that.
"For me, it is not a distraction because what is important is that the team continues to focus on the championship, the FA Cup and the Champions League."
Wenger added: "I am only responsible for the statements we make, but I cannot be responsible for the statements that other clubs make.
"Zenit look to have different voices coming out of the club and I am not sure if it always the official voice. I believe what I see and what I hear directly."
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Wenger has bid £12 million for the 27-year-old, with the promise of a further £3 million to follow in later instalments.
And it looked like a deal between the two clubs had been agreed as Zenit had claimed on Monday that an agreement had been reached and all that was required for the deal to go through was for the player to agree terms.
Zenit said in a statement that Arshavin was being too stubborn in contract negotiations with Arsenal. Arshavin is reportedly earning £100,000 a week at Zenit and will likely have to take a £20,000 cut to join the Gunners.
But Wenger says those reports are untrue and insists he is far from certain of signing the Russian forward.
Wenger said at a press conference: "It is not true a fee has been agreed. We are not close to concluding any transfer – Arshavin or anybody else. At the moment it is all quiet.
"For me, it is of little interest. I can understand that when the transfer window is open, it makes headlines.
"I like quality football, and for me that is more important than having one more player here.
"Time is getting short and at the moment I am more focused to win the game against Everton tomorrow.
"We know we are in front of a big game and the most important thing is to focus on that.
"For me, it is not a distraction because what is important is that the team continues to focus on the championship, the FA Cup and the Champions League."
Wenger added: "I am only responsible for the statements we make, but I cannot be responsible for the statements that other clubs make.
"Zenit look to have different voices coming out of the club and I am not sure if it always the official voice. I believe what I see and what I hear directly."
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