Arsenal Boss To Break Principles And Swoop For £5million Premier League Veteran?

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is set to go against his principles in the transfer market and offer Premier League rivals Stoke City £5million for veteran defender Abdoulaye Faye, according to reports.

Senegal International Faye has been a pivotal figure in ensuring that the Potters are playing Premiership football at the Britannia Stadium next season. The defenders performances for Stoke catching the eye of Wenger who is keen to add some experience and steel to the backline at the Emirates.

Stoke are believed to have rejected a £4million offer from Blackburn Rovers in January to lure Faye away from the Britannia, having only signed the defender from Newcastle United for £2.25million last summer.

It is claimed that the Gunners boss is ready to break his self imposed embargo on signing players over 30 and bring 31-year-old Faye to North London for £5million in a three-year deal, worth £40,000-a-week to the defender, according to sources.

Potters manager Tony Pulis will be loathed to let Faye, who is under contract until the summer of 2011, leave the Britannia, with the defender already a big favourite of the fans at the Britannia after standing in as captain for the injured Andy Griffin.

However, with Arsenal able to promise Faye the biggest stage of his Premiership career after arriving at Bolton Wanderers in 2005. Pulis could be powerless to stand in the defender’s way, should the ‘big four’ side come calling.