Football: Diawara joins Arsenal's French contingent

Thursday 28 January 1999 19:02 EST
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

ARSENAL ARE confident of completing the signing of the Bordeaux striker Kaba Diawara today. Arsene Wenger has decided to add to his French foreign legion at Highbury amid uncertainty over when Nwankwo Kanu will be given the go-ahead to start his Gunners career.

The Arsenal manager signed Kanu for pounds 3m from Internazionale two weeks ago, but it could take up to three weeks before the Nigerian is granted a work permit, because the Department of Employment is insisting that non-EC players meet tougher admission criteria.

Arsenal face the Premiership leaders, Chelsea, on Sunday and then, after a visit to West Ham the following weekend, take on Sheffield United in the fifth round of the FA Cup just four days before meeting Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Diawara, 23, has been training with Arsenal this week and Bordeaux say that a transfer fee - thought to be around pounds 2.5m, although the Highbury club will not confirm the figure - has been agreed.

Diawara, a powerfully-built former France Under-21 international, has apparently become unsettled at Bordeaux even though he has contributed five goals in their progress to second place in the French First Division and the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup.

However, Diawara had invariably been used as a substitute and the Bordeaux coach, Elie Baup, said: "If he comes back to us he will spend the rest of the season on the bench."

Players' unions are lobbying Fifa to bring in an annual four-week break from football across the globe. The international federation of players' unions is applying pressure amid fears that some footballers are playing too many matches.

n Sunderland attracted a crowd of 33,517 to the Stadium of Light for Wednesday's Pontin's Central League match against Liverpool reserves. Fans were admitted free but over pounds 7,000 was raised through donations to two local charities.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in