African set for CSKA Moscow stay…
Our hopes of signing rumoured transfer target Seydou Doumbia have been dealt a blow, with the Ivorian forward opening contract negotiations with current club CSKA Moscow, reports the Daily Star.
The Russian giants are keen to tie Doumbia to the club for the foreseeable future, and are willing to offer him lucrative terms on an extension to his current deal.
Doumbia’s agent Jean Bernard Beytrison said: “We are currently in negotiations over a new contract.
“There is plenty of interest in Seydou from England plus clubs in Spain, Germany and Italy.
“He is a goalscorer and there aren’t many of them around.
“However, he is contracted to CSKA and clubs will have to pay their fee.”
The striker was rated at £15m, but if he were to sign a new contract, the fee required to secure him would likely increase.
English fans will have seen Doumbia in the Champions League predominantly, with the forward having bagged three so far this competition; including one against Manchester City at the Etihad.
Doumbia prides himself on his pace and power. He can finish off either foot, is technically decent, and relatively quick, too. He rarely wins anything in the air, but makes up for it by being clinical in front of goal.
It would be fair to say that our summer striker signings have so far failed to impress. Neither Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert or Fabio Borini (returned from loan) have bagged a Premier League goal so far this season, and Daniel Sturridge has been out injured for most of the campaign.
If we were to make a January bid for Doumbia, we could expect competition from Chelsea and Arsenal, who are both monitoring his progress closely.