Emmanuel Eboué

The Daily Star has reported that QPR have expressed interest in signing Ivory Coast international Emmanuel Eboué after Arsenal indicated that they are willing to listen to any offers. Eboué has made 210 appearances during a 7 year spell under Arsène Wenger, but has had limited opportunities over the past few seasons due to the arrival of Bacary Sagna.

It is thought that Niel Warnock wants to add players with Premier League experience to his squad as he looks to make their stay in the top flight of English football permanent. Eboué, thought to be valued at around £5 million, is well within QPR’s budget as the club is owned by billionaires Lakshmi Mittal and Bernie Ecclestone (who have a combined net-worth of around three times that of Roman Abramovich). It would seem that Warnock has been given a more than substantial transfer budget, so don’t be surprised to see a few familiar Premier League faces move to the club during the transfer period.

Eboué can play both as a right-back and on the right side of midfield and, although slightly inconsistent of late, has become somewhat of a fan-favourite since his arrival at the club. Despite his shenanigans at the end of the Liverpool game, I am sure that there are many fans who would be sad if he were to move clubs this summer. His sale would also raise the question as to who would replace him as our second choice right back.

Only last summer Eboué was linked with a move to Roma, but it remains to be seen whether QPR will have to fight the Italian side for his signature this summer. Speaking to SkySports at the end of the 2009/10 season Eboué’s agent, Franjo Vranjkovic, was quick to dismiss any transfer speculation:

“I can say with confidence that the player is very happy in England and it is unlikely he will move.”

I honestly don’t think that the situation can have changed that much over the past year. Eboué is only 28 and provides solid cover for when Bacary Sagna is injured (or suspended). The Daily Star is hardly the most reliable of newspapers and I would be extremely surprised if Arsène Wenger was to let him leave so easily. Eboué seems to have a good rapport with the rest of the team and with the fans and I am going to dismiss this as mere speculation. However, feel free to berate me later on in the summer if it turns out that he does join QPR within the coming months.

Straightalkingooner