Source:
http://goal.com/en/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=354088Arsenal To Break Record For Argentine Star Palacio? The Sun's big back-page story on Monday claims that Premiership side Arsenal are about to break their transfer record by splashing £15 million on Argentine striker Rodrigo Palacio.
Reports in Argentina claim that Palacio, 25, will fly to London early this week for a medical after Boca Juniors accepted a bid by the North London club.
The newspaper also sys that Palacio will wear the No 14 shirt that Thierry Henry graced with such distinction for the Gunners before his £16 million departure for Barcelona.
That is the same number that Palacio wears for both Boca and the Albiceleste.
And The Sun highlights the irony that Barcelona had agreed a £14.9 millon deal for Palacio immediately before hearing that their long-term target Henry was finally available.
Boca's president, Mauricio Macri, has described Palacio as the best striker in Argentina.
Both of the player's former clubs, Huracan and Banfield, are due a proportion of what will be the biggest transfer fee ever paid by Arsenal.
Palacio was a member of the Argentina squad that reached Sunday's Copa America final, but didn't play in the 3-0 defeat by winners Brazil.
He is said to keen to prove himself in Europe after being a member of Argentina's 2006 World Cup squad in Germany where he was cover for Hernan Crespo and Carlos Tevez - both of whom have made an impact in the Premiership.
Palacio has scored 39 goals in 79 appearances for Boca and has won five Argentine caps, linking up with Tevez in Argentina’s attack in their 1-0 Copa America victory over Paraguay on July 5th.
Arsenal have already spent an estimated £20 million this summer on striker Eduardo Da Silva, full-back Bacary Sagna, goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski and full-back Havard Nordtveit. Buying Palacio for £15 million would shatter the club's previous record outlay of £12.5 million paid to Bordeaux for Sylvain Wiltord in 2000.
