Lorik Cana: Arsenal to Rival Spurs for Hardman Target as Melo Stays in Serie A
Tottenham were viewed as favourites to win the race for the signature of one of the stars of French football…the Albanian midfielder Lorik Cana this summer. However, new of Gunners target Felipe Melo signing a contract extension at Fiorentina has led to speculation that Arsenal will know compete with their North London rivals for the Marseille captain.
Cana is a 25-year-old defensive midfielder with a reputation as a hard man in French football after numerous booking and red cards following his 7-season spell in France for both PSG and Marseille. The 6 ft 1 star is a cult figure at the Stade Velodrome for his no-nonsense displays and is more than physically equipped for English football.
The player has openly admitted to his interest in a move when he told Aujourd ‘Hui Sport, “The door remains open for a departure, even with three years remaining on my contract.
“I will talk with my family and my representatives at the end of the season. It will then depend on what I want to do. I believe that if I want to leave, everyone at this club will respect my decision.
“It is not certain that I will be terminating my contract though. I am in no rush.
“Of the possible destinations in the future, England and Germany are the two leagues that attract me the most.”
Cana was born in the former Yugoslavia but as a youngster moved to Switzerland to escape the war. His father was a famous footballer himself in Yugoslavia in the 1980’s. The defensive midfielder joined Swiss outfit Lausanne Sports but moved to PSG in 2000 despite only being a youth team player at the time without making a first team appearance.
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The midfield enforcer broke into the PSG first team during the 2002/03 season and went on to make 69 league appearances for the club while scoring twice. During this time he attracted the attention of a number of top European clubs including Arsenal who invited him for trials which he could not attend due to visa issues. Arsene Wenger has been a long-term admirer and with Cesc Fabregas pleading for a midfield hardman this summer, Cana would be an obvious choice now the club’s number one target Felipe Melo looks set to remain at Fiorentina.
Cana moved to Marseille during the 2005/06 season and has since made 122 league appearances for the club and scored 6 goals. He took over the captaincy of the club from Habib Beye who joined Newcastle in 2007 and led Marseille to the runners-up spot in the French championship behind Bordeaux last season.
Despite being born in the former Yugoslavia and brought up in Switzerland, Cana chose Albania to represent at international level explaining that he went with his heart rather than his head. He has passports for France, Switzerland and Albania. Cana broke into his national side in 2003 aged 19. He has now featured a total of 37 times and scored once.
Merseyside clubs Liverpool and Everton have also been strongly linked to the aggressive midfield star who would certainly add more steel and height to both line-ups. Harry Redknapp is looking to build his new look Tottenham team around a midfield pairing of Cana and Wilson Palacios which would surely be one of the most feared physically in the Premier League. After all, Cana has been booked 62 times and red carded 4 times in just 191 league appearances in French football. However, Arsenal’s renewed interest may affect Spurs chances of completing a transfer as they can offer Champions League football next season.
Would you like Lorik Cana in your midfield next season? Is the hardman perfect for your team or do you seem his as a liability? Let’s hear your views.
Tags: Albania, Arsenal, Everton, Liverpool, Lorik Cana, Marseille, PSG, Tottenham
June 30th, 2009 at 13:07
Spurs have needed a person like this for the past 10 years….Bring him on Harry, if we needed fighters in the team, we need this guy
June 30th, 2009 at 13:13
If we want him then we get him, as if the Spuds can compete with the only side in North London!
June 30th, 2009 at 13:29
Fcuk Tottenham. They are always after all the players we want to sign.
June 30th, 2009 at 13:38
I would buy him if only to play in one game….against Diouf. Its about time he got his reward for a career built on cowardly and premeditated assault.
June 30th, 2009 at 13:39
he is perfect footballer for arsenal. arsenal needs fighter in midfield and Cana is that guy
June 30th, 2009 at 14:08
wenger should sign this guy,big strong committed to a hard tackle,plus he looks to be a bit of a nutter,just what we need,take the ball and the man if possible,brilliant
June 30th, 2009 at 15:58
Lorik Cana gooooooooooo to arsenal….go go go
June 30th, 2009 at 16:00
cana is tigar of arsenal
June 30th, 2009 at 16:30
The strongest midfield in Europe
Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, Cana, Lucas.
Real Madrid and Barca can keep dreaming unless they offer ridiculous money for our stars. There’s a reason they want our players and nobody elses.
June 30th, 2009 at 17:14
Arsenal need a difensive mid morethan any other club @ the moment..
Go wenger…
Use the french connection get him down 2 the Emirates
June 30th, 2009 at 17:29
@ Rafa - the fact you’ve added Lucas in the supposed best midfield in the world shows me you must be taking the mick. ALso your comment about only wanting your stars - I didn’t realise Ronaldo, Kaka, Ribery, Villa, Fabregas, etc etc hae played for liverpool, are you some kind of moron. There are 4 teams in the EPL alone with a better midfield than pools, and at least 2 in Spain. Keep dreaming mate - you won’t even qualify for CL next season
June 30th, 2009 at 19:11
Tottenham look likely to procure the services of this guy as their people are already in France to have talks with Marseille over a possible transfer. Don’t think he would move to a club in decline like Arsenal. Their players are jumping like rats from a sinking ship!!! Even Arshavin will most likely leave for Barca now. What goes around…
June 30th, 2009 at 19:26
He will probably be in a Spurs shirt next season. They’re investing more wisely than last term. They are also investing more wisely than ‘Arse’nal. Wouldn’t be surprised to see more than just Arshavin leave North-London this summer. Then it will be even more quiet in that awful, atmosphere-less stadium of the Emirates
July 1st, 2009 at 11:11
This is what is neaded at the Emerates..
now bring us lean mean goal scoring muchine like “m-citys” JO!
July 4th, 2009 at 15:23
ARSENAL NeeD CanA !!!!
He iS good player , after Flamini goes to Italy , there in that position can plaY Cana . No doubt !
July 15th, 2009 at 11:34
i think cana should join arsenal because he has the same tactics as the gunners have.he is the strongest midfield players in europe he never gives up he fights until the least minute.
July 19th, 2009 at 18:34
of course,,he would be a perfect player for arsenal,,hardest fighting guy i ever seen,,
July 24th, 2009 at 10:29
my opinion is cana in best tackler in
in the world let a lone europ so arsenal should go for it they need this kind of person to hold the mid with fabrigas
July 24th, 2009 at 13:01
Cana and Arsenal are a match made in heaven… He’ll be a hero at the Emirates and I can’t wait
July 26th, 2009 at 07:11
SUNDERLAND
None of you mugs saw that coming
July 29th, 2009 at 20:01
who the hell do spurs think they are, going for everyone who,s mentioned with another club.Did,nt get Cana though did ya, and you can keep Bent he,s s**t.