Fonseca Answer to Arsenal Crisis
Arsenal have identified Uruguayan international Daniel Fonseca as a possible short-term solution to their striker crisis.
Manager Arsene Wenger is anxious to bring in a player on loan to help the club through their present shortage of front-line talent because of suspension, injuries and international duty.
Wenger has been told by Fonseca's club, Juventus, that the 30-year-old striker is available on loan for a three-month period.
There may be a small fee involved - possibly around �250,000 - and Arsenal will have to pick up his �30,000-a-week salary.
But the Italians are willing to release him and he would provide the perfect answer to their problems.
Wenger can play Thierry Henry and Davor Suker up front at Leicester tonight in an FA Cup fourth round replay but Suker is suspended for Monday's Premiership clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford and neither Dennis Bergkamp nor Nwankwo Kanu will be available.
Bergkamp is still troubled by a calf injury, while Kanu is away with Nigeria on international duty in the African Nations Cup - and that will leave Wenger with Henry as his only regular striker with Irish teenager Graham Barrett as a possible partner.
Fonseca would solve his problem. He has enjoyed a successful career in Italy with Napoli, Roma and now Juventus.
Wenger confirmed yesterday that he would prefer a loan signing to a permanent arrival because of the talent he has at his disposal when his quartet of strikers are fit and available.
Now he has until Friday to decide whether to move for the Uruguayan to give him another option for the remainder of the season.
