Arsenal reject Kanu bid

Kanu is keen to play first team football again

Arsenal have reportedly turned down an offer for Nigerian striker Nwankwo Kanu, from Premiership newcomers Fulham.

Newspaper reports suggest that Fulham boss Jean Tigana made an offer of around £7m for the out-of-favour striker.

But according to The Guardian, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has rejected the bid.

The London club paid £4.5m for the striker in February 1999 but now value the player at £10m - a fee Tigana has said he is not prepared to meet.

Wage demands

Wenger has spent £26.5m over the summer on Jeffers, Giovanni Van Bronckhorst and Junichi Inamoto.

The signing of Sol Campbell, although technically a free transfer, will also have hit the budget due to the player's wage demands.

Jeffers' arrival piled more pressure on Kanu, who failed to command a regular place last season.

Tigana, meanwhile, is eager to boost his strike force ahead of the new season.

He has already targeted West Ham's Frederic Kanoute and Jan Koller, who opted for a move to Borussia Dortmund instead.

Significantly, Fulham have not yet allocated the number nine shirt this season.

The Guardian says that Tigana has now virtually given up hope of signing the 25-year-old Kanu ahead of their first Premiership clash with Manchester United on Sunday and may now look at other targets.

A compromise deal with Arsenal still hasn't been ruled out however.