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Arsenal have spoken to the agent of Benfica defender Rafik Halliche, according to reports in France. The 23-year-old is currently on holiday after featuring for Algeria at the World Cup, but a meeting has been planned with the players agent to discuss his availability in the coming days.
Halliche joined Benfica after impressing for Algerian outfit Hussein Dey, and is widely regarded as one of Africa’s most promising young centre backs. The Portuguese outfit sent him on loan to Nacional for two seasons to gain vital experience, and although he sustained some niggling injuries, Rafik largely impressed.
Arsène Wenger has been commentating on Algeria’s matches during this World Cup, and instructed an official to seek talks with the appropriate representatives. Now, according to sources close to Chronofoot.com, Arsenal have booked Halliche’s agent into a hotel room in North London and want to hold further talks regarding a potential transfer.
It’s thought that the powerful centre half would join fellow youngster Håvard Nordtveit in battling for a first-team place, should the Gunners decide to press on with a bid.
<a class="postlink" href="http://younggunsblog.co.uk/2010/06/arsenal-seek-meeting-over-benficas-halliche/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://younggunsblog.co.uk/2010/06/arse ... -halliche/</a>
Meanwhile, Arsenal look set to snub Madjid Bougherra in favour of his international team-mate Rafik Halliche.
Bougherra had said to have caught the eye of Arsène Wenger, but with Rangers looking for in excess of £5m, Wenger sees the younger Halliche as a better option.
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/rangers/celtic-hope-they-have-done-enough-to-convince-sol-campbell-to-sign-as-they-close-in-on-jimmy-bullard-and-cha-du-ri-1.1038144" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl ... -1.1038144</a>
The french source claims that this has come from reliable sources.
I have watched all of Algeria's games in this world cup and some of their qualifying matches/African cup matches, and Halliche really did stand out to me as good defender. He has formed a very solid partnership with Bougherra and Yahia in central defence, which is the strongest part of the Algerian team. To me he seems like a strong defender who can read the game and recover quite well. Also he is usually the defender that stays back while Bougherra goes on runs forward. If, according to the reports, Arsène thinks he will do well at Arsenal, and upon watching him myself, I would like to see him here as well.