Bischoff finalises Arsenal move
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
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Arsenal FC have confirmed the capture of French-born Portuguese Under-21 international midfielder Amaury Bischoff from Werder Bremen for an undisclosed sum.
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Portuguese roots
The 21-year-old reportedly rejected the offer of a new contract with the Bundesliga club – where injuries limited him to a solitary senior appearance, in a UEFA Cup tie against RC Celta de Vigo in March 2007 – to sign for Arsenal. Capable of playing in central midfield or on the right, the French-born Bischoff first caught the attention of Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger while a youth-team player with RC Strasbourg, following an earlier stint with local side SR Colmar. He represented France at U18 level before electing to pursue his Portuguese roots. Bischoff will join up with the Arsenal squad when they return from pre-season training in Austria.
Touré hope
Meanwhile, Arsenal hope central defender Kolo Touré will be fit for the start of the English season, on 16 August, after recovering from a bout of malaria. The 27-year-old, who contracted the disease earlier in the summer in his native Ivory Coast, suffered a slight recurrence during the training camp in Austria. Wenger said: "Kolo had a little resurgence of malaria but recovered quickly. He has started to practise and it will take him two weeks to play for us."
