The Rossoneri have been desperately searching
for a centre back in recent weeks following the injury to key man Alessandro
Nesta.
With Dario Simic and Digao both being
offloaded, things started to become desperate for the Rossoneri when primary
target Branislav Ivanovic, who had seemed certain to join from Chelsea, saw his
transfer fall through at the last moment.
It was reported last week that Milan had
turned their attentions to another Premiership based player, in the form of
Arsenal centre back Philippe Senderos, and the deal has now been officially
completed.
The Swiss centre back arrives on a one year
loan deal, and Milan
have the option to make the move permanent for a set fee next summer.
Senderos had been well down the pecking order at Arsenal following an
error-prone season last term, and Arsene Wenger signalled his intention to let
him leave after signing Manchester United’s Mickael Silvestre last week.
The 23-year-old Senderos made 74 Premiership appearances, scoring four goals,
since signing for Arsenal from Servette in December 2002.
He has won 31 caps for Switzerland,
playing at World Cup 2006 and Euro 2008.
Only on a one year loan move ...
Nevertheless good riddance !
Reports originally
broke on Monday suggesting the 23-year-old was poised to undergo a
medical with the Serie A giants, and now Wenger has just stopped short
of subtiantiating the claims that the deal includes an option for Milan
to sign him permanently at the end of the 2008/09 campaign.
Wenger
told Sky Sports News: "Senderos has gone to Milan today and is not
available anymore.He will go to Milan. He will complete a medical today.
"The
thinking [behind the move] is that at the moment he doesn't get the
games here and that he can play somewhere and remain in a top level
club.
"Without losing him we want him to play. It (whether the transfer will become permanent) is not decided yet," he added.
"For
us, we have Johan Djourou, Kolo Toure, Senderos, Alexandre Song,
William Gallas and Mikael Silvestre, who can play centre-back, so there
is congestion there."
Good News, Silves is better than him.