Sport.co.uk can confirm, after consultation with sources inside the club, that Arsenal have signed a pre-contract agreement with Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has courted the Moroccan for the past 18 months and is known to have bid for the player's services as recently as last summer but failed at the time to match the required asking-price. Nevertheless, with the 26-year-old available for a free in the summer and able to sign a pre-contract, it appears the north London club have outmanoevered rival suitors and will have Chamakh in their ranks at the end of the season.
According to a source close to negotiations, the contract, thought to be for five years, was signed yesterday afternoon. No official public announcement has yet been made by Arsenal.
The Gunners had been expected to sign a striker during January with Robin van Persie, Eduardo da Silva and Nicklas Bendtner all struggling with injuries, however, the thrifty Gunners opted to not spend and instead rely on their current squad.
Chamakh has scored 67 goals in 270 appearances for the French side and is set to finish the season at the Stade Chaban Delmas with Bordeaux fighting for the Ligue 1 crown and pushing Europe's giants in the UEFA Champions League.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is believed to have beaten off competition from Liverpool for the signature of the Moroccan although both Barcelona and Juventus are also thought to have registered interest.
Earlier this afternoon the Arsenal boss refused to confirm or deny transfer reports linking him with a move for Chamakh. Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s crunch Premier League tussle with Liverpool, Wenger stated:
“Chamakh talks to many clubs. He is entitled to.
“He is free to sign where he wants. I cannot interfere in that.
"We are talking to nobody. We are focusing on tomorrow's game."