Arsenal battle for Trabelsi

Arsenal today emerged as the leading contenders to sign Tunisian defender Hatem Trabelsi from Ajax.

The 27-year-old has been a long-term target for Newcastle but reports on Tyneside claim Sir Bobby Robson's side have lost out to the Gunners for his signature.

Trabelsi, who was part of the Tunisia side that won this year's African Nations Cup, has fallen out with the Dutch giants and been told he can leave. The asking price is around £4million, though the Amsterdam club are likely to accept a lower offer.

As Standard Sport revealed yesterday, Arsenal are about to complete their first summer signing by buying Spanish goalkeeper Manuel Almunia from Celta Vigo for £500,000 but manager Arsene Wenger has been monitoring a series of other targets, including Trabelsi.

Newcastle first made contact with the right-back in late May and, while their initial advances were rebuffed, they have continued to track him.

Fresh contact was planned this week but the mood at St James' Park is not confident, with Arsenal now viewed as favourites to land the African, who has also been linked with AC Milan and Juventus.

Trabelsi and the Ajax hierarchy are at loggerheads following the collapse of a court case over the player's contract that, if successful, would have allowed him to leave for nothing.

A furious public row with coach Ronald Koeman followed and the Dutchman later said: "Can he play at Ajax again? I do not think that that is possible anymore."