Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Wendel has been linked with Premier League duo Arsenal and West Ham United but the Russian champions’ CEO insists there is no truth to the rumours, speaking to Sport24.
Considering how much speculation there has been and continues to be regarding Wendel’s future at the Gazprom Arena, you’d have been forgiven for forgetting just how emphatic the Brazilian was when asked about his summer plans earlier in the window.
“I’m not going anywhere. That’s for sure,” he said in May. “I will go on vacation to Brazil, gain strength and return to St. Petersburg to prepare for the next season.
“Will I definitely play for Zenit next season? Yes.”
That has not stopped the speculation, however, reports earlier this month suggesting that Everton had been offered the chance to sign a player who slipped through their fingers back in 2020. Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti allegedly held talks with Wendel at the time, before the Sporting Lisbon enforcer put pen to paper on an £18 million move to Russia instead.
Globo Esporte claimed this week that both Arsenal and West Ham have made ‘inquiries’ too. Much to the bemusement of Zenit CEO Alexander Medvedev.
Arsenal, West Ham and Everton linked with Wendel of Zenit
“Are Arsenal and West Ham Interested in Wendel? This is fake,” Medvedev says.
Then again, don’t expect a very public denial to put a cork in the rumours. It is only a couple of weeks since Wendel said he would ‘definitely’ be defending the Russian Premier League title in Zenit colours next season and, since then, the fires of speculation have only grown.
“Wendel is one of the best players at Zenit at the moment,” says former St Petersburg favourite Konstantin Lepekhin.
“This would be a loss, but I hope that this loss will not affect (Zenit’s title chances). The departure of one or two leading players should not affect the results of the championship.”
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