Adebayor Sends Out Mixed Messages Over Arsenal Future

Emmanuel Adebayor cast doubt on his future at Arsenal yesterday by refusing to commit himself to the club shortly after he indicated in a separate interview that he would be staying at the Emirates Stadium despite interest from Milan. The striker was speaking in Vienna at a briefing organized by his boot supplier, Adidas, and initially said he would not be leaving Arsenal only to change his tune in conversation with Sky Sports News.

"I have three-year contract with Arsenal but I have a lot of clubs interested in me," the Togo international said. "At the moment we are just going to sit down and decide what to do. Nothing has been decided yet. We will decide next week."

His conduct was reminiscent of Cristiano Ronaldo, who last month said he was staying at Manchester United within minutes of winning the European Cup only to backtrack as he left the stadium.

Arsenal would stand to make a substantial profit on the £7m they paid Monaco if they sold Adebayor, who scored 30 times last season, and the 24-year-old could expect a wage rise. However, he earlier claimed that money is not his prime motivation. "You can see people changing clubs because of money, because they want a change of atmosphere or to get their names in the big leagues. I just play to enjoy myself. I play because I love it.

"I have three more years contract so no matter what, I have to stay. I'm staying at Arsenal. I have a good contract, we have a good team there and I'm playing for one of the biggest teams in the world.

"You have a chance to play in a team where everyone is between 21-26 years old, we are all the same generation. We all have the same ideas, we go out together to restaurants. We have a good boss which is Arsène Wenger, he tries to bring this atmosphere to the dressing room where we feel like brothers and like family."

Milan have admitted their interest in Adebayor and two days ago the agent Vincenzo Morabito claimed the Italian club have a "70 to 80% chance" of landing their sole target of the summer. "Arsenal have started moving in the market in the hunt for an attacker to replace Adebayor," he added. "Until that search ends the deal won't move forward."

BoltonWanderers have bought Johan Elmander from Toulouse for about £8m, the Sweden striker signing a three-year contract in a transfer the manager, Gary Megson, has been looking to finalize since selling Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea in January. Daniel Braaten has moved in the opposite direction as part of the deal. Wolverhampton Wanderers have completed the £1m purchase of the midfielder David Jones from Derby County.