Arsenal aren’t only about trying to hold on to Robin van Persie. Arsene Wenger is still hoping to get something out of the transfer market, shifting his attention to unsettled Santi Cazorla of Malaga, hoping that the Spanish club won’t mount too many financial difficulties in the way of a completed deal.

Cazorla himself obviously wants the move. After Malaga made noises of a team about to join the Spanish elite, finishing 4th in the La Liga last season, the best finish by the club ever, ensuring they’ll be in the Champions League playoffs this season, everything’s fallen off the wheels. No new signings, no wages, and if things don’t get sorted out quickly, Malaga’s quick period of breathing mountain air will end up as a relegation and cautionary story.

But we’re about Arsenal and Cazorla, as Wenger is hoping that Malaga’s problems will help him land the 27 year old winger for €20 million instead of the €45 million buy-out clause he has in his contract. Cazrola spent only one season with Malaga after he was purchased from Villareal for €21 million. He enjoyed the best season of his career, scoring 9 goals in 34 matches for the club.

Cazrola has 45 caps and six goals for the national team, being part of, for the second time in his career, a European Championship winning side, making a couple of substitute appearances in the matches against Ireland and France. In 2008 it was pretty much the same story. Cazorla made his departure from Villareal to Malaga for pretty much the same reason – Financial problems with his former club, that has been relegated since.

Cazorla, 27, has made 264 appearances in the La Liga since 2004, scoring 40 goals for Villareal, Recreativo and Malaga. He won the award for Spanish player of the year in 2007.

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