Apparently Placente is being widely interpreted as the long-term replacement for 26-yr old German international defender Jens Nowotny, who is thought of as an Arsenal target. Many German commentators now expect Nowotny to be sold sooner rather than later, and you can be sure that if Arsenal aren't prepared to risk a big-money move at this time then some other club will. Doubts over the future of the transfer market don't seem to have affected Leeds' valuation of Rio Ferdinand.

Nowontny was first linked with Arsenal in September, when were rumoured to have made a ridiculiusly large bid for him. Then in October the player was quoted (by the Sun) as confirming Arsenal's interest and saying that "the option is still open".