Nicklas Bendtner’s agent claims that interest in the self-confessed best player in the world is “overwhelming” following his performances at Euro 2012. Saint Nick scored a brace in Denmark’s 3-2 loss to Portugal, but the Danes were ultimately knocked out of the competition at the group stage.
In my opinion, his performances at the Euros couldn’t have come at a better time. What a difference a year and a European Championships can make! This time last year we couldn’t find a single club anywhere in Europe that were willing/stupid enough to meet Arsenal’s valuation and Nick’s high wage demands. Nicklas was ultimately sent on a season-long loan to Sunderland.
A year on and interest in our striker is apparently “global”. Speaking to bold.dk (a Danish sports website), Jesper Lynghus suggested that numerous clubs are interested in signing his client, and that a move away from North London is drawing ever closer.
“We are getting closer day by day. The interest is overwhelming, just as it should be after the way Nicklas performed at Euro 2012.”
When asked to comment specifically on rumours of a move to big-spenders Anzhi Makhachkala, Lynghus added:
“We’re not commenting on individual deals at the moment, but it’s fair to say the interest in Nicklas is global.”
Despite his brace against Portugal, Bendtner grabbed the headlines last week for all the wrong reasons. Super Nick was fined £80,000 by UEFA and given a 1-match European ban after revealing his lucky underpants (which just happened to bear the PaddyPower logo) as part of his second goal celebration. Nicklas claimed that they were his lucky boxershorts that he has worn for several games and that he had no idea that he was in breach of any UEFA regulations, while PaddyPower denied ever having paid him to display their logo for TV. However, the fact that the Irish bookmaker has now agreed to pay the fine on his behalf would seem to suggest otherwise. The good news is that it looks as though he isn’t going to be our problem for much longer, with Benfica and Hannover both touted possible destinations.