Arsenal beat rivals for Chamakh

Arsenal were closing in on the signature of Marouane Chamakh last night after the Bordeaux striker's proposed move to Liverpool collapsed amid some acrimony.

Liverpool believed they had moved ahead of their rivals, who also include Inter Milan and West Ham United, in the race for Chamakh by offering the Morocco player a lucrative pre-contract agreement during intensive talks with his advisers early last month.

Sources close to the deal indicated last night that Chamakh has rejected Liverpool's approach, paving the way for him to sign for Arsenal. The North London club would have no problem matching the £60,000-a-week wages on offer at Anfield and are in the process of finalising a five-year contract.

Signing Chamakh would represent a triumph of patience for Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, who has been monitoring the 26-year-old for some time. Bordeaux rejected an £8 million offer from Arsenal last summer, but Chamakh's contract with the French club expires at the end of the season and he will be available to sign on a free transfer.

Chamakh's advisers are believed to have wanted him to sign for Liverpool, and for most of last month Rafael Benítez, the club's manager, appeared to be favourite to seal the deal. However, the Spaniard was left angry and disappointed yesterday.

Benitez, whose transfer dealings have been undermined by the Anfield hierarchy in the past, expected things to be different when Christian Purslow took over as managing director. However, sources close to the player suggested that Liverpool mismanaged the deal, dragging their heels and being too fussy with their contractual demands.

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