Hleb better find a club, and fast

Arsenal midfielder Alexandr Hleb appears concerned about all the fuss surrounding his speculated move, initially from Arsenal to Inter, then Barcelona, and now Bayern Munich.

It appears that Hleb just wants to sit down with his beloved agent Niki Spilevski in peace and quite to consider his future, a future that seemed all but made up less than 2 months ago when Spilevski announced: "I can officially confirm that a short time ago Alexander decided that he will leave Arsenal and join another club. Of course, Arsenal and Arsène wanted him to stay but they have accepted the player's choice."

Having gone for an ice cream in Milan with Inter representatives back in March, it appears Hleb and Spilevski were over-confident of sealing a move to the San Siro at the end of the season. Subsequently of course, ex-Chelsea loudmouth Jose Mourinho has been appointed manager of the Italian club and appears far more intent on raiding his former employer of players than appointing Hleb as Inter's new playmaker.

Do Barcelona want Hleb? That's mere speculation - there's nothing to stop them bidding for a player who is currently on holiday - not at Euro 2008, and surely if they felt there was competition for his signature they would have made a swift move. Alas, it appears they are none too bothered, and neither are they likely to be with a midfield hosting Xavi, Iniesta, Toure, Giovanni, Deco and Edmilson, with Ronaldinho, Henry and Messi playing out wide. Something else for Hleb to think about.

And what of Bayern Munich? Well, let's be honest, why would Hleb want to play in a league where the weather is bad and the second place team can only muster a feeble 64 points? Bayern have won 8 of the last 12 Bundesliga titles yet have only won the European Cup once in the last 32 years. A clear sign of an admittedly big club struggling to step up to the plate in the face of lowly domestic competition.

Of course, with the Inter door slammed in his face, it's little wonder that Hleb is angered at the prospect of having to return to Arsenal for pre-season with his tail swinging between his legs. You would think that from Wenger's perspective Rosicky and Walcott are now ahead of Hleb in the pecking order, and with the exciting, albeit very young, Aaron Ramsey joining the club and the possible addition of French midfielder Samir Nasri too, competition for a wide place will be strong.

Yes, Hleb has every right to be angered, but perhaps he should direct that anger towards himself and his ill-advising agent, because as of now, Spilevski's farcical media campaign to find his client a new club has been rather a balls up.