Schwarzer wanting Arsenal move for Champions League football

Mark Schwarzer is desperate to seal a move to Arsenal in order to gain a taste of Champions League football as he closes in on the end of his career.

The Australian goalkeeper turns 38 later this year and knows that there are very few opportunities left if he is to star in Europe’s top club competition.

He has been targeted by Arsenal as a replacement for the unfavoured Manuel Almunia, but new Fulham boss Mark Hughes has thus far blocked such a dream move.

Schwarzer has had a couple of chats with his new manager and made his feelings clear, but admits that the situation is “delicately poised”.

Speaking to the Australian Daily Telegraph, he added: “Who wouldn’t be keen to go to Arsenal?

“At this stage in my career it’s an amazing opportunity to play at that level and one I really want to take.”

Arsenal are 16/1 to win the Champions League for the first time and are keen to find a new number one and some extra defensive cover to help boost their chances of success.

Almunia has been short of playing time during Arsenal’s pre-season friendlies, while understudy Lukasz Fabianski has also failed to significantly impress when given a run in the first team.

Teams have until the end of August to complete any transfers before the Premier League transfer window closes, while Arsenal must have named their Champions League squad by September 1st.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will fancy their chances of repeating their performance of 2006 when making the final, only to lose to Barcelona, who are the 3/1 favourites to gain success again this season.

Only once in the past six campaigns as an English team failed to make the final, while Manchester United beat Chelsea on penalties to lift the trophy in 2008.

It is 7/4 that an English team wins the competition this campaign and 9/2 that an all-English final is replicated.