Lucas Biglia's 'Arsenal transfer offer was hoax'

The Gunners were believed to be in the market for a defensive midfielder following Alex Song's departure to Barcelona and the Argentina international appeared to fit the bill.

Anderlecht's general manager Herman Van Holsbeeck heard nothing from any of the clubs said to be interested in Biglia, so was surprised to receive a £6.5million offer from an intermediary.

It sparked some frantic activity at the Belgian club's offices, together with widespread rumours that the team involved was either Arsenal or Real Madrid.

Anderlecht officials eventually discovered the bid was actually a fake, reports La Derniere Heure.

Arsenal didn't make an offer for Lucas Biglia

Anderlecht officials eventually discovered the bid was actually a fake, reports La Derniere Heure.

They believe it came from a rogue agent who wanted to earn a commission by unsettling the player and then negotiating a transfer for him.

Biglia was later rumoured to be on his way to Norwich on the final day of the transfer window, but that story also emanated from a hoax - this time from a fake Twitter account made to look like an official Sky Sports feed.