Arsenal transfer news

Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours Monday 21 April

April 21st, 2014 Bill_Kendal


Koscielny In Contract Talks

Arsenal central defender Laurent Koscielny is in talks with the club over a new deal.

Koscielny is out of contract at the end of June 2017 but has been linked with interest from big-spending French sides Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco but according to the Daily Mail talks have opened over a new deal that would be worth £90,000 a week to the France international – an increase on the £50,000 a week he earns at present.

The paper adds that Koscielny is hopeful of signing a new deal before the World Cup begins in June. The new pay deal would put him on a par with the likes of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey and Theo Walcott but behind Mesut Ozil.

Koscielny has excelled in his partnership with Per Mertesacker since Arsene Wenger settled on the pair towards the end of last season. Rumours surfaced last week that he was being monitored by a number of top clubs with Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Chelsea said to be interested as well as the French duo. However, the new deal should calm the fears of Gunners’ fans fearful over the possible departure of on of their top performers.

Gunners Linked With Another Saints Youngster

Meanwhile, Arsenal are being linked with another Southampton youngster. This time it’s 16-year-old Callum Slattery who has been watched on a number of occasions by Arsenal head scout Steve Rowley.

Slattery is at the stage where he will sign his first professional contract but there are fears on the south coast that he will follow two other products of the Southampton youth academy, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in moving to Arsenal.

Slattery plays in midfielder and is regarded as a very mature player for his age. Arsenal are mindful that while they may have to pay a compensation fee to Southampton should they sign him now, it could be much cheaper than waiting until he has established himself further.


Adam Lallana Manchester United transfer

Manchester United Transfer News Monday 21 April

April 21st, 2014 Brian_Marshall


Lallana Sell-On Clause

Manchester United may have to pay a higher price than they bargained for should they be successful in a transfer move for Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana.

United have been linked with the £15million-rated Lallana and his £30million team-mate, left-back Luke Shaw and manager David Moyes and his assistant Steve Round were present as the Saints fought out a goalless draw with Aston Villa on Saturday. However, Lallana, 25, joined the Saints academy from Bournemouth in 2000 when he was just 12 years old. The Saints have paid a total of £18,000 so far for Lallana but part of his transfer agreement called for Southampton to pay Bournemouth 25 percent of Lallana’s future transfer fee.

That means that in order to clear £15million for Lallana, Southampton would have to bring in £20million for the 25-year-old with £5million going to Bournemouth. A fee of £15million would mean the Saints handing over £3.75million to Bournemouth while keeping £11.25million for themselves.

Lallana actually played three first-team games for the Cherries. In 2007 he moved to Dean Court on a one-month loan deal.


Danny Welbeck

Manchester United Striker Welbeck Is Target for Spurs – Report

April 20th, 2014 Kevin Grey


Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck is a summer target for Tottenham Hotspur as Spurs chairman seeks out a top-class striker.

Two separate reports today link Welbeck with an exit from Old Trafford. The Sun On Sunday claims he is unhappy at the amount of game time he is getting with United and is ready to quit the Red Devils. The Sunday Mirror, meanwhile, claims that Spurs could be in with a £20million bid.

Welbeck has started 13 Premier League games for United so far this season – the same as he did in the whole of last season. However, he has been a substitute on eight occasions this season compared to 14 times in 2012-13.

All in all Welbeck is close to exceeding the number of Premier League minutes on the pitch with 1269 this season against 1290 last season. He has already done better in terms of goals scored with nine so far in the current campaign against just one Premier League goal in 2012-13. But in 2011-12 he managed nine goals in 2017 Premier League minutes spread over 30 games.

Welbeck has two years left on his current deal at Old Trafford and Spurs believe United would be ready to do business with an offer of £20million.

Much depends on whether Spurs can move on one of their present forwards. Paulinho is being linked with a loan move to Serie A while Roberto Soldado’s future has been called into question. The duo cost a total of £45million last summer.


Premier League transfer news

Premier League Transfer News Sunday 20 April

April 20th, 2014 Leonard_Mountfield


Manchester United could be in with a fresh bid for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas this summer – as long as the La Liga side have their transfer embargo lifted by Fifa. Reports from Spain claim Fabregas is set to be part of a clearout at the Nou Camp this summer.

Click here for details.

Arsenal are being linked with a surprise £13m bid for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling. Meanwhile, The Gunners will face competition from clubs in England and France for Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann.

Click here for details.

Spurs are keen on Manchester United striker Danny Welbeck with the England international said to be impatient over the amount of playing time he gets at Old Trafford. Meanwhile, Tottenham boss Tim Sherwood is being linked with the manager’s job at Norwich City and reports today claim he is keen on the role.

Swansea city striker Wilfried Bony is wanted by Everton as Roberto Martinez looks for a long-term replacement for the on-loan Romelu Lukaku. The Belgium international looks set to go back to Chelsea and will probably be sold this summer. Martinez wants Bony to replace Lukaku.

Chelsea will be offered striker Diego Costa by Atletico Madrid, according to one report. The deal depends on Romelu Lukaku heading in the opposite direction and a fourth season-long loan for keeper Thibaut Courtois.

Fulham will open talks with defender John Heitinga.

Gareth Barry wants to remain with Everton beyond the end of his loan spell which expires at the end of the season.

Manchester City are eyeing up a bid for Athletic Bilbao’s Iker Muniain. City are also monitoring Barcelona winger Pedro, who could be part of a shake-up at the Nou Camp this summer.


Cesc Fabregas

Manchester United Transfer News Sunday 20 April

April 20th, 2014 Brian Harwood


United Linked With New Fabregas Bid

Manchester United could be back in for Cesc Fabregas this summer, although with Barcelona’s transfer embargo still in place that looks unlikely – at the moment.

United saw three bids for the former Arsenal man rejected by Barcelona last summer and The Sun On Sunday claims that David Moyes could be back in with a fresh bid at the end of the season. However, with Barcelona facing a transfer embargo for the next 14 months the chances of any bid succeeding under the current circumstances are exceedingly small. The Catalan side have been slapped with the transfer ban after being found guilty of illegally signing players under the age of 18 and are unable to sign any players either this summer or in next January’s transfer window.

The ban looks set to go to arbitration and The Sun’s story assumes Barcelona will be successful. Meanwhile, reports from Spain suggest that Fabregas has been told he will be part of a squad clearout at the Nou Camp this summer and that Barca will listen to any suitable offers if the transfer ban is lifted. The midfielder has been the subject of some criticism in Spain as the side look to end the season trophy-less and with the prospect of a third place finish in La Liga, their lowest placing since 2008.

It is thought that Manchester United value Fabregas at around £25million. Having signed Fabregas for £35million on a five-year deal in 2011 Barcelona would only need to bring in £14million to make a profit on the player under Uefa’s Financial Fair Play regulations.

Fabregas said last summer that he would not be leaving Barcelona just two years into his dream of playing for the club but if these latest reports are anything to go by he may not have much choice.

Smalling, Griezmann

Meanwhile, Manchester United defender Chris Smalling is wanted by Arsenal, according to reports.

The Daily Star Sunday claim the Gunners will make a £13million bid for the 24-year-old this summer. However, any move is unlikely to take place unless David Moyes brings in a number of new central defenders. Nemanja Vidic will leave the club for Inter Milan this summer while Rio Ferdinand’s future will be decided once the season is over. It is unlikely that Moyes will sanction the departure of another centre-back.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is said to have admired Smalling since the defender was with Fulham, but missed out when Sir Alex Ferguson snapped up the player in a £10million deal in January 2010.

Manchester United will go head-to-head with Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and two French clubs for Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann. The 23-year-old – who has scored 16 goals in 31 La Liga games for the Basque side this season – could be on his way out of Real Sociedad this summer.

Griezmann is valued at £20million and is on the radar of the four Premier League clubs. However, he spoke earlier this year of the possibility of a return to his native France and has also attracted the attentions of both Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco. At present, a move to France looks more likely.


Chris Smalling

Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours Sunday 20 April

April 20th, 2014 Bill_Kendal


Arsenal To Make Smalling Bid?

Arsenal will make a £13million bid for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling this summer, at least if one newspaper report today is to be believed.

The Daily Star Sunday claims Arsene Wenger will make the shock bid for a player he has admired since Smalling was a youngster with Fulham.

However, the bid is almost certain to be brushed aside by David Moyes. United are looking to boost the centre of their defence rather than lose another of their centre-backs. Nemanja Vidic quits the club for Serie A side Inter Milan this summer while Rio Ferdinand’s future looks in doubt with Moyes set to make a decision this summer over whether the 35-year-old will be offered a new one-year deal. Any departure for Smalling looks far-fetched unless United can recruit two or three top-class central defenders.

Arsene Wenger admired Smalling when the defender was with Fulham but was beaten to signature by Sir Alex Ferguson. The 24-year-old moved to Old Trafford from Craven Cottage in a £10million deal in January 2010 and was allowed to spend the rest of the 2009-10 season on loan with Fulham before joining up with his new team-mate that summer.

Smalling has made 119 appearances for United scoring five goals.

Competition For France International

Arsenal will face competition from Manchester United, Everton and Liverpool for the signature of Real Sociedad winger Antoine Griezmann. The 23-year-old Frenchman has been on Arsenal’s radar for much of the season and is rated at around £20million.

The Daily Mirror claims today that Griezmann will be the target of a number of Premier League clubs; however, the English foursome are likely to face competition from the big-spending French duo of Paris Saint-Germain and Monaco.

Griezmann hinted earlier this year at a return to his native France and it is believed that his preference is for a move to PSG. He has spent all of his career with Real Sociedad having joined the club’s academy at the age of 14. He made his first-team debut in 2009 and has clocked up just under 200 appearances for the club.

However, Griezmann’s goalscoring has stuck out this season. He has scored 16 times in 31 La Liga appearances for an average of one goal for every 150 appearances on the pitch.


Cristian Tello

Liverpool Transfer News and Rumours Saturday 19 April

April 19th, 2014 Mike_Penwortham


Tello Chase Could Be Back On

The Liverpool transfer pursuit of Barcelona forward Cristian Tello could be back on if the Catalan side have their transfer embargo scrapped.

Tello was on Brendan Rodgers’ radar both last summer and during the January transfer window but the La Liga side told the 22-year-old that injuries to the squad could result in him getting more game time this season – one of the reasons behind his unhappiness at the Nou Camp.

That hasn’t been the case. Tello has made eight appearances in La Liga since the turn of the year but in terms of minutes on the pitch he has fared much worse than last year. So far he has played 354 minutes in La Liga with two starts and 16 substitute appearances for Barca in 2013-14. That compares with 1170 minutes in 12 starts and 10 substitute appearances in 2012-13.

Tello has scored five goals for Barca this season but three of those came in matches in the Copa del Rey while one more was scored in the Champions League.

A number of UK media outlets claim Tello could be the subject of a bid from Anfield this summer with the Daily Mirror suggesting that Liverpool could offer somewhere in the region of £12million.

However, Barcelona have to work to get their transfer embargo annulled. The club have been banned from signing any players for the next two transfer windows and while the ban is expected to go to arbitration, Fifa president Sepp Blatter says he agrees with the Fifa Disciplinary Committee’s decision. Should Barca fail to get the embargo overturned then any move for Tello will be off the agenda. He is under contract at the Nou Camp until 2018.

Meanwhile, the Reds look set to miss out on another target, 19-year-old Keita Balde Diao. The Senegalese forward looks set to sign a new deal with Lazio having been linked with interest from Liverpool earlier this year.

Balde has made nine starts and 11 substitute appearances for the Serie A side this season and has scored four goals in his 927 minutes playing time for an average of a goal every 232 minutes.


Premier League transfer news

Premier League Transfer News Saturday 19 April

April 19th, 2014 Leonard_Mountfield


Manchester United are reported to have been offered Valencia defender Adil Rami. The France international wants to end his career at AC Milan, where he is currently on loan, but the Serie A side want to slash the redemption fee in his loan agreement with Valencia. United are also keen on Marseille left-back Benjamin Mendy.

Click here for more details.

Arsenal target Aymeric Laporte is being linked with interest from Bayern Munich. The 19-year-old Athletic Bilbao centre-back has a £30million release clause in his contract with the Basque side. Another one-time Arsenal target, Espanyol goalkeeper Kiko Casilla says he is staying at the La Liga side.

Click here for more details.

Meanwhile, Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will tell the club before the World Cup finals whether or not he is willing to sign a new deal at the Emirates.

Liverpool still hope to sign Barcelona forward Cristian Tello, though they may have to wait for the La Liga side’s appeal against a 14-month transfer embargo before putting in a bid. Meanwhile, Reds target, 19-year-old Senegalese forward Keita Balde Diao looks set to sign a new deal with Lazio.

Atletico Madrid are favourites to sign Argentine youngster Angel Correa. Manchester City have also been linked.

Antonio Nocerino wants to remain with West Ham United when his loan spell from AC Milan expires at the end of the season.

Southampton midfielder Jack Cork is wanted by Fulham, Swansea and Crystal Palace. His contract expires in 2015.

Chelsea midfielder Oriel Romeu wants his loan at Valencia to become permanent. The agent of Chelsea target Jackson Martinez has reiterated that his client will not discuss his future before the end of the season. Roma are the latest side to be linked.

Roma are also keen on Spurs forward Paulinho with reports from Italy claiming he could be a loan target for next season with the prospect of a permanent move in 2015.


Adil Rami

Manchester United Transfer News Saturday 19 April

April 19th, 2014 Brian Harwood


United In Rami, Mendy Links

Manchester United are reported to have been offered Valencia defender Adil Rami after the prospect of a permanent move to AC Milan hit the skids.

We reported last week that Milan were going to try and haggle over the fee for Rami and QPR’s Adel Taarabt. Both players are currently on loan at the San Siro and their loan agreements fix permanent transfer fees at the rate of 8million euro (£6.6million) for Rami and 7million for Taarabt. But Milan’s failure to qualify for the Champions League has left a huge financial hole in their accounts for next season and the Serie A side are hoping to recruit both players for a total of 8million euro.

Reports from Spain now claim that Valencia have offered Rami to United for a fee of around £10million for the 28-year-old France international in a bid to maximise their revenue for the player. However, Moyes is looking to do a deal for around 7million euro (£5.8million) – in other words, less than Valencia would have received from Milan.

However, Rami wants to move to Milan. The centre-back has burned his bridges at Valencia following a series of altercations earlier this season. So much so that the loan deal with Milan was agreed almost three months before the January transfer window opened.

“I’m happy at this club and I want to stay for longer,” he told France Football. “I want to end my career here.”

United may have more luck with Marseille left-back Benjamin Mendy. The 19-year-old has been watched by United scouts on a number of occasions this season and reports in the British media claim he could be available for around £5million this summer.

Marseille need the cash but president Vincent Labrune recently stated that his young players wouldn’t be leaving the club this summer. Mendy only arrived at the club from Le Havre last summer and has quickly made the left-back spot his own.

United look set to lose Patrice Evra whose contract at Old Trafford expires this summer and have been linked with Southampton’s 18-year-old England international Luke Shaw. However, Shaw is likely to cost United around £30million.


Arsenal transfer news

Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours Saturday 19 April

April 19th, 2014 Bill_Kendal


Bayern Eye Up Arsenal Target

Arsenal target and Athletic Bilbao central defender Aymeric Laporte is being linked with interest from Bayern Munich. However, like Arsenal, the German champions are likely to be deterred by the size of his release fee.

Laporte, 19, was linked with interest from the Gunners before Christmas; however, Athletic have put a release clause with a fee of 35million euro – around £30million – into Laporte’s contract in the hope of hanging on to the Frenchman for at least one more season.

The France Under-21 international – only the second Frenchman to play for Athletic – plays mainly as a central defender but can operate all across the back four. Bayern are hopeful that the good relationship they have with Athletic following the transfer of Javi Martinez in 2012 will stand them in good stead over a possible move for Laporte, but a move in 2015 looks more likely.

Laporte made his debut for Athletic in a Europa League tie with Hapoel Kiryat Shimona in November 2012 and made his La Liga debut the following month. He notched up 15 league appearances last season but has since nailed down his place in the first team with 28 starts in La Liga along with two substitute appearances. He has played the full 90 minutes in 26 of those games.

Keeper Rules Out Arsenal Move

Another Arsenal target, goalkeeper Kiko Casilla, says he isn’t interested in leaving La Liga side Espanyol. The 27-year-old was linked with Arsenal last summer but has re-iterated his desire to remain with the Barcelona-based club.

“My intention is to stay with Espanyol,” said Casilla. “I have a year left on my contract and I hope to be here for longer.

“I always had the support of the club when things were going badly,” he added.

Casilla had been linked with a move to Arsenal as understudy to Wojciech Szczesny with Lukasz Fabianski set to leave the club this summer.


« Older Entries