TRANSFER BATTLES: Rooney, Michu, Carroll, Denilson, Mkhitaryan, Gomez, Navas, Mourinho, Martinez

Former Manchester United striker Ruud van Nistelrooy says Wayne Rooney should leave the club if he is not fully committed to it.

'It is a matter of how he feels. If he feels he is committed to the club I think there is an opening. If he says there isn't I don't think there is a future for him but it is up to him.'

'I think the fans would love him to stay but it depends on the commitment. If he is fully here everyone loves him but when he is not fully committed it is probably better to move on.'

Arsenal will hope a package of around £170,000-per-week and a multi-million pound signing on fee — plus the security of a five-year contract — could persuade Rooney to take a pay cut from his current £250,000-per-week deal at Old Trafford, that has two years left to run. 

Although Arsene Wenger has suggested he's prepared to break the habit of a lifetime and splash the cash on Wayne Rooney, The Arsenal boss has recognized Swansea hitman Michu as a far more realistic target. Wenger will eye a summer move for the prolific Spaniard to spearhead Arsenal's attack.

The Spaniard enjoyed an excellent debut Premier League season, scoring 22 goals after his £2million move from Rayo Vallecano. His impressive displays at the start of last season prompted Arsenal into an extensive scouting mission on the 27-year-old.

The club, who also retain a long-term interest in Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko, are exploring numerous striking options ahead of next season as they look to land a new world-class centre-forward.

Meanwhile, Arsenal have begun their summer cull, which could save around £350,000-per-week in wages, by terminating the contract of midfielder Denilson.

‘I can confirm Denilson and Arsenal have agreed to terminate his contract at the end of this month,’ said his agent Alexandre Soares.



Liverpool are ready to launch an ambitious bid to land Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Armenia international has a burgeoning reputation and Liverpool, who have scouted the midfielder on several occasions, would have to pay more than £20million to stand any chance of signing him.

A significant proportion of the fee that Liverpool would be required to pay for Mkhitaryan could be recouped before the end of the week, as Andy Carroll edges closer to a move to West Ham United.

The England international has been considering his options since the clubs agreed a £15million deal and had not given up the idea of reviving his Anfield career but that avenue is no longer feasible and Carroll has accepted he must move on.



Napoli have agreed to sign striker Mario Gomez from Bayern Munich, according to a report by German newspaper Bild. Gomez, 27, scored twice in Bayern's 3-2 win over Stuttgart in the German Cup final on Sunday. He joined Bayern from Stuttgart in 2009.

Gomez scored 54 league goals over two seasons from 2010 to 2012. But after suffering an ankle injury this past season, he scored 11 goals in 21 Bundesliga appearances, 12 of which came as a substitute.



Manuel Pellegrini has been handed his first Manchester City signing after the club finally settled on a fee with Sevilla for winger Jesus Navas.

Personal terms were agreed with the 27-year-old last Thursday and a statement on Sevilla's website on Monday read: 'Sevilla FC has accepted the English club's offer, taking into account the wishes of the player, who will have to pass a medical.'

City had hoped to take advantage of Sevilla’s financial woes to pay only half of the player’s £25.5million buy-out clause.



However, with Real Madrid also showing strong interest, the Spanish side held out, so City will pay an initial £20.4m, with a further £2.5m to follow in add-ons, for the pacy, right-sided midfielder.

Speaking after Sevilla’s final league game at the weekend, he said: ‘I am open to anything, because my main aim now is to try to win titles. City are a team I like a lot.’

Pellegrini is also hoping to buy Malaga’s Isco, Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara and Fernandinho of Shakhtar Donetsk.

The Portuguese coach was in London on Monday to complete the formalities of a second stint in charge of the west London club after his exit from Real Madrid was confirmed, penning a four-year deal. Mourinho led Chelsea to successive Barclays Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006 - not to mention the FA Cup and League Cup twice.

Mourinho has  insisted he will not make wholesale changes this summer, saying: ‘We have to improve the team, and when I say improve the team, people are already thinking about how many millions Chelsea are going to spend.

‘But when I say improve the team I am saying improving by work. My work has to improve players and improve the team. If I don’t do that I am not happy with myself.

‘If after that we can improve the team by buying a couple of players, then fantastic.

‘I want to start from ground zero, I need to work hard again and build a different team from the team I built in the past. I want to forget that I was champion here and I want to have that pressure on myself like it is the first time I am here.’ 

Mourinho will bring trusted assistants Rui Faria and Silvino Louro, who both worked with him during his first stint at Chelsea. Jose Morais, who hooked up with the manager during his spell at Inter, will also come in. Bolo Zenden, who was Rafa Benitez’s assistant, is expected to leave.



Everton will appoint Roberto Martinez as their next manager after agreeing a £1.5million compensation package with Wigan.

Wigan chairman Dave Whelan confirmed that a compensation package has been agreed with Everton for the services of Martinez.

He told BBC 5Live on Monday night: 'I agreed terms with the chairman at Everton, Bill, about 6 o'clock this evening. Bill and myself have sorted out the compensation and Roberto is free to do a deal with Everton now if he wants.

'I gave Roberto permission to speak to Everton last week. He came back and told me it had gone well, I think he was down to the last two or three on the list, and then their chairman rang me to discuss the compensation deal and we agreed that this evening. It sounds like he'll be the next Everton manager but, football being football, sometimes you can be wrong.'



'I will be very sad to see Roberto go. He has been a fantastic manager for Wigan Athletic.