Tuesday, 2 July 2013

Transfer Battles: Sanogo, Rooney, Higuain, Grenier, Julio Cesar, Djourou, Bendtner, Bale, Paulinho, Cavani, Bruma, Luiz, Cornelius, Shelvey, Holt, Anelka, Kone, Alcaraz..



Arsenal have confirmed on their website that French youth international Yaya Sanogo has signed on a long-term contract. The 20-year-old striker joins for a small compensation fee after his contract at Ligue 2 side Auxerre expired.

Sanogo is currently on duty for the French side at the Under 20 World Cup, grabbing two of his country's three goals in Turkey, and scored nine goals in 13 games in an injury-hit season in France.



'Sanogo is a good young signing for us,' he told Arsenal.com. 'He has shown that he has potential with his recent performances for Auxerre and also for the France Under-20 side.

'We are looking forward to Yaya joining us and continuing his promising development.'

The move is subject to completion of formal registration processes, with Sanogo joining up with his team mates after his participation in Turkey.



But Premier League defenders are unlikely to loose any sleep over the Injury prone youngster, Hence Jack Wilshere has called on the Arsenal Hierarchy to sign Higuain and Rooney to restore the fear factor in the club. 

Rooney, having requested a move at the end of last season, is set to discuss his future this week with new Manchester United manager David Moyes. If he cannot be persuaded to stay at United, Arsene Wenger is among those ready to make a move, having been cleared to blow the ceiling on the club’s wage structure.

Higuain looks all set to join the North London club, Why the Argentine is not yet a gunner? We dont know.

Outbound? Wayne Rooney is believed to want a move away from Old Trafford

Wilshere said 'If it happens it would be amazing,' said Wilshere, when asked about Rooney on espn.com. 'He’s the type of player who can win you trophies - and just to see his name on the team sheet brings fear to the opposition. We could do with a little more of that.”

Key recruit: Argentina striker Gonzalo Higuain is on his way to Arsenal

'You look at the type of players like Higuain we are trying to bring in and you have got to be encouraged,' said Wilshere. 'I think we need a few more, not to step right into the team, but to add to the squad.

'We need our squad to be as deep as United and City. They can change their back four completely and still win. There is no way United would have won the Premier League trophy with 18 players'



Arsenal have had a £6million bid rejected for Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier. The 22-year-old is also a target for Liverpool but the Gunners remain in pole position to sign the France international.

Grenier is out of contract at the end of next season, which could force Lyon to cash in on a prized asset.



And Grenier scored in front of Arsenal scouts last month, while Arsene Wenger has admitted his interest in the young star.

Wenger said last month: ‘We are following him. His intelligence of play pleases me. He has interesting qualities. He reminds me of (Samir) Nasri.’

And Grenier is also keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium.

He said: ‘I have more or less made a decision about which club I want to join.


‘I have made the choice for sporting reasons above all. Arsenal? It could well be them.



ARSENAL’S hopes of landing Julio Cesar have been boosted as the Brazil keeper wants to stay in London. Italians Roma are also chasing the QPR stopper, 33, who can leave Loftus Road after relegation to the Championship.

Cesar said: “I love the city and I’m enjoying living there.

“Now I have to do things right at my club so I can be considered for the World Cup.”


Hamburg have signed Switzerland defender Johan Djourou from Arsenal,

The 26 year old has left north London for the northern Germany club on an initial one-year loan deal with the Bundesliga club having the option to make the move permanent next summer.

Djourou, who undertook his medical yesterday before putting pen to paper on his contract, spent the second half of last season on loan with Hamburg's league rivals Hannover after joining during the January transfer window.



Djourou said on Hamburg's official website: 'I'm very happy now that everything is sorted. HSV are a big club, with a lot of quality and great fans.

'I am convinced that this is the right step for my career.'

Hamburg's director of sport Oliver Kreuzer said: 'Johan was a priority as the defence is a very important part of our team. He has leadership qualities but is also fast, good in the air and very good on the ball.'

Djourou joins Sebastien Squillaci, Andrei Arshavin and Denilson as notable departures from the Emirates Stadium this summer. 



One man certain to join the growing list of Arsenal departees  list is Niklas Bendtner, La Liga side Malaga will discuss a deal with the gunners for the Danish striker. The 25-year-old also has an offer from Eintracht Frankfurt but is keen to speak to the Spanish outfit.



Gareth Bale has reiterated his desire to play in the Champions League. Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid are both desperate to land Bale this summer in the wake of Tottenham's failure to qualify for the Champions League.

And in an interview with Esquire, Bale has spelled out what Europe's elite competition means to him.


He said: 'When you play in the Premier League, say you're playing against a lower-end team, they set up to defend all the time, they set up to block you off. But when you play in the Champions League, all the other teams are used to winning every week, so it's more of an open game, it's more attacking, end-to-end.

'No one's used to defending, everyone's used to attacking and trying to win games, so it's just all against all.'



He added: 'The music is a massive thing - Zadok the Priest (Handel's anthem that announces the arrival of the teams). When we first got into the Champions League, it's one of the things that most of the lads were looking forward to, hearing it in the stadium. It's little things like that which make it special.'



Winger Bale scored 26 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for Spurs last season, but insisted he does not feel any pressure to perform. He said: 'I don't feel any pressure. If I'm the one scoring all the goals and winning us the games, then I just carry on as normal. I don't feel any different.'



Tottenham has managed to tempt Paulinho away from Corinthians, during an emotional press conference, the 24-year-old broke down as he explained his exit.

'It's hard to say anything at a moment like this, but I am sure those were three wonderful years in my career, with many titles,' he said.

'What I have to say to Corinthians fans, board and staff is !see you soon! - I will be back in no time, due to everything they have done for me.

'My individual titles are all thanks to the club, Corinthians will be in my heart for the rest of my life.'



Corinthians director of football Roberto de Andrade praised the player who starred as Brazil beat Spain 3-0 in Rio on Sunday.

'I want to thank Paulinho for everything he has done for Corinthians,' he said.

'We will never forget him - the great person he is - and his national team title (the Confederations Cup with Brazil) is well-deserved.

'Corinthians are proud for having had a player like him. It's fair he continues his life at an English club, to know a new culture.'



Still in London, Chelsea have offered £42.7million for Napoli striker Edinson Cavani and are looking to beat Manchester City to Portuguese starlet Bruma.

Napoli are puzzled by Chelsea's revised bid and are demanding their buy-out clause for the Uruguayan is met. The 2012 European champions are still £11.2m short of the £53.9m figure Napoli want which will also cover the tax on the deal.

Real Madrid have yet to match the offer and Cavani admits the speculation is getting to him. He said: 'At the beginning of the Confederations Cup, I did not believe the market rumours would have given me trouble. But, at the end, I admit they have disturbed me a little.'



Jose Mourinho has given the green light for Chelsea's pursuit of Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma, full name Armindo Tue Na Bangna.

The 18-year-old has been pursued by City for some time but Sporting wanted £8m plus add-ons. Now, with one year left on contract, clubs are trying to strike a better price.



It has been rumored that David Luiz is not in the plans of Jose Mourinho and a lot of top clubs in Europe are on the lookout for the Brazillian defender. The 26-year-old has been earmarked as a future Chelsea captain but is not the strong, dependable centre half normally associated with Mourinho’s teams.

Adaptable: Glittering performances in midfield may have attracted Barcelona to David Luiz

Bayern Munich have emerged as another of the clubs keen to lure David Luiz from Chelsea. Pep Guardiola is a long-term admirer of the former Benfica man, who is also attracting interest from Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

Guardiola acknowledges his new team does not require major surgery but believes they can improve in defence.

Luiz has three years left on the contract signed when he arrived from Benfica in January 2011.



Denmark striker Andreas Cornelius has signed a five-year deal with Cardiff after passing his medical with the Premier League newcomers.

The 20-year-old's transfer will be finalised once international clearance is received.

Cardiff agreed a deal with FC Copenhagen last week and the player underwent his medical at the club's Vale of Glamorgan training base today.

Cornelius will join up with his new team-mates next week after a short holiday.

'This is a dream come true for me,' Cornelius told Cardiff City Player.

'I've been given a great opportunity and this is a very exciting project that's taking place at Cardiff City.

'I'm very happy to be here and to be playing for this club in the Premier League.

'There were opportunities for me this summer and I had to think about what was the right thing to do, the correct step for me to take in terms of my career.
'I was impressed by what the club is trying to do, the fact it has reached the Premier League and that it has a passionate fan base supporting it.'


Cornelius added: "It's been a busy few days as I graduated from university back home over the weekend.

'Both school and football are very important to me, so I had to structure my plans in order to achieve in both.

'I will link up with my new team-mates next Monday and look forward to preparing for the new season.

'These are very exciting times and I'm looking forward to working with the manager and learning more about this squad.'



The 6ft 4in striker top-scored with 18 goals in the Danish Superliga last season, during which he also made his senior international debut.

He hopes his move will enhance his chances with the national team.

'The Danish national team always wants players playing in foreign countries, especially in the English Premier League,' he added.

'If I can improve as a player at Cardiff City, which I think I can, then I can be a better player for the Danish national squad as well.


Crystal Palace have made an enquiry for Liverpool midfielder Jonjo Shelvey. The 21-year-old has also attracted interest from Norwich City, West Ham and Swansea but none have made firm offers with Liverpool's valuation around £7million.

Palace are also bidding for Blackpool winger Matt Phillips and are close to finalising a deal for Peterborough striker Dwight Gayle if they can agree on add-ons. 


Palace are also rivaling Wigan with interest in Norwich striker Grant Holt.



WEST Brom are considering a move for former Liverpool and Chelsea forward Nicolas Anelka.

The Baggies are keeping tabs on the striker, now 34, after his short-term deal with Juventus expired.

It was thought that Anelka had finished playing football in this country after he quit Stamford Bridge for Shanghai Shenhua.

But his Chinese adventure ended in controversy after but a few months and he had been on loan to Juventus last season.

The Turin club did not follow up the loan spell and it had been rumoured that Anelka was seeking a move to the Middle East.

On the move: Nicolas Anelka has joined Juventus

West Brom head coach Steve Clarke knows the former France international well, having worked with him at Stamford Bridge.

But Baggies' chairman Jeremy Peace is notoriously reluctant to spend money on transfers but will sanction spending on player wages and Anelka would be a replacement for Romelu Lukaku who was at loan at the Hawthorns from Chelsea last season.





Everton hope to wrap up the signings of Arouna Kone and Antolin Alcaraz from Wigan Today.

Wigan have had an £850,000 bid rejected for Bristol City winger Albert Adomah and are hoping to be given the all clear to sign Newcastle defender James Perch after bidding £700,000.

Meanwhile Bolton have signed Rob Hall from West Ham and are interested in Lens midfielder Samba Sow.

1 comment:

  1. Mehn,the transfer market is really hitting up big time o!!!

    ReplyDelete