Good news to the Arsenal board and probably bad news to Arsenal fans as Arsene Wenger has committed his long term future to the gunners. The Frenchman’s existing deal expires next summer, fuelling speculation this could be his final season in charge.
But Wenger insists his intention is to extend his £7.5million-a-season contract, and preliminary discussions with chief executive Ivan Gazidis are underway.
‘I am committed to staying longer at this club. I’ve already had a chat with Ivan. It went very well, not a problem,’ the 63-year-old said.
But Wenger, who has been at the helm since 1996, insists the decision will not rest solely with him.
‘What I will always do in the future is not to use my longevity (at this club) as an advantage to stay in this position if I don’t do well.
‘The contract will be decided in the future. That will depend on how well I do. I’ve always shown my commitment to this club and I don’t think I need to prove anything on that.
‘Would my decision depend on how well next season goes? I am like anybody else, of course, it is important to see how well we do.
‘I don’t automatically assume that I will be here. I think I knew when I committed to my last contract and the contract before that the club were going through a very sensitive period, because we had less financial resources and the challenge was to stay at the top and in the Champions League during that period.
‘We are coming out of that period and I hope in the next two or three years the club will be competing for the Premier League.’
The French man also turned down the offer to coach P.S.G due to the love he has for Arsenal.
'The link with PSG is there because I’m French and I know the owners. But if that was the case then I would be there already.
‘My heart is with Arsenal. I’m not at PSG because my heart is with Arsenal,’ he said.
It has been reported that Tottenham will start bidding for want-away Aston Villa striker Christian Benteke as from next week.
The north London club will offer £20million for the Belgium international as the battle to prise him out of Villa Park begins.
Villa have so far made their stance clear and will reject anything less than £25m for a forward who scored 19 times in the Premier League last term.
Spurs have toyed with offering players in part-exchange for the striker but Villa owner Randy Lerner will reject any bid that does not meet his valuation.
Sources close to Benteke have suggested he will sign a five-year deal if Daniel Levy is successful in his attempt.
Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has said the club has maintained communication with Luis Suarez "nearly every day" this summer.
Suarez, the 26-year-old Uruguay international striker, has been linked with a transfer after saying in May that he wanted to leave the club. He has also been quoted as saying he would find it "difficult" to turn down Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Liverpool have rejected Arsenal's £30 million bid, per.
Suarez is currently serving a 10-match ban for biting Chelsea's Branislav Ivanovic. In June, he claimed harsh treatment by the British media was driving him out of the country.
Through it all, though, Rodgers has said Liverpool and Suarez have remained in contact.
“We’re communicating in some way with him nearly every day—either through text or conversation—and I hope he stays," Rodgers told the Echo. "I really do."
Rodgers added:
'Over the course of the last few months and towards the end of last season there was a lot of speculation about Luis because of his situation and what happened, but the fact is we value the player—he had a terrific season for us and showed his qualities.'
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini has hinted that City could sign a new player as they continue their preseason tour.
City are scheduled to play a friendly in South Africa on Sunday before flying to China for another match. Pellegrini said a move could be completed before the squad leaves South Africa.
"I don't know if, before we finish here in South Africa, other names will arrive to our squad," he said. "Maybe in the next few days we can have fresh news but at the moment I cannot tell you what you ask."
Could it be Jovetic, Negredo or Ibrahimovic?
Speaking of Jovetic, Italian champions Juventus have pulled out of the race to sign the Fiorentina man.
Jovetic, 23, scored 13 goals in 31 Serie A appearances last season for Fiorentina. The Montenegro international recently told La Gazzetta dello Sport that Juventus manager Antonio Conte could help him grow as a player.
According to Conte, though, Jovetic's price tag is too high for Juventus.
"Jovetic has a high price tag, but it's justified," Conte told reporters on Thursday. "He's a top player and he could be worth even more than 30 million euros in the future."
Conte added: "He's going to go to a club who have this kind of money, and that's not in Italy. Other clubs in Europe are better off than us."
Sevilla coach Unai Emery admits that Alvaro Negredo's move to Manchester City would be the best outcome for both clubs.
City are closing in on the Spain striker, having already signed his teammate Jesus Navas for £14.9million, although they are concerned that Sevilla are trying to push up the price for Negredo beyond £20m.
The cash-strapped Spaniards need the money and Emery is now resigned to the fact that the 27-year-old striker will follow Navas to Manchester.
'The most likely situation is that he will leave,' said the Sevilla boss. 'The cards are on the table. Negredo is a very important player to Sevilla and he could continue to be one, either by staying here or by earning the club a big transfer fee.
'We know he could leave, but it would be the best for everyone.
'The club would be able to meet its financial obligations, and although we would lose a key player, we need to be reasonable, like we were in the case of Navas.
'Our aim is to produce new players that can reach the same heights.
'It's possible the club can't reach an agreement for him, but we are prepared, we have spent some time working on alternatives.
'Of course we're not going to find a player with the same characteristics as him or one who is going to have the same record, but we will find players who will be important to the future of this club, and I trust the work the club is doing in that area.'
Manchester City are weighing up a move for Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to reports in France. Pellegrini has joined Real Madrid in the chase for the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who struck 33 goals for the French champions last season, report L’Equipe.
Ibrahimovic is reported to be one of several PSG players who are unsettled after the departure of hugely popular coach Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid.
With Edinson Cavani set to complete his move to PSG from Napoli next week, Ibrahimovic is understood to be open to a move away from the French capital.
Earlier this week, Ibrahimovic’s agent, Mino Raiola, approached Madrid chiefs with the ambition of persuading the Spanish giants to buy the forward, who has won league titles with six different clubs in four countries.
City, meanwhile, are in the hunt for a new goalscorer after allowing Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez to leave the club in the last six months and a £20million for the flamboyant Swede is believed to be under consideration.
Real Madrid have announced the signing of Spanish midfielder Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad via RealMadrid.com.
Illarramendi, 23, started four matches during Spain's run to the Euro Under-21 title this summer. He made 32 La Liga appearances last season for Real Sociedad. The deal cost Real Madrid €39 million. Illarramendi, who is seen as a long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso, is reportedly tied to Real Madrid for the next six seasons.
"I talked it through with my inner circle and I reached the conclusion that it was a unique proposal and opportunity and an offer I couldn’t refuse," Illarramendi said of the deal, "It’s been difficult to make this decision but I think it’s the right one."
The agent of Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma has told Antena 1 that Chelsea and Galatasaray have submitted bids for his client. Bruma, 18, scored five goals in four matches with Portugal at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup this summer. He made 13 league appearances with Sporting last season, scoring once.
Said agent Catio Balde:
'There are offers from foreign clubs, from Chelsea and from Galatasaray, worth €8m, that could reach €12m (£10.3m). From this moment on, considering that he is a highly coveted player, it is possible that more offers will arrive, because I know that several clubs were waiting for the best moment to make a move. '
Balde added: "Right now, Bruma's mind is not on Sporting."
Wilfried Bony has a lot of pressure on his head already after agreeing a club record move to Swansea for £12million from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.
But the Ivorian striker has insisted he can be better than his fellow countryman Didier Drogba in the Premier League, who scored 100 league goals in 226 games.
The 24-year-old, who scored 31 goals in 30 league games in the Eredivisie last season, said:
'Didier had a big career but I hope to do the same or better.
'I have spoken to him. He said congratulations and he is proud of me.
'He is a big inspiration for me. I have to listen to his advice and try to do what I can by giving my best.'
And despite his Chelsea allegiances, Bony says that Drogba has given his backing for the new move.
'Didier said Swansea was a good team who play very good football. There are not many teams in the UK who play like that.
'He said he knows how I play and I will enjoy playing for Swansea. He thinks I have made a good decision.'
According to Conte, though, Jovetic's price tag is too high for Juventus.
"Jovetic has a high price tag, but it's justified," Conte told reporters on Thursday. "He's a top player and he could be worth even more than 30 million euros in the future."
Conte added: "He's going to go to a club who have this kind of money, and that's not in Italy. Other clubs in Europe are better off than us."
Sevilla coach Unai Emery admits that Alvaro Negredo's move to Manchester City would be the best outcome for both clubs.
City are closing in on the Spain striker, having already signed his teammate Jesus Navas for £14.9million, although they are concerned that Sevilla are trying to push up the price for Negredo beyond £20m.
The cash-strapped Spaniards need the money and Emery is now resigned to the fact that the 27-year-old striker will follow Navas to Manchester.
'The most likely situation is that he will leave,' said the Sevilla boss. 'The cards are on the table. Negredo is a very important player to Sevilla and he could continue to be one, either by staying here or by earning the club a big transfer fee.
'We know he could leave, but it would be the best for everyone.
'The club would be able to meet its financial obligations, and although we would lose a key player, we need to be reasonable, like we were in the case of Navas.
'Our aim is to produce new players that can reach the same heights.
'It's possible the club can't reach an agreement for him, but we are prepared, we have spent some time working on alternatives.
'Of course we're not going to find a player with the same characteristics as him or one who is going to have the same record, but we will find players who will be important to the future of this club, and I trust the work the club is doing in that area.'
Manchester City are weighing up a move for Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to reports in France. Pellegrini has joined Real Madrid in the chase for the Paris Saint-Germain striker, who struck 33 goals for the French champions last season, report L’Equipe.
Ibrahimovic is reported to be one of several PSG players who are unsettled after the departure of hugely popular coach Carlo Ancelotti to Real Madrid.
With Edinson Cavani set to complete his move to PSG from Napoli next week, Ibrahimovic is understood to be open to a move away from the French capital.
Earlier this week, Ibrahimovic’s agent, Mino Raiola, approached Madrid chiefs with the ambition of persuading the Spanish giants to buy the forward, who has won league titles with six different clubs in four countries.
City, meanwhile, are in the hunt for a new goalscorer after allowing Mario Balotelli and Carlos Tevez to leave the club in the last six months and a £20million for the flamboyant Swede is believed to be under consideration.
Real Madrid have announced the signing of Spanish midfielder Asier Illarramendi from Real Sociedad via RealMadrid.com.
Illarramendi, 23, started four matches during Spain's run to the Euro Under-21 title this summer. He made 32 La Liga appearances last season for Real Sociedad. The deal cost Real Madrid €39 million. Illarramendi, who is seen as a long-term replacement for Xabi Alonso, is reportedly tied to Real Madrid for the next six seasons.
"I talked it through with my inner circle and I reached the conclusion that it was a unique proposal and opportunity and an offer I couldn’t refuse," Illarramendi said of the deal, "It’s been difficult to make this decision but I think it’s the right one."
The agent of Sporting Lisbon winger Bruma has told Antena 1 that Chelsea and Galatasaray have submitted bids for his client. Bruma, 18, scored five goals in four matches with Portugal at the FIFA Under-20 World Cup this summer. He made 13 league appearances with Sporting last season, scoring once.
Said agent Catio Balde:
'There are offers from foreign clubs, from Chelsea and from Galatasaray, worth €8m, that could reach €12m (£10.3m). From this moment on, considering that he is a highly coveted player, it is possible that more offers will arrive, because I know that several clubs were waiting for the best moment to make a move. '
Balde added: "Right now, Bruma's mind is not on Sporting."
Wilfried Bony has a lot of pressure on his head already after agreeing a club record move to Swansea for £12million from Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem.
But the Ivorian striker has insisted he can be better than his fellow countryman Didier Drogba in the Premier League, who scored 100 league goals in 226 games.
The 24-year-old, who scored 31 goals in 30 league games in the Eredivisie last season, said:
'Didier had a big career but I hope to do the same or better.
'I have spoken to him. He said congratulations and he is proud of me.
'He is a big inspiration for me. I have to listen to his advice and try to do what I can by giving my best.'
And despite his Chelsea allegiances, Bony says that Drogba has given his backing for the new move.
'Didier said Swansea was a good team who play very good football. There are not many teams in the UK who play like that.
'He said he knows how I play and I will enjoy playing for Swansea. He thinks I have made a good decision.'
Wenger! killing Arsenal since 1996
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