Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Tuesday 21 December
Denilson Linked With Barcelona
Arsenal midfielder Denilson is being linked with a move to Barcelona.
The 22-year-old Brazilian has been touted as a possible sale in January with the money being used to buy a central defender – Manchester City’s Joleon Lescott has been mentioned.
Now, Barcelona-based newspaper, Sport, is linking Denilson with a move to Barcelona. The newspaper suggests that Barcelona rate Denilson at around 12 million euro, which tallies with Arsenal’s valuation of £10 million.
The midfielder has been at Arsenal since 2006 but reports suggest that Arsene Wenger believes that he hasn’t progressed as much as he would have liked and is ready to cash in on him.
“There is talk of possible interest from Barcelona and you cannot rule out a change of scenery, but at the moment I’m at Arsenal,” Denilson told Sport.
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Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Monday 20 December
Arsenal To Sell Denilson To Buy Lescott
Arsenal look set to sell Brazilian midfielder to German side Wolfsburg and use the £10 million fee to buy defender Joleon Lescott from Manchester City, according to reports this morning.
Reports from Germany suggest the Bundesliga outfit are ready to offer an eight-figure sum for Denilson and Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is ready to splash out on a central defender. Wenger believes the 22-year-old Brazilian hasn’t progressed as much as he would like at the Emirates. Denilson joined Arsenal from Sao Paulo as an 18-year-old in 2006 but although he has made 137 appearances for the club only 88 of those have been in the Premier League.
Lescott is one of a number of players City are ready to let go having found first-team opportunities few and far between at Eastlands. The 28-year-old joined City from Everton for £24 million in 2009 and City will be looking to get as much of that back as they can.
Wenger apparently sees the England international as the answer to his current central-defensive troubles.
Arsenal Linked With Southampton Teenager
Meanwhile, Arsenal are once again being linked with a bid for Southampton teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Gunners’ chief scout Steve Rowley has been sent to watch the 17-year-old midifielder on a number of occasions this season and after recent rumours of an Arsenal bid Saints’ boss Nigel Adkins issued a ‘hands-off’ reproach.
Southampton’s coaching staff are said to rate the youngster more highly at that age than Theo Walcott.
Alex is the son of former England international Mark Chamberlain.
Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 19 December
Barcelona Plan Summer Fabregas Bid
Barcelona are planning another summer bid for Cesc Fabregas according to the Sunday Mirror.
The Catalan giants are planning a bid for both Fabregas and Liverpool striker Fernando Torres which will cost them £85 million.
The paper bases its report on the £25 million a year sponsorship deal with the Qatar Foundation which has given Barcelona a huge cash injection just months after the club had to negotiate an emergency loan to get them through the summer.
Barcelona made a £30 million bid for Fabregas during the summer which resulted in a protracted transfer wrangle that ended with the player staying at the Emirates after Arsenal dug in their heels.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger told the Arsenal AGM in October that he expects Fabregas to remain at the Emirates at least until the end of the season and possibly for many years to come.
Torres is a former Atletico Madrid player who said during the summer that Barcelona are the only Spanish team he would move to. However, the paper reports that both Fabregas and Torres are at the top of coach Pep Guardiola’s wish list for next season.
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Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Wednesday 15 December
Bundesliga Top Scorer Linked With Arsenal
Freiburg striker Papiss Demba Cisse wants a move to Arsenal.
The 25-year-old Senegal international is joint-top scorer in the Bundesliga this season and “a source close to” Cisse has told goal.com that a move to a Premier League club playing in the Champions League certainly interests him.
The website suggests that Arsenal are interested in a summer transfer, though the source has rejected any suggestion that Cisse may be set for a move to Fulham.
“There’s no mistaking he’s very happy at Freiburg and he’s under contract until 2014, but Arsenal certainly interests him,” the source said.
“But Fulham is not an option. All respect to the club, regardless of whether they can afford him, he wouldn’t want to go.
“Freiburg are a great but small club so it’s very likely he will go in the summer. And Cisse is worthy of Champions League football – that is what he’s aiming for.”
Freiburg signed Cisse from French second division side Metz at the end of 2009. After a moderately productive start to his Freiburg career, which saw him score eight times in 16 appearances last season, Cisse has hit 13 goals in the opening 16 games of this season and that has brought him to the attention of clubs outside Germany.
There have been rumours that Fulham have expressed an interest in signing Cisse, but they were quashed by Freiburg general manager Dirk Dufner who last month told Kicker-Sporymagazin: “We have not been contacted by any club, no-one has enquired about his availability.
“Papiss Demba Cisse has a contract with our club until June 2014 and he is a key player within our first team.”
Cisse made his Senegal debut in August 2009 and has scored five goals in the four games he has played for his country.
Wenger Believes Arsenal Were ‘Unlucky’ In United Defeat
United Win Through Park Header
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he believes his side were unlucky to lose against Manchester United and that they should take a lot of encouragement from Monday night’s game.
A Ji-Sung Park header four minutes before half-time was enough to clinch victory for United while Wayne Rooney missed a chance to make it 2-0 by blazing a second-half penalty high over the bar, but Wenger refused to criticise his side’s efforts.
“We gave everything,” he told Sky Sports after the match, however he did criticise the Old Trafford pitch.
“The game was very intense. Both teams were well-organised and the intensity of the game was very high and on a very bad pitch.
“Overall, the technical quality of the game suffered from a very bad pitch and that was why on both sides you’ve seen unusual technical mistakes.”
However, Wenger paid tribute to United’s defence saying: “You have to give credit to Manchester United’s defensive quality. They defended very well and we tried very hard. We had a few chances and I thought we were unlucky to lose the game.”
Manchester United Defender Patrice Evra Calls Arsenal A “Crisis” Club
“What Is There For Arsenal? There Is Nothing” – Evra
Manchester United defender Patrice Evra has called Arsenal a club in “crisis” and “a football training centre” ahead of the clash between United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on Monday.
Speaking to TV station Canal+ Evra stated that he still believed Chelsea were United’s main rivals for the Premier League title despite the Blues’ current poor form and he believed that United could even afford to lose to Arsenal without conceding an advantage in the title race.
“For me, Arsenal is a football training centre,” he said. “You watch the match, you enjoy it, but are you going to win a title afterwards? That’s what people remember. It has been five years since they won anything and for a big club like Arsenal, that is a crisis.”
The Gunners haven’t won any silverware since defeating United in the 2005 FA Cup Final. “We can lose against them, but at the end of the day, what is there for Arsenal? There is nothing,” Evra added.
“There are no trophies, there is nothing. Our real enemy is Chelsea. We are more concerned with Chelsea’s results than those of Arsenal, even if we know Arsenal are a great team who can beat Chelsea, us or anyone.”
Evra was also critical of Arsenal’s ability to wrap up a game.
“When we play against Arsenal, it is really fun,” he said. “They are a team that plays football who will not come to Old Trafford with 11 men behind the ball. We also play football, but the difference is that we also have strength. Sometimes, they cannot kill off matches. We are more efficient.”
The two sides go into the weekend’s fixtures with Arsenal top of the Premier League following their victory of Fulham last Saturday and the postponement of United’s fixture at Blackpool.
Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Friday 10 December
Almunia Set For Exit
Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia is the subject of some interest from La Liga side Malaga.
The 33-year-old lost his place to Lukasz Fabianski earlier this season and has been unable to regain his position as number one keeper at the Emirates. With Arsene Wenger still on the lookout for a new keeper Almunia looks to have little future with the Gunners and his agent Joseba Diaz says he has been told that Almunia can go in January for £1.5 million.
Malaga recently appointed former Real Madrid boss Manuel Pellegrini as their new manager and he wants to plug the leaks in La Liga’s worst defence which has conceded an average of two goals a game this season. The club’s sporting director Antonio Fernandez has made enquiries about Almuinia after Atletico Madrid and Osasuna cooled their interest.
Almunia has been given permission by Arsenal to go back to Spain and rest his injured elbow and Diaz said: “We have still not finished negotiations, but it is clear that Manuel wants to return to Spain.”
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Arsenal Boss Wenger Says This Year’s Title Harder To Win Than 2004
‘Teams Are Stronger Now’ – Wenger Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says that this season’s Premier League title will be harder to win than the title his side won in 2004.
The Gunners are top of the League after 16 games and with a crucial game with Manchester United to come on Monday, but Wenger admits that sides outside the traditional ‘big four’ have become stronger.
“It will be harder for us, certainly, but it is the same for everyone,” Wenger told the club’s official website.
“It comes down to the fact of how consistent we are. For us, it will be about how much we can improve from now until the end of the season. There is room for improvement in our side and, if we do that, we have a chance to win.
“But we have 32 points after 16 games. You multiply that by two – 64 points after 32 games. That is a lower level for everybody compared to recent years.”
Arsenal won the 2004 Premier League title by becoming the first side in 115 years to go through a season undefeated in the top flight, amassing 90 points from 38 games in the process.
“Outside the top teams, clubs are stronger,” Wenger added.
“For example we played against Fulham on Saturday and this team were in the final of the Europa League last season and knocked out Shakhtar Donetsk – who were top of our Champions League group. This means teams are stronger now.”
Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Wednesday 8 December
Arsenal Close In On Vrsaljko Deal
Arsenal are believed to be closing in on a deal to sign Dinamo Zagreb teenager Sime Vrsaljko. The 18-year-old has been attracting the attentions of a number of leading European clubs such as Marseille, Spurs and Manchester United as well as Arsenal.
Last month the Dinamo president Zdvravko Mamic claimed to have turned down a 20 million euro bid from Arsenal for Vrsaljko and his 16-year-old team-mate Mateo Kovacic, claiming “While I have space and no problems at our bank account I can take a risk,” however, the Daily Mail reports that Arsenal are set to seal a deal that will see the defender sign for the Gunners in January before being loaned back to Dinamo.
Vrsaljko made his debut for Dinamo in February having been on loan at their feeder club Lokomotiva for the first half of the season. He made 11 league and cup appearances for Dinamo last season and has cemented his place in the side this term. He has also represented his country at all levels from under-15 to under-21.
Arsenal Dismiss Koscielny Fears – Defender Starts Against Partizan
Koscielny Fit; Djourou Out
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has dismissed a report – originating from himself – that central defender Laurent Koscielny will be out until the New Year by declaring him fit to face Serbian side Partizan Belgrade in the Gunners’ final Champions League group match tomorrow.
Wenger had earlier said that Koscielny would be out until the New Year after suffering concussion in a clash with fellow-Gunner Sebastien Squillaci during the Premier League game with Fulham on Saturday, but in his pre-match press conference this afternoon he contradicted his earlier report by saying: “Koscielny has been declared fit to play and will play tomorrow.”
However, Johan Djourou will not play.
“We lose Djourou because we are a bit cautious with him. He could have played with a risk, but we did not want to take a risk.
“Emmanuel Eboue comes back into the squad; the rest will be the same against Fulham.”
There is a possibility that Robin van Persie could start the game. The Dutchman came off the bench against Fulham and Wenger admits Van Persie could be in the starting line-up.
“He is getting better and better and ready to start,” he said. “He was ready to start two weeks ago if you ask him.”
Questioned as to whether Van Persie would be in the starting eleven, Wenger added:
“He is a player who has been out for a long time and wants games. I haven’t decided the starting line-up but it is a possibility.”
Koscielny Out But Wenger Confident Of Champions League Qualification
Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny will not play again until the New Year.
The news comes on the back of Thomas Vermaelen’s foot injury which will keep him out of action until after Christmas.
Koscielny suffered concussion after a collision with team-mate Sebastien Squillaci in the 2-1 win over Fulham on Saturday and boss Arsene Wenger says the Frenchman will miss games with Chelsea and Manchester United.
“The medical team inform me he has picked up concussion and could be out for three weeks,” Wenger said.
Squillaci and Johan Djourou will form the central defensive partnership in the absence of Koscielny and Vermaelen.
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger says Arsenal’s Champions League game with Partizan Belgrade on Wednesday is a massive game for the club but he is confident that his team can qualify for the knockout stage.
Arsenal need to beat the Serbian side to ensure qualification and despite Partizan having lost all five games so far Wenger is taking nothing for granted.
“That will be a massive game for us,” he told the club’s official website. “We know that we will be under pressure to deliver on the night but we will [deliver].
“I’m confident we will deliver the requested performance and the qualification.
“For a long part of the game it was a difficult game and on the information I have from Partizan, they did that to every single team.
“They lost always their game in the final part of the game but they gave a tough game to anybody.”
Arsenal could still qualify with a draw if Sporting Braga fail to defeat group leaders Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine but Arsenal will finish top of the group if they win and Shakhtar lose to the Portugese side.
Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Tuesday 7 December
Bendtner Could Be Target for Ajax
There are reports today that Arsenal’s Nicklas Bendtner will become a target for Dutch side Ajax if Luis Suarez leaves the Amsterdam Arena. Presumably any such interest will be up in the air following manager Martin Jol’s departure from the club last night although there have been reports that if Ajax receive a sizeable offer for Uruguayan forward Suarez then he will be sold.
Meanwhile, Bendtner is frustrated at a lack of first-team football at the Emirates having started in just two Premier League games this season.
Arsenal Warned Off Southampton Teenager
Arsenal are being linked with a move for Southampton teenager Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The 17-year-old son of former England international Mark Chamberlain has been watched Arsenal’s chief scout Steve Rowley amidst rumours of a forthcoming bid. Meanwhile, Fulham are also keen on Oxlade-Chamberlain and are believed to be closer than Arsenal in making an offer.
However, Southampton boss Nigel Adkins has warned off potential suitors saying that he’d like to keep his side’s new talent at St Mary’s.
“I’d like to think several more clubs will be interested in our group, because that will mean we’re doing well and the players are doing well as individuals,” Adkins said.
“It’s a compliment and long may that continue but we’re not looking to move players on. We’re looking to strengthen because we want to move on to the next level.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain made his professional debut for the Saints at the age of 16 and signed a three-year deal just after his 17th birthday.
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Vermaelen Still In ‘Protective Boot’
Arsenal central defender Thomas Vermaelen will be out of action until the New Year.
The Belgian hasn’t played since picking up an Achilles problem during his country’s Euro 2012 qualifier with Turkey at the beginning of September and was expected to be back playing within a week, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits that there is “no logical explanation” for the defender’s prolonged absence and that he is in a protective boot.
“We want him back and I hope he will be back soon,” said Wenger, “but not before January.”
Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Saturday 4 December
Lopez Is Latest Keeper On Arsenal Radar
After missing out Mark Schwarzer – the Fulham keeper signed a new deal at Craven Cottage this week despite repeated overtures from Arsenal – the Gunners have turned their attentions to Villareal keeper Diego Lopez, according to today’s Daily Mirror.
The paper reports that the 29-year-old was watched during his side’s Europa League game with Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday and has also been watched over the past couple of weeks.
Lopez came up through the ranks at Real Madrid, playing their C team and B team before finally making the first team squad in 2005. However, with Iker Casillas keeping him out of the side he found first-team opportunities severely limited and made just three appearances at the end of the 2005-06 season while Casillas was serving a suspension.
Villareal signed him for 6 million euro in 2007 and he has been their first-choice keeper since then, making his international debut as a substitute in a 3-2 win over Macedonia in August.
Rosicky In Villa Link
Tomas Rosicky is being linked with a move to Aston Villa after his agent was spotted at Villa’s training ground this week.
The 30-year-old is said to be unhappy at the amount of football he is getting at the Emirates and could be about to join another former Gunner, Robert Pires, who recently signed on at Villa Park.
Arsenal and Ipswich have been drawn together in the semi-final of the Carling Cup.
The first leg will take place at Portman Road during the week commencing 10 January 2011 with the second leg two weeks later at the Emirates Stadium.
In the other semi-final West Ham face Birmingham with the first leg at Upton Park and the return leg two weeks later during the week commencing 24 January 2011 at St Andrews.
Arsenal are now hot favourites to capture their first trophy since 2005. The Gunners have won the competition on two previous occasions: in 1987 and the last time in 1993. Ipswich have never been in the final of the competition.
West Ham have twice been losing finalists in the competition: in 1966 when they lost a two-legged final to West Brom 5-3 on aggregate, and in 1981 when Liverpool beat them 2-1 in a replay at Villa Park.
Birmingham have reached the final on one occasion, defeating local rivals Aston Villa 3-1 on aggregate in 1963.
Draw
Ipswich Town v Arsenal
West Ham United v Birmingham City.
First legs to take place week commencing 10 January 2011.
Second legs to take place week commencing 24 January 2011.
Arsène Wenger says he does not know where to put any new signings and believes that his side’s Carling Cup win over Wigan is proof that he does not need to add to his squad in January.
A much-changed Gunners side cruised to a 2-0 victory over Wigan in the quarter-finals on Tuesday and that shows Wenger how much strength in depth he has within his current squad.
“We made nine changes and we still don’t have Abou Diaby and Thomas Vermaelen, who are injured – Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci too,” he told the club’s official website.
“Then there are the players we rested like Marouane Chamakh and Aaron Ramsey will be back in the squad.
“I don’t know where to put the players. If you buy a player you have to give them a chance to play. Already we have international players who don’t get enough games.”
Wenger has principally been linked with Bolton’s Gary Cahill but appeared to reject those rumours earlier this week when he said he would be making no signings during the January transfer window.
Fabregas Return Uncertain
Meanwhile, Arsene Wenger says he does not know when Cesc Fabregas will return from injury. The Gunners captain limped off after 68 minutes of Arsenal’s Champions League defeat at Braga last week and Wenger says it is impossible to say when he will return.
“It is very difficult. In the next few days we will know more,” said Wenger.
Fabregas suffered a recurrence of his hamstring problem during the Braga game and Wenger suggested that he will listen to medical advice before deciding when to play Fabregas again.
Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger expects Aaron Ramsey to return match fit from his short loan spell at Nottingham Forest.
Ramsey moved to Forest last week on a loan deal to the end of December and made his debut 30 minutes from the end of Forest’s 1-0 defeat at Leicester on Monday night. With six more games until he returns to Arsenal at the beginning of January, Wenger is hoping the 19-year-old midfielder will figure in at least some of those games.
“He is fit but not competitively match-fit,” Wenger told the club’s official website.
“I left him the choice to go where he wanted. There are seven games before January when he comes back and I thought that is the best way.
“I decided to give him a run in the Championship and if he manages to play four or five out of the seven he will be fit to play for us.”
Ramsey joined Arsenal from Cardiff City for £4.8 million in 2008.
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger will name a strong side for the Gunners’ Carling Cup quarter-final tie with Wigan on Tuesday.
Arsenal have used the Carling Cup as a testing ground for young players over the years, but in this season’s competition the team’s line-ups against both Spurs and Newcastle have featured players with first-team experience.
“We will play with a strong team,” Wenger told the club’s official website, “but don’t forget that we have played every three days for one and a half months so I have to see how we recover and who I rest [on] Tuesday, but we will play with a strong team. You will see regular players.
Wenger will decide whether or not to play Robin van Persie against Wigan and will speak to the Dutch striker first before deciding whether to play him.
“Van Persie? I don’t know. Do I get him a week of work or do I play him? I have to speak with him frankly to see how he feels. We will see Monday.”
Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Sunday 28 November
Arsenal Linked With £10m Move For Cahill
Arsenal are once again being linked in the Sunday press with a move for Bolton centre-back Gary Cahill.
The Mail On Sunday reports that the Gunners are set to make an opening bid for Cahill of around £10 million in January although Bolton are likely to want £18 million. There is believed to be a release clause in Cahill’s contract the amount of which rose to £15 million when he made his international debut for England against Bulgaria in September.
Arsenal are short of experienced central defenders; Thomas Vermaelen is the latest to go down, this time with an Achilles injury, and the club are refusing to give a return date for the Belgian. The Gunners have the leakiest defence of the current top 4 sides with new recruits Laurent Koscielny and Sebastien Squillaci struggling to fit in. However the departure of a number of defenders at the end of last season meant that this was always going to be a problem area.
Arsenal were linked with a £14 million move for Cahill during the summer but Arsene Wengers instead signed Koscielny from French side Lorient and Squillaci from Sevilla for combined fees that amounted to a little less than he might have paid for Cahill.
The Gunners were also linked with Phil Jagielka before he signed a new deal with Everton.
Arsenal Transfer News and Rumours, Friday 26 November
Arsenal ‘Interested In Zezinho’ – Reports
Arsenal and Manchester City are being linked with Sporting Lisbon teenager Zezinho.
The 18-year-old star of Sporting’s youth team is said to be interesting the two Premier League clubs but he has a professional contract with the Portugese side and reports suggest that Sporting will not sell for less than 20 million euro (£17 million).
Zezinho hails from Guinea-Bissau but was granted a Portugese passport earlier this year thus eliminating any work permit issues.
Last year Arsenal were interested in Zezinho’s namesake, a Brazilian midfielder.
Dinamo Claim 20m Euro Bid For Teenage Duo
Meanwhile, Dinamo Zagreb claim to have turned down a 20 million euro bid from the Gunners for defender Sime Vrsaljko and midfielder Mateo Kovacic.
The 18-year-old Vrsaljko broke into the Dinamo team earlier this year and has attracted attention from Marseille, Manchester United and Spurs while 16-year-old Kovacic is regarded as one of Croatia’s brightest young prospects and made his first-team debut for Dinamo last weekend.
But Dinamo vice-president Zdvravko Mamic says he has turned down a 20 million euro offer from Arsenal for the teenage duo.
“Here were people from Arsenal and they were ready to pay 20 million Euros for Vrsaljko and Kovacic,” Mamic said.
“But they are to stay in Dinamo. Arsenal just wanted to buy them for the future but my answer was sharp, I said ‘no’ in one second.”
“While I have space and no problems at our bank account I can take a risk,” he added.
“Yes, I know I’m playing with luck but so far I am winning. I believe it will be the same in the future.”
