Manchester United, Arsenal, Everton, Wigan Athletic and Liverpool are the talk of the papers today.
All the transfer news and gossip you need to know from the last 24 hours…
There is no place to start other than with the biggest transfer deal of the summer, Robin van Persie‘s proposed move to Manchester United. The Mail report an ‘exclusive’ that Sir Alex Ferguson made a phone call to Arsene Wenger yesterday to smooth out relations and discuss a potential deal. The Mail now understands an improved offer is accepted, while The Sun also exclusively claim Arsenal are set to accept a £22 million offer from the Old Trafford club and that it is approaching a done deal.
While that move appears to be approaching the end game, a matter which is a lot more uncertain is the future of Theo Walcott. The winger has still not signed an extension to his contract at Arsenal, which has just one year left to run. He has been linked with Liverpool and Chelsea, but the Daily Star has claimed Inter Milan have entered the chase. Arsenal are likely to refuse any offers for the winger and hope he re-signs, unless a bid of £20 million plus is offered.
A teenager Arsenal invited over for a trial last month is still the subject of speculation, with Everton now the frontrunners for his signature, according to The Mirror. M’Baye Niang, the Caen 17-year-old is a target for David Moyes, who now has money to spend after selling Jack Rodwell to Manchester City. Niang has also been linked with City, as well as a move to Tottenham, and AC Milan. Caen are said to want £5 million for the striker dubbed ‘the new Thierry Henry’.
Another striker whose name has been doing the rounds is Levante striker Arouna Kone. The Ivorian has been linked with Tottenham and Aston Villa, but the latest reports are suggesting he is a target for Wigan Athletic. The 28-year-old scored 15 goals in 34 games as he helped Levante to a top half finish last season in La Liga, and it appears the Latics are preparing to spend the cash they hope to receive if they sell Victor Moses to Chelsea.
Liverpool may have spent £15 million on Joe Allen, but don’t expect him to be their final deal of the summer. The Sun claim they are preparing a double move on Real Madrid and Barcelona. Liverpool fans, don’t get carried away, it isn’t a return for Xabi Alonso. They are hoping to tie up a move for Nuri Sahin instead on loan, which could be an equally inspired move. Club executive Ian Ayre is said to have flown to Spain to discuss a deal. The club are also hoping to bring in Cristian Tello on loan from Barcelona for a season, but the winger is said to be unsure about moving abroad.
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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