Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham, Ipswich Town, Swansea City and QPR are all the talk of the papers today.
Bringing you the latest news, gossip and rumour from the last 24 hours.
Rumours linking Arsenal with Brazilian midfielder Ganso could turn out to be true after all. Sort of. The latest is from the Mirror, who claim the Gunners will have scouts in attendance tonight when Brazil take on Great Britain in an Olympic friendly warm-up tonight. Ganso is a player touted as one of Brazil’s finest prospects, but his progress has slightly faded over the past year, and he is in a contract dispute with Santos. With his teammates linked with Manchester United and Chelsea, Lucas and Oscar, it was surely only a matter of time before Arsenal got in on the act. Ganso would likely cost in the region of £15 million to £20 million, and the 22-year-old would be a fine addition to the Premier League if the Gunners act on their interest.
The Mail is reporting that Tottenham have raised an interest in Malaga midfielder Santi Cazorla, as a replacement for Luka Modric. Malaga are currently working through a financial issue relating to their tax affairs, with Spanish papers reporting players have not received wages owed to them. The sticking point for this deal is that Real Madrid are interested in signing him too, but they could surely only sign one of he and Modric, and they would have to prioritise. Cazorla cost Malaga £17 million last summer, from Villareal – who suffered an improbable relegation without him.
West Ham striking prospect has seen his chances at the club diminish further next season with the arrival of Modibo Maiga in midweek. The East Anglian Daily Press reports that Ipswich Town want to take him on loan for the season, in a deal which makes sense all round. Baldock needs regular football, which he is unlikely to get, and the Championship is the right level for him right now. Plus the drive from Essex to Suffolk is simply a drive up the A12, so the striker would not have to uproot either.
Liverpool were linked with Bolton midfielder Mark Davies last month, but it is Swansea City who have emerged as the latest contenders for his signature. His performances last season did not deserve to be for a relegated side, and the talented midfielder would fit perfectly into the Swans playing style, and his cost – expected to be in the region of £5 million, would be affordable. Rumours linking Swansea with Spanish midfielder Michu have seemingly progressed, with reports in Spain claiming he is due for a medical at the Liberty Stadium shortly.
Roque Santa Cruz – Remember him? He is still a Manchester City player, with one year left on his deal, and lets face it, nobody is going to buy him to match his high wages. The striker himself has said he would be open to a loan move to QPR and there is one man who presents possibility it could indeed happen; manager Mark Hughes. The QPR boss managed him at Blackburn, and then signed him for City, and if he could get the best out of him then it would mark an unlikely return to the big time for a striker who has been one of City’s costliest flops.
image: © peacecup
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