Benatia explains why he dismissed Premier League interest

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Sep 5, 2014

Glen Johnson has emerged as a surprise target for Italian Serie A side Juventus, reports the Metro.

Juventus are keen to bolster their defensive options in the coming transfer window, and could possibly swoop for the Liverpool fullback.

Johnson, who is currently injured with a thigh injury, is currently stalling over a new contract at Anfield.

The 30 year old, who has made 174 appearances for the Reds since signing from Portsmouth in 2009, is ready to snub any deal on the table, and could make the move to Italy in the coming year or so.

Should he move to Turin, he may follow in the footsteps of both Ashley Cole (Roma) and Micah Richards (Fiorentina) to sign for Italian clubs.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Romeu may stay at Stuttgart for good

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Sep 5, 2014

Oriol Romeu may leave Chelsea on a permanent basis, once his season long loan deal to Stuttgart comes to an end, reports the Daily Express.

The 22 year old is currently on loan at the German Bundesliga club, having penned a season long loan deal earlier in the summer.

Romeu, who signed from Chelsea from Barcelona in 2011 has failed to make his mark at Stamford Bridge, and has been loaned out twice since, spending last season in his native Spain, with La Liga side Valencia.

The centre midfielder also admitted that, having failed to settle at Chelsea, he may make his move to Stuttgart that of a permanent one.

“Maybe I am staying for a longer period of time,” Romeu said. “You cannot rule anything out in football.

“I have experienced a technically demanding game in the Spanish league, football in England is more physical, and the Bundesliga is a mixture of that.

“My ambition is to quickly learn the German language.”

The starlet is hoping to impress at the Bundesliga outfit, as he looks for a solid season with Stuttgart.

“I want to help VfB Stuttgart achieve a good season and be a full part of the team,” Romeu added.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Marco Reus to be subject of Premier League tussle

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mattderrig

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Sep 5, 2014

Manchester United and Arsenal are being linked with a January transfer window bid for Borussia Dortmund winger Marco Reus.

The German international was saught after this summer, however the German club were unwilling to negotiate for their most prized assett, having already lost key forward pair Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski in the last couple of windows.

However, a bid could appear on the horizion in January from the Premier League duo, as it’s believed Reus has a clause in his contract that will let him leave for around £20 million next summer.

Although Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp has insisted Reus will stay at the club for years to come, a bid of around £40 million in January could tempt the Bundesliga club into selling him early, so that they can get his full market value.

The German side will do all they can to persuade Reus to remain with the club, where he is seemingly happy to stay at, but that won’t put off United or Arsenal’s desire for a player whose quality would make a real difference to their team.

Written by Matthew Derrig

Manchester United plan move for German International Mats Hummels in January

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OllieCarroll9

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Sep 5, 2014

The German defender, who was a major contributor to his countrie’s World Cup glory earlier this summer, was linked with a move to Old Trafford throughout the recently ended transfer window, however no move happened.

Louis Van Gaal has ruled out any chance of giving up on the 25-year-old’s signature and according to the Times and the Express, the Dutch manager is set to make an offer once the transfer window reopens in January.

Dortmund have already made it clear on numourous occasions that Hummels is not up for sale, however United are remaining confident of landing the German International at Old Trafford having splashed in excess of £150 million over the summer.

Meanwhile, United are also eyeing up a deal for central midfielder Kevin Strootman, but Van Gaal is still awaiting a status update on the player’s recovery of a serious knee injury.

By Ollie Carroll

Twitter: @Ollie_Carroll_

Arsenal considering deal for 38-year-old Colombian defender Mario Yepes

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OllieCarroll9

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Sep 5, 2014

The Gunners are in need of a replacement for the recently departed Thomas Vermaelen who left The Emirates for Barcelona during the transfer window. Wenger failed to bring in any new defensive reinforcements to replace the Belgian, and now the French manager has turned his attentions to 38-year-old Yepes. Wenger is said to be a long-term admirier of the Colombian centre-back and could be willing to offer the experienced defender a short-term contract to provide cover for Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker and youngster Calum Chambers. Yepes is currently a free agent after leaving Serie A outfit Atalanta at the conclusion of last season, and his representative has told the press that his client is presently in England with the intention of signing for a Premier League club.

By Ollie Carroll

Twitter: @Ollie_Carroll_

There has been no approach for Kevin Strootman

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SteveMilne

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Sep 5, 2014

Kevin Strootman is believed to be a long-term target of United, but they were put off a summer bid as the Roma man is currently recovering from a serious knee injury.

However, Louis van Gaal is already lining up a January move for the midfielder as he looks to further bolster his squad.

But Strootman’s agent Fabio Parisi says there has been no contact from Man United.

‘There is no kind of interest on Strootman. He is recovering from his injury and will be available soon to contribute to Roma’s cause,’ he said.

‘For the rest, I say that is just talk and there is nothing. It’s all just speculation from England.’

Written by Steve Milne

Manchester United get the go ahead for Strooman deal

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Sep 5, 2014

Louis Van Gaal has been handed £30 million to sign Kevin Strooman in January, reports the Daily Star.

Strooman, who is currently plying his trade at Serie A side Roma, is now the number one target at United, as Van Gaal looks to overhaul his current squad.

The United boss is keen to add another centre midfielder, and Strooman, who he managed whilst in charge of the Dutch National team, apparently fits the bill.

The 24 year old Dutch midfielder is still a couple of months away from returning following a knee ligament injury he sustained in a Serie A game in March, however Van Gaal is still keen to get the deal done, and will offer £30 million to the Italian side.

The Red Devils spent big this summer, signing the likes of Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera, and Angel Di Maria for a combined fee of well over £100 million, with Colombian striker Falcao also signing on loan from AS Monaco.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Manchester United alerted as Bakkali rejects new PSV deal

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Sep 5, 2014

Zakaria Bakkali has rejected a new deal at Dutch club PSV Eindhoven, alerting several Premier League clubs, according to the Daily Express.

PSV are keen to keep the highly rated 18 year old, however talks of any proposed new deal for the Belgium international have broken down recently.

This latest development has alerted some of Europe’s top clubs, with Bakkali keen to move in the January transfer window.

Premier League clubs Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United are all keen to land the winger, however, face competition from Atletico Madrid, Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Juventus.

It appears that, having stalled upon any new, improved deal, he is set to force through a move to one of those clubs in the next trasnsfer window.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Liverpool and City eye Newcastle starlet

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Sep 5, 2014

Liverpool and Manchester City are both showing interest in Newcastle Unitd wonderkid, Rolando Aarons.

The youngster, who has only played 39-minutes of Premier League football at Newcastle, is being scouted by both City and Liverpool ahead of a potential deal which could see him move next Summer.

The 18-year-old scored his first ever professional goal for the club last weekend during their thrilling 3-3 draw with Crystal Palace.

According to reports, Liverpool see Aarons as a similar version to Raheem Sterling, and they are considering making a formal move for the teenager either in January or next Summer, depending on how he develops under Alan Pardew throughout this season.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Manchester United eye Jurgen Klopp

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Sep 5, 2014

Manchester United have already got one eye on a potential replacement for Louis Van Gaal, and it’s believed that Borussia Dortmund boss, Jurgen Klopp, is at the top of that list.

It’s thought that officials at United know that they won’t have Van Gaal for an extended period of time due to his age, and they are working hard behind the scenes on putting together a potential list of replacements so that they can hire wisely this time.

The United board and Sir Alex Ferguson got it wrong when they hand-picked David Moyes for the job at Old Trafford, and they are keen to avoid making the same mistake twice when it comes to replacing Van Gaal.

Klopp has won many admirers for his achievements in Germany with Dortmund, and has already been touted as a potential replacement for Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

However, Klopp has a contract at Dortmund until 2018, and he is keen to see that out before making any move away from the club, meaning United would have four years under Van Gaal, at least.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Thibaut Courtois wants to sign contract extension

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Sep 5, 2014

Chelsea goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois has admitted that he is ready to sign a new five-year deal at the club.

The shot-stopper has won the race to be the club’s number-one, pipping Petr Cech to the starting-spot, and he is now ready to commit his future at Stamford Bridge by signing a new lucrative deal.

According to reports, Courtois will sign a five-year deal, which will see his weekly-wage rise from £30k-a-week, to £90k-a-week.

The 22-year-old has really made a name for himself after enjoying a successful three-year spell in Spain with Atletico Madrid, and he has now revealed that he is ready to commit to Chelsea once he returns from the international break with Belgium.

Courtois said: “It’s not yet signed. I am here with the national team so it is difficult.

“When I am back at Chelsea I will probably sign the new contract.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Arsenal to renew interest in William Carvalho

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Sep 5, 2014

Arsenal will renew their interest in Sporting Lisbon midfielder, William Carvalho, after it has been revealed that the Portuguese international rejected a contract extension offered to him.

The midfielder was expected to leave Portugal for England this Summer, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Arsenal all keen on signing him, but a move was never agreed, despite United and Arsenal making late bids on Monday.

After keeping him past the deadline, Lisbon then wanted to offer Carvalho a new bumper deal in order to fend off any future interest.

However, according to reports, Carvalho has rejected the new deal and that has alerted Arsenal, who will make a fresh move for him in January.

Lisbon wanted to offer him a new deal, which would have upped his release clause to £40million, but after the midfielder rejected the deal, it’s now expected that Arsenal will make a fresh move in January, and will be able to wrap the deal up with the player wanting the move.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Frank Lampard wanted Chelsea stay

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Sep 5, 2014

Chelsea legend Frank Lampard has revealed that he would have stayed at Stamford Bridge if a contract extension was offered.

Due to being over 30, the veteran was playing on a one-year running contract, but at the end of last season, the club decided against offering him a new deal, similar to what they did with Ashley Cole, who then joined AS Roma in Italy.

However, for Lampard, he agreed to join for New York FC in America, but due to the season not starting for them yet, he then joined Manchester City on a six-month loan deal, which angered some of the Chelsea fan base.

The 36-year-old however, has now admitted that he wanted to stay at Chelsea, but the club didn’t offer him a 12-month extension, like they did for John Terry.

‘I would have obviously stayed if Chelsea had offered me another year. There was no reason for me to leave,’ he told the Sun.

‘Yes, I wanted to play a bit more regularly but I’m not stupid.

‘If Chelsea had given me a new contract it would have been mad not to take it at the time.

‘I had a chat with Jose Mourinho and both he and the club were always great with me. The decision was made – and I don’t know who made it.

‘I also felt like I didn’t want to be a player who faded away – with that being the last memory people had of me.

‘So maybe it was the right time. Maybe it was right that the club took it out of my hands.’

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

‘I have no problems with Jose!’

By

Ben Kelly

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Sep 4, 2014