No offers on table for Carvalho

Southampton are set to sign Celtic goalkeeper Fraser Forster for £10 million, according to The Guardian.

The 26 year old English shot stopper is set to sign a five year deal at the Premier League Saints, who finished eighth in the Premier League last season.

Forster will join former Celtic team mate Victor Wanyama at Southampton, with Kenyan midfielder Wanyama making the move down South in the summer of 2013, for a £12 million fee.

He impressed in goal during Celtic’s SPL winning campaign, a campaign which earned Forster a call up to England’s World Cup squad in Brazil, earlier this summer.

The move to Southampton mean’s he will compete with former Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc for the number one jersey.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Real Madrid preparing £10m bid for Petr Cech

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Aug 9, 2014

Real Madrid are set to launch a £10million bid for Chelsea goalkeeper Petr Cech.

The Spanish giants are keen to find a new ‘keeper this Summer, with club-legend Iker Casillas reportedly wanting out of the club, and current number-one, Diego Lopez, being scouted by several clubs around Europe, including two in the Premier League.

As for Cech, he has told Jose Mourinho that if he’s not number-one this season, he will look for a move away, and with Thibaut Courtois expected to take the first-team spot off the veteran, a possible move away could be on the cards.

Another issue for Chelsea and Mourinho is the amount of homegrown players they have in their registered Premier League squad.

The Premier League state that you are only allowed a certain number of foreign players registered in your team, and once The Blues resigned Didier Drogba, they went over that tally by one, meaning Mourinho will have to sell one of his overseas players, most likely to be Cech.

Madrid are thought to be willing to pay up to £10m for the shot-stopper.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Fiorentina will allow Cuadrado to leave

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Aug 8, 2014

Manchester United have been given a boost in the race to sign Fiorentina star Juan Cuadrado.

Fiorentina president Andrea Dalla Valle has admitted that he expects a big money offer to arrive for his player, and has said he is helpless in standing in his way.

Once again United and Barcelona are both battling it out to sign the player, but United are hot favourites to sign the winger.

If a deal is agreed before august 15th, Fiorentina will let the player leave the club.

Reports in Italy claim United are closing on a deal worth over £30million for the right-sided star – who impressed hugely at the World Cup finals.

“Should it happen that an important offer arrives, we would have to allow Cuadrado to leave,” he told local journalists.

“So with that I am not so optimistic about a positive final situation as I think an offer will arrive in the next few days, but he will only leave for certain amounts.

“But you need to understand if an important offer does arrive, it is like a loose train and I can’t hang on.

“I told the player and underlined things that there is a serious project here and he could remain for one more season, in a winning side.

“He is honest and serious with us, and I told him if an offer should arrive we would free him.

“But the deadline is about a week to ten days away – around August 15 and if there is no adequate period in this period, he will remain.”

By Ollie Brown

Reina leaves Liverpool

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SteveMilne

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Aug 8, 2014

Reina has signed a permanent deal with the German club, bringing his eight-year spell at Anfield to an end. joining as a backup to first-choice keeper Manuel Neuer, who is also Germany’s No. 1. He passed a medical on Thursday evening.

The 31-year-old Reina spent last season on loan from Liverpool to Napoli. Reina, who joined Liverpool from Villarreal in 2005, had fallen out of favor with manager Brendan Rodgers and lost his place to Simon Mignolet.

Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said Bayern coach Pep Guardiola wanted a keeper who can play similarly to Neuer.

Written by Steve Milne

Patrice Evra reveals why he left Manchester United

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Aug 8, 2014

The French left back has admitted that it was very difficult for him to leave Manchester United this summer, but despite the emotion behind his move, Evra felt a new challenge awaited him at Juventus.

He has been quoted as saying: “It was very difficult to leave Man United because it was like my second family. But as soon as I knew there was interest from Juve, I knew it would be a new challenge for me because I have to repay the faith they showed in me.”

Evra joined the Italian giants for £1,500,000 this summer after a highly decorated eight years at Old Trafford, that included winning the Premier League five times and a Champions League trophy.

He added: “Now I am a Juventus player, it’s a massive club with a big history.

It doesn’t change from when you are with Manchester United, when you arrive you have the same number of fans. It shows you how big a club this is, how many trophies they have won.

And that’s why I chose to come and play for this club, because I know all that matters is winning, this is the winning mentality and I love that.”

Written by Joey Anthony

Rodgers set to use 4-4-3 formation

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Aug 8, 2014

The Liverpool boss had accommodated both Luis Suarez and Daniel Sturridge into his side last season, as Liverpool finished 2nd, scoring 101 Premier League goals.

Now he is ready to use a forward line of 3, giving former Chelsea man Sturridge a centre role in his new look Liverpool side.

Rodgers said: “I think you’ll see Daniel go on another level again this season, with the confidence of a full campaign last year and scoring the goals he did. But we’ve got a number of players that go and facilitate the role of goal-scoring.”

With the midfield reinforcements that Liverpool have brought to Anfield this summer, this will also give them more protection and more of an offensive edge on the counter attack.

With this new formation, Rodgers hopes that it will be successful in not only securing the Premier League title, but challenging the big guns for the Champions League. This season will be Liverpool’s first season back in the Champions League since 2009.

Written by Joey Anthony

Liverpool and Chelsea eye Real Madrid goalkeeper

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Aug 8, 2014

Real Madrid goalkeeper Diego Lopez is a wanted man this Summer, with four sides interested in signing him.

The 32-year-old broke into Madrid’s first-team under Jose Mourinho, after the now-Chelsea boss had a major falling out with Iker Casillas, and despite Carlo Ancelotti since taking over, Lopez has remained number-one at the Bernabeu.

However, despite being the club’s number-one, according to reports in Spain, he has been told to find a new club after they signed Costa Rican international Keylor Navas from Levante, and this has sparked interest from four clubs.

Italian duo AC Milan and Napoli are interested, as are Liverpool and Chelsea.

Liverpool are keen to sign a new ‘keeper after Pepe Reina completed his move to Bayern Munich, leaving them with just Simon Mignolet and Brad Jones, whilst Chelsea’s Mourinho is eager to reunite with Lopez, despite having Petr Cech and Thibaut Courtois at his disposal.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Sunderland look to wrap up Borini deal

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Phil Wellbrook

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Aug 8, 2014

Borini enjoyed a successful loan spell with Sunderland last term, scoring 10 goals in 40 appearances and was a key figure in the side’s Capital One Cup run.

Sunderland reportedly agreed a £14m fee for the Italian but are yet to agree personal terms with the player, with the beginning of the premier League season approaching.

Borini suffered a shoulder injury during Liverpool’s pre-season tour of the United States which ended up halting negotiations, but there are also claims that Borini wants to fight for his place at Anfield.

Poyet is keen to sign Borini however and is looking to add more players to his squad after already bringing six new faces to the Stadium of Light this summer.

The Uruguayan told SkySports: “We’re working on it.

“It’s not easy, it’s been a difficult summer, I think, for everybody.

“We are not finished. We need more bodies. We are looking for specific, quality players.”

When the Sunderland boss was asked if there is a timescale to conclude the Borini deal, Poyet added: “If you asked me last week, I probably would have said this week, but I cannot tell you next week because we will wait for him.

“Of course, we need to do other business that is important for the team. I have a shape. You don’t realise it, but we are 10 days away [from the start of the season].”

By Phil Wellbrook

Blind nears United switch

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Aug 8, 2014

Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal has shown desire to capture Daley Blind from Ajax.

The left-back has been training alone and is expected to move onto a new club in the coming days.

Barcelona are also reported to be interested in the player, but with the Catalan giants now confirming a deal for Arsenal’s Vermaelen, it looks unlikely they will move for Blind.

This has opened a door for United to act quickly and complete a move for Blind without any problems occuring.

It appears that Ajax are holding out for £17m for their man, and it is known that United are willing to offer an amount in that region.

Ajax youth coach Richard Witschge hinted Blind’s exit could be close.

“I think Daley Blind will be leaving soon. I have a feeling,” he told Heldenonline.

“He has been training by himself. I think he has done that, because there’s something going on.”

By Ollie Brown

Everton look to wrap up Atsu deal

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Aug 8, 2014

Everton are hopeful that they can wrap up a loan-deal for Chelsea midfielder Christian Atsu, despite The Blues stalling on the deal just last week.

It has been speculated since the World Cup that The Toffees were firm favourites to land the young Ghana international on a season-long loan, but after reports broke last week that Jose Mourinho was reconsidering the deal, it looked like the transfer had collapsed.

Chelsea are worried that Atsu will not get enough game time at Goodison Park, and that is what was slowing down the deal, but it now looks like everything is in place for the move to be announced and finalised.

It’s believed that Roberto Martinez has reassured Mourinho that the 22-year-old will in fact be featuring regularly for his side, and that has put the deal back on the table.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

United ready to finalise Cudrado deal

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Aug 8, 2014

Manchester United are hopeful they can complete the signing of Fiorentina star Juan Cuadrado before their opening game vs Swansea.

It is understood that United boss Van Gaal has already tabled £32 million pounds for the player, with representatives holding meetings in the past couple of days.

However, United have been knocked back in their attempts, with Fiorentina demanding nothing less than £36 million.

This has not put-off Van Gaal who is ready to meet the requirements and seal a deal to sign the versatile winger.

Cuadrado would most likely be used as a right wing-back in United’s new 3-5-2 formation adopted under Van Gaal.

Fiorentina are ready to offer the Colombian a new five-year deal, but will see wether they can get their asking price for their man.

By Ollie Brown

FC Barcelona reach agreement with Arsenal for Thomas Vermaelen

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Aug 8, 2014

Arsenal and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the sale of defender Thomas Vermaelen.

The Belgium international has been linked with a Summer exit after falling down the pecking order at the North London club, despite still being the captain, and he will now fly to Spain in order to complete a medical and agree personal terms with the Catalan side.

The fee is reported to be around £15million, which Arsene Wenger will look to use to sign a new centre-defender as Vermaelen’s replacement, as the club currently only have two recognised defenders in Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker, with the latter still yet to return to pre-season.

Barca have been on the look-out for a new centre-back since Carles Puyol announced his retirement, and with news that Vermaelen was available, they moved in and beat Manchester United to his signature, after the Premier League side pulled out due to Arsenal wanting to do a swap deal with Chris Smalling.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

United end pursuit of Vermaelen

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Aug 8, 2014

Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen will not be moving to Old Trafford, as Manchester United have decided to drop all interest in the player.

United have decided against bringing in the Belgian to the club, as Arsenal’s conditions were seen as unacceptable.

It is known that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would only be willing to give United Vermaelen if they offered either Chris Smalling or Phil Jones, something which United have not agreed with.

This has become the stumbling block in this deal, with Wenger already unwilling to sell his player to an English rival.

Vermaelen has said he would prefer a move to United, but now may have to settle for Barcelona, with a deal close to being agreed worth £10 million pounds.

Manchester United boss Louis Van Gaal now has to target other players, with the likes of Daley Blind and Benatia being linked with the club.

By Ollie Brown

Liverpool’s Lavezzi move in doubt

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Ben Reardon

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Aug 8, 2014