Atlético Mineiro pull out of Anelka deal.

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Apr 16, 2014

With Robert Lewandowski’s move to the Allianz Arena immanent, Arsenal are confident that they can prize away Mario Mandzukic away from Bayern Munich.

Arsenal did make Diego Costa enquiries in January, but were rejected, with Atletico Madrid wanting the striker to stay for their title and Champions League push this campaign. With Chelsea seemingly wrapping up a deal for Costa, Arsenal have now eyes upon Mario Mandzukic.

Bayern Munich and manager Pep Guardiola have insisted that Mandzukic is a part of Bayerns future, but a bid of up to £20 million may prove to be enough for the Gunners, as it will allow Pep to rebuild his squad in the summer.

Mario Mandzukic has scored 24 goals this season for the German champions, but it seems that the striker is not wanting to be replaced. Arsenal are also keen on on-loan Newcastle striker Loic Remy.

By Ollie Brown

United aim to secure Shaw deal

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Apr 16, 2014

David Moyes is aiming to do all buisness before the World Cup begins, with William Carvalho deal all but complete, he aims to sign Luke Shaw next.

With current left-back Patrice Evra’s future in doubt, Moyes is ready to pay up to £30 million for Luke Shaw to fill the gap for the next decade. Chelsea were seemingly front-runners for Shaw’s signature, but with the current form of Cesar Azpilicueta and the potential extension of Ashley Cole’s contract, Shaw is worried that his first team opportunities will be limited.

Southampton manager Mauricio Pochettino has publically said that he is confident that none of his squad will be sold. But Manchester United believe that they can persudae Shaw to leave, with their chief executive David Woodward attempting to complete the deal before the World Cup.

If United were to beat Chelsea for the left-back, it would be a statement of intent from United, who have struggled this season to regain champion status. Manchester United had also sent club scouts to watch Marco Reus in Dortmund’s 3-0 victory against Bayern Munich, and are also hoping that they can persuade Bayern Munich midfielder Toni Kroos to join, after Dortmund tied down Ilkay Gundogan to a new contract yesterday.

By Ollie Brown

Ireland delighted at Stoke deal.

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Ben Reardon

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Apr 16, 2014

Stoke City midfielder Stephan Ireland has stated his delight at signing a new deal at the Britannia Stadium.

The 27 year old has signed a new 3 year deal with the Potters, to end an awful spell at Villa.

Ireland then revealed his Villa heartache.

“I could have lost my mind. I felt so distant.

“My time at Villa wasn’t very nice and you are going to lose a bit of passion when you train on your own for six months.”

And Ireland has also stated that he is looking to a positive future with Stoke City.

“I want to repay Stoke with my performances. I’m only 27 and there’s so much more that I want to do in football.

“It’s important for every player to feel wanted and, to be honest, I haven’t had that in a long time.

“Thankfully, I have felt that warmth at Stoke and I couldn’t really be in a better place.”

He added: “For that I have to thank the gaffer and he’s been the reason why I’m delighted to agree this new deal.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Manchester United and Liverpool warned off bids for Real Sociedad star

By

SteveMilne

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Apr 16, 2014

The exciting midfielder is about put pen to paper on a new deal at the La Liga club that includes the whopping buy-out clause to safeguard the Spanish club from losing their latest talent on the cheap.

The Spain under-21 star will sign a deal that will tie him to San Sebastian-based club until the summer 2019.

Sociedad, like many teams outside the Spanish top-two, are fighting against the tide financially and Premier League teams have often benefited from their frailties by sealing cheap deals for burgeoning talents.

However, Pardo – whose 31 La Liga appearances this season in a deep-lying midfield role have inspired comparisons with Liverpool hero Xabi Alonso – will now bring in a windfall for his boyhood club should they need to cash-in.

Written by Steve Milne

Mesut Ozil to return this weekend

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Apr 16, 2014

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that midfielder Mesut Ozil will be fit enough to return to action this weekend when his side take on Hull City in the Premier League.

The club’s record signing has been out injured since the beginning of March after he damaged his hamstring in the Champions League game against Bayern Munich, but Wenger confirmed last night that he will be ready to return for Sunday.

Speaking after seeing his side see off West Ham United, Wenger was asked about Ozil, and the Frenchman declared the midfielder fit for the weekend.

“Ozil should be available for the weekend”, Wenger said.

The Arsenal boss was then asked about Abou Diaby and his return from a long injury.

“Abou is back in full training on Thursday.

“It’s very difficult to say [if he will play this season] because he has not played for over a year now, and it’s very difficult for me [to decide].

“He looks physically fine, but he has to play one or two games before I consider bringing him back.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Roberto Martinez responds to Barkley speculation

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Apr 16, 2014

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has laughed off the speculation that fierce-rivals Liverpool were preparing to make a £38million bid for Ross Barkley.

Reports broke out yesterday that Brendan Rodgers’ side were willing to pay around £40million for the Englishman, but when asked about the story in his press conference, Martinez shrugged the reports off and joked about speculation.

The Tofffees take on Crystal Palace tonight as the race for a top-four spot hots up, and in his conference, Martinez couldn’t help but comment on the Barkley to Liverpool rumours.

“In terms of the speculation, we already turned down a £50million bid from (Manchester) United so we’re not going to take £38million from Liverpool.

“It’s quite enjoyable to speak about speculation, I think it shows how well our players are doing and those are the type of football compliments that we want coming our way.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Arsenal target happy at club, reveals agent

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Apr 16, 2014

Arsenal have been dealt a blow in their hunt for a new holding-midfielder as Paris Saint-Germain ace Marco Verratti is not looking for a move away in the Summer.

Arsene Wenger is keen to find a replacement for Mikel Arteta, as the Spaniard is expected to leave the club next Summer once his contract expires, and the Frenchman has been impressed with the performances of Verratti in the French league.

However, any potential move this Summer has been dismissed after the player’s agent confirmed that his client was happy in Paris and hasn’t considered moving away from the club just yet.

Donato Di Campli told calcionews24.com: “I am not aware of any interest. Marco is happy at PSG.”

The Gunners have also been looking into Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin and Bayer Leverkusen’s Lars Bender.

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

Costa poised to join Chelsea

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Apr 16, 2014

Chelsea manager, Jose Mourinho is ready to splash £50 million on Atletico Madrid forward Diego Costa.

The striker is set to agree a £185,000 a week contract and will soon move to Stamford Bridge to lead the Chelsea attack next season. Costa has scored an astonishing 31 goals in 26 game in La Liga and has emerged as one of europes most wanted strikers.

Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone has accepted that he himself will not be able to stand in Costa’s way of making a moving in the next window. He said: “It will depend on him and what he thinks is best for his future. I will support any decision he makes”.

“It’s natural that Chelsea are interested in him and that makes me happy, because my aim and that of my coaching staff is to see our players improve.

“We understand that Chelsea have huge financial power and if he wants to live off football for the rest of his life, I will have no problem in him going.

“It was like Radamel Falcao – how could I tell him not to go to Monaco [last summer]? He gave life to this club [during his time at Atletico].”

However, it seems that current Chelsea striker, Fernando Torres, looks to be heading away from Stamford Bridge, and Simeone has admitted that he would love the striker to return to the club.“Fernando is always with us [in spirit], obviously I have sent messages to him,” said the ex-Argentina midfielder. “He is very happy with everything that is happening to this team and he is always present, wishing us luck.

“Of course he would love to come back to the club he grew up in and where he was happy.”

The spanish striker could be added to this Costa deal after starting his career at Atletico before moving on to Liverpool in 2007. Aswell as Torres, it looks likely that Romelu Lukaku and Demba Ba will leave the club, along with Samuel Eto’o whos contract runs out in the summer.

By Ollie Brown

‘My celebration was for the Hillsborough victims’, says Giroud

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Apr 16, 2014

Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud dedicated his goal last night to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster which took place 25-years ago yesterday.

Before the game at the Emirates Stadium between Arsenal and West Ham United, a minutes silence took place to remember the 96 lives that were lost on the tragic day, and after scoring his superb goal, Giroud kissed his armband and pointed towards the night-sky.

The Gunners eventually won the game 3-1, and after the match, Giroud revealed his celebration was for the 96 people that never returned from the Liverpool match in Sheffield.

“I heard everybody talking about it before and I didn’t exactly know the story until a few days ago but I just wanted pay homage to them,” said Giroud.

“It’s something which made me feel consoling and I wanted to dedicate my goal to the families involved.”

Written by Alex Batt – @AlexBatt – @AlexsArticles

United target Toni Kroos to decide his own future

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SteveMilne

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Apr 16, 2014

Kroos, 24, has been linked with a switch to Manchester United since reportedly turning down Bayern’s first offer of a new contract in January.

Around that time, United manager David Moyes was seen in the stands during Bayern’s victory at Borussia Moenchengladbach, further fuelling the rumour that the Red Devils wanted the Germany midfielder.

Kroos is currently contracted to the German champions until 2015, and has put all contract talks on hold until the summer.

While Bayern have several times reiterated that Kroos will at least see out the last year of his deal, reports continue to surface that United will bid for him in the summer.

On Tuesday, The Guardian reported that the 2013 Premier League champions have offered Kroos a £260,000-a-week deal, a figure that would quadruple his reported current salary of £72,000-a-week with Bayern.

During a news conference in Munich on Tuesday, Guardiola said that Bayern that chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and sporting director Matthias Sammer have not given up hope of convincing Kroos to stay in Bavaria.

Guardiola said: “Rummenigge and Sammer will do everything to keep Toni here. But it is up to Toni. He is a young person, it is his decision.”

Written by Steve Milne

United Sign Portugese Midfielder

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Apr 15, 2014

Manchester United have agreed a fee of up to £38 million pounds with Portugese club Sporting Lisbon for the signature of William Carvalho, according to talksport.

The player is set to sign on a five-year contract and will join the red devils during the summer transfer window, when this deal becomes official. Carvalho is set to appear for Portugal in this years World Cup, and United have been monitoring the young players progress throughout the season.

It is understood that Manchester United have beaten competition from Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Monaco and Liverpool, who are all closely connected to the players agent, Jorge Mendes. Carvalho has played 26 games this season, scoring 6 goals for his club.

David Moyes and Chief Executive David Woodward, are very keen to do all their buisness before the World Cup, with Southamptons Luke shaw and Adam Lllana next on the radar.

By Ollie Brown

Toure to miss around a fortnight.

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Ben Reardon

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Apr 15, 2014

Manuel Pellegrini has today confirmed that Yaya Toure will miss up to a fortnight with a muscle injury he sustained on Sunday.

Toure limped off in the 3-2 defeat at Liverpool and now looks set to miss two weeks of Manchester City’s title run in.

Pellegrini stated in his pre match press conference ahead of Wednesday game against Sunderland.

“Yaya has a muscle injury and we’ll see with the doctor [about] how many days [he will miss], he’s not so bad as we thought. He will miss at least 10 days, two weeks.”

Toure has been in superb form for City this year, having scored 18 Premier League goals.

By Ben Reardon

@BenReardon1

Last Chance

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Apr 15, 2014

Manchester United are willing to offer Left-back Patrice Evra a final contract.

It is said that a £85,000 a week contract is to be offered to the player, as United see Evra as a last chance saloon for next year. This coming after target Leighton Baines signed a new contract extension at Everton earlier in the season and with Luke Shaw likely to be subject of many bids for various clubs. It is believed that David Moyes still has had a change of heart and wants the club-captian to remain at the club.

Evra has made 30 appearances for United this season, but his agent has admitted that “things have changed at the club”, with the club doing little to reassure the fans that he is planning to stay.A United source told Goal: “Moyes is keen to keep Evra beyond the summer but, out of respect for his service to the club, will not stand in his way should he decide that he doesn’t want to extend his current deal. “And despite what has been portrayed in the media, Evra’s team-mates remain convinced that he wants to stay and help Moyes through this difficult period in charge of the club.”

It is believed that Inter Milan are front runners for Evra’s signature, while Monaco have retained interest in the left-back for next years title charge in France. Manchester United are expected to table this deal next week.

By Ollie Brown

Atletico Madrid to consider swap deal for Diego Costa?

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Apr 15, 2014