Summer Transfer Window 2013 (General)

[Daffy Duck]

Every time I've seen Rami play he's been ****. Andy Carroll mullered him FFS

Same here! Although I admit that wasn't too often.

[Liverpel]

GERARD PIQUE has declared that Barcelona must try and talk Manchester United target Thiago Alcantara into staying at the Catalan club after the midfielder netted a hat-trick in Spain's 4-2 win over Italy in the European Under-21 Championship final.


Alcantara has captained the Spain side throughout the tournament in Israel, helping the team achieve a perfect record of five wins out of five, and was a key member of the side that won the tournament in 2011.

However, his future at the Camp Nou has been cast into doubt.

Alcantara made just 15 starts in La Liga last season, struggling to hold down a place in the first team, where he faces stiff competition from the likes of Andres Iniesta and Xavi Hernandez.

According to reports in Spain, he has already decided to leave Barcelona, with Manchester United and Bayern Munich reportedly the two clubs that have shown the most interest in him.

Either club could seal his signature shortly by paying his 18million-euro buy-out clause before 31 July, after which his transfer fee will rise.

Speaking to radio programme Al Primer Toque on Onda Cero, Barca centre-back Pique urged his club to hold on to the 22-year-old, who he believes could become as important to the team in the future as Xavi and Iniesta.

"There is a possibility that he could leave but we have to convince him that the best place for him is Barcelona," said Pique.

"Players in his position like Xavi were patient and they ended up defining an era."

For Pique, the exploits of Alcantara and the under-21s shows that the future of Spanish football is in safe hands.

"When you watch them and see how superior they have been in this tournament you realise that the future is very positive," he said.

The defender also admitted it was likely that the club would sign at least one defender over the summer, but reaffirmed his faith in his team-mate and usual centre-back partner Carles Puyol, who is about to undergo a third operation on his right knee in the last 13 months.

Strengthening in defence has become a priority for Barcelona ever since they were knocked out of Bayern Munich 7-0 on aggregate in the semi-finals of last season's Champions League, with Pique having to play alongside the inexperienced Marc Bartra due to the absence of Puyol and Javier Mascherano.

"I understand why Barcelona want to strengthen in the centre-back position because last season we suffered a lot from injuries," said Pique.

"All the names that have been linked with the club are very good players and we will welcome any new arrival. But I think we should remember we still have Puyol and if he starts to get fit again he will still be among the top five centre-backs in the world."

http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/pique-issues-hands-off-warning-to-man-united-over-hat-trick-hero-alcantara-29357180.html

[Chazza]

Gonzalo Higuain is nearing towards a £22 million move to Arsenal

Gonzalo Higuain is edging nearer towards a £22 million move to Arsenal in a deal that will represent a significant shift in Arsene Wenger's transfer policy.

Higuain is understood to have agreed personal terms of around £130,000 a week and is on the verge of leaving Real Madrid to become the first high-profile recruit of the summer at the Emirates Stadium.

Wenger is also considering a move for Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini, who has a £24 million buy-out clause inserted into his contract, while Swansea City centre-half Ashley Williams is a long-standing target.

Earlier this month Arsenal's chief executive Ivan Gazidis claimed the club were now set to become one of Europe's financial superpowers, promising Wenger the funds to ensure he is now on an equal footing with the likes of Manchester United, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich.

Wenger has been notoriously cautious in recent years but is determined to strengthen his squad after clinching a place in next season's Champions League and is ready to revise Arsenal's wage structure in a bid to attract the world's elite players.

Arsenal's board have made £70 million available for the Frenchman to spend and the fee for Higuain will smash the club's previous transfer record of £15 million for Andrey Arshavin in 2009.

The Argentina international, who was a target for Manchester City last year, has met with Wenger and is now waiting for Arsenal to conclude negotiations with Madrid before his new club fly out to the Far East for a pre-season tour next month.

Juventus had also registered their interest in the 25-year-old forward but Arsenal are growing increasingly confident of reaching an agreement in the next few days.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/arsenal/10130864/Gonzalo-Higuain-is-nearing-towards-a-22-million-move-to-Arsenal.html

Good signing if they pull it off.

[Fredo]

It surely means that Suarez will be replacing him.

[Fosterbloke]

He's a great finisher, perfect for Arsenal. I was hoping they'd sign some ****e this window.

[Shaggy]

Would be a cracking signing. The league is going to be so much stronger next season.

[Gibbo]

Cavani will replace Higuain.

[Shaggy]

Reckon Cavani will go to Chelsea.

[Chazza]

Mirror running that story tomorrow.

Chelsea to hold talks over Edinson Cavani's transfer from Napoli in the next 24 hours
18 Jun 2013 22:31
Uruguayan now tops the shopping list after Monaco bought Falcao and Dortmund refused to sell Lewandowski PLUS Torres latest


Chelsea will hold crunch talks with Napoli in the next 24 hours to try to bring their Uruguayan hitman Edinson Cavani to Stamford Bridge.

As Fernando Torres lobbed the ball of his Blues future back into the court of Jose Mourinho, Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis revealed he plans to meet the Londoners this week.

Mourinho, seemingly stymied in his attempts to land Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, has urged the Chelsea hierarchy to now do all they can to recruit Cavani.

The Special One is desperate for a top-class line-leader to spearhead his second spell in SW6 and an assault to recapture the Premier League title.

Cavani is now the most accessible after Dortmund blocked any move for Lewandowski and Atletico Madrid’s Radamel Falcao joined Monaco.

Blues owner Roman Abramovich is willing to back Mourinho’s judgement and make a serious bid for the Uruguayan, but will not be held to ransom.

And with Chelsea reluctant to meet Napoli’s £53million buy-out clause valuation, and Cavani again hinting that Real Madrid is his preferred option, the odds are increasingly against Mourinho getting his man.

De Laurentiis is seeking to use Chelsea’s interest, and that of Manchester City - who were ready to offer striker Edin Dzeko in part exchange - to get the best deal possible from the Spanish giants.

On Tuesday, after Cavani spoke warmly about the prospect of life at the Bernabeu, it emerged Real would be prepared to offer German midfielder Sami Khedira - another potential Chelsea target - and Spain Under-21 striker Alvaro Morata as part of a package deal.

Cavani, currently on Confederations Cup duty in Brazil, said: “Real Madrid is a great team. To play for them is the dream of every child.

“So far, however, officially, nobody has spoke directly with me to make me an offer.

“At this stage, I am not thinking about my future. I am a Napoli player for now, and I am focused on the Confederations Cup.

“It’s not up to me what the clubs decide, there are other factors to consider.”

Unless the summit talks find a breakthrough Chelsea may have to look elsewhere, with Torres’ declarations from Brazil adding to the intrigue.

Mourinho’s comments about the £50m striker have been decidedly equivocal so far, adding to the belief that he wants to sell a man who has under-achieved in the two and a half years since his British record move from Liverpool.

Now Torres has upped the ante, by making it clear Mourinho will be the one responsible if he does not start next season wearing a Chelsea shirt.

While new Napoli boss Rafa Benitez - who got more of a tune out of Torres than his first three Chelsea managers managed - has so far resisted a part-exchange deal that would see him reunited with his former Liverpool charge, the Spaniard could still be used as bait to land Cavani.

Torres said: “I am used to the rumours. It is normal, every summer, and something we have to live through, about new coaches, new players.

“Until the end of the Confederations Cup, I am not even going to think about that. My head is here with the national team.

“Chelsea is the club where I am and where I want to be. I want to win titles here.

“Mourinho is a very demanding coach, but that guarantees success, as it always has. I have the confidence that he has something prepared for me.

“But ultimately, the only thing you can play is a place where they want you and want you to work.

“What I can say is that I am aware that Chelsea expected much more from me. I expected more from me.”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/chelsea-transfers-edinson-cavani-talks-1962257

[Shaggy]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/real-madrid/10131131/Zinedine-Zidane-gives-assurances-that-Isco-will-play-first-team-football-to-beat-Manchester-City-in-signing-him.html

Zinedine Zidane gives assurances that Isco will play first-team football to beat Manchester City in signing him

Zinedine Zidane has threatened Manchester City’s attempts to beat Real Madrid to the signature of Isco by offering personal assurances that the £30m-rated midfielder will play regular first-team football at the Bernabeu.

By Mark Ogden

10:00PM BST 19 Jun 2013

Comments1 Comment

City had emerged as favourites to sign the Malaga youngster after being informed of his determination to sign for a club who could offer him a key role in the first-team.

With German midfielder Mesut Ozil and Brazilian playmaker Kaka already at Real, Isco had voiced concerns that he could become a peripheral figure at the Bernabeu, despite emerging as the star player of Spain’s European U-21 Championship success in Israel this month.

However, with City growing in confidence that the lure of regular football under former Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini would convince Isco to reject Real for a move to the Etihad, Zidane’s intervention has now left Real expecting to secure his signature.

Former Real captain Zidane, now director of football at the Bernabeu, is understood to have held several discussions with Isco’s father to allay fears that the player would be overlooked in Madrid.

Zidane is also believed to have highlighted Madrid’s proximity to Malaga via high-speed rail link in an effort to appeal to Isco’s desire to remain close to his family.

Manchester City remain confident that they will sign Isco, but Malaga vice-president Moayad Shatat has warned that the player’s impressive tournament in Israel has reinforced his £30m transfer valuation.

"Isco's a magnificent player and one who is very important for us, so if we do not receive a decent offer, we will not sell him," Shatat said. "If we sell him, it has to be for his market value.

“We have no need to sell him for an insufficient price and it's not in our interest to do so.”

[Gibbo]

Could re-ignite a Jose bid for Modric that.

[Shaggy]

MARCA in English @MARCAinENGLISH
ONLINE transfer market | Arsenal agree terms with Gonzalo Higuaín. This is going to be his salary: http://ow.ly/mdl3M

[Sarb]

Looks like Arsenal will spend some serious money. Gutted they are getting Higuain. He is a top class player

[Lee]

FFS. Great signing.

[Tee]

He is going to get so many chances in that team. Decent bet for top scorer IMO.