Liverpool duo going nowhere and Arsenal admit Shay Given difficulty
There has been a lot of speculation linking Liverpool players with moves away from the club this summer following the departure of Rafael Benitez.
Skipper Steven Gerrard has committed his future to the club, while their star striker Fernando Torres has also followed suit. The latest players are Javier Mascherano and Dirk Kuyt, but manager Roy Hodgson insists both players will not be linking up with Benitez at Inter Milan.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger could make a move for Ajax goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg if he cannot land Mark Schwarzer of Fulham. Arsenal have made two bids for Schwarzer of £2million after the Australian No.1 handed in a transfer request last week.
Wenger is on the lookout for a solid keeper and will look to the Dutch shot-stopper as an alternative to Schwarzer. The second bid of £2million was not an improved offer, and Arsenal had been hoping Fulham would soften their stance on Schwarzer because of the transfer request.
Meanwhile, Wenger admits that signing Shay Given would be difficult because of the wage demands. Given has been displaced by Joe Hart at Manchester City and has clearly indicated he is not willing to sit on the bench at Eastlands.
Wenger has also stated he is short of centre-backs and could bring back former Arsenal player Matthew Upson to the Emirates. The West Ham defender has one year remaining on his contract at Upton Park and the club would be willing to listen to offers of around £7million rather than risk losing him for free next summer.
West Ham manager Avram Grant is also lining up a move for Aston Villa’s Luke Young for £2.5million. Young was set to sign for Liverpool, but the transfer fell through as he was demanding a high wage. Grant is also considering swooping for Celtic striker Marc-Antoine Fortune.
Manchester United are nearing the signing of 16-year old Gyliano van Velzen of Ajax, while Birmingham City will make an improved offer of around £9million for Wigan winger Charles N’Zogbia.
After completing the signing of former Arsenal captain William Gallas, Tottenham Hotspur manager Harry Redknapp will end his interest in Manchester City’s Micah Richards.
Redknapp has also been told he will have to pay up to £8.5million to bring another former Arsenal player Lassana Diarra to White Hart Lane. Real Madrid manager José Mourinho has also said Diarra will not be allowed to go to Tottenham on loan.
The former Chelsea boss wants Diarra to remain at the Bernabéu, and he also wants Didier Drogba and is planning a £20million move for the Ivorian striker.
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