PLAYER TRANSFER THREAD
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CelticTiger
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Arsenal target Felipe Melo to consider future after Confederations Cup final
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... final.htmlArsenal target Felipe Melo's agent has sidestepped questions about the Brazil midfielder's future.
Emiliano Froldi insists his player is happy at Fiorentina but stopped short of ruling a move to the Barclays Premier League.
The 25-year-old is wanted by Arsenal and Inter Milan, with Arsene Wenger's team thought to be happy to pay £15million for the former Almeria player.
But Froldi said Melo was concentrating only on his international duty with Brazil ahead of Sunday's Confederations Cup final against the United States in Johannesburg.
'Felipe is happy at Fiorentina,' Froldi told www.calciomercato.it. 'His family has adapted very well in Florence and right now his only focus in on the Confederations Cup.'
Melo made 29 Serie A starts for Fiorentina last season and is under contract with the Viola through June 2012.
Brazil starlet Dentinho ready to shun Real Madrid for move to Manchester United or Arsenal
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... senal.htmlManchester United and Arsenal are fighting Real Madrid and Juventus for promising Brazilian striker Dentinho, according to the player's agent.
The 20-year-old, who is also thought to have been tracked by Chelsea since making his senior debut two years ago, has impressed while partnering Brazil legend up front at Corinthians.
His agent Ferhat Ciftci revealed Dentinho would love to play in the Barclays Premier League but fears being priced out of a move by his Sao Paulo-based club, though he refused to name the price.
'They want too much,' Ciftci told sport.co.uk. 'At the moment we have Manchester United, Arsenal, Juventus and Real Madrid in for the player.
'He wants to play in the Premier League. It doesn't make a difference if it is Arsenal or Manchester United.'
The quick and skilful forward excelled in Corinthians promotion from the Brazilian second division last season, scoring 14 goals.
He tends to play as a second striker, currently operating off former Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter and AC Milan striker Ronaldo.
Milan chief reveals approach to Arsenal for striker Adebayor
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/footba ... bayor.htmlAC Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani has revealed he has talked to Arsenal about the possibility of signing Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Rossoneri's first choice remains Wolfsburg star Edin Dzeko but with the Bundesliga club remaining firm that he is not for sale, Milan are starting to look at alternatives.
Galliani indicated on Thursday that they might be interested in Adebayor and it now appears that the Serie A side have stepped up their interest in the Togo international.
"We don't have any agreement with Dzeko," said Galliani. "He is a Wolfsburg player.
"Dzeko has expressed his liking for a move here but at this moment there are no negotiations yet.
"We wrote to Wolfsburg and they responded that he is not for sale. If Wolfsburg change their minds we have agreed they will call Milan. If they do I am ready to immediately leave and go there.
"There's no fee yet, at the moment Dzeko is not for sale. If he becomes for sale then we will start talking sums.
"Adebayor and (Sevilla striker) Luis Fabiano are the alternatives. For Adebayor there has been a telephone call, during which (Arsenal manager Arsene) Wenger was friendly."
Speculation has been rife that midfield duo Andrea Pirlo and Gennaro Gattuso would be joining former coach Carlo Ancelotti at Chelsea.
However, Galliani reiterated that no offers have been made for Pirlo, while Gattuso has offered to take a pay cut to extend his stay at the San Siro.
Galliani said: "There have been no offers for Pirlo and Thursday night with Ancelotti was just a dinner between old friends, seeing as Carletto was in Milan for his daughter's graduation.
"Wednesday night I was at dinner with Gattuso who told us that he was ready to reduce his salary.
"He still has two years left on his contract, so it will move to three years, reducing the salary.
"Gattuso is an example, a true man, extraordinary."
Meanwhile, Davide di Gennaro returns from Genoa after Milan won a blind auction to buy out the other club's half of the players' rights.
The Rossoneri also confirmed that they have beaten off competition from several other Serie A clubs to the signature of 18-year-old Treviso striker Gianmarco Zigoni.
ARSENAL HUNT KARIM BENZEMA
Arsene Wenger ready to hijack £30million United move
By ROB SHEPHERD, 27/06/2009
Arsene Wenger ready to hijack £30million United move
By ROB SHEPHERD, 27/06/2009
http://www.newsoftheworld.co.uk/sport/3 ... -move.htmlARSENAL are ready to hijack the Manchester United move for France striker Karim Benzema.
The Gunners board will be prepared to fund a £30million fee for Lyon's Benzema, 21, if Arsene Wenger opts to cash in on Emmanuel Adebayor.
AC Milan have been considering making a new move for Adebayor this week. Togo ace Adebayor, 25, has also been linked with a move to Inter Milan and even Chelsea.
United are in pole position to lure Benzema - but he is also on Real Madrid's radar. The player says he would prefer another season at Lyon to make sure he cements a place in the France side for the World Cup. But the club's owners have hinted that a bid of more than £30m would turn their heads.
Gunners chief Wenger has been a long-term fan of Benzema. There were suggestions last summer he had a verbal deal with Lyon offering him first refusal.
On the face of it, £30m would seem out of Arsenal's range. But the Arsenal board have approved up to £40m on new signings this summer and the sale of Adebayor would boost the transfer pot.
Wenger hopes to sign Brazil midfield ace Felipe Melo, 26, from Fiorentina. But the Serie A club may want £25m with Arsenal valuing him at £15m.
[quote]WENG’S £40M RIB BID
28th June 2009
By Harry Pratt
ARSENAL have entered the race to land French ace Franck Ribery – for a club record £40million.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes he is now close to -pulling off one of the transfer coups of the summer and -winning the race to sign the Bayern Munich winger.
Until the last couple of weeks Ribery, 26, was destined for one of EuropeÃŒs giants Ã’ with Man United, Barcelona and Real Madrid all in the hunt.
But despite the huge interest and several offers of around £30m, Bayern stubbornly refused to sell for anything less than £40m.
And that suddenly left Arsenal in pole position, even though Wenger has long made it clear he cannot compete with his rivals when it comes to buying the biggest names in the game.Ü
Yet an offer of £30m Ò plus £10m-rated Danish hitman Nicklas Bendtner to make up the difference Ò appears to have struck a chord with new Bayern coach Louis van Gaal.
The Dutchman has made it clear he does not want unsettled players at the club Ã’ and reckons that ArsenalÃŒs cash-and-player deal represents good business for the Bundesliga boys.
Manchester City are the only other club still monitoring developments but Ribery has told the big-spending Premier League outfit he wants Champions League football next term.
It is that, combined with the strong French connection at the Emirates, which is convincing Ribery his future lies with the north London club.
Wenger has been desperate to keep the negotiations under wraps to avoid alerting United or Barca.Ü
A four-year trophy drought, their poor showing in the Premier League last term and the need to prove to Cesc Fabregas and Co they will be challenging for the top honoursÜ means that Arsenal mean business.
And our source close to ArsenalÃŒs top brass confirmed: Ã
28th June 2009
By Harry Pratt
ARSENAL have entered the race to land French ace Franck Ribery – for a club record £40million.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger believes he is now close to -pulling off one of the transfer coups of the summer and -winning the race to sign the Bayern Munich winger.
Until the last couple of weeks Ribery, 26, was destined for one of EuropeÃŒs giants Ã’ with Man United, Barcelona and Real Madrid all in the hunt.
But despite the huge interest and several offers of around £30m, Bayern stubbornly refused to sell for anything less than £40m.
And that suddenly left Arsenal in pole position, even though Wenger has long made it clear he cannot compete with his rivals when it comes to buying the biggest names in the game.Ü
Yet an offer of £30m Ò plus £10m-rated Danish hitman Nicklas Bendtner to make up the difference Ò appears to have struck a chord with new Bayern coach Louis van Gaal.
The Dutchman has made it clear he does not want unsettled players at the club Ã’ and reckons that ArsenalÃŒs cash-and-player deal represents good business for the Bundesliga boys.
Manchester City are the only other club still monitoring developments but Ribery has told the big-spending Premier League outfit he wants Champions League football next term.
It is that, combined with the strong French connection at the Emirates, which is convincing Ribery his future lies with the north London club.
Wenger has been desperate to keep the negotiations under wraps to avoid alerting United or Barca.Ü
A four-year trophy drought, their poor showing in the Premier League last term and the need to prove to Cesc Fabregas and Co they will be challenging for the top honoursÜ means that Arsenal mean business.
And our source close to ArsenalÃŒs top brass confirmed: Ã
From The Sunday Times June 28, 2009
Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson battle over Karim Benzema
Arsene Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson battle over Karim Benzema
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/ ... 591106.eceARSENE WENGER is ready to go head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson for the signaure of Karim Benzema in the knowledge that the 21-year-old France striker would rather join Arsenal this summer than Manchester United.
While Ferguson, the United manager, has already offered Lyons £25.5m, the French club believe they can do better. Keen to ensure his position in France’s 2010 World Cup team, Benzema was initially reluctant to leave this summer, but with Lyons keen to sell, he wants a club where he will be guaranteed first-team football. Though outgunned financially, Arsenal boss Wenger has an edge in that respect over United and Real Madrid.
Arsenal have also been made aware of Benzema’s desire to work with Wenger. A club record offer depends on the sale of Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Arsenal were ready to sell to AC Milan last year and remain keen to offload.
Arsenal are in a hurry as Wenger wants his reinforced squad in place for the start of pre-season training on July 6. In addition to a striker, he seeks a holding midfielder to play alongside Cesc Fabregas to help quell his captain’s concerns about Arsenal’s competitiveness.
Talks are ongoing with Fiorentina over Felipe Melo. The Italians want £21m for the 26-year-old Brazil player. Arsenal are some distance from meeting that valuation, but have offered Philippe Senderos in part-exchange. Melo has also attracted interest from Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, who see him as a potential replacement for Javier Mascherano or Xabi Alonso.
the silly season is here 
Edin Dzeko: I’m Staying At Wolfsburg, But I Wanted Milan
[quote]The Bosnian striker has confirmed he will honour his contract with Wolfsburg but added that he is disappointed at being denied the chance to join the Rossoneri...
Milan had made Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko their main transfer target ahead of next season, but they have met with reluctance, on the part of the Bundesliga champions, to part with their most prized asset and are now likely to turn to different objectives.
The 23-year-old Bosnian international had a meeting with Wolfsburg's new boss, Armin Veh, yesterday and reports suggest that the striker has been persuaded to stay, with the promise of an improved contract, until 2013.
“I am staying at Wolfsburg,â€
[quote]The Bosnian striker has confirmed he will honour his contract with Wolfsburg but added that he is disappointed at being denied the chance to join the Rossoneri...
Milan had made Wolfsburg striker Edin Dzeko their main transfer target ahead of next season, but they have met with reluctance, on the part of the Bundesliga champions, to part with their most prized asset and are now likely to turn to different objectives.
The 23-year-old Bosnian international had a meeting with Wolfsburg's new boss, Armin Veh, yesterday and reports suggest that the striker has been persuaded to stay, with the promise of an improved contract, until 2013.
“I am staying at Wolfsburg,â€
Melo is Barça's 'Plan B'
http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_ ... un28h.htmlFiorentina midfielder Felipe Melo is Barcelona's 'Plan B' should they fail in their bid to sign Liverpool's Javier Mascherano.
Pep Guardiola needs to reinforce his midfield ahead of next season as Yaya Toure and Seydou Keita will be taking part in the African Cup of Nations in January.
El Mundo Deportivo understands Barça are about to give up on Mascherano, who Liverpool have absolutely no intention of selling.
They believe an offer of just over £18m will be enough for Barcelona to convince Fiorentina to part with Melo, who will play in the Confederations Cup Final later today.
The European champions are likely to face competition from Inter, who have already registered an interest in the player.
Fiorentina signed Melo from Spanish club Almeria last season and he soon established himself as a regular in the starting XI.
The 26-year-old scored two goals in 29 Serie A appearances. He was also sent off twice
