LATEST TRANSFER NEWS HEADLINES PSG favourites to land Aurier Paris Saint Germain are leading the race to sign Ivory Coast defender Serge Aurier, according to Talksport. Premier League trio Arsenal, Swansea City and Queens Park Rangers have also been linked with a move for the 21 year old right-back, though it is the French champions who are favourites to complete a deal. Aurier scored six goals in thirty-four Ligue 1 appearances for Toulouse last season while internationally he played every minute of his countries unsuccessful World Cup campaign in Brazil this summer. He has spent his entire professional career so far in France having started out with Lens, for whom he made fifty-four senior appearances before moving to the Stadium Municipal in January 2012. Laurent Blanc’s side eased to the French top flight title last season finishing nine points ahead of second place Monaco, and they are firm favourites to retain the trophy next time around at a price of 1/8. ==================================================== Drogba linked with Blues return Chelsea are lining up a move to bring Didier Drogba back to the club, according to the Daily Star. The 36 year old is currently a free agent having spent the last eighteen months with Turkish giants Galatasary, and the Blues are leading the race to secure his services. During his first spell with the club, the Ivory Coast international made three hundred and forty-one appearances in all competitions, scoring one hundred and fifty-seven goals on route to collecting a whole host of major honours. His success culminated in the 2012 Champions League triumph in the Allianz Arena, where his penalty secured victory in the penalty shoot-out against Bayern Munich. Should he return to Stamford Bridge, he is likely to do so as a player-coach and he could make his second Blues debut against Burnley in next month’s season opener. Jose Mourinho’s men are favourites to win the Premier League next season at a price of 15/8. ==================================================== Liverpool in fresh bid for Alberto Moreno Premier League giants Liverpool have reignited their interest in Sevilla full-back Alberto Moreno, reports Marca. The Reds have so far been unsuccessful in their attempts to sign the highly rated defender, but they are ready to return for the talented footballer having received a bumper payout from the sale of Luis Suarez to Barcelona. Club general manager Ian Ayre will fly to Spain later today to start the negotiations that should ultimately see Moreno move to Anfield. Liverpool plan to lower the €20 million asking price by including Iago Aspas in the deal, with Sevilla keen on the Spanish forward. Alberto Moreno, 22, has come through the youth ranks at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan and has so far amassed 45 league appearances and scored 3 goals. The youngster has so far earned three Spain caps and he looks set to continue his career at Anfield, where he will be vying compatriot Luis Enrique for a starting berth. ====================================================== Inter close to agreeing Medel deal Inter Milan are closing in on the signing of Chile international Gary Medel, according to Talksport. The 26 year old made thirty-four Premier League appearances for Cardiff City last season having signed from Sevilla twelve months ago but was unable to help steer them to safety. The South Wales side are now set to complete a deal with the Serie A giants today, with Medel having already given the green light to an offer of a 5 year contract worth around £1.75m a season. Inter had initially been keen to secure his services on a temporary basis, though Cardiff owner Vincent Tan is holding out for a permanent deal. The defensive midfielder took his international appearances tally to sixty-one caps playing as a centre-back for Chile at this summer’s World Cup finals, starting all four of their matches in Brazil. Inter finished fifth in Serie A last season, and can be backed at 14/1 to end the 2014/15 as champions. ====================================================== Roma keen on Ron Vlaar Il Corriere dello Sport is reporting that AS Roma are showing interest in Aston Villa defender Ron Vlaar. The Giallorossi are ready to sell Mehdi Benatia in case of a big money offer and in case the Moroccan defender leaves Stadio Olimpico they will be signing him a replacement. Il Corriere dello Sport has suggested that Aston Villa centre-back Ron Vlaar is the number one name on their wish list. The 29-year-old has proved his worth at the 2014 World Cup, playing at a very high level throughout the tournament finals, and chances are he could be leaving Villa Park for greener pastures this summer. Ron Vlaar joined Aston Villa from Feyenoord two years ago and went on to make 59 Premier League appearances for the club, scoring 2 goals. The experienced defender featured in every minute of Netherlands’ World Cup campaign, making seven appearances as Oranje achieved a third-place finish. ====================================================== Fiorentina ponder cut-price deal for Bergessio Serie A outfit Fiorentina are reportedly considering a move for Catania striker Gonzalo Bergessio, reports Tuttosport. With Alessandro Matri returning to AC Milan and starting strikers Giuseppe Rossi and Mario Gomez both injury prone, Viola officials are eager to add another quality forward to their ranks. And Tuttosport is now reporting that Fiorentina are being linked with an assault on Argentine striker Gonzalo Bergessio. The good news is that Catania plan to cash in on their prized asset having suffered relegation to the second division. Gonzalo Bergessio joined the Elephants from Saint Etienne, initially on loan before signing a permanent deal, and he has enjoyed several good years at Stadio Angelo Massimino. The Argentine has managed a total of 35 goals in 109 Serie A appearances for Catania, earning quite a few admirers among Italy’s top clubs in the process. And despite his side relegated to Serie B, chances are the 29-year-old will remain in the top flight. ====================================================== Clement Grenier on Milan radar AC Milan are keeping close tabs on Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier, according to Tuttosport. It is no secret the Rossoneri are on the lookout for a new central midfielder after captain Riccardo Montolivo picked up a serious injury and they seem to have turned their attention towards the French starlet. And with Lyon going through financial difficulty, it is believed the 23-year-old could be acquired for less than €10 million this summer. Lazio star Senad Lulic is another player on their radar, but the €18 million asking price is likely to prove too much for cash-strapped Rossoneri. Clement Grenier is the product of Lyon’s famous youth school and he has so far made 87 league appearances for les Gones, scoring 11 goals in the process. The talented footballer was tipped to make France’s World Cup squad, but he eventually had to miss the tournament finals due to an adductor injury. ====================================================== PSG agree deal for Aurier French daily newspaper L’Equipe has learned that Paris Saint-Germain have reached an agreement to sign Ivorian defender Serge Aurier from Toulouse. The Saints emerged as favourites for the player’s signature as Arsenal and Monaco cooled off their interest and they seem to be winning the race. According to L’Equipe, PSG have agreed to pay €9 million for the highly rated full-back plus send midfielder Clement Chantome to Stade Municipal. Chantome, 26, spent last season on loan with le Tefece, and he will now be joining them on permanent basis. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain have secured the signature of one of world’s hottest prospects, who has proved his credentials with some strong performances at the 2014 World Cup. Aurier, 21, had been in stunning form for Toulouse last season, having managed 6 goals and as many assists in 34 league outings. ====================================================== Benfica eyeing Sergio Romero Genoa-based newspaper Secolo XIX is reporting that Benfica are showing interest in Sampdoria goalkeeper Sergio Romero. The Eagles will probably need to sign a replacement for Jan Oblak, who is nearing a switch to Atletico Madrid, and the Argentina star appears to be the number one name on their hit-list. Benfica officials have been impressed with the player’s performances at the 2014 World Cup and they are set to make their interest concrete. Romero is set to return to Sampdoria following a disappointing loan spell with Monaco, but he is almost certain to leave Marassi this summer. With his contract due to expire in June 2015, the Bluecerchiati are determined to cash in on the 27-year-old in the coming weeks. Despite struggling for playing time at club level, Romero kept his starting place in the national team and was in fine form as Argentina finished as runners up at the 2014 World Cup. ====================================================== Valbuena to decide on Dynamo Moscow switch Marseille midfielder Mathieu Valbuena could be joining Dynamo Moscow this summer, L’Equipe has revealed. The France international had long ago expressed his desire to leave OM for greener pastures, citing Spanish La Liga as his favourite destination. However, the experienced midfielder now has an important decision to make after Marseille accepted a €7 million proposal for his services from Dynamo Moscow. Valbuena does not appear to keen on moving to Russia and he will probably wait to see whether some of the other interested sides will submit an interesting proposal. If that doesn’t happen in the next ten days or so, the 29-year-old will have no choice but to accept an offer from Dynamo. Valbuena started four matches for France at the 2014 World Cup as Les Bleus reached the quarter-finals and scored one goal in the process. ===================================================== Newcastle sign Rémy Cabella Newcastle United F.C. have confirmed the signing of attacking midfielder Rémy Cabella from Montpellier HSC for an undisclosed fee. The France international, 24, has put pen to paper on a six-year deal at St. James’ Park after being heavily linked with the club following the departure of Yohan Cabaye to Paris Saint-Germain in January. Cabella, who did not feature for Les Bleus at the World Cup finals in Brazil despite being named to the 23-man squad by manager Didier Deschamps, has the experience and quality to make a big difference for the Magpies next season. After finishing in 10th-place in the English Premier League table in 2013/14, Newcastle have quietly added some good pieces ahead of the 2014/15, having brought in Ayoze Pérez (Tenerife), Jack Colback (Sunderland) and Siem de Jong (Ajax), who has already been appointed the club’s vice-captain. “It is great to finally be a Newcastle player,” Cabella said. “This is a move that I really wanted to make, as I have heard nothing but good things about Newcastle United from everyone I spoke to. “I wanted to join a great English club and that is why I have arrived here. I’m looking forward to pulling on the shirt and playing in this magnificent stadium, and I will give this Club my maximum.” Newcastle boss Alan Pardew added: “Remy is a player who has been on our radar for a while and we are delighted to bring him to the Club. “He is a player who I am sure will excite our fans. He has flair, hard work and commitment, and is going to bring a talent, energy and quality to St. James’ Park that our supporters will enjoy. “Remy has great ideas when the ball comes to him, and along with Siem de Jong is going to improve an area where we definitely needed some help.” Although the addition of Cabella, for a rumoured fee of £12 million, is a fantastic one, the Magpies still need to be proactive during the coming weeks. They will need to replace talisman Loïc Rémy and perhaps right-back Mathieu Debuchy, who is reportedly on the verge of joining Arsenal. That said, it has been a good few weeks for Pardew and the club’s supporters.
Posted on: Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:52:42 +0000
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