Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is attempting to discover if his ex-Red Devils team-mate Robin van Persie will be missing from the Holland side in tonight’s World Cup semi-final against Argentina. The 30-year-old is a fitness doubt for the eagerly-anticipated last-four showdown as he has been suffering from a stomach bug this week. He is a key member of Louis van Gaal’s first-team set-up and both men – who will link up at club level when the head coach officially takes over at United – are hoping the virus passes in time. Ex-England international Ferdinand did not realise his…
Author: Staff Writer
Contribution by @cfcasa For years, Arsenal supporters and football pundits have called for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger to make big money signings. Last summer he did just that. Arsenal signed Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid for an incredible £42.5million. At the time, people sat up and took notice of Arsenal spending this kind of money. Even ex-captain Thierry Henry came out and said that he never expected Wenger to go and spend that sort of money on one player. Hindsight is a wonderful thing and you could say the money the club spent on playmaker Ozil was wasted. Fans were…
Catalan daily Sport have claimed that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger did all he could to secure the signing of Barcelona’s Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean winger is flying into London this week for a medical to complete his move to the Premier League side from Catalan giants Barcelona. Negotiations between the two clubs began early this week with Alexis and his agent Fernando Felicevich arriving in London for talks on Monday and it is being reported by Sport that Arsene Wenger played a massive part in securing the 25-year-old. Offers from Juventus and AC Milan were said to be on the…
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Arteta is reportedly set to fly out to Italy to seal a move to Fiorentina. According to Tutto Mercato Web, the Spaniard could arrive in Florence within hours, where he will discuss personal terms with the Viola’s directors and his own representatives. He is unlikely to command a large transfer fee due to the fact that he has only 12 months remaining on his current contract at the Emirates Stadium. With doubts surrounding the future of Fiorentina midfielder Alberto Aquilani, formerly of Liverpool, Arteta could be handed a prominent place in the first-team as the Italian’s replacement.…
Queens Park Rangers are weighing up a move for Manchester United wideman Antonio Valencia, Football Express News understands. A source close to Loftus Road told FEN the newly-promoted London outfit have identified the 28-year-old as a key acquisition for the summer transfer window. The insider revealed QPR have high hopes of landing Valencia for a relatively modest fee as he has less than 12 months remaining on his current contract at Old Trafford. He featured prominently in the Red Devils’ torrid 2013-14 campaign, which saw them finish seventh in the Premier League table and end the season without a piece…
Football Express News understands that Barcelona sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta is struggling to find a suitable centre-back for the club. Calls for a new centre-back to be signed at Barcelona have been made by club members, media men and fans for a number of seasons and following the announcement that Carles Puyol was to retire, the club had further president to make a move this summer. Links to Paris Saint Germain’s Marquinhos have been well maintained but it is understood now that his transfer fee would be too high for the Catalan side, whilst the likelihood of Jeremy Mathieu [Valencia]…
Atletico Madrid have agreed a deal with Bayern Munich for the signing of Mario Mandzukic, replacing Diego Costa who joined Chelsea this summer. The Croatian striker was deemed surplus to requirements at Bayern towards the back end of last season after falling out with boss Pep Guardiola and he was immediately made available for transfer by the former Barcelona coach. Interest from England had become heard with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea both interested, however United turned their attention elsewhere and Chelsea signed Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid. That move led to the Spanish champions to turn their…
Catalan daily Mundo Deportivo claim that Barcelona want to make an announcement on the signing of Luis Suarez from Liverpool – today. Luis Suarez’s summer move from Liverpool to Barcelona has been fully expected since he produced a two-goal performance against England and the Catalan club began publicising their interest, however, recent admissions claim that a deal was agreed way back in November of last year. That being said, Barca are now desperate to announce the signing, just days after they held a two-day talk with Liverpool officials in the Grovesnor Hotel in London. Suarez, who infamously bit the shoulder…
Football Express News understands that Michu is currently in Naples to discuss a one-year loan deal with Napoli. The Spaniard missed the majority of last season through injury but was thought to be upset with the dismissal of Michael Laudrup last season as head coach, prompting his representatives to find the best possible solution. Links to Manchester United, which developed before he joined the Welsh side have since vanished, leaving Italian side Napoli to lead the way with interest. Napoli boss Rafael Benitez is said to be a keen admirer of Michu and would like him to provide competition with…
Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is set to embark on a clear-out at Anfield, Football Express News understands. A source close to the club told FEN the Reds are prepared to part company with goalkeeper Pepe Reina, defenders Jose Enrique and Kolo Toure, and forwards Iago Aspas and Fabio Borini. Talisman Luis Suarez is almost certain to depart for Barcelona, while midfield man Lucas Leiva has, according to Italian source Il Mattino, decided he wants to leave the club for Napoli. He has set his sights on a reunion with former Liverpool head coach Rafael Benitez at the Serie A club,…