ESPN Soccernet - On The Move
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On The Move
Posted by ESPNsoccernet Staff on 07/30/2010

We'll be keeping you as up-to-date as possible on the latest transfer talk in On The Move. You can read up on all the Latest Transfers and then follow the developing stories in our constantly updated transfer blog here.


Sami Khedira has agreed a move to Real Madrid© Getty Images

16.42 BST: AS reports that Sevilla have targeted Real Madrid midfielder Esteban Granero. With Sami Khedira and Angel Di Maria arriving at the Bernabeu, Granero’s chances could be limited this season.

16.32 BST: Our man in Belgium reports that Dieumerci Mbokani is officially off to AS Monaco for a fee rumoured to be around €7 million. He will be the third Standard striker to leave over the summer, after Igor De Camargo (Borussia Monchengladbach) and Milan Jovanovic (Liverpool). Standard look headed for a clear-out of most of their high profile players. Sevilla have also said they want Steven Defour, after they expressed interest in Axel Witsel.

16.25 BST: Swiss side Sion have decided against signing former wonderkid Freddy Adu. Adu, now 21, spent loan seplls with Belenenses and Aris Thessaloniki last season but has failed to progress as expected after making his MLS debut at the age of 14. He currently represents Benfica.

16.16 BST: Marseille president Jean-Claude Dassier has couched his pursuit for Bordeaux midfielder Alou Diarra firmly in the terms of a relationship drama by telling Football365.fr: “It’s complicated.” Perhaps there is a rival love interest for the France international.

16.01 BST: Are Barcelona backing down in their Cesc Fabregas pursuit? Camp Nou official Josep Maria Bartomeu says they will "respect" Arsenal's wish to keep the player and that no further talks are planned. Is this the end of the story? Probably not, no.

15.44 BST: L’Equipe reports Rennes right-back Rod Fanni has agreed a three-year deal with Atletico Madrid and that the French defender will cost the Spanish club in the region of €5 million. The headline writers in the Spanish press will enjoy this deal no doubt.

15.36 BST: Sky Italia are reporting that Manchester City have agreed terms with Mario Balotelli on a deal worth a reported €3.5 million a year. Now the two clubs must agree on a fee.

15.26 BST: FC Twente have confirmed that defender Ronnie Stam has joined Wigan on a three-year deal. The Dutchman has cost in the region of £2.5 million.

15.14 BST: After capturing Javier Garrido from Manchester City, Lazio have also announced the signing of Uruguay international Alvaro Gonzalez. The 25-year-old joins from Nacional after a three-week trial.

14.55 BST: Famed Italian transfer consultant Ernesto Bronzetti claims Jose Mourinho is interested in recruiting Juventus striker Amauri this summer. “Mourinho likes Amauri. Real are missing Raul, and Amauri figures in this perspective,” Bronzetti told Sky Italia. “He is less of a goalscorer than Milito, but Mourinho likes him.”

14.41 BST: Here is our report on David James' move to Bristol City. It is an unfolding story, so we will be bringing you more as we get it. Let us know your thoughts using the comments form below.

14.31 BST: BREAKING NEWS! The current holder of England's No. 1 shirt, David James, has signed for Championship club Bristol City!

14.20 BST: Panathinaikos and Lyon have agreed a fee for Jean-Alain Boumsong and the player has passed a medical. Boumsong will cost the Greek club €500,000.

14.11 BST: The website of the Daily Mirror is reporting that David James has turned down interest from Sunderland and Celtic in order to sign for Bristol City on Friday. It is an interesting move for the man who ended the World Cup as England's No. 1.

13.55 BST: Charles N’Zogbia says he will be permitted to leave Wigan if a decent offer arrives this summer. “When I came here, I was in a period where I wanted to relaunch myself,” N'Zogbia told L'Equipe. “Today I'm at Wigan but if tomorrow a good club with great aims contacts me, I am open. I have talked about it with my bosses. They won't put a spoke in the wheel.”

13.47 BST: Portuguese paper A Bola claims Sporting midfielder Miguel Veloso has agreed a four-year contact with Genoa and could be presented as the club’s new signing as early as Monday. He joins international colleague Eduardo at the Serie A side.

13.31 BST: Here are those quotes in full from Arsene Wenger. So, Gunners fans, who should the club bring in? Serdar Tasci? Per Mertesacker?

13.06 BST: Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Arsenal are in the market for at least one new defender. The Gunners boss said: "We are still on the search because at the moment we only have three centre backs and we have seen last season you needed five. I believe we need at least four because we have some other players who can fill in this position but overall we are still on the search."

12.53 BST: Mediaset reports that while Manchester City have offered the 19-year-old Mario Balotelli €3 million a year to move to Eastlands, his agent is demanding €3.8 million. Not bad for a teenager, eh?

12.35 BST: Here is the full story regarding Ronaldinho's likely contract extension at AC Milan. Is he still capable of cutting it at the top level?

12.27 BST: BREAKING NEWS! Wigan have announced the signing of FC Twente defender Ronnie Stam, who was recently called up for Netherlands. It's getting a bit busy today, isn't it?

12.24 BST: Juventus general manager Beppe Marotta has been a busy boy today (see 10.32), and now he has confirmed that Liverpool have targeted Christian Poulsen as a possible replacement for Javier Mascherano.

12.15 BST: Ronaldinho’s brother and agent has hinted that the player is ready to see out his playing days at AC Milan by signing a new contract until 2014. Roberto de Assis told Corriere dello Sport: “There will be no problems. The signature? There is no hurry, this is just a formality.”

12.03 BST: Real are also being linked with Mesut Ozil of Werder Bremen and Marca have managed to track him down on holiday in Spain. However, the playmaker was unwilling to discuss his future, saying: "I'm not talking about Real Madrid for the moment."

11.54 BST: BREAKING NEWS! Stuttgart have announced they have reached agreement with Real Madrid regarding the transfer of Sami Khedira. Sporting director Fredi Bobic said: "We can understand the desire of Sami to work for Real. We wish him every success in his new challenge in Madrid."

11.48 BST: Maicon’s agent has reiterated that the Inter Milan defender wishes to join Real Madrid over Manchester City. Antonio Caliendo said in Mundo Deportivo: “Manchester City is very interested in signing Maicon, but Real Madrid always occupies first position.” Real feel a transfer fee of €28 million is excessive at present.

11.36 BST: BREAKING NEWS! Lazio have completed the signing of Manchester City left-back Javier Garrido. He replaces Aleksandar Kolarov, who of course has already joined City.

11.28 BST: With Liverpool poised to sell Javier Mascherano to Inter, Mediaset reports that Roy Hodgson will sign Juventus and Denmark star Christian Poulsen as his replacement. It seems a tidy fit to us, so expect to hear more about this deal in the next few days.

11.13 BST: Today's obligatory Mario Balotelli update comes courtesy of the player's agent Mino Raiola, who says a deal will be done, but all parties must remain patient for the moment. Get on with it already.

11.07 BST: West Bromwich Albion are on the brink of signing Hull City goalkeeper Boaz Myhill. He will cost the promoted club in the region of £1.5 million.

10.51 BST: Celtic have targeted free agent Timo Hildebrand as a potential replacement for Artur Boruc. Hildebrand is available following his release from Hoffenheim and told Bild: "Celtic are interested and that is very interesting for me."

10.45 BST: Liverpool youngster Dani Pacheco has been winning rave reviews for his performances at the European Under-19 Championship, and the forward has revealed Xabi Alonso has advised him to join Real Sociedad this summer.

10.39 BST: The Daily Record is the bible of all things Scottish football and they claim on Friday morning that Celtic are at an “advanced stage” of talks as they look to sign midfielder Aiden McGeady to Spartak Moscow for £9.5 million. McGeady would prefer to go to the Premier League but his English suitors - including Aston Villa, Sunderland, Everton and Birmingham - are reluctant to go above £7.5 million.

10.32 BST: Here is an in-depth look at the comments from Juve general manager Beppe Marotta, who talks Dzeko, Diego, Krasic, Giovinco, Pazzini and Marquez.

10.21 BST: The Manchester Evening News this morning reports that Manchester United are leading the chase to sign Germany World Cup star Mesut Ozil. There are plenty of sides interested in him, will the playmaker end up at Old Trafford?

10.03 BST: Chelsea defender Ricardo Carvalho could well be heading to Real Madrid this summer and Cristiano Ronaldo hopes his international colleague arrives at the Bernabeu. He told AS: “We talk a lot. Ricardo is a great player, but the reality is that Madrid has only made three additions. The president is the right person to answer that.”

09.50 BST: Mido was also expected to join Ajax but the striker claims Middlesbrough are causing problems and holding up the transfer. "Middlesbrough are doing their best to force me out because they don't want to give me my financial dues," Mido told FilGoal.com. “It's not the first time for them to do that. They have done it before with several players such as Mohamed Shawky, Gaizka Mendieta and Jimmy Hasselbaink. But I will not be like them, I will not give up my rights."

09.41 BST: Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reports Ajax and AZ Alkmaar have come to an agreement that will see prolific striker Mounir El Hamdaoui join the Amsterdam club. A price was agreed late on Friday night apparently.

09.32 BST: We have an update on the Sami Khedira story with AS reporting that Stuttgart are holding out for €14 million while Real Madrid are only willing to offer €10 million for the Germany midfielder. It is believed that Real and Khedira have already come to an agreement.

09.20 BST: Yet another Barcelona player has spoken of their desire to see Cesc Fabregas move to Camp Nou. Today, it is the turn of Carles Puyol but the defender believes Fabregas will stay at Arsenal for another year, very much against his will.

09.14 BST: Harry Redknapp has defended his pursuit of Scott Parker after West Ham released a strongly-worded statement to ward off interest in their captain. Wasn't it West Ham who made the offer public in the first place? Anyway, Harry is also hoping to sign Craig Bellamy this summer, no surprise there...

09.08 BST: A Twitter account purporting to be Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland's has just declared: "Staying in Manchester!" This could mean one of three things: Ireland has been told he will be part of the City squad this season, the midfielder is signing for United, or the account is fake and it's a load of rubbish.

08.53 BST: Swansea have confirmed they have rejected a bid from Blackpool for their right-back Angel Rangel. Swans boss Brendan Rodgers told the club's official website: "An offer has come in to the chairman from Blackpool for Angel. But it has not been accepted. The situation is under control and I am due to have a meeting with Angel. I want him to stay and there is an offer of another contract on the table for him."

08.35 BST: Former Manchester City midfielder Dietmar Hamann has criticised the club's transfer policy this summer. It's pretty strong stuff. Come on Didi, give it a rest, City are the only club keeping this transfer blog running!

08.24 BST: The headline in Catalan daily Sport this morning is 'Final Summit'. The report, written by friend of Soccernet Didac Peyret, details how Cesc Fabregas will return to London this morning following a holiday in Greece and will tell Arsene Wenger that he wants to join Barcelona.

07.55 BST: A quick round-up from the tabs to whet your appetite.

Daily Mirror: Spurs will offer Bentley, Jenas and Keane for Villa's Ashley Young, City to land Milner for £28 million, Luke Young wants to join Fulham, Mark Hughes wants to take Craig Bellamy, Stephen Ireland and Roque Santa Cruz.

The Sun: Carles Puyol says it's clear Cesc Fabregas wants to join Barca, Ajax have put a £20 million price tag on defender Gregory van der Wiel, Arsenal are considering a move for PSV midfielder Ibrahim Afellay.

Daily Mail: City are locked in talks with Inter over the fee for Mario Balotelli, Xabi Alonso is advising Liverpool starlet Dani Pacheco on his future, Mark Schwarzer is desperate to join Arsenal.

07.35 BST: Just to kick us off, there's a bit of an update on the Robinho situation. Full paper round to follow shortly.

Comments

Posted by Vishaal on 07/30/2010

Considering Arsenal need a strong holding midfielder still (and they haven't had one since Viera) I think its a shame if they don't move for Mahamadou Diarra. Arsenal need him, Real wants to get rid of him - its a win-win situation. Besides, with Madrid willing to offload him, they can probably even get him at a cut price. He's still a good, experienced player and might be worth the money.

Posted by kiryowa elijah on 07/30/2010

i don't know whats wrong with big clubs like arsenal,man u,chelsea,liverpool,spurs,real madrid,ac milan,beyern etc for not buyng good players that are swept by small small clubs players like anthony anan,seisuke honda,endo, okubo,prince boateng,andre ayuw,shabalala,bongani kumalu,maurice edu,mike bradley,lars jakobson,garry cahill,bobby zamora,atim ben arfa,igrahim afellay,gregory vviel,alia aljero,muslela,asamoah gyan,katlego fela and others who cheap and might have desire to play in big clubs

Posted by team cesc on 07/30/2010

is it just me, or is everyone sick of barcelona players trying to steal cesc from arsenal? wenger has insisted cesc is going nowehere, cesc wants to stay and yet now puyol says csec wants to play for barca. give it up puyol, cesc is staying at arsenal!!!

Posted by socceroos! on 07/30/2010

i really hope schwarzer goes to arsenal. he will bring much needed experience to the side and arsenal can tour down under!!! and i think he is better than almunia and fabianski so he should be the no1 keeper with mannone on the bench

Posted by UZOCHUKS on 07/30/2010

Am a chelsea fan i want to know our tranfer activitys this summer our midfielders have gone but there seem to be no replacement and i have been hearing about ramires coming but i haven't see him pls abramovic do something......oooooo

Posted by Tim on 07/30/2010

Serdar Tasci would be a great long term replacement at center-back for Wenger. The kid has shown spurts of greatness in the back with Stuttgart, and is pretty versatile in defense. Mertesacker on the other hand wouldn't fit in too well with the pace of the EPL, though he did play great defense in the World Cup.

The best option on the table, in my eyes, has to be Phil Jagielka, if they can come to terms with Everton. They should use his injury history as leverage to drive the price down, but they'll likely end up spending nearly 20 million for him, which isn't a bad deal when it's all said and done.

Posted by Chris on 07/30/2010

Carles Puyol's comments are the heighth of stupidity. Would someone please explain to him that Arsenal aren't going to sell its best player for a cut rate price to accomodate his "dream." That's ridiculous, and even a neanderthal like Puyols should understand that.

Posted by Ian on 07/30/2010

Good God Arsene, please bring in Mertesacker ahead of Tasci! And both of them ahead of Jagielka! Jagielka is slow and over the last two year, EXTREMELY prone to injury, which is the last thing we need. Tasci is young and, for the most part, untested. Per is tall (which for Gunners is liquid gold) and has proven himself on the biggest stage of all, the World Cup. If we can pick up him and Schwarzer, you'll see a collective sigh of relief blow the fog away over North London.

Posted by TILAHUN on 07/30/2010

Serdar Tasci is a good replacement at center back for Arsenal.But it does not to mean it is enough,so Wenger must sign other defensive players that can fit the championship bill. Wenger has to look at the Chelsea & Man Utd squads. Don't repeat the five years mistake again "WENGER!"

Posted by Ravid on 07/30/2010

Oh my god can someone please tell Barcelona's players to stop pursuing Cesc to join them. You dummies, how can he leave, you want him to be on the bench, I don't think so. He is the best player of the team and most importantly he is the captain of the team. Remember Henry was the king of Arsenal and when he joined Barca, his whole career is messed up now. Please leave him alone Barcelona

Posted by F.Dirreck Barsee on 07/30/2010

It's not a bad idea for real mardrid to buy Sami Khedira but they shouldn't forget about Steven Gerrard who is a midfielder that can play alone with Alonso in the absent of Kaka.

Posted by Oladapo marcus on 07/30/2010

Cesc fabregas is willing to join his former club,but it is very clear that arsenal boss arsene wenger wants to retain the midfielder till next season. Xavi and other team mate have good interest in bringing cesc to camp nou most especially andres iniesta,who loves to partner fabregas in the midfield.

Posted by Joe on 07/30/2010

If soccernet is trying to promote the MLS and football in America then why doesn't it cover any of the MLS transfer stories? Alvaro Fernandez from Uruguay's World Cup squad has signed for Seattle. Nery Castillo has joined Chicago on loan. Giancarlo Maldonado, the Mexican league's top scorer from a few years ago has joined Chivas USA. Mista has signed for Toronto. Those are all names that the dedicated fan would know, but not one of them has been reported on this website.

Posted by Rob on 07/30/2010

Mertesacker, that guy would surely be a great buy for Arsene and Arsenal. I too am suprised at how Barca do business!!..very disrespectful all those guys, Cesc is under contract for 5 years, wish they could read English

Posted by Mikl Em on 07/30/2010

Anybody else wondering if the Balotelli move is really just a very elaborate and expensive PR gambit to help make Adebayor seem more level-headed and mature?

Posted by Alexei on 07/30/2010

Arsenal -----> Subotic

Posted by Jim on 07/31/2010

It's wrong to say Per Matersacker isn't fit for EPL. I would expect Arsenal to go all out for the German International. Oh, and what else? We need a good keeper and one midfielder and schwarzer fits the bill for us. As for midfielder, Podolski or Schweinsteiger anytime for Rosicky will definitely do for us!

It'll look more like Germany Squad but they are consistent performer and the age and style of play gels with the current Arsenal Squad.

Posted by Lancaster on 07/31/2010

Wenger plz bring in Per n Tasci also bring Schwarzer, dont forget we stil need a gud midfilder like Veloso or M. Diarra.

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