Football transfer news

The striker, who has just one year remaining on his contract at the Etihad Stadium, does not know where he will be playing next season, but has ruled out a move to Boca Juniors

Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez says he “really doesn’t know anything” about where he will be playing next season.

As exclusively revealed by Goal, Ligue 1 big-spenders Monaco are considering a move for the Argentine, while Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus have also been linked to the controversial forward.

As detailed in The Sweeper, however, there may be room for he and other City veterans to link up with the club’s new MLS venture, New York City FC.

Tevez is entering the final year of his contract at the Etihad Stadium, leaving new boss Manuel Pellegrini with a decision to make on whether or not to cash in before he will be able to leave for nothing in 2014.

“I really don’t know anything about my future,” the striker told Radio Cooperativa in Argentina, where he is on holiday.

“I have to wait for news. I am on vacation and for the moment I haven’t been told anything.”

One place where Tevez will definitely not be playing in 2013-14, however, is former club Boca Juniors.

The 29-year-old was in attendance as his boyhood club beat Arsenal de Sarandi 1-0 on Sunday but confirmed that he will not yet rejoin the Buenos Aires outfit.

“The supporters of Boca know that I want to go back there,” he explained. “But this year isn’t the moment.”

The player’s representative has stressed that his client will stay with the Bianconeri for the coming years and says there is no rush in extending his contract

Emanuele Giaccherini’s future will definitely be at Juventus, according to his agent Furio Valcareggi.

Giaccherini joined the Serie A giants in the summer of 2011 from Cesena and has played a bit-part role in Antonio Conte’s side this season, featuring 17 times in Serie A.

But his agent is convinced that his client will play an important role in the team for years to come.

“His future will definitely be at Juventus,” Valcareggi told calciomercato.it.

“There has never been even a half problem with Juventus and there is no reason for him to leave.”

The 28-year-old’s contract will expire in June 2015, but Valcareggi says there is no rush in extending the deal.

“We haven’t discussed a renewal yet, but that is also because there is no urgency to seeing as he still has two years left on his contract,” he continued.

“Boss Antonio Conte is satisfied with him and the boy is very happy with the Bianconeri. He has won two Scudetti in two seasons, collecting more than 20 appearances in the last campaign.

“We have to be happy with that.”

Giaccherini recently broke the Italian record for the fastest ever goal scored at international level, finding the net after 19 seconds against Haiti. It beat Salvatore Bagni’s 20-second goal against Mexico in 1984.

The Gunners face a battle to hang on to their in-demand defender this summer following enquiries from the two European giants for the €23.5 million-rated Frenchman

By Wayne Veysey | Chief Correspondent

Arsenal face a battle to hang on to Laurent Koscielny as they brace themselves for bids for the in-demand defender, Goal understands.

Barcelona and Bayern Munich have both made enquiries for the France international and are prepared to offer him a bumper pay rise to move to the continent while the Gunners have slapped a €23.5 million price tag on the 27-year-old in an attempt to ward off interest from the two big hitters.

However, Arsenal are expecting bids from one or both clubs, with a growing acceptance among the Emirates Stadium hierarchy that they are vulnerable if the centre-back pushes for a move.

Goal revealed in May that new Bayern coach Pep Guardiola had sanctioned a move for Koscielny and his representative Stephane Courbis admitted to Eurosport France on uSunday that the player had been targeted by both the Champions League holders and the Spanish champions.

“Laurent is part of a shortlist of two clubs,” said Courbis. “Bayern or Barca have not contacted the player to discuss a possible transfer but I know that [he] is part of a shortlist of three or four players from both clubs.”

Arsenal fear that Koscielny could be tempted by a big offer from either team. The 27-year-old has four years remaining on the £75,000-a-week contract that he signed last summer but the two continental giants could both offer him a salary worth more than £100,000 a week as well as a chance to play for two of Europe’s elite clubs.

Koscielny caught the eye of Guardiola and Barcelona’s top brass when Arsenal beat the recently crowned Spanish champions 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium in a first-leg Champions League tie in February 2011. He was also outstanding in the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Allianz Arena in the first knockout stage of this season’s tournament.

Bayern are targeting a proven centre-back this summer who will be comfortable with Guardiola’s fluid playing style, while Barcelona want a left-sided centre-back to provide competition to Carlos Puyol, 35, after releasing Eric Abidal.

There had been strong interest from the Catalan club in Thomas Vermaelen and he remains on their shortlist but Barca are believed to have prioritised the capture of Koscielny.

Meanwhile, Bayern have intensified their search for a new central defender after Holger Badstuber underwent knee surgery in May that the club claim will rule him out for another nine months.

Koscielny joined Arsenal from Lorient in 2010 for around €11m and has developed into one of the most accomplished defenders in the English top flight. The France international was a key figure in Arsenal securing a top-four Premier League finish and Arsene Wenger would hate to lose him.

Speaking earlier in June, Koscielny admitted he could leave Arsenal. “It is hard to not win titles year after year,” he conceded. “We are competitors, professionals, we want to win. I want to add to my list of achievements. If Arsenal cannot allow me that, I’ll seek a move elsewhere. I have to see if I have clubs interested in me. I will not go to any club.”

Wenger has already lined up a move for Swansea City’s Ashley s as he prepares to rebuild his defence ahead of next season.

As revealed by Goal, the Wales captain has agreed personal terms with the Gunners and the Londoners are hopeful of signing the 28-year-old if they can agree a fee with Swansea.

The German giants have made it clear the striker will not be moving to England or Spain after previously ruling out a domestic transfer

Borussia Dortmund have revealed Robert Lewandowski will not be allowed to move abroad this summer and say he will “definitely” be at the club next season.

The Poland international is keen to leave BVB ahead of the 2013-14 campaign, and made clear his desire to follow Mario Gotze to Bayern Munich before his contract expires in June 2014.

However, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke recently insisted that they would not sell Lewandowski to the Champions League winners, before suggesting that a move abroad was still an option.

The striker has since been linked with Real Madrid and Manchester United, but Dortmund have now made it clear that they will not sanction a move abroad.

“Robert will now definitively play for Borussia Dortmund next season. We need clarity in order to plan for the future,” Watzke was quoted as saying by Suddeutsche Zeitung.

Sporting director Michael Zorc, meanwhile, has also confirmed that Lewandowski is going nowhere as they are set to kick off their preparations for the new season.

“We will start our pre-season in two weeks time. We wanted to have clarity on this matter,” added Zorc.

Dortmund’s decision not to sell Lewandowski this summer means that the 24-year-old is likely to leave the club on a free transfer next year.

Bayern Munich have reportedly already told the striker’s agent, Cezary Kucharski, that they remain interested in Lewandowski and will sign him in 2014 if Dortmund don’t budge this summer.

The former Brazil international believes the Partenopei cannot afford to lose their star player and has singled out Leandro Damiao as the perfect replacement if he leaves

Napoli legend Careca has urged the Serie A outfit to do everything in their power to hold on to Edinson Cavani amid strong interest from Real Madrid, Manchester City and Chelsea.

The Stadio San Paolo side recently turned down an offer from Chelsea for the 26-year-old, while the attacker’s mother claimed that he is in talks with City and Madrid over a summer move.

Nevertheless, Careca, who wore the Napoli jersey from 1987 until 1993, has urged his former team not to sell as he believes Cavani is too important to the team.

“From all the attackers at the Confederations Cup, I like Cavani the most. He has shown over the past three years that he can score all kinds of goals. He is fast, strong, a real beast,” the Brazilian told Corriere dello Sport.

“It’s quite simple for Napoli, they should not let Cavani go. The team would lose 70 per cent of its strength if he were to leave. He scores too many goals and is always decisive.”

The prolific attacker has a €63 million release clause in his contract with Napoli, which runs until 2017, and Careca realises that there is a chance Napoli cannot prevent their star player from leaving and advised them to go for Leandro Damiao if Cavani indeed moves on.

“I already alerted Napoli to Damiao some three years ago. There’s a lot of talk about him possibly moving to Napoli now. He is a very potent striker who is very clever and has excellent technique.”

The 23-year-old Damiao has also been heavily linked with Tottenham and Olympique de Marseille in the past few weeks. His contract with Internacional runs until 2017.