Category: Transfer news

Arsenal’s top transfer target Yann M’Vila’s participation in the Euro championships is under serious threat after picking up an injury during France’s friendly against Serbia from earlier this week.

M’Vila broke down and was being carried off the field and from the initial looks of it, the injury seemed to be a serious one. However, the French medical staffs have ruled out the possibility of the Rennes midfielder having to miss the showpiece tournament as they believe the injury isn’t a serious one. The 21 year old was recently quoted saying that he has had such injuries in the past and he isn’t optimistic of a quick return to football.

‘Yann M’Vila is suffering from a moderately serious sprain with no complications,’ read a French official statement.

Arsene Wenger has looking at the strong defensive midfielder wishing bolster his midfield and has long wanted to sign him. This injury seems to have dealt a huge blow to the chances of a move since the Arsenal boss isn’t willing to take a risk unless the seriousness of the player’s injury is fully estimated.

M’Vila is one of the main men in Laurent Blanc’s side and has been vocal about his intentions of leaving Rennes this season. If the injury is not serious as it’s being reported to be, then it is likely Wenger will look to strike a deal with the Ligue 1 club after the Euros.

Should Arsenal try to sign M’Vila?

Former Rossoneri manager and current PSG boss Carlo Ancelotti has enquired about the availability of Thiago Silva according to Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani.s

Ancelotti signed the highly rated Brazilian defender from Fluminense during his time as the Milan coach, and with the French club’s Qatari owners having given the manager the go ahead to sign top players, it is understood Ancelotti is keen on reuniting with the 27 year old center back.

Galliani said: “Is it true Ancelotti asked me about Thiago? Absolutely yes.

“If we only thought about money, the best thing would be to sell Thiago but we don’t make such considerations.

However, the Milan vice-president stopped short of ruling out a move completely and expressed his strong desire to ward off any interest as much as possible.

“We will do the best we possibly can to resist. We have a great president who loves Milan and wants to keep all of our great players.”

Thiago Silva is considered to be among the finest defenders in Europe presently and many clubs are now trailing him. Ancelloti’s counterpart while at Milan, Roberto Mancini is also keen on signing the defender and has also held talks with Galliani over the possibility of a transfer.

Where will the talented Samba defender go?

Arsene Wenger could be tempted to sign Hugo Lloris this summer after the French international has spoken of his desire to leave Olympique Lyon if a top European club comes calling.

Wenger has been an admirer of the Lyon custodian and even considered signing him a season back to solve the goalkeeping problems Arsenal had at the time.

Reports have emerged saying that Arsenal’s boss might consider bringing the highly rated French goalkeeper to the Emirates as a tough back-up for Szczesny. If the French goalkeeper will be brought to the club, the Pole will certainly face a much tougher competition from him than he did from his co-national Lukas Fabianski.

Fabianski grew frustrated with the lack of chances he had at the club and is expected to depart from Arsenal as soon as the EURO is over, having wanted to do so in the winter as well.

Lloris is presently off to participate in the Euros and his club chairman reveals that he would let him go if a good offer is made.

“I met him before he left for the French team. He told me if there is a proposition from a great European club, he could be tempted to go,” Aulas explained.

“However, I don’t think there is such an offer so far. The big European sides all have quality keepers.”

This will surely not come as good news for Szczesny, but if Lloris will join Arsenal the amazing thing is that whoever will play in the first team will always be kept on his toes by the competition.

Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay could be the epicenter of a bidding war between North London rivals Arsenal and Tottenham, with Newcastle in the fray as well.

Afellay spent most of last season recovering from a knee surgery, and with the Catalan club looking to strengthen their squad, they have decided to offload Afellay who is deemed surplus to their requirements at Camp Nou. The Dutchman is currently on national duty and impressed in the recent 5-0 hammering of Northern Ireland in a friendly.

Barcelona are understood to be looking for a fee of around £6m which is likely to be met by his Premier League suitors. The 26 year old will be keen on playing Champions League football and hence could likely opt to sign for Arsenal, though his wage demands could be an issue given Wenger’s rigid wage structure at the club. Harry Redknapp has been a long term admirer of the Dutchman and has failed twice in landing him previously.

Newcastle have emerged as another possible destination for Afellay, with the Magpies willing to offer him an attractive salary  but it remains to be seen if the former PSV midfielder can be persuaded into joining them. Arsenal are currently the frontrunners to land him given their club captain’s personal relations with Afellay, but with both Tottenham and Newcastle likely to offer higher wages, it is interesting to see what the player opts for; Champions League football or higher pay.

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has apparently given up on signing Serbian defender Branislav Ivanovic from Chelsea this summer.

Mourinho was rumored to be interested in signing the strong Chelsea defender this summer but Chelsea have no intentions of selling him. The 28 year old has a contract till 2016 at Stamford Bridge and has recently in an interview stated his desire to stay with the European champions.

‘I’m very happy with Chelsea, I have just won the Champions League. A change is complicated, I am very happy in London’, Ivanovic said.

According to sources it is Chelsea’s evaluation of the player that has put off Real Madrid’s interest in him. The club officials at the Bernabeu have decided not to follow up their interest in the player as they believe £23m for the defender is too much. Napoli are also interested in Ivanovic, but it is not likely they can match Chelsea’s asking price for him.

The Serbian center half who can also fill in as the right back has been a key figure in Chelsea’s Champions League winning campaign last season. With almost 4 years still left on his current contract, Ivanovic looks set to stay at Chelsea.