Football transfer news

The Valencia full-back moves to Anfield for the 2013-14 campaign and is confident that he can achieve “big things” during his time with Brendan Rodgers’ side

Liverpool have confirmed the signing of Aly Cissokho from Valencia on a season-long loan deal, subject to the completion of paperwork.

The former Lyon full-back will take the No.20 shirt at Anfield and becomes the club’s fifth signing of the summer with the likes of Iago Aspas, Luis Alberto, Simon Mignolet and Kolo Toure all having arrived earlier in the window.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Cissokho said: “I’m very happy to be here. I think we have a great team and great fans and together we can achieve big things.

“It’s going to be a great experience to be able to rub shoulders with the club’s top-quality players. I have experience in the game, but coming here there will still be lots of things to learn and discover as I work with everyone every day.

“I can learn from my new manager, get to know the new style of play here, familiarise myself with different opposition teams and learn the language.

“It’s going to be a great experience for me, and of course playing for the club for the first time is something I’m excited about.”

The England midfielder picked up the knock during the 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the weekend and Goal understands he will now be out until mid-to-late November

EXCLUSIVE
By Wayne Veysey

Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been ruled out for three months with medial knee ligament damage, Goal can reveal.

The club’s medical team have received the results of the scan the England international had on his injured left knee on Monday.

Goal understands it showed that Oxlade-Chamberlain has strained his medial ligaments and the doctors expect he will be out until mid-to-late November.

The news represents a further blow to manager Arsene Wenger, who has already lost skipper Thomas Vermaelen (back), vice-captain Mikel Arteta (thigh) and Abou Diaby (knee) to lengthy absences.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was carried off at Emirates Stadium last Saturday following a collision with Aston Villa’s Antonio Luna during the 3-1 defeat.

Wenger admitted afterwards that it looked to be a “bad injury” but the extent of the damage could not be fully assessed until the swelling on the midfielder’s knee had diminished.

It is a shattering blow for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had got the nod over Lukas Podolski to start for Arsenal last weekend and had been earmarked for more playing time this season, his third at the club.

It is also a setback for England manager Roy Hodgson, who would have been expected to select the 20-year-old for the crucial World Cup qualifiers in September and October.

Wenger has been forced to step up his efforts in the transfer market following the injuries to Arteta and Oxlade-Chamberlain, and on the back of a summer in which he has failed to make a single senior signing.

Arsenal had a £10m bid rejected by Newcastle for Yohan Cabaye on Monday, and as revealed by Goal, also enquired about Sevilla midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia and made a €7m bid for Schalke right-back Atsuto Uchida.

Wenger is also weighing up whether to offer a one-year contract to Mathieu Flamini, who is training with Arsenal after being released by AC Milan at the end of last season.

The Toffees rejected as “derisory” and “insulting” a combined £28 million bid for the star pair, and their manager wants a renewed focus on the Premier League fixtures to come

Everton manager Roberto Martinez has labelled Manchester United’s double bid for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines a “waste of time.”

The Goodison Park club slammed a “derisory” and “insulting” offer from the Premier League champions for two of their players – widely believed to be Fellaini and Baines – in a statement on Monday. 

And Martinez has revealed his frustration at the bid, indicating that it was never entertained as a serious proposition by the Everton hierarchy. 

“It’s been well documented what happened with the transfer speculation, that’s been dealt with and it was all a little bit of a waste of time, time I don’t want the players to waste,” the Spaniard told the club’s official website. 

“I think the situation is very clear. I think as a football club we will always keep our fans informed. I’m not a big believer in having the window open while the games are starting.

“When there is something to tell our fans we will do that, they’ll be the first ones to know if there are any players coming in or any players going out.

“The players have had the demands of international football and then they started the league with a lot of travelling, so obviously you can imagine it’s been important these past few days that we can get them recovered, regenerate them in the right manner and get them ready for the next game.”

Martinez – who took over from David Moyes in the close-season – saw his team, including Fellaini and Baines, earn a 2-2 draw at Norwich in their Premier League opener on Saturday. 

The Brazil international insists he would relish the chance to play alongside the Welshman this season, but admits he has no idea whether he will get the opportunity

Tottenham midfielder Paulinho wants Gareth Bale to remain at the club, but admits that he is unsure over the Welshman’s plans.

Real Madrid have been chasing the 24-year-old throughout the close-season, while Bale has been absent from first-team duties with a foot injury.

Paulinho, who arrived from Corinthians in July, is eager for the Wales international to commit himself to the London side – but does not know if he will.

“I sincerely don’t know [if Bale will stay], but I think this is something more private for Bale, he doesn’t tell me anything,” the Brazilian told Fox Sports Brazil.

“But I hope he continues with us, so that he can help us. He is a great player and achieved great stats last season, so I hope he stays with us.”

Paulinho, a club-record signing prior to the arrival of Roberto Soldado, made his Tottenham debut in the 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Sunday.

The Everton star is concerned that a transfer to Old Trafford could hamper his chances of a starting berth at next summer’s World Cup in Brazil should England qualify

By Paul Clennam

Manchester United target Leighton Baines is wary over a potential move to Old Trafford because he is concerned about a lack of first-team opportunities with the Premier League champions, Goal understands.

The Everton star, who was subject to a bid from United described as “derisory and insulting” by the Goodison Park outfit on Monday, is concerned that a move could harm his chances of being England’s first-choice left-back at this summer’s World Cup should they qualify.

Baines is said to be growing tired of the continued speculation surrounding his future and is willing to wait for United to improve their bid of £12 million, which formed part of a £28m move for both the defender and Belgian midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

It is understood that the defender will not agitate for a move away from Everton and he holds concerns over the amount of playing time he would be afforded alongside fellow left-back Patrice Evra at Old Trafford.

Evra, who has seen his starting place in France’s national team come under threat from Manchester City’s Gael Clichy, started in 34 of United’s 38 league games last term and is keen to convince coach Didier Deschamps that he should be Les Bleus‘ first choice in Brazil next summer.

Goal understands that while Toffees boss Roberto Martinez is resigned to losing Fellaini this summer, the former Wigan manager is hopeful Baines will remain an Everton player.

The Spaniard sees Baines as a more important player to Everton’s system this season and has been left fuming over the Premier League champions’ offer for the England international.