Football transfer news

The Blues boss is adamant that there would be no need to offload players to balance the budget should he sign the Manchester United star, despite having bought already this summer

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho says that the club would not have to offload any current players in order to sign Manchester United star Wayne Rooney.
The Londoners are expected to make a renewed bid for the England striker after the Red Devils turned down their opening offer, despite the disgruntled forward being “hell bent” to leave Old Trafford, as exclusively revealed by Goal.

“The club are working hard to keep the numbers in balance but we can still invest in a player who costs £20 million, £25m, £30m and not break the balance,” Mourinho told the press. “We don’t need to sell to do that.”

Asked if he could spend £50m on a striker, he added: “The striker I want doesn’t cost £50m.”

The Blues boss declared on Thursday that he was “calm” about his pursuit of the United forward, with a sizeable stable of strikers at his disposal should the move not materialise.

Red Devils legend Paul Scholes, however, argues that it would be best for Rooney to stay put.

Mourinho has already added the likes of Andre Schurrle and Marco van Ginkel to his Chelsea squad this summer, with the England international his only remaining target.

The wantaway Liverpool striker has confided in the former Everton man over housing and schools in the capital after telling the Anfield outfit of his intention to leave

SUAREZ IN LONDON HOUSE-HUNT WITH A VIEW TO ARSENAL MOVELuis Suarez told Liverpool earlier this week that he wants to leave the club and join Arsenal this summer.

The Sweeper can reveal that the Uruguayan has now begun looking for houses and schools in London.

It is understood that the father-of-one has spoken on the phone to Arsenal vice-captain and fellow Spanish speaker Mikel Arteta about both where his family would live were they to relocate to the capital and possible schools for his young daughter, Delfina.
 
Arteta is highly regarded at Arsenal for his leadership skills and vocal dressing-room presence and is expected to lead the team in the opening two months of the new season in the absence of the injured Thomas Vermaelen.

His conversations with Suarez demonstrate the Uruguayan’s growing desire to leave Anfield and become Arsenal’s club-record signing.

As revealed by Goal, the Gunners lodged a second formal bid for the striker on Monday, believed to be worth £42 million including add-ons.

Liverpool insist that Suarez is not for sale and have let it be known to the player’s camp that he would have to lodge an official transfer request in writing in order to leave Merseyside. Sources have said that the forward is ready do so as he steps up his plans to remove one of the obstacles to his exit.

Arsenal believe that they have been given enough encouragement from the Uruguayan’s representatives that he is keen to move to the Emirates Stadium and are increasingly confident that they can capture the 26-year-old, with no other club yet to make a bid for him.

However, any prospective deal has been muddied by the contents of a £40m clause in Suarez’s contract, which his advisers believe entitles him to ask for permission to speak to any club that matches the price.

But Liverpool claim they only have to inform Suarez and the clause does not oblige them to sell. There is the prospect that the player may take legal action to force through a move.

– Wayne Veysey

MANCHESTER UNITED TO USE MCILROY MEGA-DEAL IN NIKE NEGOTIATIONS

Manchester United will use golfer Rory Mcllroy’s recent £220m sponsorship tie-up with sportswear giants Nike to leverage against their next kit deal.

The Red Devils are desperate to open talks about a new long-term association, with the present deal set to expire in 2015, after 13 years as the club’s official supplier.

But sources have indicated that Nike are currently dragging their heels, with profits not as big as expected during the association.

United currently pocket around £25m a season and are looking for at least double that this time around.

The Old Trafford money-men were stunned by the huge amount McIlroy, a big United fan, was handed back in January, as part of a 10-year agreement. They will argue that Manchester United are a much bigger brand in terms of what they are worth.

– Paul Clennam

JULIO CESAR EYES LATEST ITALIAN JOB

Julio Cesar remains on QPR’s books after failing to land a move this summer, with Napoli, Arsenal and Roma all making concerted attempts to sign him.

But the Brazil No.1 is not expecting to play his football in the Championship next season and Fiorentina are the latest club to show an interest in buying him.

Rangers need to offload Cesar from their wage bill – he is believed to earn around £80,000-a-week – as they prepare for life in the second tier.

The west Londoners would settle for a loan deal but would prefer a permanent sale at their £1.5m valuation.

– Wayne Veysey

The Valencia coach appeared resigned to losing the striker, who seems set to tie up a €30 million move to Tottenham

By Ben Hayward in Valencia

Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic admits he is in the dark over Roberto Soldado’s possible move to Tottenham but says he will wish the Spain striker “all the luck in the world” if he chooses to swap Mestalla for White Hart Lane this summer.

Djukic saw his side lose 2-1 to AC Milan in the ICC Cup opener in Valencia on Saturday without Soldado, who only returned from his holiday earlier in the day after his Confederations Cup exertions with Spain last month.

Valencia has already turned down a €26 million bid for Soldado from Spurs, but the 28-year-old now seems set to move as the Premier League side look likely to pay his release clause of €30 million.

“I haven’t spoken to the club,” Djukic told the media after watching his side edged out by Milan. “Whatever happens [will happen]…

“I spoke to Roberto this morning. He is a very good professional and if he decides to leave we will wish him a lot of luck and if he chooses to stay with us then we will be delighted because he is a great professional and he can help us a lot. But if his exit to Tottenham is confirmed then we will wish him all the luck in the world.”

Djukic, who joined the club from Valladolid earlier this summer, believes Valencia can be competitive next season – with or without Soldado.

“We will keep working,” he added. “We are Valencia [and] without Djukic, without Soldado, this is [still] a big club. If he decides to leave then we will bring in someone else. It will be a big loss but we will bring in another player and keep moving forward.”

Midfielder Dani Parejo, who scored the second-half goal which gave Valencia hope of a fightback, also claims the club can cope without the star striker.

“We have other team-mates who are good players, like Paco [Alcacer],” he explained. “But Roberto every season scores 22 or 23 goals and that guarantees you are high up in the table. If he goes then others will come in. He is a great footballer but we have other good players as well.”

Valencia has been linked with former Tottenham striker and Portuguese international Helder Postiga as a possible replacement for Soldado.

“He is an experienced striker who knows La Liga, has scored goals and is an international player – any club would be interested in him,” Djukic said.

Follow Ben Hayward on 

Barcelona have been looking to strengthen their defence and new coach Gerardo Martino “really likes” the 24-year-old, according to Claudio Curti

Santiago Vergini is coveted by new Barcelona coach Gerardo Martino, though no contact has been made regarding a switch, revealed the defender’s agent.

The Camp Nou outfit have been seeking to strengthen their rearguard ahead of the coming season, with links to Paris Saint-Germain’s Thiago Silva and Chelsea’s David Luiz.

However, Vergini’s agent has admitted Martino could look to reunite with the Newell’s Old Boys’ 24-year-old defender to provide competition for Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique at the back.

“Martino really likes Santiago,” Claudio Curti told Todomercadoweb.”As well as being a great player, he’s also a terrific person.

“We’ll see what Barcelona need. There hasn’t been any contact yet. We’ll see what happens in the coming days.”

Martino, who assumed the Blaugrana position after Tito Vilanova stepped down, underlined he would assess his options at the back before making a decision about further reinforcements.

The 50-year-old oversaw Vergini’s arrival from Olimpia as the stopper established himself as an integral member of Newell’s backline, making 33 league appearances for the Rosario-based outfit last season.

Vergini, whose sole experience in Europe has been a loan stint with Verona, was also capped once by Argentina boss Alejandro Sabella in 2012.

The 19-year-old forward made four appearances during a loan spell with Wigan Athletic last season and could move from Old Trafford on another temporary deal this summer

Zaragoza coach Paco Herrera has revealed the club are interested in signing Manchester United striker Angelo Henriquez.

The Spanish club finish bottom in La Liga last season, while Henriquez, who was signed from Universidad de Chile in September 2012, was loaned out to Wigan Athletic in January.

“We are very interested in Angelo Henriquez,” Herrera told El Mercurio.

“We have been following him and we hope to get a response from their club soon. He is a striker full of technical qualities, and could be a good signing.”