Football transfer news

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Theo Walcott deserves a new deal at the club after admitting that he has been impressed with his professionalism despite his contractual dispute.

The club strengthened heavily in the summer after the departure of leading man Robin van Persie, bringing in Lukas Podolski, Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla, but Wenger is still keen to sort out a fresh deal for Walcott after his recent form in front of goal.
“I want to keep him, and I think aside from the contract talks, you have to give him credit for the way he is committed to the team, and for the way he behaves,” Wenger told reporters.

The England international struck a fabulous hat-trick in Arsenal’s 7-5 Capital One Cup victory against Reading and Wenger lauded Walcott’s ability to play as a striker, an issue seen as a stumbling block towards any progress over talks involving a new deal.

He added: “I always said he will be striker. He’s a good finisher now. He knows where to be on the rebounds.

“That is the quality of a striker you can’t give to someone, they either have it or they don’t.”

Lazio president Claudio Lotito has invited interested parties to make a bid for Mauro Zarate with the forward appearing to have been frozen out at the club.

The striker spent last season with Serie A rivals Inter but the Milan side chose not to keep the player beyond his initial loan spell and he went back to the Biancocelesti.

The 25-year-old has since been linked with a move to Genoa or Torino in the January transfer window and Lotito insists he is willing to listen to any offers which would see the out-of-favour attacker move away pernamently.

“I have not heard from Genoa or Toro,” Lotito told Tuttosport. “If the Granata really do want him, then they just need to tell me.

“The situation with Zarate has been clear since the summer as the player turned down several clubs, including Galatasaray and Marseille.

“In January when the transfer window opens, we will be prepared to speak with any club that makes an offer,” the 55-year-old continued.

“If Toro want Zarate, then make us an offer and we will evaluate it. However, there will be no loans considered, including a loan with an option to buy.

“I know how these things go. Everyone promises to buy the player at the end of the season and then [they] don’t keep their word.”

Hamburg’s Heung-Min Son has admitted that he does not know whether he will sign a contract extension with the club.

The South Korean’s current deal expires in 2014 and the striker is not certain about his future, but emphasised that he is enjoying life at the Imtech Arena.

“I am as yet unaware whether I am to sign a new deal with Hamburg this winter,” Son told the Hamburg Morgenpost.

“Still, there is no doubt that I am very happy with my current situation at Hamburg. I like the club and I love the fans as much as they love me.”

Son has scored five goals in nine Bundesliga appearances this season, with his side sitting seventh with 13 points from nine games.

Marko Naletilic, the agent of Stuttgart midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic has been moved to deny that any club has made an offer for his client’s services.

Numerous clubs, including Sevilla, are said to be interested in the Serbia international, however, his representative is yet to talk to any suitors.

“I have not been out to do any formal talking yet,” Naletilic told EstadioDeportivo.

“Not with Sevilla or with any other club. Personally, I feel it is way too early to discuss the Zdravko’s future.”

Stuttgart’s next match is a DFB-Pokal clash with St Pauli on Wednesday, with kick-off scheduled at 19:00CET.

Olympique Lyonnais striker Lisandro Lopez has denied that he has spoken to Fiorentina about a possible move to Serie A.

The Argentine has been linked with a switch to Florence in recent weeks, has now denied that he has ever received any contact from the club.

“Never, never, never, have I had contact with anyone from Fiorentina,” he told reporters at a press conference.

“And I don’t think OL, or any intermediary or agent has either. I said that we could continue like this while I had two and a half years left on my contract.

“There is no problem with staying [at Lyon]. Now, I still have a year and a half left, it’s the same thing. I’ve never wanted to leave.”

Lyon are currently fourth in Ligue 1, four points behind leaders Paris Saint-Germain.