Football transfer news

Sir Aex Ferguson insists Robin van Persie’s arrival at Manchester United won’t prove detrimental to the development of Danny Welbeck.

Van Persie’s arrival at Old Trafford will limit Welbeck’s opportunities in the first team as the Dutchman and Wayne Rooney will most likely form Sir Alex’s first choice strike partnership.

However, the United manager believes 29-year-old van Persie can pass on his experience to the younger players in a similar way to how Eric Cantona nurtured his young side 20 years ago.

“You can always learn from great players,” he told the club’s official website.

“Remember what Cantona did for all the young players when he arrived? He was a tremendous teacher for them.

“Danny will learn from playing with Robin, [Wayne] Rooney and Chicharito. I think we have a great combination of strikers now and that’s encouraged me.”

The 21-year-old has himself welcomed the competition the £24 million signing will bring to Old Trafford.

Sir Alex added: “I saw his interview and it was very refreshing. He started talking about scoring more goals – I hope he’s right!

“At 21 he’s a young boy. He’s still growing and has niggles, but he’s going to be a big boy. He won’t play every week but when he’s 23 or 24 he’ll be a fantastic player.

Welbeck made his breakthrough last season, playing a prominent role in Manchester United’s title challenge and England’s Euro 2012 campaign, after a successful loan spell at Sunderland the year before.

PSV coach Dick Advocaat feels that the Eredivisie side’s €14 million asking price for Ola Toivonen is not unrealistic as he believes the Sweden international is worth the money.

The attacking midfielder recently voiced his dismay with the Eindhoven outfit’s hefty financial demands as he has set his sights on a move away from PSV, but his current club seem to have no intention to lower their price tag.

“Toivonen is worth €14m. With all due respect, but if Ajax receive €8,5m for Vurnon Anita, and Twente get €15m or so for Luuk de Jong, then Ola is wort that much, too,” Advocaat stated to reporters.

“I hope that he will not leave PSV this summer. If he has one more great season, he can move to a really big club next year.”

Toivonen has developed into a key player at PSV since joining them from Malmo in January 2009. His current contract with the Eindhoven side runs until June 2014.

Arsenal youngster Ignasi Miquel is confident that Alexandre Song will adapt to Barcelona without any noteworthy problems if his move to the Liga giants goes ahead.

The Cameroon international is continually being linked with a transfer to the Catalans, and it appears to be a matter of time for the move to materialise as Barca are ready to meet the Gunners’ valuation of the midfielder. 

“I do not think that he will have any problems adapting to his new surroundings at Barcelona. He is one of the most open guys around in the dressing room,” Miquel stated to COM Radio.

“Alex is a very versatile player. He can play as a holding midfielder, but also in a more advanced role. He has played in a more attacking role more than once.

“He’s a bit like Yaya Toure, but there are plenty of differences as well. He brings a lot in attack, and is very strong defensively, too.”

The 24-year-old Song started his professional career with Bastia and joined Arsenal in the summer of 2005.

Carlos Arino Bajo, the agent of Athletic Bilbao striker Fernando Llorente, has admitted that a transfer to Juventus is an option for the Spain international.

The Basque side recently announced that the towering attacker will not extend his expiring contract, and Llorente is widely expected to be on the move this summer.

Goal.com exclusively revealed this week that Juventus are willing to spend €20 million on the 27-year-old, and his representative has confirmed a deal could happen.

“He wants to prove himself in another league. Are Juventus an option? Yes, that’s a possibility,” Bajo was quoted as saying by Corriere dello Sport.

Bilbao have so far stressed that they will only let go of Llorente if a team matches his €36m buy-out clause, but Juventus are hopeful that the Liga side will lower their demands before the summer transfer window slams shut on August 31.

Hamburg sporting director Frank Arnesen has revealed that Ajax have made an inquiry about the availability of Slobodan Rajkovic.

The Eredivisie champions are in the market for defensive reinforcements because of the departure of Jan Vertonghen, and they see 23-year-old Rajkovic as a valuable addition to their squad.

HSV are keen to cash in on the Serbia international after he was involved in a brawl on the training ground earlier this summer .

“It is correct that Ajax have contacted us. They want to sign Slobodan on loan. We are now waiting for an official offer,” Arnesen was quoted as saying by Hamburger Morgenpost.

“Sloban just really wants to play again. He would love to make the move to Ajax. He is familiar with the game in Netherlands.”

Rajkovic previously played in the Eredivisie with PSV, Twente and Vitesse.